[BSD-RP] Soul Society: Southeast Seireitei

[BSD]

The world around her had dimmed only slightly by the time she had returned to where she started, completing her circle around the Seireitei. Closing her eyes she focused on the flow of reiatsu once more, like a thread weaving around from where she had taken her stop before. It had improved from her first half, though not by much. An exasperated sigh left her lips as she wondered if she would ever get to the level her Captain wanted her to be at. No, not just that...the level she wished to be at, which most likely went well beyond his expectations of her. Both were seeming more and more out of reach. She had started with little progress, then gained so much momentum but seemed to have lost it. She felt herself running in literal and figurative circles. She was going and going but wasn't getting anywhere.
A male voice suddenly starting behind her did indeed startle her, though she didn't allow the shock to show. Turning to seek out the one who was speaking, she felt relief at the sight of the man. It wasn't a member from another squad coming after her, and a mix of his obvious specialty and her distraction tracking her own paces made it easy for him to approach her undetected. She began to open her mouth to protest his words, feeling herself lacking, when he uttered one simple word that silenced her immediately. 'But'. He had her full attention now, curious as to his input on her technique. He was quiet for a moment, however, eyes seeming to glaze over as if he were somewhere else. Remaining quiet she kept a wary eye on him, worried now why he had shown up.
Just as suddenly as he had seemed to go somewhere else he spoke once more. Chewing the inside of her lip as she listened to his words she gave small nods to his critique. Thinking back to the run she had just completed, she had noticed she was using too much energy in simply stepping forward, as if she could physically propel herself forward instead of allowing her reiatsu to work for her as well. When he finished, his calm and passive face looked toward her in a way she didn't interpret as entirely emotionless, but close. She felt no hatred or anger toward her, nor even judgment of her performance. He was simply attempting to help her. The inescapable truth behind his presence was of course, that she was being watched by him. This was of little concern to her. She supposed she could feel offended or betrayed, but with the absence of every rank above her in her squad at the moment it only made sense that her activity and progress be monitored in some way. She had faith in her Captain, and for whatever reason he was not around lately, this man was here in his stead and she felt obligated to lend an ear to his words as closely as she would the Captain's.

Though exhausted, she gave the man a light smile.
"I don't expect you to receive it but you have my gratitude,"
She gave a bow to him, sincere in her words. Now with a more direct idea in mind of what to fix, she could perhaps get out of her slump and move forward. Though she was unsure if he was actually following her movements or simply tracking her reiatsu, she gave a small grin when she straightened and looked out to the west once more.
"Fancy another go around?"
Without waiting for him to speak, as she was certain she would receive little from him in response and he would do what he was going to do regardless, she set off once more for another circle around, this time minding every minuscule movement she made. This along with focusing on her reiryoku left her no spare ability nor want to seek out if her mystery guest was tagging along. It didn't matter if he watched from close or afar, she would listen to his blunt words and continue her training until she surpassed her Captain's expectations and became worthy of her seat and her place in the squad.

 

[BSD]

