Only a handful of Shinigami - the highest ranking and the most elite - own their own property in the Seireitei. Date Gorou, the 7th Division's ninth seated officer, is one of them. The officer is retiring, and is looking to do something about his house. Even though you are both seated at a table, discussing the matter of selling property over some tea, his massive stature still looms menacingly, even though the man clearly has no intention to intimidate anyone.

"I am retiring. It pains me to leave my many friends and comrades here behind, but there are matters that I must focus on." He explains, his massive hands making the teapot in them look tiny by comparison. He makes to fill your empty cup. "Tsukuda-san, I hope the terms are acceptable for you. As I've said, if you don't want the furniture, I could..."

"It's fine." You say, nodding your head in silent thanks as you sip the tea. Gorou has been rather eager to please, open to barter and compromises. It seems that he wants to get rid of the house as quickly as he can, but even so, he's been honest about the house's few downfalls, like the fact that it gets particularly cold during winters. It's nothing that couldn't be remedied, but despite that, the giant seemed rather nervous, clearly anticipating an unsatisfied reaction that ultimately never came. "It won't be difficult for us to redecorate if there is a need."

After a stern nod of his bald head, the documents are signed.

The house is now yours. It cost you a fortune, but it's not as if you have anything else that you wanted to purchase.

(2/3)

>>45514514
...Wanted. For just a brief moment, your steady breathing quivers. There is no necessity for you to own a house; the barracks should be sufficient for the work you do. Likewise, it is not 'necessary' for your mother to live so close, either.

It's just that you want her to be near.

...

>Ask Gorou why he needs to retire.
>Present the house to your mother as a surprise.
>Write her a letter and tell her to get ready to move to Seireitei.
>Other. (Write-in).

>write her and tell her to et ready to move to sereitei

>>45514559
>Ask Gorou why he needs to retire.
>Present the house to your mother as a surprise.

>>45514559
Ask him why he needs to retire, but make it clear he doesn't have to answer if he doesn't want to.

Also since we've gone and done this much without telling her, might as well make it a full surprise.

>>45514559
>Ask Gorou why he needs to retire.
>Present the house to your mother as a surprise.

>>45514559
Voting over, writing!

Oh hey it's up

>>45514637
>>45514706
>>45514713
"Why are you retiring, Date-san?" Whatever his reasons are, they seem urgent.

"I became a Shinigami in order to support my family. But something has happened that made me unable to sufficiently do so from within the Seireitei - a relative has died, you see. Money is no longer a problem. The only thing they now need is me." The giant Gorou drinks some of his tea. "As selfish as it must seem to you to abandon my duties and the people who relied on me, this is why I've worked so hard in the first place. It pains me to do this, and I wish there was a compromise to be made. But keeping my family happy shall always take priority above all."

In a way, your circumstances are similar, opposite only in how you are going about reaching those goals.

"Why not bring your family here?"

"The road from the 4th District to the Seireitei is quite long, Tsukuda-san. I fear that some of my relatives are too sickly to make the trip, and I would rather not risk it." He explains.

It's not that you haven't considered the option of retirement to return back home permanently, in order to gamble on the chance that living with your family might provide you with emotions. But unfortunately, you can't be sure if retirement is as safe of an option as it seems. You might have gotten involved in a conspiracy that may be unwilling to let you go with the things you know, and the role you have to carry out. Purchasing this house is the best solution you have under these circumstances, though it is not as perfect as it could be.

Perhaps after the Hogyoku is found, you may be able to retire and live with your mother, just like she wants you to. But that won't happen for a long time...

Somehow, you're certain of that.

...

(1/2)

>>45516255
>somehow you're certain of that
Wait this isn't a prequel to Substitute is it?

>>45516255
You've sent your mother a letter, inviting her to visit the Seireitei. Going to her house personally would take too much time, and you can't be sure how much you have left. Shiori's reply contained some reluctance, as she dislikes leaving her house, but she did accept your invitation and, as the letter claimed, was already on her way. A few weeks later, when she arrived, you showed her around, keeping true to the story made up in your letter. Unfortunately, the fatigue from the travels has made it difficult to enjoy things, but she tried her best to keep looking at the positives.

