CLACK
CLACK
CLACK
The sound of tapping and clacking along a wooden surface. It is the only sound that occupies the space of the room. The sounds are inconsistent in their arrival, sometimes minutes apart and other times, mere seconds pass between them.
CLACK
CLACK
CLACK
Sitting atop a Go board was the evidence of a fierce battle, the black and white stones facing off one against the other, each piece vying for more territory atop the board. Dark fingers place another white stone onto the board, several minutes pass before the same fingers claim a black stone, placing it elsewhere atop the board. So the battle rages on, back and forth — neither side backing from the other. It is a battle that transpires within the office of Captain Kyomu Mukuro. At the Captain’s desk sits the Phantom, occupying two spaces simultaneously. It becomes clear that Kyomu is engrossed in a battle with none other than himself. His movements, imperceptible to even the most astute. It is as if the assassin had cloned himself, both versions of himself studying both the board and each other as they make their respective moves. To a layman, this is perhaps a sign of insanity. The Captain’s previous culling of his division one hundred years ago, combined with his most trusted subordinate, confidant...family, leaving him to lead another division. Now here he sits, occupying his time, his energy by indulging in a mere game with none save himself.
Those who would believe the Captain mad are mere fools. The Captain knows that no matter how swift his movements, no matter how sharp his blade or how great his skills, they were all useless if his mind was not as equally sharp or honed. He splits his focus, divides his attention, his thoughts as he simultaneously attacks and defends from various angles. He’s played over a thousand games, and gone through an even greater number of strategies. The Phantom secures another white stone, and stays his hand as he studies the board littered with stones of black and white. There were very few places on the board left untouched, unclaimed by either side. His mind traces back to that moment a century ago.
His ears still hear the screams of his men as they were cut down by their comrades in arms, the sound of steel clashing with steel, then of steel piercing and cutting flesh. The smell of blood and the stench of death clinging to the ground and walls like flesh to bone. He watched as they slaughtered one another...by his command. Then, the unexpected occurred.
“Taichou...”
Even amongst the cacophonous sounds of violence and death, of blood and steel he could still make out the quiet voice of his Lieutenant, the one who held his trust above all others. Was his right hand taken aback by his actions? Appalled by his orders? He was certain she had grown tougher and more steeled over the years under his tutelage. Surely something like this was not enough to turn her, to make her question his judgement.
“I want to thank you for teaching me everything I know. This may not be the best time, but I’m sure that if it doesn’t come out now, I don’t know when I’ll be able to face you in the future.”
Her words cryptic to the man, puzzling even. She was beating around the bush, skating around the topic of what it is she wished to discuss that could not wait another day, another moment.
“I will be taking my leave from your care and test for Captaincy. Things have changed, and I can’t exactly have you worrying about me all the time anymore… My actions can’t keep hindering you, and I knew that I would have to eventually grow up sometime.”
His eyes twitch at the news, yet the cold mask of apathy did not recede or falter. His mind finds itself reminded of the words of the elders he had slaughtered at Murasaki’s commands, the ghosts that haunted his thoughts, his dreams. They told him, warned him that she would leave him as others had left him, that none but his kin would remain. He had pushed those voices aside, dismissed them even. She had been by his side all this time, when all others questioned him, suspected him, or would turn their backs on him he knew that Yasu would remain...or, so he thought.
The moments of her absence while she braved the test, were like an eternity to the young Captain. He had thought to go see, to watch her performance yet he stopped himself, denied himself that privilege. At the completion of her test, he had learned of her results. He heard that she had lost a limb in her battle against the Fairy and was subsequently hospitalized in the barracks of the Fourth. He knew she’d recover well enough, and that their time together was truly at an end now. He was truly alone now, for the first time in a long time.
“I passed.”
He had been aware of her arrival once she neared the barrack gates, ventured into their grounds and brought herself before him. He knew what she had come to say already. He remained silent as if ignoring the girl, a subordinate turned peer.
“I see.”
All he offered her in response to such momentous news. Someone he had personally trained and raised up succeeded where many had failed, attained the title that was sought after by countless individuals to enter the academy and don a shihakusho. Yasu had reached her goal, and all he could say was..I see.
“Then go to your squad, Captain.”
He dismisses the girl. This place was no longer where she should be, these grounds which held such familiarity to her were now foreign lands. She rises up, leaving a gift in her wake as she departs. She leaves behind the Division which had sculpted her, the Captain who had trained her to begin a new journey. Several minutes pass by and still Kyomu remains frozen in time, sitting in silence until-
”Well done, Yasu.”
Congratulatory words of affection, traveling on a saddened voice that would never reach the ears of the girl. The box of strawberry flavored pocky that had been resting on the ground now held in the Captain’s hand. He stares at them, his expression veiled by shadow.
CLACK
He places the white stone down, cutting off the advance of the black pieces on that section of the board.
”Report.”
A figure, birthed and molded from the darkness of the shadows cast behind the Phantom steps forward, staying to his Captain’s rear. Kyomu’s eyes never breaks away from the object of his visual focus, he does nothing else further to acknowledge the man’s presence, or lack thereof.
”Sir, the Vizards Captain Tenzen Oda of Fifth Division, Lieutenant Arashi Suta of Fifth Division, and...Captain Yasu Yugure of Ninth Division were all summoned to the First Division Barracks where they’ve remained.”
Kyomu is silent as he reflects on the implications of this report. I recalls the last Captain’s meeting they had with former Commander Shobatsu Murasaki, and his words to Tenzen.
”What else?”
There is no fluctuation in his voice or tone, not even at the mention of his former Lieutenant. It was as if the news held little interest to the Captain.
”Former Third Seat and Warden Xiaolin remains secured in the Maggots Nest.”
”Any change in his condition?”