The two stand before one another, and despite the silence, as temporary as it was there was understanding. Though fatigued, Kazumi still manages a smile towards the monk. It presents itself cleanly, absent of any strain. The silent monk could tell with a single glance, the smile along with her words were genuine, unforced. He nods his head in response. As unnecessary as her gratitude was, he appreciated its authenticity.
As she bowed, so too did Musei, when she rose he did as well. His eyes, those clear incorruptible pools of truth glimpsed the playful grin etching upon the woman's face. It was a smile absent of malice, yet filled with mischief all the same. She turns her head, staring off into the west, where her gaze ends known only to her. Still, her intentions are clear, her thoughts and motives laid bare before the eyes of the unvoiced.
"Fancy another go around?"
Her voice chimes playfully like small bells in her innocent little challenge. Without sparing the man a second look, or a moment to accept or decline the challenge she takes off. Muscles strained, reiatsu gathered and cycled through her limbs to propel her towards her chosen path, a path that proves obstructed. Blocked by the impassable wall that is Musei. It begins with a flash of light, bright and fleeting just inches from her cheek, accompanied by a static charge and followed by the crashing sound of thunder met with the form of the quiet monk.
"Way of the Onmitsu: Firefly" (隠密歩法•蛍, "Onmitsu Shunpo: Hotaru")
One of the secret movement techniques of the Onmitsukido. The static lingers in the air, the quiet popping and cackling of electricity fades out as he shackles the blue haired women beneath his unnaturally calm gaze. It was a blatant display of mastery, and a glimpse at one of the hidden styles of their squad, meant to act as a guide post, a lighthouse, a goal for her.
"Another time. Training will have to wait. Duty calls for your immediate attention."
He bids her come with his gaze, turning towards what should now be a familiar direction for her.
"Come. There is a matter that demands your focus."
Just as Kazumi had offered the man no room for response, he too spared her no room for debating the topic. Despite the swiftness of his movements, they were not at a pace where Kazumi could neither track or follow. Was he watching his pace? Perhaps. He was well aware of Kazumi's habit of pushing herself to the point of exhaustion, traveling this way would allow her to practice her shunpo, monitor the control of her movements of step and still be able to recover her strength and stamina for the task ahead. It was all he could afford her given their short journey, a journey that brought them to the entrance of what's become the workshop of Fourth Seat Kazumi.
It was hell for anyone unfortunate enough to be dragged down into this abyss, a hell that made them beg for the comforts of the Maggots Nest. Its entrance hidden and safeguarded by a series of spells, the bald man passes through what appeared as thin air, his form vanishing as he's presented with a dark, damp, musty stairwell.
And so, he begins the descent — down into the darkness, into the unknown...a descent into madness.

"The ripples caused by the Kototsu are far reaching, and spreading still."
His voice was solemn, their shadows cast along cold damp walls. Again, the event from three months prior resurfaces. It isn't until now that Musei glances over his shoulder back towards Kazumi. It remains uncertain if it is to confirm she was behind him, or that she was truly paying his words any mind. The glance was brief, but seems to satisfy whatever silent curiosity the man held. He faces forward once more as their steps continue carrying them down.
"There is a stirring amongst some of the residents of the various Rukongai districts. Unrest, and dissatisfaction...towards the Seireitei."
He pauses, allowing Kazumi to digest his words, the damp atmosphere growing stuffier with the implication of what he meant.
"There are some that recall the moment everything was almost lost, when literal worlds began to collide. I speak of course, of the Shattered Dimensions."
It was a grave topic, heavy despite how much time had passed, and taboo in several varying corners, depending on who one spoke to. Though Kazumi was not alive to experience its horrors like many others, she should at least be studied up regarding the matter. Musei continues to speak.
"The destruction of much of the Southern Rukongai has opened up old wounds, especially with what everyone saw in the sky. People and places both foreign and familiar, its remarkably similar to what took place centuries ago. Their trust in the Gotei 13 is wavering, and a movement has begun."
Finally, their feet make contact with solid ground, and a door is all that stands before them. He steps to it, but stops, and once more his gaze finds the eyes of Kazumi.
"They call it...a revolution."
A gentle hand rests against the cold, and almost fragile looking door, yet a great deal of strength is exerted to force it open. It creaks as it scrapes and drags along the ground opening up into a massive room, dimly lit with an assortment of tools, cages strategically placed and arranged within. Its massive, the scope of the room almost reminiscent of that of the Institution of Research and Development. The sparsity of light makes it difficult to ascertain what exactly is entirely in this rather large space. What can be made out with full certainty is a steel chair and table, hanging from the ceiling just before the table, rests a man, bound to a post. Rather he was currently conscious or not was a topic for debate.