You think you did a good job of keeping things inconspicuous. When you finally arrive before the two-story house, your mother is clueless about your true intentions.

"All of the houses here are so nice... Not a single wooden shack in sight. I bet there are none here at all. They call the First Districts the wealthiest in Rukongai, but they can't say the same..." She mutters wistfully. "Though, some of the non-Shinigami people here still make me kind of nervous. Even though I'm wearing my best kimono, I still feel like I'm just a commoner in a crowd of nobles... It's really impressive how easy you got used to all of this, Ryouta."

Shiori smiles warmly and pats you on the head.

"...So, what is this place?" She asks after a pause. You weren't sure what the best timing is on surprises, or what would be an appropriate thing to say during something like this.

"It's a house I've bought for you."

"Ah, I see, you-..." She interrupts herself with an indignant squeak. Perhaps it took a second for the meaning of what you've just said to get through the mental barriers of reasonable expectations, believability, and common sense. For a little while, Shiori's eyes keep running back and forth between the house and you. When she gets herself to stop, she smiles. "I'm sorry, Ryouta, could you repeat that? I think I might have misheard..?"

(2/3)

>>45516317
"I've bought you a house. I still need to live in the barracks for my work, but I thought you could use this. Is something wrong?"

She covers her small mouth with a hand as she laughs nervously, apparently still having a difficult time dealing with it. "A-are you joking?" Is what she says at first, but you were never one for jokes, and she must have realized that shortly after speaking. "A house in the Seireitei? F-for me? That's unbelievable... Ryouta, you... you really didn't need to go that far! Why did you do that? I-I mean, I can understand a present, but if you just gave me a book or some clothes or a souvenir, I would be-..."

"I did it to visit you more often."

Her eyes widen. She turns back towards the house.

Perhaps it was too much, after all? "Do you not like it? It's a little smaller than our previous house, but it still has two floors, and..."

Shiori frantically shakes her head.

"No, no, i-it's perfect, Ryouta. I just... I... I didn't expect you to go so far. N-not for me. Y-you said you didn't feel anything, so I thought that... I thought that..." Her voice cracks, clumsily ridding her of speech. Her head hung low, she meekly steps forward takes you into a hug.

"I love you so much, Ryouta..." You hear her mumble through sobs. Her embrace feels pleasantly warm, somehow differently to how it usually was. When she pulls away, it somehow feels... too soon.

Shiori wipes her eyes with the long sleeve of her pink kimono. When she calms down, you take her hand and lead her into the house.

(3/4)

>>45516317
>tfw best girl is also our mother

>>45516402
It'll take some time before she'll be able to settle in completely, not without her things. It's a long way from the Seireitei to her house in the First District, but she has servants that can bring Shiori her things. It's obviously of the highest priority that her books be delivered to her promptly: she has a hard time functioning without them.

After spending a few days with her and making sure that the house is to her liking, she begins the arduous process of rearranging everything to her rather specific liking. You can't really do much to help her here, and she doesn't really have much time to spare for now.

>?????????? ????: ?? (1/3)

Well, there are still some things that you could probably take care of in the meantime.

...

>Arrange a meeting with Soren.
>Meet with Hikari.
>It may not be very productive, but spend time with Shiori anyway.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45516488
>Arrange a meeting with Soren.

>>45516488
>Arrange a meeting with Soren
he's the only decent shinigami we've had as a partner on a mission.

>>45516488
>Arrange a meeting with Soren.
Need ta catch up with him anyways.

>>45516488
>Arrange a meeting with Soren.
Wait why do we still have to stay in the barracks?

>>45516566
Because Urahara wants to keep an eye on us and we might need to mobilize fast.

>>45516488
Voting over, writing!

having a hard time figuring out who are secondary characters and who are just throw away one shots.

>>45516526
>>45516554
>>45516564
Through an exchange of letters, you arrange a meeting in the Rukongai's Northern First District. He paid for your accommodations there, and set a bar as the rendezvous point.

After travelling there, you enter the bar. It's got a handful of customers sitting by the counter, regular citizens of the Rukongai, and the black robes clad, cleanly shaved man of the Tenth Division occupying a table. When he sees you, he gestures for you to come closer. He fills your cup with sake. His rather happy-looking mood makes you believe that he went through at least one round of drinks already.

