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>>1202847
“Raze: Kobara no Tachi!”

Even as you feel the slight transformation take effect and strain to suppress your reiatsu as much as possible, Ichibē makes his first mistake. He steps forward, so that he can be the first to greet Artemis upon her arrival through the Senkaimon... that simply won't do.

“Ichibē,” you order, your soft voice echoing with a hidden strength and authority. “Please stand behind my adjutant, it would be rude for the one who called this meeting not to be the first to greet our visitor. Shutara, please withdraw your puppets so that they are at least further from the Senkaimon than my adjutant.”

“You say I should be standing behind the girl?” Ichibē muses, his tone a mixture of curiosity and offense. “I can see your argument up to that point.”

“Because in assigning her to my service you unwittingly placed her one half-step above yourself on the divine hierarchy,” you explain, Tenkotsuki's understanding of divine etiquette compensating for your complete lack of awareness in such matters. “You may both speak your minds freely of course, but only after you have been recognized by our guest. I will offer her greeting, and your guard will endeavor to remain out of sight unless called upon.”

“Are you serious?” Ichibē asks, visibly taken aback. “Since when is a Captain...”

“There's no time to argue,” you reply with a sidelong glare. “She will be here any moment, either draw on my expertise or do not. Either way please decide quickly.”

Not long after Ichibē reluctantly takes up a position behind Tenri, with whom you exchange a sly smile, the Senkaimon before you opens.

>Greet Artemis with humility: she is after all an honored guest.
>Thank her for agreeing to meet with you, set a businesslike tone.
>Go for a bit of panache, it's not often you get to show off like this.
>Offer her a good meal, maybe the most universal show of hospitality.

>>1202852
>>Go for a bit of panache, it's not often you get to show off like this.

>>1202852
>Greet Artemis with humility: she is after all an honored guest.

>>1202852
>Greet Artemis with humility: she is after all an honored guest.

>>1202852
>Offer her a good meal, maybe the most universal show of hospitality.
Remember how Riku responded to Yoruichi's recruitment? "You had me at free food."

>>1202852
>Offer her a good meal, maybe the most universal show of hospitality.
Bread and salt guys, Bread and salt rules.

>>1202873

>Offer her a good meal, maybe the most universal show of hospitality.

Is Artemis the goddess of the hunt, she likes meat.

>>1202852
>Offer her a good meal, maybe the most universal show of hospitality.

I mean, she did make the same offer to us, IIRC

>writing

>>1202894
Can we offer some suggestions to the hospitality meal? Like a Sashimi boat?

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>>1202852
“Welcome, Lady Artemis,” your echoing voice greets the goddess, paired with a gracious bow. “I'm happy that you honored my selfish request so quickly and so readily. I trust that there were no issues with your transit?”

“None,” Artemis replies, offering a carefully-calculated bow in response just barely shallower than your own. Her dress is near identical to when you last saw her, though about her head is a fine crown of laurels. “Though some in my cohort are doubtless annoyed with me. The Soul Society is viewed with much the same air of exoticism that all of Japan once was, back in the days when trade was restricted.”

“Is that so?” you ask with a grin. “Well I hope that reality lives up to your expectations, but to us at least this place is quite mundane. You stand in the Seireitei, which means the 'Court of Pure Souls'. It's the seat of all political authority in the Soul Society as well as home to the shinigami.”

“Pure souls, you say?” Artemis asks with a smirk. “And what of the impure souls of the Orient?”

“They don't get courts named for them,” you shrug, gesturing to your companion “This is Tenri, a lesser divinity who serves as adjutant to my office.”

“Greetings to you as well, young one,” Artemis smiles, offering a bow which is more like a pronounced nod than anything else.

“You honor me with your graciousness, Lady Artemis,” Tenri replies with a particularly deep bow.

“And who might your companions be?” Artemis asks, gazing now upon the Royal Guard with stern eyes. “They are not of divinity, and yet bear the unmistakable signs of its meddling.”

“These are Hyōsube Ichibē and Shutara Senjumaru, of the Royal Special Task Force,” you introduce them. The latter offers a comfortable bow, the latter comes off as stiff as may have been expected. “Their unit is something of an intermediary between our pantheon and the Court Guard Divisions, the Gotei 13.”

“A rare pleasure to receive such an uncommon guest,” Shutara offers, a glance towards her peer suggesting that she expects him to remain silent. “Please forgive our intrusion, but monitoring divine influence on this world is part of our duty.”

“Unfortunately, this leaves us with little option but to shadow you for the duration of your stay.”

“You waste your time,” Artemis sighs, “however if it is your duty I suppose it cannot be helped. I will not take offense, so long as decorum is otherwise observed.”
>1/2

>>1202925
>“These are Hyōsube Ichibē and Shutara Senjumaru, of the Royal Special Task Force,” you introduce them. The latter offers a comfortable bow, the latter comes off as stiff as may have been expected.

So...which one of these is supposed to be the former? Ichibē I assume.

>>1202925
so who had a stiff bow? Ichibe?

>>1202933
>>1202935
Correct. I fucked that up on a revision, the stiff one is meant to be the Monk.

>>1202852
>Ichibē makes his first mistake. He steps forward, so that he can be the first to greet Artemis upon her arrival through the Senkaimon... that simply won't do.
Ichibē please. Have you become that complacent that you forgot half the lessons on Divine Politics and Etiquette? You're supposed to be the intermediary between mortal and divine!

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>>1202925
“It will be,” you insist gently, offering Ichibē a glare quite at odds with your tone. “To begin, let's have a meal. I notified my staff of your visit and they should be quite prepared. Will you take a litter, or would you prefer a stroll?”

“In all honesty I would prefer to run!” Artemis smiles, subtly rotating her shoulder. “Work up a bit of an appetite... I am after all a patroness of hunting among other things, so a little exercise before a meal is far from inappropriate.”

“Unfortunately Tenri probably can't keep up with us,” you sigh, turning to your adjutant. “How would you rather be carried?”

“Ma'am, if it's all the same I should prefer the litter,” Tenri replies with a bow. “I will be in the office if you find further need of me.”

True... she doesn't really have a place at the table you're setting, at least not by the typical rules regarding such things. “Very well. Feel free to treat yourself to some of the fine tea if you'd like.”