Various welts, bruises and lacerations decorated his body like tattoos. The blood had yet to completely dry up from the blatantly crude patch job done on the man. The bindings around his wrists just barely allowed circulation as they dug and ate into his flesh. Musei the unvoiced, steps aside, his hand motioning towards the beaten and captured man.
"Locating the seeds of discord in the Rukongai has proven to be far more taxing than we imagined. However, intel gathered from the Patrol Corps brought us to this man. He is stubbornly silent, and he has yet to make an attempt at taking his own life. He confesses nothing, but does not plead or proclaim his innocence. We need information. How many of the people are there within this movement of theirs, how far have they planned within these three months, what plans if any do they have. Names, locations, an inventory of weapons and supplies possibly being gathered as well to help ascertain what they could be up to."
He lowers his hand, both hands now resting behind his back, eyes meeting and locking on her own.
"I don't think I need to explain just how imperative it is that we snuff out these troublesome sparks before its fanned and swells into a wildfire beyond our ability to manage. The Seireitei cannot afford to take another heavy blow lady Kazumi, so..."
He walks, feet carrying him soundlessly to her side.
"Shall I leave you to your work?"
He asks, the space between them marginal, able to see his image reflected within her eyes, and her's in his own turquoise colored hues. She had been briefed, she had trained, now was the time to put all that she had learned into practice. Now, was the time for her to work. Information needed to be extracted.
To protect the Seireitei, the Soul Society...Kazumi would have to become a devil.

 

[BSD]