"You were kind of late, so I decided to get a head start. Hope you don't mind." Soren says as he lifts up his cup of sake, a sardonic smile on his face. You take your seat next to him and issue out a rather formal greeting. The Shinigami shakes his head. "Just relax, Ryouta. It's the Rukongai, and we're from two different Divisions. No point in keeping up a face."

He orders some sardines for himself, and you ask him to get you the same thing, as you have no preference when it comes to drinking snacks.

"How was the road?" Soren asks.

"It was fine. Thank you."

"What about you? Work, family?" It feels like he's trying to fulfill the quota of small-talk questions as soon as he can. You respond in the same way as before, prompting the man to nod. Soren downs one more shot of sake, and then goes quiet. He's been leaning quite heavily on the drinks; you wonder how much he had before you got here.

(1/2)

>>45517828
"Say, Ryouta..." He finally begins. "You didn't forget our mission together, did you? I helped you out... because there was an invisible Hollow lurking around. And you had a mission. Just obligations and necessities, am I right?"

You nod. Soren glances down at his empty cup, as if combatting the urge to refill it again.

"Just obligations..." He repeats himself and sighs. "...Say, Ryouta. What do you think of humans?"

Catching your hesitation with giving an appropriate answer, he elaborates. "They kind of drill it into your head from the very first day to not give a damn about them when you're working. It's no surprise that most Shinigami end up doing exactly that, right? Well, some just do it as an excuse. I guess others never try... And I guess others do try... with varying results..."

With another wry smile, he slouches over the table and lifts up his cup. "How ironic, am I right? You'd think that our job is all about keeping humanity existing... But if they go down, we go down, too. So it's not about being a good guy..."

He furrows his eyebrows. "...Getting off track. Well, don't sandbag me here, Ryouta. I know that they tell us that it's bad, but do you agree with them? I'm not talking about souls and the people of Soul Society... I mean humans in the Human World. Those people that can't see or hear us. Do you think it's fine to feel something towards those humans?"

...

>"I think it's normal."
>"I think there's a reason why they tell us not to."
>"I think it's dangerous in our line of work."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45517864
>>"I think it's normal."

>>45517864
>>"I think it's normal."

>>45517864
>"I think it's normal, probably."
"I'm not really out there protecting them like you are, I just investigate strange occurrences."

>>45517864
>"I think there's a reason why they tell us not to."

>>45517864
"I think there's a reason they tell us not to, but it's normal to feel something anyway."

>>45517828
>>45517864
>"I suppose it could be expected in some regard. Personality wise they are not much different than us. In face some of us were them at some point. I'm actually surprised such s thing doesn't happen more often. Although given the nature of the balance and how we are "death" and they "life" I would wager it would be quite dangerous, however I'm sure there are those who enjoy such things..."

>>45517864
"Feeling something is normal, it's when you do things that you could get into trouble."

>>45517864
Voting over, writing!

>>45518166
Then again, I'm not even sure if that's true, since the shinigami we've encountered seem to have little problem with theft or even assault.

>Do you think it's fine to feel
Back the fuck up and listen good Sorin Markov
We are EXPERTS on feelings and emotions

>>45517904
>>45517899
>>45518166
"I think it's normal." You say.

"Really?" Soren seems surprised. "Even though there are so many problems that can spring up from that? If you start saving humans when they're not supposed to be saved - if every Shinigami starts doing that - then the balance would be in trouble. But try to imagine it. If we had an invisible and invincible force present in Soul Society, and it suddenly decided to do everything it could to make our lives better... What would that be like? Life would be way better for everyone, right?"

You're not sure about that. Soren doesn't seem certain about it, either.

"...But if Shinigami started favoring one human above others, gave them gifts or stole money for them, or something like that... It'd be a mess..."

"It's normal to feel, but acting on those feelings is different." You say.

Your ex-partner snorts derisively. "That's the whole problem with it, Ryouta. If you start feeling for them, you might one day catch yourself getting food for some homeless people, or saving kids from car crashes... helping cats down trees..." He stammers. "It's a pretty vicious cycle..." It's hard to tell if he's being sarcastic or not.