“Thank you, ma'am.”

“She's well-trained,” Artemis observes as the two of you run side by side towards your own Division. You get the feeling that even as fast as you are, Artemis is fleet of foot even by your own standards. Were it a race you're almost certain that you'd lose handily.

“Japan has a history of being sensitive to protocol,” you explain. “The Soul Society is little different, and the deities from what I gather are even more extreme. Beings such as Tenri with vastly diluted divine heritage are extremely class-conscious.”

“Fascinating,” Artemis muses. The trip is short enough that there is hardly time for much more discussion, and when you finally arrive the squad at the gate offers a cooling towel for each of you.

“Is this typical?” your divine guest asks, staring at the towel.

“It's not uncommon,” you shrug, wiping the back of your neck. “Just a courtesy, you know?”

After dabbing gingerly at herself, Artemis joins you in the small teahouse overlooking the Ninth Division grounds. There you meet with Yoruichi and Halibel, the former wearing one of her fancier layered kimonos and the latter having borrowed an outfit from the Shihōin clan on short notice. Basic protocol in this situation is somewhat... contentious. Normally Artemis would be seated furthest from the entrance with yourself, being the host, directly opposite: however the presence of varying degrees of divine essence and noble blood forces you to shuffle things around.

Instead you seat Artemis at the head of the table flanked by yourself and Yoruichi, siting opposite one another. To your left is Halibel, whose small fraction of divinity still places her above both the Royal Guard. The Monk, as the man technically responsible for this operation and answerable for anything that goes wrong, is seated as if he were the host.

Which means closest to the entrance.

He's absolutely not happy about it.
>2/3

>>1203016
>The Monk, as the man technically responsible for this operation and answerable for anything that goes wrong, is seated as if he were the host.
>Which means closest to the entrance.
>He's absolutely not happy about it.

The Monk is stuck footing the bill if anything goes tits up here? When Riku and Yoruichi are in the room?

The only way this could possibly be worse for him is if Urahara, or Ichigo and his girlfriends, were in the room.

And while normally I'd label that as Tatsuki and Rukia, under these circumstances I'd throw in Orihime and Chizuru.

>>1203016
As Artemis isn't practiced in sitting in seiza, that aspect of the meal is relaxed. The only one seated in such a manner is Ichibē, who insists on such formality. You also realize that any other seating position makes it more difficult to move suddenly, either to attack or defend, despite even more widely-known schools of swordsmanship providing waza based on an informal seating position.

“Well, I trust that we are all comfortable?” you ask as the first course is delivered: an umeshu spritz, based on the sort of drinks Italians favor before a meal, most similar to how Campari and Apperol are served.

Ichibē eyes you warily, and even Shutara seems somewhat bemused at the arrangement.

>Explain the seating arrangement without mentioning the details.
>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Begin by explaining why you asked Artemis here in the first place.
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.
>Other?

>>1203048
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

>>1203048
>>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.

>>1203048

>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Begin by explaining why you asked Artemis here in the first place.

Nothing says we can thank her first.

>>1203048
>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.

Bonus points if we can do so without tipping off the Royal Guard. Something to the effect of:
The previous assistance offered by you and your colleagues was well appreciated.

>>1203048
>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

>Other: Start with some small talk. "So Artemis, how are the Valhallans doing? I hope General Rogers is down to earth at this point after you promoted him from Colonel."
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

Mentioning "the gifting of the knife" would only serve to piss off much of the Royal Guard and sour relations between Riku and the Guard.

>>1203048
>>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>>>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

>>1203048
forgot to link this >>1203075 to the post.

>>1203048
>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.

>>1203048
>>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

>>1203048
>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Give Artemis your report on the reishi dispersal.

>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Begin by explaining why you asked Artemis here in the first place.

>>1203048
>>1203124
Changing to

>Thank Artemis for her “gift” of the knife.
>Begin by explaining why you asked Artemis here in the first place.

We should probably explain whats going on after all, even if she probably knows.

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“First of all I'd like to thank our guest for her continued goodwill,” you offer, raising your glass. “It's much appreciated.”

“This is quite good,” Artemis remarks, having finished her drink fairly quickly. “What is it, Miss Shihōin?”

“Plum wine,” Yoruichi explains, finishing off her own. “Lighter than most European equivalents, but pleasant in its own way. Especially diluted.”

“It does get a bit syrupy,” you admit.

“So who is our new companion at the table?”

You lean back to allow Artemis to see the arrancar to your left more easily. “Tia Halibel, a close friend of mine from Hueco Mundo.”

“An evolved menos?” Artemis muses. “You keep interesting company.”

The appetizer soon arrives: two dumplings for each person in attendance, one filled with char siu pork and the other with roasted vegetables. The head cook is on fire today, the little morsels are just perfectly steamed.

“I suppose every culture has dumplings,” Artemis smiles. “Ours are made with potato rather than rice flour.”

“Rice finds its way into almost everything we make,” Yoruichi shrugs. “In fact half of the dishes considered native to Japan are just meant to be creative ways to accompany rice rather than the other way around.”

“So how is Valhalla?” you ask, having swallowed the last of your second dumpling and washed it down with some strong black tea. “I hope General Rogers is doing well.”

“He most certainly is,” Artemis nods. “I see it as proof of the claim that the best person for any job tends to be the one who wants it least... he hates being in charge, but he has proven quite capable. Our own remaining... reigai, I believe you called them? They are doing well also.”

“That's good to hear,” you sigh, setting aside your cup. “Too often it's actually following through on a good idea that proves harder than fighting to allow it to happen.”

“Speaking from experience?” Shutara chimes in with a wry grin.

You cock an eyebrow at Halibel. “Unfortunately.”
>1/2

>>1203149
“Well then, I suppose I should begin by making good on my word,” you continue, a dish of beef chow mai fun sitting in front of you. It's not nearly as good as when Yoruichi makes it, but then again this is Yoruichi you're comparing it to. You've yet to run across someone who has quite the instinctive mastery of Chinese cookery or the long centuries of practice. “I promised you that I'd investigate the unusual density of reishi in the Soul Society, and I got my answer. Unfortunately things have been a little hectic on our end, so I've hardly had a chance to follow up with you.”