Though uncertain why the man had returned her bow, Kazumi saw little point in asking the man why. It seemed fairly certain of what his reply would be, if he were to answer at all. In her fatigue she set her mind directly to the task at hand, the man no longer her sole focus. Mind slowly hazing over into a foggy blur as she continued to push herself well past any feasible limits. This lapse in her attention was all that came to mind as the man had made his move. Body rigid as if paused in time in a peculiar position, bent down slightly, feet not completely touching the ground. She appeared like a person whose picture had been taken while running, though the comedy of the situation escaped her for the time being. Clenching her teeth she pondered over having missed something in the man's behavior. How had she been so incredibly wrong about the person? Had she made her Captain angry and now this man was here to silently dispose of her? With the scenario she found herself in she was at a loss for words and would have accepted her fate regardless, but the only question rushing through her mind was 'why?'. Had she not been doing everything for the sake of her Division? What had she done to possibly merit such a major punishment?
Golden hues glancing up to the man's face as the questions racing through her mind became obvious on her own, she waited for him to make his move. Instead she found the giant of a man, huge in comparison to her slight stature, merely standing before and looking down at her. Peering into the still face that betrayed no change from the last time she had seen it, she allowed herself to straighten up. As he began to speak the tension flooded from her, the short moments that his movements took having felt like hours in her racing mind. Head tilting slightly to the side in confusion, events of the day flashing in her mind's eye. She had completed all her tasks for the day, without a single doubt, before she had gone down to the track. Curiosity piqued and threatening to bubble over, she stopped herself from leaning forward in anticipation. Her happy nature kept her in such a state, though fully aware and preparing herself for what must be a serious situation and gearing herself up for potential danger.
Following his gaze she blinked in the direction, a place she could not forget. It would only take one visit from most to leave such a location etched in one's mind, however this in particular was one she had come to frequent nearly every day for the last three months. Indeed, she had even been there earlier that same day, going about her work. The man she left behind when her task had been complete was of little threat and use when she had finished up and could certainly not be grounds for a repeat visit. She supposed she could ask, though it seemed foolish when explaining would take longer than getting there most likely. Regardless, as she had done to him just before, he was on the move without another word said. It was obvious from his performance before that he could move much faster than he was, though if his pace was a reflection of what he felt her skills were or what he felt her current stamina was she did not know. If it were to be the former, she considered this as she bit at her lip in frustration, she was much worse than she had thought herself to be.
Using the short distance they had to move to focus on what he had stated previously and had planned to utilize in her last attempted circle, they arrived with her stopping at a laughably close range to the entrance. Her focus so completely intent on her movements that she practically forgot what she was doing or where she was going. Or perhaps she was simply tired. Practically skidding to a stop before the entrance, the man had already halted his speed to a calmer though purposeful pace inside. Following along behind him, her eyes averted to the walls they passed with annoyance toward herself. She didn't suppose she was particularly behaving like one normally should in her position but she found it difficult to act in any other manner.
She allowed herself to follow along with a more leisurely pace, almost using the lull of both movement and conversation to rest herself. Unaware of how long she would be spending on the task looming before her seemed to make her all the more aware of her sluggish mind and aching limbs. There had been nothing but silence aside from what could only have been considered orders, the two short sentences uttered and her giving nothing in return since before even then. The quiet air was comfortable, the man seemed content enough with it and her with far too many questions and pondering to ramble on with every thought that was coming to her mind. Head practically jerking upward in attention when he spoke up once more, it nodded off somewhat limply to the side almost immediately after in confusion as to what he was getting at. She remembered what had happened well, with much embarrassment toward her own actions which had provided no help toward the situation at all. She had been briefed on exactly what had happened. It seemed a strange thing to be coming to this place for, however. His eyes greeted her own for a just a glimpse, she could imagine only to be sure her somewhat preoccupied mind was paying attention to what he were saying.
As he continued on she was all the more confused. She had studied on this subject but not having lived through such an event, the extent of the repercussions of such a thing went well beyond her grasp. There was only so much that would and could be reported, leading her to wonder what that had to do with their most recent disaster which held a much smaller scale in comparison. When they had come to a full stop before the door at the bottom of the long stairway, the words he spoke were familiar enough, the gravity of the situation able to hit her completely. In the days when she had lived, the area she had lived in had faced a similar situation. Her family had no concern for the matter directly, but the devastation it caused the land had harmed everyone. The concept of the havoc it could bring to the Gotei 13 was worrying enough alone, but such a thing would benefit no one.
The scene that awaited her within the room was of no surprise, though she listened closely as to what exactly it was she was meant to be..persuading out of the man. As this was explained the man have moved aside to invite her to enter, head bowing slightly as she passed him and pushed further into the room. Her gaze wandered over the wounds that had already been inflicted on the man, though still listening as the man continued speaking. She looked toward him when he finished, eyes distant and far away.
Inside and underneath everything that she was, something vicious had been growing. The woman who had accepted much during and after her life without complaint, who smiled so often and freely and held no true contempt for anyone; Such a woman existed only due to a kinder nature strongly opposing and oppressing hatred. The Kazumi that resided within that room was an outlet, something filled with anger. This behavior had come on after many visits had yielded no results when she had first began the job. The spiteful person that had been shoved so far beneath the surface and had come to light, reveling in emotional and intellectual satisfaction at the discoveries made each day.
Focused on the number of wounds, their depth, what they had been made by... All of these yielded their own particular clue in helping her decide how to continue on. The methods that didn't work were simply giving her more information on how to specifically get what they needed. As if coming from a haze, eyes somehow appearing clearer, she gave another smile to the man at his question. Filled with the same sincerity as before and yet completely different than it appeared before. She gave a simple nod to his question, though she was uncertain if he meant to stay and watch or if he truly meant to leave the area. Either would not really matter to her, she expected with an assignment like the one that faced her she would be under observation regardless so the who really was not an issue.

There was another in the room, the one she supposed had been inflicting the damage done thus far. Standing in the corner he held a tray of the items he had used so far, giving a small nod to her as her relinquished the area to her. Taking a rag from the edge, she approached the prisoner once more. His mouth opened slightly in protest, Kazumi could only guess it was a quip of some sort, him alerting her to how useless it was or something along those lines. It didn't really matter what he were about to say. Seizing the opportunity she shoved the cloth into his mouth, forcing it open wider as she applied more pressure. Rolling it into a ball as she gagged him she quickly removed her hand from his mouth and turned back to the tray. Her hand waggled in the air away from her body for a moment as if shaking something off of her when the man gave her a somewhat annoyed look and spoke.
"We're trying to get him to talk..."
He trailed off, seeming to be unsure of how to explain such a simple concept with sounding idiotic or condescending. Kazumi stopped shaking her hand and began rearranging the tools, not looking to the man as she replied.
"He has nothing important to say. Yet."

