So many people have been running around the shelter for this military unit of the tenth division. Words cannot describe the environment here just yet, and the arrival was sudden about a month in half ago where a messenger came and delivered an immediate transfer to a particular division, this one. For many days and nights, he spent awake, watching the division like clockwork with two hours of sleep minimum in between. It has been busy since some incident that occurred two months ago. There were plenty of rumors, and none of the stories match at all. But the only thing that has been mentioned throughout the silly gossip was about one royal clan specifically, Kuchiki clan. Izanagi doesn't know too much about how the royal houses work, given that he has some noble blood as well. Something he doesn't know anything about, given that he lived a life as a simple thieving commoner. History of the imperial clan was never shared in the household, at least from what he could remember.
Since arriving here in this division, it made him wonder now and then what caused him from leaving division 11? And no less going from unseated to a seated member, 6th seat to be exact. A considerable upgrade, no doubt. But what did he do to deserve this? For someone that didn't do much in division 11, it landed him in a spot where he could be noticed. The last thing he wants is to be seen, having to make way with people. Isolation was his refugee to keep the demon in its cage, keeping himself away from people much as possible, so no one gets hurt. Fortunately, he has gone a reasonable duration of days without an incident, even though he doesn't remember the exact number.
"It has been one year, eight months three weeks, four days since the last time I fought and killed someone. I'm getting that itch."
A dark influence of evil spoken within the subconscious of Izanagi's mind. Sitting inside an empty dark room with some unknown source of light beaming through the barred windows. A shadow is cast over his body, mainly this demon's face, the face that is the same as Izanagi's, only sicker and twisted wearing a mischievous smile within the depths of this darkness. The only thing visible at this time is the ominous purple glow of the iris, where Izanagi is pupilless. It was only visible until his head slowly lifts upright to look upon the cage just ahead of him. Once that door is open, he would be free to do as long he has control over the outer version. The one he protects from harm and danger and will forever do so until he or the outer version is gone forever. Only one would hold the reigns for good. And only the future could unfold that fate of Izanagi and Akuma.
"It's only a matter of time before I am out again, Izanagi. They will pay for hurting you. They all will. But for now, you can wake up."
The image of this "alter" faded, and soon one lid opened to a lighted room, there was no telling the time of the day or the hour; one's mouth was wide open, inhaling the oxygen to express the tiredness due to lack of proper sleep. It went on for a good 5 seconds before the gaping mouth close shut, realizing it is possibly morning. Gathering himself by scanning the room with one eye open, eventually, the other lid decided to open slowly. Everything within the room was becoming more apparent by the second. Izanagi had been on the floor surrounded by books and papers, this entire quarters of 16 x 16 of space was filled with sheets of paper, books, and a couple of old issues for the Seireitei. Though Izanagi doesn't remember reading it all the way it was about a memorial for those who lost their lives, discussing events which led up to many of shinigami's death Captains and Lts alike.
The very same page is torn horizontally from the middle, so most of the information from this issue is missing. It doesn't seem to be anywhere around from what Izanagi could see. But underneath the ripped page was a man with emerald color hair, the page was flipped while Izanagi stood up and carried the issue over to the desk. Still, Izanagi's face was a little worse for wear, and bags remain visible under both eyes. Upon sitting down while leaning slightly forward, he would find the left side of his face rested in hand for support. The freehand rested on top of the magazine; eyes scanned the interview page, and the first thing he saw was the image of that man, Captain Higen Kagayaki.
"That's um.....that's Captain Hagen Kogayuki? Whatever his name is."
Sadly, Izanagi is bad remembering names or even pronouncing them correctly. Though it would then be when he began to read, he saw his name spelled out correctly then how he remembered saying it. And he continued to read the interview out of curiosity.
Quote:
Q: "Captain Higen, you were around during the Shattered Dimensions Event, is that true?"
A: "Unfortunately, so."
Q: "What was it like, living through such a tragedy, and being around to see the aftermath?"
A: "It was.. odd. No one knows what it's like- Well, no one who wasn't there to experience it, that is. They don't know what it's like to have a world of stability.. to have a routine, and to have it quite literally shattered into pieces. I had no personal relationships with any of the Captains at the time, only respect. I was just recently appointed the Fifth Seat of Division One at the time. Sou-Taichou Shunkan was like a ghost, and I had only received this promotion through recommendation from some of my other superiors. Watching all the Captains meet their end wasn't difficult for me personally, as horrible as that may sound. It was the aftermath.. yeah. The chaos.. the rioting, the lack of order. I see those fires, still. When Sou-Taichou Shobatsu was initially released, Ninety percent of us were against it. I challenged him- no, we all challenged him. It was a mistake. He has power beyond comprehension. It goes unchecked, it goes unchallenged, as it should remain. We owe him for the order that was returned to us, despite the sacrifices made to bring it about."
Q: "You served as Lieutenant to Commander Shobatsu, is that correct?"
A: "I did, for over a century.—a cumbersome job. Wait, will he read this? You can take that last part out."
Q: "Did you have any reservations, given the Commander's history? Where you presented when he passed judgment onto Hueco Mundo?"