“For that I apologize.”

“You're going to simply tell her what I told you?” Ichibē asks sternly. “Had I known you would simply report to a foreign goddess I may not have been so forthcoming.

“You were hardly what I'd call 'forthcoming' anyway,” you frown, “and no, I'm not going to simply repeat. I plan to offer my own perspective.”

“The reason there is such great reishi density here is because Hueco Mundo originated here,” you explain to Artemis, whose eyes widen ever so slightly at the news. “There was a conflict between a Shintō god and a goddess, resulting in the Hollowfication process as a curse. My guess is that as Hueco Mundo expanded it drew reishi inward through the point where Hueco Mundo, the Soul Society, and the living world met: a planar convergence. When Heuco Mundo finally separated the force drawing reishi towards that spot disappeared, and so the reishi settled through Japan and the Soul Society.”

“That explains why barring wars and disasters hollow attacks are relatively rare outside of Japan,” Artemis reasons to herself. “Coyote will be interested to hear that.”

“That is also the most likely explanation for why Karakura town is even more spiritually-enriched,” you add, basing this off what Tenkotsuki and her mother have suspected. “That spot is closest to where it happened, where the membrane between realms is the thinnest and residual reishi concentrations are highest.”

>It also explains why we were the first to suffer another planar convergence.
>Ask whether the Valhallans have noticed any instabilities or unusual events within their turf.
>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.
>Other?

>>1203199
>>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.

>>1203199
>>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.

>>1203199
>It also explains why we were the first to suffer another planar convergence.
>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.

>>1203199
>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.

>>1203199
>Ask whether the Valhallans have noticed any instabilities or unusual events within their turf.
>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.
>Other: Show Artemis the photos of you in Skullclad form. She might get a laugh out of it.

>>1203199
>>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.

>>1203227
Oh, yes. Show her the skullclad pics.

>Recount every detail about your misadventure in Hell, see what Artemis makes of it before leaping to conclusions.
>Other: Show Artemis the photos of you in Skullclad form. She might get a laugh out of it.

“But really,” you continue over a plate of Okinawan pork rafute and grilled leeks, “the main reason I wanted to ask you to come here is due to a recent problem I encountered in the living world, at a place called Mount Osore.”

You then recount to Artemis your encounter with Hell, starting with the missing persons cases and continuing through your rescue of Lisa, then concluding with an account of how you used the powers granted to you by the Guardians to reverse Hell's accidental incursion into the living world. You even convince Yoruichi to share a photo of the 'Skull-Clad' form you temporarily took on, which she's been keeping on her phone. All the while Artemis' expression darkens.

“Disturbing news,” she mutters seriously over an empty plate. “Disturbing indeed. I can see why you requested my presence... this presents a threat to all of us, human, spirit, and god alike.”

Plates of herby goat's cheese and fruits arrive, including some umeboshi and dried persimmons from Gin's garden. The Monk glares at his cheese... perhaps he's lactose intolerant?

Whoops.

“These are quite good,” Artemis nods, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. “Where were they grown?”

“My adopted son grows these in his own Division's gardens,” you explain with a smile. “They're quite popular with Captains and Lieutenants, but this is the first time they've been complimented by a deity. Ill tell him you liked them and hope it doesn't go to his head.”

“Who, Gin?” Yoruichi smirks. “Not a chance. Salt of the earth, that boy.”

“Well, I must admit this is news to me,” Artemis continues, “and that I hardly know the best course of action for responding to such a dilemma. But I thank you for the warning. You were right to seek to disseminate this information.”

“Maybe if it gets spread far enough someone will have an answer,” you shrug, popping a persimmon into your mouth.

“The fabric of reality is a tricky thing even for a god,” Artemis admits with a distant expression on her face. “There must be a way to limit the damage at very least while searching out the cause... I will ask my cohort as soon as I return and make my report.”

“Thank you,” you nod quietly as a plate of matcha castella is placed in front of you by an attendant with a cup of cappuccino next to it. “To your health, Lady Artemis.”

“And to all of yours, my gracious hosts,” Artemis replies.
>1/2

>>1203360
>Plates of herby goat's cheese and fruits arrive, including some umeboshi and dried persimmons from Gin's garden. The Monk glares at his cheese... perhaps he's lactose intolerant?
GIN PLS.

>>1203360
“You did however mention that some force was responsible for creating Hueco Mundo in the first place,” Artemis eventually observes after the desert plates have been whisked away.

“I'll admit that was my first thought,” Yoruichi replies calmly over a sip of sweet potato shochū. “But our first hint that this was a more widespread problem was when one of our Captains realized that the Soul Society itself was expanding somehow.”

“Expanding?” Artemis frowns once more. “That's definitely possible... they say the entire universe as we know it is expanding some sixty-seven kilometers per second.”

>dice+3d10, best of three

Rolled 7, 3, 4 = 14 (3d10)

>>1203376

Rolled 3, 2, 1 = 6 (3d10)

>>1203376

Rolled 8, 6, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>1203376

>>1203381
>>1203380
>>1203379
so mediocre.....

Rolled 3, 7, 5 = 15 (3d10)

>>1203376
well might as well get my dice warmed up while I wait.

Rolled 8, 9, 8 = 25 (3d10)

>>1203402
To what, lukewarm?

>>1203376
“The whole universe is expanding...” you mutter, trying to focus as the wheels begin to turn in your mind. Tenkotsuki would be able to articulate the thought, but for you it's a struggle.

Finally, you manage to organize your thoughts into something resembling coherence. “Why do all the realms have fake moons?”

For a moment Yoruichi stares at you like you've lost your damn mind, and then she slowly realizes what you were trying to say. “Wait, I think you may be onto something there. What determines the limits of spiritual planes in the first place anyway?”

You gesture at her emphatically. “YES! That's it exactly, why weren't things colliding before, and why are the realms close enough to cross over at all?”

“We don't even really know all there is to know about the extent of the Soul Society,” Shutara admits with a frown of her own. “We know it's expansive but limited, and it doesn't end at the edge of the Rukongai.”