 

[BSD]

A bright and dazzling sun, verdant grass — soft like carpet, pushed and crushed beneath bare feet. It was almost time for dinner, he could smell it even at this distance. They had saved as much as they could to treat themselves. Tonight, they'd enjoy some curry, something other than bread and water. He finds himself drooling, his stomach rumbles in joyous anticipation of the meal to be had, his pace quickens, and then....
he stops.
The world as he knew it, cast in darkness, drowned in the shadow of some large thing...no, a MONSTER. He finds himself looking up, the world around him now crumbled. He struggles to his feet, groaning in pain — wait! His feet? When had he fallen? He tries to search himself but finds his left arm unable to move. He winced at each attempt, unable to determine if it was broken or merely dislocated. The screams of familiar voices fills his ears. Just what...what the hell was going on here?!
His thoughts, his memories were all in disarray. The scene around him distorted as he continues to move. He hears more shouting, more screams mixed in with weeping. Then there is sudden warmth, an orange glow; its fire. Buildings all lit ablaze, the cracked ground, torn asunder now paled in comparison to the skies eclipsed by a falling sphere of flames. What filled his nose was no longer the delicious smell of a home cooked meal. Now, the smell of burnt straw and wood, the smell of charred flesh pervaded his nostrils. It was a smell he'd never forget, even months after it had all ended.
As all things transpired, the Shinigami, those Soul Reapers who enjoy a quality of life they never could appeared only after the fact to help. However...word on the street, rumors and whispers gathered about from Shinigami patrolling the districts, muttering amongst themselves was, they were the ones responsible for the escalation of the situation. What they had heard was only pieces, but each gathered piece helped to paint a somewhat better picture of the series of events when put together.
Those self righteous idiots! They were probably being praised as heroes for diverting a crisis they helped make! It felt as if their lives were just....expendable waste to the Seireitei. How much longer would things persist in this manner? The Seireitei had so much protection;wards, barriers, guards — so many fail safes to defend against threats while the people of Rukongai were constantly left to fend for themselves. Things should be different, they needed to be different. If the Seireitei was too blind, to set in their ways to change
Then they would be FORCED to change.
Like minded and like hearted individuals had gathered under the banner of that very notion; change. It would be difficult, but not impossible. The shinigami, despite doing so little for them still gathered much of their talents and recruits from the people of Rukongai. They needed to find those with the talent and requirements necessary to be noticed. Then there were the hypocritical fools, one such Katsuo Oda. A man adopted into nobility, but proclaims himself a man of the people. Pretty words, while he enjoys the comforts and benefits of not only being a noble, but a shinigami of the 13 Court Squads as well. If he wanted to be of help to them so bad, then they'd make sure to make proper use of him....whether he knows it or not.
They had gained some unexpected allies during the time of their planning and preparation, a shady and unsettling bunch. Wary at first, they could use all the help they could get...especially from this one strange fella.
A damning flash of light, he finds himself being chased. He's running, faster, FASTER, as swiftly as he could go. Drawing distance from him and that place. He runs, and he runs and then...
All is Black.
After that, there was nothing else; just darkness...and pain. His body had experienced pain the likes he had never known, it was agonizing..but even still, what was this pain in comparison to that of his fallen friends? Compared to the pain felt in his heart from this hellish flame of hate? Nothing. He would scream, he would shout, but he'd utter no words. He had long lost count of how many days he had endured since his capture. He hears voices...neither one familiar to his ears.
"We're trying to get him to talk..."
Ah, this voice he knows. Intimately well.

His eyes slowly begin to peel open, he finds himself unable to move a single limb. His body burns and aches all over. His vision, blurred catches hints of blue, and then a woman's voice catches his ears.
"He has nothing important to say. Yet."
He steadies his sight, his throat and lips dry, fingers twitch just slightly, barely any circulation flowing into his hands.
"W-who...the hell...is this?"
He asks himself, mind fogged and fatigued, no doubt from his previous ordeal. He appears exhausted, beaten, pained...but not broken, as he dangles in the air before his torturer and perhaps, his executioner.