The conversation trails off. Soren refills his cup and lazily twirls its contents, pretending as if it's a fine wine.

"After you left, I decided to do some more digging into that Jack White business." He chuckles. "Had to sit around with a damn dictionary, manually translating everything that wasn't 'Hello' or 'Thank You'. That guy's had a pretty loving family. He and his girlfriend were planning to marry... and then she fell ill. Did you know that her death was caused by some nurse's negligence, and not the illness? Don't be getting the wrong idea here, Ryouta. I'm not blaming myself for letting her die or some stupid crap like that. I wasn't anywhere near them, so of course I couldn't do anything about it. But then I caught myself asking something else..."

(1/2)

>>45519244
He sets his cup down. "If I could save them, would I? If I was there and I was looking at that damn nurse plugging the wrong bag into her IV, would I stop her? And you know what my answer was, Ryouta? Sure, why not. It'd save me and you a whole bunch of trouble later on. Less deaths means less souls to worry about, don't it? And then when you start looking at things that way... you can see a lot more than you used to. Crimes, poverty, misery... So many issues just begging you to solve them, to make lives better. And if you don't... Well, then the consequences are on you and no one else."

He smirks again. "You're gonna tell me it's not my responsibility to bear, aren't you? Well, that's all fine and dandy, but it doesn't feel that way. And if it doesn't feel that way, who cares how it really is?"

Still keeping up his sardonic grin, he tries to weigh your silence. Finding no answers in it, Soren chugs his sake down in an abrupt motion. When he slams his cup down, he continues. "See, it's not so simple, junior. But... Come on, you've gotta put up more of a fight than that. Tell me it's wrong. I know you want to persuade me not to help humans. You look like the kinda guy who doesn't care about them... So do me a favor and at least try to convince me, alright?"

...

>"I don't think it's wrong."
>"You've already explained why it's wrong, and I agree."
>"If you don't think you can handle it, perhaps you should reconsider your choice of profession?"
>"You're drunk. Let's go get some fresh air."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45519288
Our job is to preserve the balance. As long as helping humans doesn't get in the way of that I don't see the problem

>>45519288
>"I don't think it's wrong."

>>45519244
>>45519288
>"I suppose one or two with value is fine, but I would not make a habit out of it. Throwing off the balance may get you executed. You know how central is."

>>45519336
this
we are moral grey

>>45519288

>I don't think it's wrong. I don't know how to explain it, but I think everyone has something like that. Something, or someone that they irrationally care for above everything else. It would be more worrisome if you met someone who didn't I think.

>>45519288
Why do you care about people you don't even know?

>>45519288
>Other. (Write-in).
"Our job is to preserve balance, and so long as it doesn't threaten that balance what you do outside your job is nobody's business but your own."

>>45519288
"Honestly I don't really think we should have any contact with humans one way or another, but that doesn't really seem to stop most of the local shinigami I've met. Even if stealing food or, say, knocking out a security guard, seems harmless, the negative effects of those actions can ripple outwards. Now, that doesn't seem to be penalized at all, so you could probably get away with saving humans here and there if you're careful and I wouldn't be surprised if people do just that.

But what you're talking about is a more systemic thing. Seeking out wrongs to right... Do you know how humans would respond when they begin to notice? That they were watched over by an invisble, invincible force? I don't, but I could see how it wouldn't be pleasant. The potential consequences of unrestricted interference are beyond my understanding, though that could be because I don't work with humans very often.

Also... this might seem harsh but look around us in the Rukongai. We shinigami grew up here, have family here, and yet well over half of it is a slum. The fact that we can't get our home in order makes me doubt our ability to do so in the world of the living."

>>45519288
"It might be naive, but I assume the rules are in place for a good reason, if only because the different nobles or elite shinigami are denying themselves a way to play god. From what I've read, human society is very complicated, and acting on a situation without knowing the details could easily make things worse.

That being said... if there was a human about to be hit by car, I don't really see a problem about shoving the human out of the way. It's not like we actually have a list of when and where people should die."

>>45519515
Backing this.