>Then we need to examine the end of the world.
>Maybe Urahara can shed some light on this.
>The answer may lay with the Dangai, the space in-between all the realms.
>We have a limited space available for study.
>Other?

>>1203437
>All of the above
Time for science, bitches

>>1203437
>The answer may lay with the Dangai, the space in-between all the realms.

>>1203437
>We have a limited space available for study.

>>1203437
>>The answer may lay with the Dangai, the space in-between all the realms.

>>1203437
>We have a limited space available for study.

>>1203437
>
>Other: We have a Valley of Screams anchored nearby.

>>1203495
That's the same as >>1203493
The Valley of Screams is a "limited space" in that it's bounded on all sides, and is much smaller than a full-sized plane. Just for clarification.

>>1203437
>>We have a limited space available for study.

>>1203437
>Some answers may lay with the Dangai, the space in-between all the realms. Even more might be found if we attempt to examine exactly how far the realms extend and how fast they are expanding.

>>1203437
>Then we need to examine the end of the world.
>Maybe Urahara can shed some light on this.

FIELD TRIP

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“Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way,” you frown, still deep in thought. “Maybe the answer doesn't lie with the planes but with the Dangai between them. It's notoriously difficult to study.”

“And we have the Seireitei's top expert rotting away in the Maggot's Nest,” Yoruichi realizes.

“You mean the one responsible for the Reigai attack?” Ichibē demands in a dangerous tone. “Certainly you cannot mean him.”

“The very same,” your wife sighs. “Unfortunately he's such a mess that even if we were inclined he might not be able to tell us anything.”

“It is an interesting alternative approach,” Artemis admits, setting aside her empty glass. “And there is some merit to it. By definition our understanding of the universe we live in does not extend outside of that universe.”

“We also have the Valley of Screams,” Halibel adds. “A space spontaneously born from the Dangai.”

“Wait, you have a Valley of Screams?” Artemis asks, staring at you in disbelief. “Is it stable? How long has it existed?”

"It was my home for a long while."

>Offer to take her there and let her check it out.
>Explain to her how the place came to be.
>Ask for Urahara to come along too with his equipment.
>Other?

>>1203565
Sorry, missed an option. Restart the vote linking to this post.
>Offer to take her there.
>Explain how the place was stabilized.
>Ask for Urahara to come along
>Pay Yushima a visit in the Maggot's Nest

>>1203565
>Offer to take her there and let her check it out.
>Explain to her how the place came to be.
>Ask for Urahara to come along too with his equipment.

>>1203565
>>Offer to take her there and let her check it out.
>>Explain to her how the place came to be.

>>1203565
>Offer to take her there and let her check it out.
>Ask for Urahara to come along too with his equipment.

>>1203576
>Offer to take her there.
>Explain how the place was stabilized.
>Ask for Urahara to come along

Asking Yushima probably won't get any results, imo, but i don't see any reason not to do the first 3 options together.

>>1203565
>Offer to take her there and let her check it out.
"It was my home for a long while."
Was that Halibel that said the quote?

>>1203576
>>Offer to take her there.
>>Ask for Urahara to come along

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>>1203600
Indeed.

>>1203565
>>Offer to take her there.
>>Explain how the place was stabilized.
>>Ask for Urahara to come along

>will start writing in a few minutes

>>1203576
>Offer to take her there.
>Explain how the place was stabilized.
>Ask for Urahara to come along

“Yeah, I stabilized it using a special tool we Captains sometimes use to redesign our barracks,” you explain. “Yoruichi and I noticed it was forming at just the right time, and so I made a few modifications. Overlaid it with the training chamber underneath my quarters.”

“You have a tool that can accomplish such a task?” Artemis asks in shock. “I suppose this is what happens when spiritual realms lose contact for such a long time.”

“Indeed,” Yoruichi nods. “My clan is in charge of many powerful artifacts which I doubt Valhalla knows about. Likewise I was surprised to learn the Lance of Longinus was a real thing... or rather, as real as any legendary object ever is.”

“May I see this space?” Artemis asks politely.

After a moment, you simply shrug. “I see no reason why not. Do our Royal Guards object?”

“We will need to accompany you of course,” Ichibē thinks aloud, “but I also see no obvious reasons to disagree.”

Leaving the tea house, you escort Artemis towards your home. “It's downstairs, please follow Yoruichi.”

Taking a moment to speak with Tenri, you request that she call Urahara over to examine the Valley of Screams more carefully to follow up on your guesswork. Then you join the rest off your party in the Valley itself.

“Bizarre,” Artemis muses, flexing her fingers thoughtfully. “I would like to make a request of you, Lady Kusajishi. Please try to alter the environment, even in some small fashion. In theory this space should respond to your will when you are using your power.”

>3d10, DC 18, Crit 24

Rolled 6, 3, 8 = 17 (3d10)

>>1203691

Rolled 5, 1, 4 = 10 (3d10)

>>1203691

Rolled 1, 9, 3 = 13 (3d10)

>>1203691
here goes

Rolled 7, 6, 10 = 23 (3d10)

>>1203691
SHIT

>>1203705
Welp, i'll take that as a sign that I should put away these dice for now

>>1203691
Is this best of four? We are technically merged with Tenkotsuki right now.

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>>1203712
>>1203694
>>1203699
>>1203705

>>1203705
Cunt.

>>1203691
So does this mean we fail to alter it, or did we alter it TOO much and destabilize it?

Rolled 8, 6, 4, 7 = 25 (4d10)

>>1203718
Technically yes, this should be a case of best of four and I didn't say otherwise in my own post.
>just doing QM things

>>1203738
That was a huge scare man. Thank you for the mercy.

>>1203738
WHEW. Boy am I glad to hear that! We're shy of a crit, but given circumstances I'm thankful.

Also, those are good rolls. I hope they're one of ours. Like Yoruichi deciding to decorate our home away from home.

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>>1203738
With some concentration and a lot of effort, you're able to force a nearby tree to slowly send out buds which bloom into lovely, colorful flowers. Shutara examines one of them carefully, even giving it a tentative sniff.

“So it's morphic and responds to Captain Kusajishi's command,” she observes, still cradling the flower in her hand. “That is unsurprising. We know she has shinreiryoku and that she was involved in stabilizing this place.”