”None Sir. He’s alive but...it's as if a piece of him is missing. It's...hard to describe.”
Along with Kagawaki’s corpse, Xiaolin’s beaten and tortured body was also retrieved from the Rukongai. Two bodies, one dead, the other alive but useless. He had gained no further intel from Xiaolin who had gone AWOL, and it didn’t seem as if he’d gain anything from him in the near future. Xiaolin’s failure, Yasu’s departure have ensured that for the past Century both the position of Lieutenant and Third Seat have gone unoccupied.
”And what of Sakiko? What have you learned of her disappearance?”
The agent pauses, hesitant to speak. He knows how his Captain detests failure. Should he report their lack of progress regarding this matter...he swallowed hard at the thought, his imagination hard at work on the horrors that lay before him. He knew he had little choice but to speak, to hold his silence, to keep the Captain waiting any longer was also a death sentence in and of itself.
”There has been...little progress in that matter sir. We’ve still yet to determine if she was killed, kidnapped, if she’s defected or gone AWOL.”
CLACK
Kyomu continues his game, a black stone piece placed upon the board. Throughout this the Stealth Force Agent has done relatively well in restraining himself from reacting to the sight of two versions of his Captain before him, as the game of Go proceeds unhindered. He understands that this is nothing more than a display of his Captain’s speed, and that alone is terrifying as there exists no signs of any movements aside from moving the respective stone pieces. Neither Kyomu ever leaves his sight, neither image ever distorts or shows any signs of implication betraying when Kyomu transitions from one side of the table to the other.
”What of Kazumi? Has she shown any signs of venturing towards the Rukongai? Any evidence she might be secretly harboring Sakiko or aiding her in any way?”
As far as he or anyone knew, Kazumi whom he had dismissed from his Division was the last person to see Sakiko alive, and is allegedly the one who reported to Yasu of Sakiko’s disappearance. It was reasonable to hold some level of suspicion of the girl.
”No Sir. She’s gone to no suspicious places nor have her actions done anything to draw attention to herself really. Though, if I may be so bold. Are you certain we shouldn’t have the interrogation unit bring her in for...questioning?”
The interrogation unit. It was a unit spear headed by the fourth seat of the Second Division, the same unit Kazumi herself was once Commander of prior to her demotion. Though they used the term “interrogation” everyone knew what they truly did there. It was torture. They subjected all manner of physical, spiritual and psychological pain and trauma to their “guests” until they gave up the information they sought. If the person was truly innocent and died, well...so be it.
”...No. She remains untouched. She returned Kagawaki’s body to us, and for that I am grateful. Other than that, she’s become a subordinate of Yasu. If Kazumi was doing anything that would harm me or this Division, Yasu would have contacted me the moment she noticed.”
Though he has made no effort to contact or speak with Yasu since her promotion, his words alone were evidence of how much he still trusted her, rather he knew it or not.
”But Sir, Yasu hasn’t been among us in so long, perhaps she wouldn't notice. I thin-”
His words are cut off as his body finds itself ensnared by a blue serpent composed entirely from his Captain’s spiritual pressure. The serpent’s body tightens around the man, constricting him tautly, his feet slightly elevated off the ground. Eyes widened, the foolish man instantly regretting voicing his thoughts, his disagreement to the Captain. Kyomu, despite being the orchestrator of the man’s torment appears unphased, still slouched over studying the board.
CRUUUUUUNCH
POP
The sound of cracking and popping resound behind the Phantom as the serpent constricts around the man tighter. Kyomu in turn, remains hunched over studying the board, assessing the pieces on the board, the number of moves he’s made, working to ascertain the next best move, to devise the best strategy.
CRACK
A pained shout is choked out from the man, following the sound of cracking bone being snapped like a twig. His punishment isn’t over as still, the serpent squeeze’s tighter. Beneath the fabric covering his face, veiling his identity, what little can be seen becomes discolored. Blood begins to seep into the cloth around his mouth and nose, signs of something rupturing internally. Then, it's over. The serpent dissipates into nothing as the man is relieved of his torment, nearly crumbling on the ground.
”She remains monitored, but untouched. Now, speak to me about Shinobu. What’s she done? How is the woman acclimating to the Division she abandoned only to come crawling back to?”
She man heaves, struggling to draw breath as he listens to his Captain. It's been made clear that he does not fully trust Shinobu. Kyomu distrusts those who have left the squad, holding them in little regard, such as former member Kiku Shunkan — now residing in the Fifth Division. Then there is Shusuke Kiyoshi, current Lieutenant of the Ninth Division, Shinobu Abe who had left Second Division to join Ninth was also counted amongst that number, only for her to surprisingly return seeking admittance back into the fold of killers and spies. Prior to Yasu’s promotion, if there was an exception that existed it was more than likely Honoka Oki. Honoka whom he has not seen or spoken to in over a Century.
”S-she’s, been training for the better part of her time back with us. If she has returned for some hidden purpose, she hasn’t made her motives known...Sir.”
Breathing and speaking were currently a chore to the man. Kyomu remains suspicious of Shinobu’s return,
has remained suspicious this entire time, having her observed carefully day in and day out. If she was genuine in wanting to find her place amongst the Onmitsukido, then she would have much to do to prove not only her resolve to Kyomu...but her worth as well. Long gone are the days of Captain Mukuro indulging the incompotent, the unresolved — dead weight. If it turned out she was conspiring something against him or his division, well...she wouldn’t be the first to die by his blade.
”That is all then. Continue your rounds, and have everyone remain vigilant. Our gates remain closed to outsiders.”
CLACK
A black stone piece is placed on the ground, the agent vanishing into shadow concurrently. Kyomu is once again left alone in his office. As silence returns, it is once again disturbed only by the placing of the game pieces.