>>45519724
Thanks, but I admit it's kind of a mess. I have at least three ideas in there, and no idea how to sort them out. Also I'm pretty sure none of them make sense in-character.

>>45519748
I think it makes perfect sense, theres some simple logic thats near irrefutable that is pretty classic for our guy. Not backing taking your post wholesale, just the points and ideas you presented.

>>45519288
Voting over, writing!

>>45519792
The whole thing is weird. Like if it's "okay" to steal food, shouldn't it also be okay to give that food to someone starving? Also I could have sworn that in canon we saw shinigami making some effort to preserve human lives.

>>45519340
>>45519336
>>45519489
"I don't think it's wrong, Soren. I believe it's normal." You say. "Doing it once in a while isn't going to affect the balance. I think you won't get punished for it even if you get caught."

"Once in a while is a vague criterion, Ryouta. And I think they would punish someone who got caught helping humans, if only to set an example to discourage Shinigami from meddling in otherworldly affairs. It's just that they don't catch them, that's all." Soren makes to refill his cup again, but the bottle is empty. He shakes his head in disappointment.

"As long as it doesn't threaten the balance, it should be fine." You essentially repeat yourself.

"Well, if Shinigami catch wind of that, the guys who were repressing their inner do-gooders are going to start doing it all at once. If I'm not just some freak with an overgrown conscience, if there's enough of those kinds of people in our ranks, it really might affect that precious balance. Imagine the death rates crawling to a complete stop for a few minutes. I wonder what would happen then." He shrugs, smirking at the idea. You don't think something like that could happen even if the Shinigami all united their efforts towards preserving humanity's immediate lives and well-being. The numbers are simply too massive.

"But I guess you're right. It won't make a difference, other than letting me sleep better at night, anyway. It's just that if I do end up doing it, I shouldn't brag about it. Got it. To think that so many of man's problems can be solved with dishonesty and omitted truths..." Soren kicks back in his seat, slouching lazily. He mumbles something under his breath. "A drop in the ocean, huh... But history's so damn easy to change. Ending up next to a tyrant... just how many lives would you save by killing the damn bastard..?"

(1/2)

>>45520808
You've heard that example before. Seems like your Captain isn't the only one who spends his free time thinking up moral quandaries.

The man grows quiet again, his head hung low. When you begin to wonder if he fell asleep, he raises his head, yawning. "Can't say I'm looking forward to my next deployment." He says, as if arriving at a conclusion. He stands up, nearly stumbling over. You lend him a shoulder. "Let's get outta here." The Shinigami stammers.

...

After a few days spent in Rukongai, you think it's time for you to head back.

"I've got business to take care of here. Go without me." Soren says. After some reluctance, he adds. "And by the way... well, thanks for meeting up with me. You're not much of a drinking partner, but you're a decent listener, Ryouta."

...

>Take your leave.
>"How do you use your Shikai?"
>Tell Soren something. (Write-in).

>>45520853
>Take your leave.
"Be careful, Soren."

>>45520853
>>Take your leave.

>>45520808
Man, kind of wish some of the more complicated write-ins went through since we didn't really contribute anything to the conversation. Sorry it took me a while to write.

>>45520853
>Take your leave.

>>45520908
Like I don't know with the example he posted, it's not like it was in the old days where governments hinged on a single person. Tyrannical governments are an institution or a cultural phenomenon, oftentimes assassinating the leader just results in a period of unrest.

>>45520808
>>45520853
>Take leave
>"Do not to anything foolish Sorin. You have a lot of skill."

>>45520853
Voting over, writing!

File: 1455825577337.jpg (242 KB, 1200x800)

242 KB JPG

So while we wait... it looks like we may finally get to see Urahara get serious in his fight now that the lew Yoruichi catgirl segment seems finished for now (which was, naturally, a perfect counter)

>>45521835
Yeah I think it's time to see his bankai finally. It's gonna be really nasty isn't it?

>>45521878
All of his other attacks have been blood related in name, and as another anon here pointed out his now blatantly rapy vibes these past few chapters seem to lend high credence to forced creation.

His war potential code is also more or less "the asspull" all things considered. I think if he goes bankai it will only be one of its functionalities and it will probably be something like making a clone of Askin or animating his own blood to fight against him since he'd have to make his own body poisonous to win that fight resulting in a forced standstill or a murder suicide for him and his clone/ blood twin.