“Now, Lady Shihōin...” Artemis frowns slightly as she addresses your wife. “I understand you've sought to conceal this development, but it is crucial that you try to achieve something similar. I wish to know exactly how my current theory matches with reality.”

Yoruichi shuts her eyes, and for a moment you wonder if anything is going to happen. But to Shutara's shock and Ichibē's obvious anger, the flower in Shutara's hand ages and is slowly replaced by a tropical fruit. Yoruichi's eyes eventually open, and although she looks tired it's obvious that she realizes what she's accomplished.

“Well I'll be damned,” she mutters, still trying to come to terms with it.

“When?” Ichibē demands.

“That is of no concern to you, Monk,” Artemis insists sternly. “Yes, we know your epithet. Several of us hoped some good would come of such a measure, and it did not take long for our faith in these Captains to pay off. I can now safely say that since I have been unable to produce similar results, there is in fact a limit to who can affect a plane of existence and the degree to which they can do so.”

>Clarify that. What do you mean?
>Great, but how does that apply to the situation?
>Did you really need to out Yoruichi like that?
>Other?

>>1203800
>Are you saying that yoruichi and i are the goddesses of this realm?
>Did... Did we create a universe?

>>1203800

>Clarify that. What do you mean?

>>1203800
>\>Great, but how does that apply to the situation?

>>1203800
Did we accidentally create a new realm, that we may be the deities of?

>>1203800

>Clarify that. What do you mean?

Okay, time for the married couple to officialy christen (not that we're Christian) their new honeymoon bungaloo. Which they can alter to be whatever locale they want.

We have the best digs.


Y'know I remember something mentioned about the Royal Guard being able to look into parallel universes and in some of them Riku went kinda crazy and took over the universe, to the point where hers needed to be quarantined off or something?

I'll bet you that universe was one where Riku did not give up the King's Key.

>>1203800

>Great, but how does that apply to the situation?
>Did you really need to out Yoruichi like that?

>>1203800
>Great, but how does that apply to the situation?

So because we were responsible for stabilizing this universe, we have some control over it. Presumably the Soul King controls Soul Society, who controls Hueco Mundo and the Human World then? Presumably the Goddess who made the Hollow curse controls Hueco in some fashion? Or is she dead? Or does death even have a place in this conundrum?

>>1203849
>universe
I meant pocket dimension.

>>1203800
>Great, but how does that apply to the situation?

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>>1203849
This is quite a bombshell.
I think we may have accidentally a few keikakus deep without realizing it.

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>>1203849
We have a winner.

>>1203876
>we have a winner
Wait, because she's dead. her realm is out of control?
That's why it's expanding?

Fuck, how do we gain some measure of control over it, then?
maybe we shouldn't have nuked the oin

>>1203884
She made the curse after she died. She's less dead than she should be.

>>1203884
>Fuck, how do we gain some measure of control over it, then?
Promote Halibel

>>1203888
I thought it was a curse created by her death, an "i curse you forever with my last breath" sort of deal, which usually is a pretty fucking bad curse by any standard, but this one was created by a dying goddess, so it's that much worse.

>>1203892
...That might work.
Don't tell monk.

>>1203866
If you realize it before it springs, is it even really a keikaku?

>>1203906
This keikaku began over a hundred years ago, though.

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>>1203876
>>1203884
>>1203888
>mfw


So the next step would be confirming that she's still alive and causing the planar convergence, At least I think. As far as control, I don't think WE specifically want control of Hueco, Harribel would make a better replacement imo.

>>1203876
I dearly hope we speak this deduction out loud, just to give the Monk more aneurysms.

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>>1203876
“Wait... don't tell me that's where you were going with this?” you slowly realize as the implications of Artemis' experiment become clearer to you. “It's because I stabilized this place, and Yoruichi helped, that we have some measure of control over it and you don't? Which means that planes of existence only recognize those who had a hand in shaping them, and respond accordingly?”

“That is precisely what I was trying to learn,” Artemis explains, scratching her chin pensively. “And it seems that is the only possibility consistent with the results.”

“And so that means that a very limited number of people could be responsible for what's going on between the planes,” Yoruichi concludes. “In our case it would be the Soul King... or rather, should I say Izanagi?”

“The god responsible for creating Japan,” you muse, recalling some of the basic concepts of Shintō. “Except he didn't create Japan, did he? He created an afterlife realm and tied it to Japan, together with his wife Izanami who would go on to create Hueco Mundo.”

“Then it seems you've figured it out,” Ichibē muses, his expression unreadable. “Too bad, you would have lived a happier life not knowing the Soul King's identity.”

“Is that a threat?” Halibel asks, her finger finding the quillons of Tiburón's crossguard.

“It is a simple, objective statement of fact,” Ichibē replies calmly. “You have been one piece of evidence short of this realization for a while now, it was bound to happen sooner or later. But now I must ask what you intend to do?”

Artemis shuts her eyes, resolutely staying out of the discussion at hand. Her job it seems has been accomplished, and her position in the matter is clear: she's an outsider. She may have her own preference were it to come to blows between you and Ichibē, but it's not her fight.

“That depends,” Yoruichi replies, glaring daggers at the Monk. “How much more about the situation do you know that you're not telling us?”

“We don't know his intentions,” Shutara admits, stepping between your party and her senior. “We never have, nor will we ever. In fact I cannot say for certain whether this is a result of Izanagi's absence or his will. I cannot even rule out the possibility that he set this into motion long ago, that it's a part of his plan continuing on independently long after he was sealed.”

>There's only one way to find out, and you know it.
>It could still have another cause unrelated to him.
>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.
>Other?

>>1203936
>Why don't we just ask?

>>1203950
That would be the same as
>There's only one way to find out

The implication there is unsealing him.

>>1203936
>There's only one way to find out, and you know it.

>>1203954
There you go, then.
i haven't read enough bleach to know what doing that would mean for us
captcha: ponte strawberry

>>1203936
>Aizen is Izanagi 2.0
>The Keikaku has reached unforeseen levels of wtf.

My mind is full of fuck.
I need to research Shintoism
>one brief wiki article later.....

>There's only one way to find out, and you know it.

