[BSD-RP] Soul Society: Rukongai

Gin

Member
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She wanders through the stalls in the Rukongai as she makes her exit from the festivities of the Kenpachi Games, left alone to her own devices as Zhou Feng goes in a separate direction, to handle personal matters. She approaches several stalls on her way out, picking up another bottle of sake, and several onigiri filled with tuna mayo. Left alone with her thought and inebriated, the woman wanders aimlessly out of the 78th eastern Rukongai district as she strolls further in, lower in number through each district with each step she takes. With her denreishiki out of commission due to her earlier fumble in the Kenpachi games, she's left without a guide to lead the way back to the academy. Instead, as she enjoys the steamy rice ball, she takes the time to glance around the scenery.

How long had it been since she took a moment to admire her surroundings, always busy with one thing, or another. Before the birth of Masahiro, stifled by the weight of duty and responsibilities, then after that, it was the worry and stress of motherhood, keeping the boy safe. Never truly having a moment of reprieve to stop and smell the roses. Despite how things played out, how everything fell through her fingers, this moment is the first moment she can feel somewhat... liberated? Relaxed? Had the alcohol worked a little too well?

"Time and time again you fail, Honoka. I have my doubts that you are still worthy of being my wielder."

A familiar voice only she can hear floods her mind, a prideful venomous jab from an entity she hasn't communicated with in over a century. An audible sigh escapes the woman's tinted lips. Just what she needed someone else to belittle her in what would be he lowest point to date. Instead of responding, Honoka continues her trek, admiring the decorative plants along the path she walks. With one hand, she holds both the thin neck of the ceramic botte of sake, as well as one rice ball as she takes another bite, savoring the taste in her mouth. The woman's other hand, draws the metal pin from her hair, and lightly taps the dry, wilting and dead plants with her pin, causing them to rejuvenate in an instant. They blossom and flower instantly upon being fed the scraps of reiryoku from the Oki woman. Ever so lightly, she runs her thumb over the petal of a flower, as the nagging voice only she can hear continues speaking.

"You had everything on a golden platter, rank, status, power, money. You were a noble! And you lost it all for what? A child that can't even succeed you in a clan that has disowned you. You have become the laughing stock of the Gotei 13! Dare I even say the entire Soul Society! My power is being wasted on you. You've done nothing to reestablish yourself. Today was a complete joke, all you did was make a fool of yourself in front of the whole world."

Higanbana's words are sharp, meant to pierce the woman's expertly crafted armor. But in this drunken stupor, they do little more than roll off her shoulders, apparently ignored as Honoka continues admiring vegetation in her walk through the rukongai districts. She takes another sip of the heated sake, holding her breath as the burning liquor travels down her esophagus. In truth, there is no ignoring her zanpakuto spirit, every single word etches itself into her brain as she speaks truth. The only one to know her true intents, her motives and her goals, something she never disclosed to anyone. But there was no hiding anything from one's own zanpakuto, they who inhabit the inner world, who know you better than you know yourself, your weaknesses and strengths. No amount of armor Honoka put up in her heart would be enough to keep Higanbana out. Yet her demeanor does not change, as these are all things she's felt and thought before. The prideful deity only reiterating what she's told her self these last two weeks.

At some point during her wandering through the maze that is rukongai and its districts, the woman distracted by the plants she admires and briefly tends to, makes an erroneous turn, or rather, several. In truth, she only knew her way around the First Western District; Junrinan (潤林安, Lush Forest Peace), where her clan estate lay, along with that of it's neighbors the Gekko. Her verdant eyes drunkenly scan her surroundings as she takes another bite of food to sate her hunger, finally finishing the first riceball she picked up from a stall. In all her wondering, she manages to make her way to the First Northern District; Komakaitana (細かい棚, Fine Ledge).