Then again he may just whip out another item or something of the sort and deal with him that way, saving his bankai. He may also attempt to overclock Yoruichi again, although that option is unlikely at this point due to her condition.

>>45520878
>>45520900
>>45520984
"You should be careful."

"...I know. Maybe we'll meet again sometime, Ryouta. See you."

With that, Soren turns away and leaves. 'It's fine to help people' must sound like something that doesn't even need to be stated. Did he want you to convince him that it isn't right, or was he expecting you to agree with him?

And what will he do now that his mind is made up?

You wonder if you really will meet Soren again.

...

When you return to the Seireitei, you're called into work. You pursue vague trails in both the Human World and the Rukongai that ultimately lead nowhere, and assist with research whenever you didn't have anything more important to do; despite everything, you still needed to work for your wage.

Some time passes. In the Human World, the year is 1995.

The body of a recently deceased Shinigami has been given to the 12th for investigation. You were assigned to the inspection team. The body's condition apparently intrigued the Captain as well, as he personally attended the inspection.

The body is bizarrely mutilated. Chunks of flesh are missing all around the torso and at the top of the head, the missing flesh shaped in inconsistent circular holes of varying sizes. It's nothing like teeth marks, so this couldn't have been caused by bites. It doesn't look like anything that could have been done with a blade... or any other weapon that you can think of. In fact, it hardly looks like these gruesome wounds were caused by traditional 'impacts' at all. It more resembles... explosions from the inside.

No, only some of these wounds carry that kind of resemblance, the ones positioned in the center of the torso. At the sides, it's like the man's flesh was plucked by massive fingers.

(1/2)

>>45522463
"Perhaps something forced the Reishi out of his body." The Captain comes up with a hypothesis. You agree with it. It could explain these kinds of otherwise unexplainable injuries. The spirit-stuff that this Shinigami was made of was simply moved away from where it should be.

Naturally, a Hollow couldn't have been the cause - if it was, there would be no body to inspect. A Shinigami's Shikai, then..?

"If I'm right, then this isn't good. Aside from the possibility of a Shinigami with the appropriate Shikai having done something like this, there's only one other class of spiritual being that's good at manipulating Reishi." Urahara pats you on the shoulder. It seems that he doesn't wish to discuss this in front of the other researchers. "It looks like you've got work to do, Ryouta-kun."

Excluding the wholly random chance for a fitting unique ability of the Shinigami and Fullbringers, there really is only one other candidate. But that shouldn't be possible.

The Quincy should all be dead.

...

>>45522582
>Ryouta has grown. Please pick one.

>STR+
>END+
>AGI+
>SPI+

>>45522632
>SPI+

>>45522632
>STR+
SPI would be nice for our mimicry but since we need to keep it secret we should focus on other things

>>45522632
>AGI+

>>45522632
I forget, what's the difference between strength and endurance?

>>45522775
Strength is our ability to give damage and endurance is our ability to resist damage

>>45522632
>>STR+

>>45522632
>AGI+
We're going to need this to duck and weave out all those ghost nazi arrows

>>45522632
AGI+

>>45522632
>SPI+

File: once this mushroom reache(...).png (595 KB, 1000x1000)

595 KB PNG

>>45522632
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late!

Next thread is up for tomorrow, but keep an eye out on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any feedback or questions, shoot them my way!

Thanks for reading!

>>45522984
Got the pastebin for his profile?

feels like we're already moving towards the final chapter

>>45523079
What makes you say that?

File: 25e2f9490005823916f4cc14c(...).jpg (256 KB, 500x500)

256 KB JPG

>>45523072
I completely forgot to do that this thread! Sorry about that!

New Sheet: http://pastebin.com/UrXNe4LR

Old Sheet: http://pastebin.com/R1khCTQ5

>>45523130
quency killed shinigami

although I have to admit this quest since starting to follow it way back when has been pushing me to get back into QMing and finally doing that Quincy Quest I've been sitting on for about a year,

>>45523173
>http://pastebin.com/UrXNe4LR
Thanks mang

>>45523173

Thank you.