Many eyes focused from inside this dark interior where the only light visible was the center of this room. Lacking the ability to see these individuals but you can see their silhouettes, outline of their shadow forms. A single being stood under the light hovering the center floor. Who is the individual? According to the features upon him is an individual with four kenseikan braided into his hair. Nothing else needs it to be said. For that particular accessory the being wears, alone is enough to identify the individual in question. The male bore the appearance of a pale middle-aged man with a broad and muscular figure and a calm outlook. He had thick facial hair, sharp facial features, and an unusual cross-shaped scar on the right side of his face. His hair was a deep black and was rather bushy. It was usually kept up by the wind and had no fringe. His attire was that of a standard shinigami. Long black sleeve shihakusho with a blue obi sash wrapped around the waist. With matching black hakama pants. He was none other than Shirogane Kuchiki or as the moniker that has bestowed upon him as
"The Fallen Kuchiki; 倒れた朽木." a new name to identify him. But what does it entails? Where has he fallen from to be called that?
"You dare step foot into the Kuchiki Manor asking us to keep your kenseikans!? We have given you the chance to honor the Kuchiki clan and since you failed your Captain exam years ago. We allowed you to remain with the kenseikans all this time in hopes the Gotei 13 would have made you Captain by now. However, we require a Head of the clan to come forth. Unfortunately, the council and I have come to remove you of you're kenseikan."
Elderly male stated while Shirogane was standing in the center light in shame. Head was straight, but both eyes closed shut. Not to hide how he felt from those glaring eyes of disappointment but closing eyes because he did not wish to look his mother in the eye who was among the crowd — hearing that his kenseikan shall be taken from him. It hurt his pride more than anything. He felt less than nothing. One council member from the crowd stepped forth towards Shirogane. Proceed it with removing the kenseikan from the braided hair — all but one. This mere action confuses Shirogane as to why only leaving one?
"We shall only leave you kenseikan though you may be a disgrace to the clan. You are still a Kuchiki, a fallen one to boot. You are at this moment stripped away any high privileges and will remain but a lowly Kuchiki unless you can prove otherwise in the future. Now Shirogane remove your scarf."
Shirogane begin removing the pure white scarf that was the indication of who was head of the clan. Just a slight tug on one end of the veil where it unraveled itself from the neck. Shirogane held the one ending in his hand, feeling like a naked woman performing the walk of shame while being stoned in the process. Shirogane stripped of everything that he held dear to him. What made him the person he is today. Mentally he couldn't fathom the thought of handling such embarrassing motion. All those years and centuries training, being molded into being the perfect being. Only to succumb to a mere peasant of the Kuchiki clan, to where he doesn't even matter, where his life is of no importance to them.
"The very scarf you hold in your hand now. That valuable scarf shall pass over to your son, Yosuke Kuchiki. He will be the next Head of the Family as the council has decided. He will also be present with a wife at a later date. In the meantime, we must figure out what to do with the Shihoin clan, now that you aren't Head of the Kuchiki any longer. But understand this, you are fortunate to hold one kenseikan. Misaki has pleaded with the council to leave you with at least one. I hope you grasp the level of disgrace you place upon the Kuchiki clan. And if you by any means do anything else. You will, as a result of this, be exile from the house of Kuchiki. Do you comply with the arrangement?"
He didn't speak right away while processing everything that has verbally passed over to him. These arrangements and changes are just as shameful as losing not only his scarf but the kenseikan. With having been left with one as a saving grave to stay in their clan, it was clear they wanted him exiled, gone, forgotten he even existed.
"Yes. I comply."
The tone in his voice was rather bleak and unsatisfied with the recent event. He couldn't help sense something through the layers of the thick royal walls of the Manor. Something or rather someone has been outside surrounding the division. They were very silent to the highest level of degree possible. Sensing them would pose a tough challenge for those who can't detect them besides reiatsu and sight. Unfortunately, the oxygen could hear from Shirogane heighten senses, even though the impenetrable walls of the Kuchiki Manor are thick to the highest degree. He knew they were there. But what was the purpose? He felt spiritual power ensuing around the Gotei, but the source tracks back towards Division 1. Who was this power belonging to have their ability to reach this far?
The first thing that came to mind was something was going on, but the level of threat is undetermined. However, anyone or anything that poses any danger to the Seireitei is an enemy regardless. Shirogane needs to excuse himself since it seems this humiliation is now over. For it seems there were other matters to attend too. At this point, he didn't care about the council, or vice versa had he did leave at this time — a simple turn to have the back face the leader of the committee.
"If you excuse me, I have other matters to attend too."
The tone in his voice says it all, but no one said anything, that is when Shirogane proceeded to leave the room. The large door had opened up, the sound of the hinges creaking from the weight of the doors opening. He did not rush to leave the Kuchiki estate. There were a hand full of people out there who could handle themselves. Unfortunately, he did need to locate his offspring in case he was in danger. He could feel his presence from this distance by concentrating on his spiritual signature only. The bright light at the end of this given pathway of the Manor was now visible. The sound of his steps filled the entire hallway.
"Clap. Clap."
The only sound present that echoed through the depths of this corridor where his long hair waved and bounced as he walked. He made it to the end where Shirogane was now outside. He came to a series of steps and walked every single one until he got to the bottom. Both eyes closed shut while taking these slow strides. Leaving out of the estate made him felt utterly new. As if the same man that walked in his home came out a boy. Shred of his dignity, pride as well as everything else. He is born anew but not in the right way. Stripped of the previous identity and been given a new status within the clan. A condition that will now view among other Kuchiki members as a
"nobody" or rather
"The Fallen Kuchiki". When headed towards the exit of division 6, all he saw was thick green vines swaddling these small-time soldiers. They didn't act out of their own will but the will of their Captain. At least that's what Shirogane would expect, considering if the stealth force acted out on their own accord. It then shows that the Captain does not have a stern authority over his squad members. The third seat of squad six is aware of their muffle voices, gasping for air underneath all those vines.
He was deciphering the sound of the vines tightening around their bodies. As if the vines themselves were a massive fist squeezing onto a human being. The first thing that came to his mind was that he wouldn't want to face the person that control these vines. Silently he walk off after witnessing such a sight. The priority was locating Yosuke. Which he picked up on his presence that is Yosuke was within the barracks of Division 4. The question is, why? Once he discovers the reason his offspring was within division four, he would move on to something else. Which the next priority would be to investigate the occurrence. As division 6 it was his duty, Captain or not to conduct an inquiry into why this took place. Was it a takeover? To cull the herd to take out the weaklings? Was it some test to see what responses take place? A lot of questions but the only answers reside within division one it seems. Before heading to the destination, a group of members of the same squad ran up to him.
"3rd Seat Shirogane Kuchiki. It seems reports are going around about the Onmitsukido guarding every division. Before the vines took them over, that is. Anything we should be doing?"
He only turns halfway, leaving the right shoulder to face their direction without so as looking in their general path.
"Nothing. You do nothing."
If they need to come to him about how to do their job, then what's the point? Shirogane wasn't looking to hold their hands. He shouldn't have too. Division 6 pride themselves in patrolling the Seireitei. They need to be doing something, that much is clear. But if they need to ask a higher rank for a simple answer. Then obviously their place in this division is misplaced or just too ignorant to know just what to do. After saying what they said, the small group of 4 stood there dumbfounded and confused. In the meantime, Shirogane went along his business as planned.