She stumbles aimlessly throughout, leaning against a wall as the liquor's effectiveness reaches new heights. It was blatantly obvious she was drunk, and though once she could hold her own, such is no longer the case as her tolerance drastically fell. She walks slowly along the wall, using it as guide to keep her as steady as possible, the world around her warping from the effects of her drink. Nobles around look at her in disgust at the display before them, a drunk woman in torn and ragged clothes, like a beggar. They dared not make eye contact with her, not that she sought their help, instead she continues forward, until her hands feel a difference in the wall, from the cement of the wall, to the wooden door of an entrance. She turns her gaze to the family name listed on the side Oda (織田, Lit. "woven rice paddy").

Is this a blessing in disguise? Centuries have gone by without contact with her estranged familiar, who made decision to pick her chosen family than her birth family, exiling herself from the Oki. Perhaps she could offer some insight to this situation, advice from a sort of similar situation. Or would the doors not even open to welcome her. There was only one way to find out.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
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DioNaraka

Administrator
Staff member
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Knock. Knock. Knock.

Honoka is met with silence after knocking and given how long the silence lasted she may have thought that they would not answer at all. Just before she can make up her mind to leave the doors open for her and allow her entry. It would be eerie almost as if she has stepped back into the Seireitei given the architecture of her surroundings. However, she was within the home of the Oda, an overly militaristic clan that felt more at home on the battlefield than in their own beds. As she takes in the sight of the compound she would hear the voice of a young girl speaking, it would be enough to draw her attention to their location.

”Grandma, who is that lady? Wasn’t she in the Kenpachi games?”

The tone of the child was arrogant, she spoke with the tone and dignity of a noble as if Honoka was some drifter who appeared before her eyes. It was then the guards behind Honoka knelt to the ground, their heads hanging low looking straight at the ground. A breeze of Reiatsu would waft over the area to further grab Honoka’s attention.

The Empress

”Now, now Munashii, that is not how we greet our guests, especially when they are family.”

The mother of the Seireitei’s Golden Buddha, Ten’yuu Oda, had arrived to greet Honoka, holding hands with a small girl whom the Oki would be unfamiliar with.

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”Family? Is she an Oda too? Dad never told me about her if that’s the case”

The girl's vision narrowed trying to figure out just who Honoka was, even with her below basic level of sensory ability she tried to probe information about her through her Reiatsu signature alone. Ten’yuu watched the girl then looked at the intoxicated woman and put on a small smile.

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”No, she is an Oki, your father’s Cousin.”

Munashi let go of her grandmother's hand and crossed her arms, she continued to stare at the woman who she is just now finding out is related to her by blood. Her eyes narrow a bit as she looks at her face then to her grandmothers and finally back at Honoka.

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”This lady is my dad’s cousin? Shouldn’t she have gone to the final round like Dad did?”

Ten’yuu couldn’t help but laugh at the girl’s questions, children are prone to ask a thousand questions and the questions can cut deep like knives. She pats her granddaughter on the head and looks at their visitor once more.

”That’s enough now Munashii, saying things like that is an easy way to upset people. Save it for a fight when you need to throw someone off their game. And as for you, Niece, me and your younger cousin here were about to head to the tea room to relax. Join us, you look like you need a break.”

Ten’yuu turns and continues her stride towards the tea room, not caring if Honoka follows or not. Munashii on the other hand stood her ground and stared at the woman. She notices her beauty mark on her chin and points at it.

”I have one of those!”

She lifted her bangs on the left side of her face and it was along her jawline near her ear. After showing the woman the mark she ran off to catch up with her grandmother, quickly taking her hand. She looked back towards Honoka once then looked forward almost as if she wanted the woman to follow them. Ten’yuu is not one to do things mindlessly or on a whim, she was plotting something. There was a reason she allowed Honoka to lay eyes upon the daughter of Tenzen Oda.
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Gin

Member
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The moments of waiting are nerve-wracking as she awaits some sort of answer, from... anyone. It isn't until the gates that she releases a breath of relief she was not aware she held.

"Grandma, who is that lady? Wasn’t she in the Kenpachi games?"

She cautiously peeks inside, while she was not in enemy territory, it wasn't exactly... friendly either. The clan lord and the elders have expressed their indifference or dislike for her for her actions. The voice of the young girl followed by that of a familiar presence, that of her aunt.