>>1203936

"What if we have another God steal control from him? Susano as the xhildren of both could do it... and he is kind of always switching jobs."

>>1203936
>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.

>>1203963
At this point nobody knows, it's just down to the Royal Guard to ensure it doesn't happen.

>>1203994

Susanoo is basically the guy in Japanese mythology that changes jobs and options like other people change clothes. If anyone could steal control from his parents, is him.

Unless he is playing the bad guy this time... he does that sometimes.

>>1203994
So monk say no, but we're in the dark if we don't.
It's either fight the royal guard, which is a really bad idea, or else stumble around until we solve this hardy boys mystery on our own somehow.

Soul king isn't the only god around, we should put our heads together with the other gods and goddesses before we commit to making ourselves the enemies of such powerful shinigami.

>>1203950
>>1203994
>>1203936

In that case, i vote we
>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.

>>1203965
>>1203994
In that case unsealing him might be the wrong way to go about this, especially with how little info we actually have. Changing to

>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.

>>1203936
>It could still have another cause unrelated to him.
>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.

>>1203936
>>1204015
Also,
>Who originally sealed Izanagi?

>>1204026
And why.
I don't actually know why soul king is sealed at all.

>>1204031
We do know that not ALL of him is sealed, Mimihagi is a prime example.

>>1204038
Mimihagi was a part of him?
He escaped into the aether when Arturo attacked...

If we find him somehow, perhaps we could ask him instead of the king's main body.
We would also be able to restore ukitake to life in doing so.
I'm sure kyoraku and ukitake's division would be grateful.

>>1203936
Jesus christ this has so many implications that it's insane.
Yhwach was SK's son as well in canon, which we don't know, but Aizen DID absorb him.
We know not all of the SK is bound since Mimihagi and his other hand are around.
Idk what else there might be that's going on but im sure there's plenty of stuff i haven't thought about yet.

>>1203936
>It could still have another cause unrelated to him.
>Then I suggest we find a way to figure out the truth.
>Other: Is Izanagi wholly sealed? There could be some parts of him running around causing a ruckus. Just like how I'm just a small facet of Inari.

I gotta take a fat dump
Don't kill us all before i get back, i at least want to watch while it happens

>>1204068
>Yhwach was SK's son as well in canon, which we don't know, but Aizen DID absorb him.
JESUS. We can't let Aizen get full control over his divine bits. If Soul King created Seireitei, that means Aizen has some "divine right" to rule over it.

We were also Quincy when we were alive, which means we were related to Yhwach as well, and by extent the SK as well, I think.

>>1204110

And by our sword we are the daughter of certain fox goddess.

So basically "the final enemy is family!?"

>>1204090
More importantly, we cannot let him find out about the significance of his heritage.

Our saving grace may be that in Hueco Mundo he....wait. Shit. Presumably Ywach was also daughter to Izanami. So he might be able to find out about his reality warping powers in Hueco Mundo, AND he has the home field advantage in SS or HM.

SHIT

>>1204138
>Yhwach
>Daughter
I lol'd.

>>1204138
No, he was explicitly half divine heritage. Could be worse, we could be dealing with Gilgamesh "3/4ths divine 100% bullshit"

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“Who sealed him in the first place?” you press, sensing that for once Ichibē is in a genuine mood to answer your questions. “And why?”

“The strangest thing is that he could only have sealed himself,” the Monk recounts. “It was shortly after the birth of his son, Yhwach, to a mortal woman. For some reason his own limbs rebelled against him, and he was forced to place himself inside a seal to survive. It is our task to keep him inside that seal at all costs, because in this state he continues to serve his role as the lynchpin of the Soul Society without any undue complications born of being a willful, imperfect being.”

“And you never asked questions beyond that,” Halibel summarizes.

Ichibē shakes his head. “Why would we? The Seireitei is dedicated to balance and stability, our duties in this situation are clear.”

“I was briefly considering waking him up and asking what was going on,” you muse, drawing a sharp stare from the Monk and an uneasy look from Shutara. “But having shared that information with me, that seems like less of a good idea. While I'm certainly not afraid of what might happen, I cannot simply hope for the best.”

“A wise decision,” Shutara nods. “I'll admit, I would prefer to keep counting you as an ally, Captain Kusajishi.”

“Wait a moment,” Halibel frowns. “Lady Riku, didn't you mention that Aizen took someone's power?”

Oh.

Oh shit no.

“He took Yhwach's power,” Yoruichi sighs, her forehead resting against her hand. “If he figures out how to utilize it, then we're in even worse trouble than we thought.”

“Because that gives him a sort of divine right over the Seireitei,” Shutara realizes in a flash. “All he would need to do is eliminate the Soul King.”

“So that's his plan,” you frown. “He really would be at the top of the food chain then. And for a man like that to stand at the top is bad news for anyone below him.”

“That bad?” Artemis asks.

You nod. “That bad. He has no regard for anything he considers beneath him, and as the principle deity of a spiritual realm...”

“Almost everything would be beneath him.”
>1/2

>>1204147
D'OH

You are right to lol, imagining that is hilarious.

>>1204158
Looks like you're right though, so whew, one bullet dodged.

Maybe now, if Ichibē hadn't realized this like Shutara hadn't, he'll be a little more worried about Aizen and a little less about getting on our case.

>>1204160
“Then we need to figure out a way to confirm our suspicions first and foremost,” you insist quietly. “Gradually eliminate the impossible until only the truth remains.”

“I will return to Valhalla and open a formal inquiry,” Artemis declares. “We will do our part, not to pay off our debts but for the benefit of all beings. Of that you can be certain.”

“Thank you,” you nod to her in response. “As for us, we need to decide on how to deal with Aizen. His rise to power became that much more critical an issue.”

“Well, what do you think?” Yoruichi asks with a shrug.

>We need to prepare to strike first, on our own terms.
>We have to double down on our defensive preparations.
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.
>Other?

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>>1204160
>NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO -Everyone present

>>1204198
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.

So how long until Aizen starts nomming other fallen deities or just outright killing weaker ones still in power to grow stronger then realizing he can do wacky keikaku shit in those places?

>>1204198
>>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.

>We also need to find Mihmagi, soon.