A: "It's interesting that you bring that up. That very moment.. when that judgement was passed. That was when whatever reservations I had went away. If you'd seen what I saw, yours would have to. His history wasn't the source of those reservations though. I have a thick enough past to know not to judge someone by theirs. It was the manner in which things came about. It felt like a hostile takeover, initially. In many ways, a lot of people still see it as such, however no one would dare speak on it. The old man admires power. Not power as in, power that needs to always to be used or taken advantage of, but power as in literal strength. This military requires this strength, and he knew that. He saw that strength in me, that's how I got the job.. it's also how I got my current one. I knew it best to not read into it more than that."
Q: "That's right. You were promoted to Captain of the Tenth Division rather unexpectedly. Is it true you were hesitant to accept the title?"
A: "I never wanted to be a Captain. Wasn't in the plans. I liked serving the old man, as difficult as it may have been. I thought I found my niche; he clearly felt otherwise. I'm not even sure I'd call myself a good Captain, you'd have to ask the unfortunate souls walking around here. Being a Captain is boring.. A hundred and Fifty years ago I was a man of excitement.. of Vigor! Now look at me. I sit in this very chair probably more than you lay in your bed."
"Challenged? Power? Mistake? What the hell happened?"
Izanagi's mind pondered on what Higen was telling the interviewer, from how it is read. Does it sound like Higen and whoever else fought him and lost? Just thinking on that made the devil, Akuma, inside smirk grew more extensive, as it seems like there was someone worth checking out. Izanagi couldn't imagine those events entirely, but it didn't sound too good at all. As if politics was throw out the window and someone came and put order back into place, a commander that ought to be praised for stepping up when no one could. Or was it because no one at the time was capable? That would be an exciting conversation to bring up or to lookup in the history books if they still exist somewhere. The last portion of that interview caught his eye.
Quote:Q:"Ah. What hopes do you have for the future of the Seireitei? Do you have any message for those shinigami looking to join tenth division?"
A:"Hopes.. I hope everything stays exactly the way it is for at least a little more. I've been sitting on my ass so long, and although I complain about that.. I know I'm gonna wish for a back when everything goes to shit again.. It's only a matter of time. If anyone wants to join the Tenth Division out there. Be prepared to consistently feel inferior every time I walk by! You have no choice! If you're not a hard worker turn the other cheek. Only the strong are allowed here."
Those last two lines:
Hardworker and
Strong neither of those qualities fit Izanagi at all. He is beyond hardworking when it comes to tasks and such, and he prefers to have an easy, laid-back life here. Hence why one of those reasons he joined division 11 was because it was a very laid-back unit with no captain and a Lt that didn't do much with the squad. Practically get away with murder in those barracks, even allow people to run around with weird hairstyles like a pompadour. Just thinking about hard work got Izanagi feeling more sluggish than ever. Now being strong was also not part of Izanagi's quality. He doesn't even know how to shunpo, let alone awaken his zanpakuto. That was one of the reasons why he remained unseated within the eleventh division—not having what it takes to release into shikai like seated members. Knowing not how to release would prove to be useless with difficulty task. Izanagi is aware that he isn't strong but
HE is.
Izanagi can't even recall moments where Akuma had done unspeakable harm within the Rukongai years ago against any who dare try to harm him. Akuma was like a guardian, a protector, even though when he takes control, Izanagi isn't aware of what happens. It's like he blacks out for a second only to wake up somewhere else, unaware of what took place at the time he blackout and how it happens when Izanagi comes to find dead bodies lying around him or even meeting people he never met before. It is indeed challenging, but it isn't all bad. So if the Captain wanted someone reliable, it would be Akuma.
"Does he know about HIM? Did someone or something from my past finally caught up? Or maybe me being here is a mistake. Maybe I am not even supposed to be seated? Hm, I should find someone to talk too about this. *sigh* The last thing I wanna do is find someone and talk."
Izanagi had ended up being worry, fearing that if his
"alter" was found out, would he be executed? Thrown out like trash? Beaten? So many things came to mind and, it formed a ball of sweat on the side of his head. Slowly trailing down the face, like a snail racing to the finish line, but only it is hardly moving. Looking to push those thoughts to the back of his mind, trying not to give Akuma the ammunition to surface. They may have gone almost two years without an incident ever occurring. To some degree, it still takes some will to have control. Why would someone like Izanagi, that seems to love the means of isolation, even join the Gotei 13? Izanagi only joined because someone that is like a brother to him was interested in joining the Gotei 13 by attending the academy, promising him that he would keep him safe and checked when need it. And with that, he joined and took sweet time getting out, at least enough just to pass graduation. But it has been a while since he last saw this so-called brother and be by himself since leaving the academy.
Nevertheless, Izanagi doesn't know why he was even here, to begin with; he didn't willingly join the division; it was done involuntarily. Nothing he could do about it now. Maybe there was someone that could help him get out of this predicament. And with that, the black-lavender haired shinigami pushes away from the desk. He walked over to the black-coated scabbard where the asauchi rested inside, leaning against the wall near the doorway. There was no urgency with his motion to leave the room, for obvious reasons. Once placing the zanpakuto, whose name has yet to reach Izanagi's ears, he then exits the room, which led out into the hallway. His steps were sluggish, not allowing him to move any faster than he wanted too. His body had been suffering from staying up at night and not enough rest aforementioned.