"Now, now Munashii, that is not how we greet our guests, especially when they are family."

Her drunken gaze shifts between the two. While the Oda were rather private, during her time in First Division, she had the clearance to view any documents she desired, and family trees were no exception. She knew Tenzen as her only cousin, no other siblings able to call Ten'yuu "grandma" of all things, well, none blood related. While the gears in her brain slowly turn, the two continue their exchange, almost as if she is not there.

Honoka's green eyes catch a glimpse of a golden hair ornament decorating Ten'yuu's hair. Was that also an heirloom inherited from her mother, or grandmother, like her own was? Had she not completely cast out her family despite the bad blood that once festered between them? Would she even dare to return to claim her birthright? She has so many questions, and neither the time nor sobriety to ask them all.

The conversation between the Oda princess and Empress is quick, leaving little room for her to interject or add any commentary, but the girls words are like daggers, asking in her genuine childish curiosity about Honoka's failure in the games. Masahiro is nothing like this, as he is more thoughtful of his words, more empathetic to the feelings of others. But the girl is the exact opposite, saying and asking whatever comes to mind to sate her curiosity. This results in the woman releasing a soft chuckle, bemused by the childish behavior, rather than becoming angered by the comments of her performance.

"...And as for you, Niece, me and your younger cousin here were about to head to the tea room to relax. Join us, you look like you need a break."

The emphasis on the word niece was obvious, despite the difference in age between the two, even in their clan, Ten'yuu commanded higher status and respect than Honoka, per their hierarchy. It was a sort of precarious situation, having to address someone younger than she with respect, luckily, her time in the Gotei 13 did away with such sensibilities as young shinigami made their way to higher seats, eventually earning captaincy.

"Yes, thank you Lady... Oda."

She passes the threshold into their home, having finally been invited in.

"I have one of those!"

Honoka can't help but smile at the girl's eagerness to display a similar birthmark, albeit in a different position to her own. Though before she is able to comment, the girl quickly scurries back to her grandmother's side, leaving the clanless stray to follow behind them. As Munashii turns back, Honoka offers a slight wave to the girl, her hand freezing in place as more questions rise in her head. While she was drunk, she was not stupid, and still capable of reasoning, which she uses to begin to question her welcome. With Ten'yuu having been apart from the Oki so long, Honoka had no way of reading her or her motives, it were as though they were strangers linked only by blood.

With the trio making its way to the tea room, they are quickly accommodated, with all the questions she initially had and advice she sought, the Oki makes a single question.

"With my expulsion from the family, you must be aware of what this means, yes?"

There was no doubt the Oda Empress had her way of gathering information, and finding out the matriarchal position was ripped from Honoka and returned to her great-grandmother, Ten'yuu's own grandmother, until a suitable heiress is presented. And With Masahiro being a male, their options, after the clan massacre, dwindled down to practically nothing.
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DioNaraka

Administrator
Staff member
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"With my expulsion from the family, you must be aware of what this means, yes?"

A question is posed to Ten’yuu who sips her tea acting as if she is pondering the question. Tenzen’s methodical way of thinking comes from his mother who is often steps ahead of those she speaks with. She sets her cup down and glances over at Munashii who is indulging in the sweets that accompanied the tea. Her eyes shift towards Honoka, with a light smile on her face.

”It means the seat of the Matriarch is empty and fate has been cruel to you in more ways than one it seems, blessing you with a healthy son of all things. Had you been given a girl your place within the Oki would have returned easily.”

Ten’yuu looks at Munashii yet again as the girl now chugs her tea, emptying the cup in a flash. Her mannerisms are indeed brutish and unbecoming of a young lady but it doesn’t seem like Ten’yuu is going to correct her. She simply smiles and looks back towards Honoka.

”However, your place within the Oki shall return regardless. The Mukuro lord butchering everyone made a clearing, a bloody path for this one to tread.”