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>>1204198
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.
>We need a keikaku

>>1204198
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.
>We need to find the children of Izanagi and try to make allies of as many of them as possible. Likewise, we should figure out where his other body parts have gone off to, Aizen may already be pursuing them in a similar way, either to ally them or absorb them.

>>1204160
I think I know why SK's limbs rebelled.

He probably made some kind of oath or promise to Izanami, and the terms of which lasted even past her death. Most likely related to him being faithful to her.

Both being gods, at the time neither considered either of them dying. So when the SK has another kid after his wife has died, BAM. Terms of the deal kicked in not long after.

Now that Ywach is dead it's possible those terms may not be enforced on him, but....we can't be sure that's true, or that Yhwach is dead enough.
Now let's all be thankful Arturo didn't get to eat Mimihagi, and give us another demigod with ambitions of taking over an entire realm.

You know what?

I think I'm starting to see where Ichibē is coming from.

>>1204198

"Do you know where I can find Susanoo?"

>>1204233
I kinda can too. What I don't understand is his lack of initiative in any way. But perhaps it's because he isn't divine, he doesn't see it particularly as his duty to be involved.

>>1204233
>I think I'm starting to see where Ichibē is coming from.
Personally, i think there's just way too many divine artifacts floating around from the ancient era.

They need to be wiped out to prevent them from falling into the hands of assholes where possible.

>>1204198
>We need to prepare to strike first, on our own terms.
>>1204234
THIS.
>Do you know where I can find Susanoo?

>>1204269
There's too much EVERYTHING floating around. This whole situation seems totally FUBAR when you think about the fact that potentially the entire Japanese pantheon and everything they've ever made is involved.

>>1204286
This shit is NOT BALANCED.
Time to be a shinigami.

>>1204198
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.

>>1204198
>We need a third alternative, something he won't expect.

>writing the last update for the night
I need some sleep, so I'll be back with SoZ tomorrow at 10am PST and SSQ afterwards.

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>>1204355
RIP

>>1204355
don't leave us hanging too hard, you bastard!
this is getting really goddamn good!

>>1204355
“Attacking him early might just be playing into his plans,” you muse, “but waiting just gives him time to prepare. So what we really need is a plan. A third option that he hasn't considered yet, or that he's discounted.”

“Well then, I guess we should really get started,” Yoruichi muses. “I need to change. Can I use your office, Riku?”

“Of course,” you nod. “Feel free, I'll see our guests off.”

“The two of us need to return to oversee the training of your fellow Captains,” Ichibē explains to excuse himself. “You three now know something quite dangerous. I would ask that you be judicious about who you share these details with.

“Thank you for your consideration,” Artemis bows politely. “Back to this Senkaimon of yours?”

After several minutes of breakneck sprinting, you and Artemis reach the portal. You take several minutes to align it properly, and finally open the portal itself.

“I will accompany you,” you offer. “In light of recent... developments, I do not think deities should be traveling alone between realms. I have already been interrupted while in transit once by an arrancar serving Aizen.”

“More disturbing news to disseminate,” Artemis sighs. “I almost regret coming here.”

“Almost?” you ask.

Artemis nods. “Almost. And as brief as it was, I must admit the Seireitei does live up to expectations. I would welcome the opportunity to return... ideally under more pleasant circumstances.”

“Let's kill Aizen and save the universe first,” you chuckle. “Then we'll see.”

After escorting Artemis back to her own realm then returning to the Seireitei, you seal both of your zanpakutos and immediately pass out on the couch in your office.

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>>1204391
And that's it for tonight. I'll be back to continue tomorrow, and thanks for participating!

Archive is up on sup/tg/, and keep an eye on Twitter in case of updates/unexpected developments. Also feel free to post questions/comments here and I'll get around to them tomorrow.

>>1204410
On a scale of 10 to Yes, how mad is Ichibē?

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>>1204410
Was this Artemis' face as soon as the portal closed behind her and she was alone?

>>1204494
>>1204410
On a scale of 10 to Yes, how relieved is Shutara that they didn't have to try and kill us just now?

>>1204410
Questions:
To Queen:
>Significant Pastebin change? This was some pretty heavy stuff in regards to how it affects the Royal Guard's opinions on Riku. Ichibe especially.
>So what color/patterned outfit did Halibel wear for the meeting?
To Artemis, Ichibe, Shutara, Riku, Halibel, Yoruichi:
>Please give a review to the food and service you had during the diplomatic meal as if you were in a restaurant. Include High points, Low points, what you think could improve on the service, as well as a star rating between 1 and 5 stars.

To Ichibē:
>Dairy products? Your wan weakness!? I can sympathize... I pray you do not have any other allergies. It be a shame if someone found out
>I hope you haven't been too complacent in your duties to the point where you forgot parts of a long unused protocol, it's telling when a reincarnation of a goddess has to remind you proper divine Etiquette and diplomacy. Good thing she covered your ass. It would've been messy if she didn't remind you. You would've been smote on the spot when Artemis walked through the door.

Artemis:
>The striking difference between Seireitei and Valhalla really makes you feel like a mortal American Tourist visiting Japan don't you think? Aside from the diplomatic contents and conversations, please give a review of your diplomatic trip as if you were a tourist. What was some of your favorite parts of the tour? Do you wish you could've brought back souvenirs?

General Rogers:
>So now that you've had time to settle down into your promoted position, is being a General worth the paygrade? Is there any perk to the position that makes you feel that it's not worth the paygrade? If you had the option to replace your military rank with any of your choosing, what would it be and why?

Urahara:
>Who's manning the candy store in Kurakara town? Tessai? You better go visit that place once in a while to make sure it hasn't gone to shit!

Gin:
>Do you hold a secret prank war in your division?
>I saw what you did behind those scenes. How did you get ahold of the Monk's secret weakness? Good boy.
Tenri:
>Riku passed out on the couch. Please prepare a futon and tuck her in proper. The Diplomatic meeting wore her out much more than she expected.

Yoruichi:
>So how weird is it to actually use the 3% divine part to make a tropical fruit in the Valley of Screams?
>Does this help you gain an insight as to what goes on in Riku's mind/body whenever she's in Bankai?
Shutara:
>What was the fruit that Riku and Yoruichi grew in the Valley of springs during their (small) demonstration of exerting divine will over reality?