 

[BSD]

Rukongai ———————————— travelling to ———————————— Southeast
Kyomu’s glare held no animosity behind it. Not towards her, at least, but even if it weren’t right, Yasu would keep thinking that. Against her better judgment, she pressed herself closer to his back after a few seconds. Having not been shaken off, the young lieutenant rested her cheek against the broad backside, and she listened carefully to the rhythm of his beating heart, the sound of it almost lulling herself to sleep. However, if it hadn’t been for the Mukuro elder that walked beside them, she might’ve just done that, but she couldn’t dare to miss that look of bewilderment. More or less, the soft pinky had been let into her captain’s graces without a fight.
Soon enough, they’d reach the compound, her position against his back alarming the other members of his clan indefinitely. Once they’d enter the main house, Yasu let herself down from her perch without a word, removing her shoes and tossing them somewhat haphazardly outside of the threshold. She was aiming for something. Those around her watched in silence as she ran towards the bathing area. She was filthy, drenched in her sweat, not to mention Kyomu’s musk from that trek from the caves.
“Bath first, then food. Bath first, then food.”
She chanted it like a mantra until she skidded across the floor and stopped skillfully in front of the door. It was empty when she opened it. Thanking the Soul King mentally, Yasu shut the door behind her and got to business… For someone who wanted to be squeaky clean, she was finished in five minutes. It was a deep scrub with plenty of rinsing. She had to forego the suds since the compound didn’t have any. The adamancy of not wanting to leave a scent was severe, so she had to comply. The distinct lavender smell she’d used to track Kyomu was gone on a tattered piece of his haori that lingered towards the entrance of the cave among the corpses that littered the ground.
Her pink hair was covered with a towel. While her uniform was drying out, she was in a standard training ensemble, consisting of nothing but the color black. Yasu inhaled deeply, catching onto the smell of food. This was one thing that they couldn’t dare to hide from her. Making her way towards the origin, her steps were silent. It looked as if she weren’t coming off the floor in the first place. She’d barely lifted her feet, gliding across the wooden floors with ease. Against her better judgment, her body moved unconsciously, limited. During these three months, the brat was beaten and battered. Pushing her to the limits was out of the question; they wanted to break past those limits and do it all over again, and she complied. Not without whining here and there, of course.
Sure enough, Yasu would’ve eventually come to find Kyomu after her meal, and took a rest, or whatever she could manage before they gathered themselves accordingly and left the compound. She gave her thanks to the guiding Elder and everyone else. Dressed back in her altered uniform, Yasu patted down her shirt and looked towards her captain just as they departed. They were on their way. The destination?
Home.
“Home...”
They’d passed through the Southern Gate. After three long months, Yasu had finally touched down on the Thirteen Court Guard grounds after such a time. White walls and white tiles: that was what surrounded her. Bland as always. This was home. Three months since the fiasco, they were putting the Second Division against everyone despite not knowing everything. Yasu looked straight ahead, wondering just how the Head Lieutenant was doing. Maybe she would send a request for tea and snacks later.
For now, they’d return to their division barracks. Yasu wondered what the lower seats had been doing all this time. Since Kazumi’s promotion, she could only hope that she was performing her duties well, and wished the same for Sakiko. Meanwhile, Xiaolin still had to be dealt with accordingly. Both she and Kyomu had left to take care of business before he set out a decree regarding their third seat.
She kept to Kyomu’s back, possessing enough speed to stay with him at a leisurely pace. So long as he didn’t burst, she would be behind him during their travels. They’d reach the gate of their barracks in little time using their speed, and at the sight of their captain and lieutenant, the members would go on alert to come and greet them accordingly. Those creaking gates parted, and a flurry of individuals would kneel before them, heads lowered, and their booming voices would roar.
“WELCOME BACK, CAPTAIN! LIEUTENANT!”
“Ah, tadaima.”