She places a hand on Munashii’s head. The girl looks up to her grandmother, cheeks puffing out from stuffing her mouth with snack cakes. After swallowing the snacks she begins to feel drowsy, her vision becoming blurred and muddied before passing out. Ten’yuu rests the girl's head on her lap and continues to speak with Honoka.

”Just a bit of Shinten laced in her tea, although I needed more than just a drop of it to knock her out. What we are about to discuss is not for the ears of a child to hear.”

She takes another sip of tea and sets the cup down.

”Munashii can take the seat of Matriarch, once she becomes old enough to do so. However, this girl is destined to lead the Oda and that makes things… Complicated. All she has known is the Oda, as you can tell the name Oki means very little to her. I blame my son for that, but now that she doesn’t have to be sheltered and hidden, her mind can grow more freely.”

A subtle smile, rife with smugness, grows on her face as she takes a small pause from speaking to let Honoka digest what she has just said.

”As much as the Great Nobles try to salvage them the Kuchiki are dwindling and on their way out of the picture. A void will be left and someone will need to fill it. Aside from producing soldiers the Oda don’t have much else to offer, unless they manage to “acquire” other clans. The Oki can become retainers to the Oda, this will benefit both clans and elevate them both. With influence of the Oki and the commandeering efforts of the Oda we can rally more Clans underneath our banner and eventually, we will consume the Kuchiki as well.”

She takes a final sip of tea after talking. She tells all of this to Honoka as if the merger of Oda and Oki is merely fantasy or possibility, but so long as Munashii exists it is fact. Ten’yuu, the former Oki, has no plans to ruin her former clan; she only wishes to ruin the status quo of the Great Nobles who clutch and cling to their dwindling ideals and power. The Kuchiki massacre that took place over one hundred years ago set all of this in motion, until that happened she was just waiting patiently for one of them to slip up. The Shattered Dimensions event rattled them and once faults and hairline cracks began to show in their pristine image Ten’yuu began plotting.

”The Oda were discharged for their overly aggressive nature within the Seireitei, a decision cast down by Central Forty-Six. In truth, this was done out of fear because out of all the Nobles only the Oda and Mukuro consist of killers who have nothing to lose but their lives.”

Ten’yuu says no more because that final sentence says enough. The Great Nobles have no leverage or collateral on the Oda. Where most would cry and contemplate undoing their own life over losing rank or prestige the Oda would not care, it would just be another Tuesday for them. All they can do is threaten their lives and that will just give them a reason to riot and shed blood.

”Under the Oda the Oki will be protected, any blade aimed at their throat will be contested and pushed back by an even more bloodthirsty blade. With all this said, sometime in the near future, we should announce our return to the Oki so you can reclaim what is rightfully yours.”

The scheming never ends with her, she has divulged her entire plan to the intoxicated woman without care or worry. Honoka can easily tell her clan about this, they could easily hire assassins to take care of the Oda, but would it work or be worth it? The assassins would be killed and if one were to kill Munashii, not only would they have the ire of the entire clan placed upon them but also the wrath of a vengeful father who would, disregard his rank, his standing as nobility and glass them into non-existence all for the sake of his daughter. But Honoka is a smart woman, she isn’t so weak as to run and tell, if she wanted to she could kill Ten’yuu and Munashii right here, right now and given her Second Division background it would look like an accident. However, there is much to gain here, Her place within the Oki restored with her voice being the one of Authority, acting as Steward in place of Munashii, a role she would keep indefinitely. The Oki will be granted protection, their acquisition of land would increase further and they would have more leverage than ever by simply being allied with the Oda.

”Take some time, think about it. You’re more than welcome to rest here until you are sober again. If things go our way, we’ll be able to get your son back to you, properly.”

She lifts Munashii’s head and places a pillow under it as she rises to her feet and begins to exit the room.

”If she awakens, feel free to run her off if she becomes too intrusive. She has a curious mind and many questions to ask.”

And with that Ten’yuu leaves the room leaving Honoka alone with a sleeping Munashii. There are many things The Oda Empress has to tend to, speaking with honoka was just one of the many tasks.
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Tatsu

New member


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"Captain Yugure."

As much as she wishes to bid farewell to her friend, important matters befall her. Yasu Yugure stands before the Captain-Commander as he finally speaks, breaking the silence left between them as both the Head Lieutenant and the other member of the First Division disperse to handle their own business and orders. All that was left was her, and the orders Higen bestowed upon her. Captain Omoni Hageshi and Captain Yu Nakamoto were deep into their bout and who knows when that would end? The cheers of the crowd echo behind her, the citizens and occupants of the Rukongai enthralled by the fight between Fourth and Eleventh Division captains.

“With Captain Hageshi and Captain Nakamoto beginning their bout, the two Captains of our primary reinforcement and relief divisions are indisposed. I don’t know what’s going on, but we must maintain the guise of normalcy at all costs. For this, I rely on you. I need to know everything, as soon as it happens; no—before it happens. You said we’ve already sent reinforcements; send more. No one too high profile. Grunt work, eyes, ears. We need to re-establish control by any means necessary.

As Higen speaks, Yasu is already working, going through each and every one of her reports sent to her within the last few minutes and at the growing damages as these updates become more and more frequent. She says nothing for the Commander has more to direct her with, and she does not interrupt, her eyes trained and focused as she took in every bit and piece of his orders.

"All reports are to be forwarded to me directly. Keep the circle small so we can avoid panic, the continuation of the festival is necessary to be successful in this. See if it’s possible to also get in contact with the 12th Division, I want the live vitals of every individual present in the World of The Living. I need first-hand accounts of what has transpired. As soon as able, Lieutenant Izumi is to spearhead medical relief to any and everyone that may need it in both Karakura and Naruki city. Now that Captain Oda is free, it must be made possible to send members of the Kido Corps to help stabilize the scene in both cities. I want barriers erected, buildings repaired, and people protected. Those there who have chosen to fight, need to focus on fighting and fighting only. If their attention is diverted, more casualties are a guarantee!”


Yasu's body vanishes from the commander's presence and she is found standing above one of the many roofs within the Rukongai, searching from high above for a series of individuals, the vibrant glow of her purple irises honing in on each and every soul within her sight. Away from the eyes and ears of its normal denizens, Yasu waits. It takes not much longer as both Jatiri Yabuki and Kazumi Fujioka find themselves whisked away from the area they once occupied and brought forth before their captain. There is an individual missing as she hopes that he will be occupied with the help of his fellow shinigami in order to keep the festivities of the Kenpachi Games going and the energy high.

Pointing to her phone, Yasu begins, addressing her Third and Fourth seats without a word of greeting. Time was of the essence, and to keep the circle small as her Commander had ordered, she chose two diligent shinigami that she was more than aware of their abilities. Kazumi Fujioka, a former member of the Second Division herself, was more than capable of keeping things under wraps and the peace steady and undisturbed. Jatiri Yabuki was a valuable and loyal shinigami that originated from the Ninth Division. Even after gaining new leadership, he did not flee to another division because of change; instead, he adapted and will continue to do so.

"I'll make this quick-- Kazumi Fujioka, you are being ordered to get into contact with Twelfth Division immediately. Tell them that we need live vitals of everything that transpired in both Karakura Town and Naruki City within the last thirty minutes to the present time and stay on them under mine and Commander Kagayaki's orders. Record everything and immediately inform Commander Kagayaki. Close off the interview tents and use that as your base to go back and forth and keep him updated."

Her attention falls onto her Fourth Seat.

"Jatiri Yabuki, head to Fourth Division immediately, inform Lieutenant Izumi to prepare mobile units and station them at both the Tenth Division and Thirteenth Division senkaimon. We have casualties bleeding into our ranks like nothing, and we need them to be ready to receive everyone and everything to stop our losses. I don't care if she has to use the freshest shinigami brought into the Fourth Division, they need to be ready. If there are any arguments, I'll take responsibility. Keep me updated and make a record of everything you see."


The Ninth Division captain makes no motion to dismiss them, but upon the conclusion of their orders, they should disperse, and behind them trail two shadows, reinforcements and help them with urgency. Another buzz in her pocket catches her attention and she sees another notification coming from Naruki City's sector:
“Communications from Naruki City: Eleventh Division's Lieutenant Ueki and Fourth Seat Ikari have been sent to Naruki City as tertiary reinforcements. Naruki City will be considered a RED zone.”

With a few taps on her screen, Yasu sends a seireitei-wide message through the stations, asking about the current location of Captain Oda. Near immediately, she gets a new notification coming from the Northeast Communication Station:
“Communications from Northeast Seireitei: Captain Tenzen Oda has been seen arriving and leaving the Seventh Division Barracks. Reports continuing, Captain Oda seen headed towards the Kido Corps.”

"Seventh Division, huh? Wonder what he's doing there, but I'll find out eventually--"

She patches herself through to the Kido Corps since the call never went through with Tenzen's denreishiki. A distant crunching sounds echoes in her mind as the obscure image of Tenzen crushing his device resurfaces and Yasu can't help but pinch the bridge of her nose. He really needed to stop doing that. When she finally gets through, Yasu forgoes the pleasantries, immediately getting to business--

"Under Commander Kagayaki's order, Captain Oda is to send reinforcements to both Naruki City and Karakura Town to aid the shinigami occupying the area of destruction. Cast barriers, replenish structures and whatever human they come across is to be aided and then have Kikanshinki (記換神機, Account-Replacing Spirit Device; Viz "Celestial Text Messenger") used on them."

Yasu's tone makes no room for argument. She has to work as quickly as she can, in order to save as many shinigami as she can. The Gotei Thirteen had been through enough, and if she could prevent any further disaster she would. The captain gets into contact with one of the shinigami shadowing Jatiri and upon the moment that they touch ground in Fourth Division. Nana Nokoribi was brought in by a handful of shinigami, and with former reports, Seventh Seat Yurei Shiroi had been sent as tertiary reinforcement but was forced to retreat due to the injuries sustained by his superior. It was unfortunate, but he would have to grow up, and quickly. Whilst Jatiri finds Junko to pass on that message, this messenger finds Yurei and passes along his captain's message to the Thirteenth Division's current leadership:

"Seventh Seat Shiroi, by the order of both Commander Kagayaki and Captain Yugure, you are to vacate the premises and return back to Karakura Town with support to survey your jurisdiction and assist the Fifth Division and Kido Corps in restoring the World of the Living. Fourth Division's medical teams will be waiting at your Senkaimon to assist with the injured and deceased. Deploy immediately."


Yasu lets out a soft breath, but it is the only one that she can take for the moment. She finds herself positioned before the Commander once more and updates him on all of what has been done and what she waits for from the words of her division members; hopefully, Kazumi would be able to patch through to the Twelfth Division and gather what she had to present before Higen.

"Lieutenant Ueki and Fourth Seat Ikari of the Eleventh Division, Third Seat Tsunoda of the Fourth Division, Fifth Seat Kanojo, Sixth Seat Shohei. and Ninth Seat Tsutsui of the Tenth Division have occupied Naruki City in lieu of Third Seat Kiyoshi and Third Seat Takahiro's losses. The condition of Lieutenant Hyouzoku is unknown, but considering he was not amongst the bodies, I assume he is engaged in battle still.

Yasu switches the topic--

"Lieutenant Kiyoshi is maintaining the Kenpachi Games and the crowd. Third Seat Fujioka is currently contacting the Twelfth Division for the live vitals you demanded and will report accordingly once she gets that information; Fourth Seat Yabuki has been sent to Fourth Division to inform Lieutenant Izumi of her orders. Seventh Seat Shiroi of the Thirteenth Division is returning back to Karakura Town with a party as we speak. I have already informed the Kido Corps of your orders that befall Captain Oda. I apologize, but I await further information on all accords. All available shinigami have been deployed."

For the time being, she has nothing else to report. With her phone in hand, she awaits any changes, any word from her communication sectors, from her seated shinigami, and any word from the Commander himself as he takes in new information.

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