Halibel:
>Well that was a first. Wearing fancy clothes and meeting a Greco-Roman God, how were the clothes that you wore? Did it make you feel pretty? Was it uncomfortable to wear? Who were the brave souls that helped you into that outfit? or did Tenri help you out with that?

>>1203366
is there a reference I'm' missing?

>>1206803
Gin is a master prankster. It was no accident that the Monk's bane and Gin's persimmons ended up on the same plate.

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>>1205418
Queen:
>There will be
>Nothing gaudy, but with brighter, more floral patterns than Yoruichi's. The latter is after all a married woman.
All, in order:
>I would give a solid 5 stars, though I was rather looking forward to sashimi I also understand Lady Kusajishi's aim.
>.. it was rather good, wasn't it? Damn, of course that Kusajishi woman would keep a staff of chefs.
>I'd give it 5 stars, personally. Am I to understand the chefs were mostly retired officers who still wanted to serve in some way?
>Simpler meals suit me better.
>Not really fair to ask me, is it?
Ichibee
>I do not like the implications.
>It is a protocol which to my knowledge has never been employed. Knowledge that cannot be used has no purpose.
Artemis:
>In a certain sense, yes. I wish I had more time to see the sights, but the Ninth Division's gardens were quite lovely enough to consider it a 'day trip'.
Rogers:
>No and no. Though I must admit finally having a cadre of personal subordinates and clerks is nice, I only wish I had less cause to rely on them.
Urahara:
>It should be Tessai still? Though you have a point of course. The difficulty of being a Captain is one's focus is always on other things.
Gin:
>I can neither confirm nor deny.
>Oh, I have my sources. Miss Shutara told me
Tenri:
>That woman... it's like having a child. I'm not certain she even knows how to slow down.
Yoruichi
>It felt like a lot of effort for little reward.
>But it did give me that much. It's an uncomfortable, alien feeling, and a heavier responsibility than I'd imagined.
Shutara:
>I believe it is called a "star fruit".
Halibel:
>Mostly uncomfortable, and Lady Yoruichi helped me with the obi. It seems quite difficult to do it for oneself.

>>1205032
11.
>>1204494
11.

>>1204508
>pic related when she realizes how her cohort will likely respond

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>>1207889
Kek, that was quite a tense situation and could have easily been a huge fucking disaster.
>mfw i thought we were the ones in the dark when the gods knew fuck all

I hope most of the gods respond well to the news, as dire as it is.
Maybe we'll get some serious support now that they know they're all in danger.

>>1207889
So if the salt generated from Yamamoto was enough to supply the entirety of Seireitei for 1 whole year, how much salt will a slew of foreign gods generate when they find out Japan screwed with the entire world? Enough to fill the Pacific ocean twice over?

>>1208440
>That's no moon

>>1208450
Dear god. That much? I hope they drop it in a controlled manner as to not create massive collateral.

>>1208450

so that's where Hueco Mundos moon came from!

>>1209239
wrong quest boss

>>1208450
>>1209239

This is not the update you're looking for. Move along.

>>1209239
rip

Okay, now I'm actually INTENTIONALLY switching gears. Be back in a bit.

When you eventually awaken, you're not sure at first what day it even is.

“Hey, Rangiku,” you grumble, fishing a slice of toast out of the toaster as your daughter joins you downstairs. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours,” she replies, sitting at the kitchen table with two cups of coffee. Good girl.

“You were out cold, so Tenri called me and I put you in bed,” Rangiku explains with a grin on her face. “That's how you know you're getting old, when instead of your parents tucking you in it's the other way around.”

“Then we've still got some day to kill,” you insist. “How are Kuchiki and Arisawa doing?”

“Arisawa went home for a break,” your daughter informs you. “Kuchiki is asleep after pulling an Achilles tendon.”

“Oh,” you mutter, deflating somewhat. “Well... maybe... something else?”

“There's always paperwork,” Rangiku shrugs. “Nothing's going on today. Nothing at all.”

“Nothing at all?” you repeat.

Your daughter shakes her head. “Nope, nothing.”

The distant sound of an explosion tells you that's not necessarily accurate. Rangiku's expression darkens.

“Not. One. Thing,” she repeats, clenching her fists.

>Rangiku...
>Okay, fine. There has to be a reason behind this.

>>1209482
>>Rangiku...

>>1209482
>>Rangiku...

>>1209482
>Rangiku...

>>1209482
>Rangiku...

>>1209482
>Rangiku...

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>>1209482
You're not left with much choice, so you decide the time is right to dust off an old and incredibly powerful technique: the 'disbelieving mom stare'. Rangiku knows that look perfectly well. You don't have to say a thing because she hears the exact word in the exact tone that goes with that stare, and she's hearing it in her head at this very moment. For a moment she resists, but only for a moment.

Rangiku sighs. “Our arrancar friends are training. They told me that they were going to keep it down while you were asleep, but it's great to see that lasted less than a half hour.”

“And you tried to keep that information from me?” you ask with a skeptical eyebrow.

“Because I assumed you'd need some actual rest rather than running off to go be you for the rest of the day,” she explains before taking a swig of coffee.

“I'm fine,” you insist. “I just used up a lot of reiatsu all at once, and the mental strain is a pain. That's all. Nothing a quick nap won't solve!”

Rangiku doesn't seem entirely convinced, but when you finish your coffee she makes no attempt to stop you. Another loud boom accompanies an attack of some sort by Halibel, judging by the reiatsu involved.

“Hey!” you call out as you approach the training field. “I thought you were supposed to keep it down out here?”

“Captain?” Halibel inquires, turning to face you. She's in her released form, as are her three associates. Apacci seems to have been through the wringer, but Sung-Sun and Mila Rose look absolutely ragged from exertion.

“My apologies, but this is quiet for us,” she continues. “And you do have a habit of sleeping through things easily.”

“You would too if you'd been through the Great War,” you muse. “So what's going on out here?”

“Perhaps you should explain, Apacci,” Halibel insists, using her arm-blade to motion Apacci to the fore. “I am still not wholly convinced of your reasoning.”

“Well, I figured since a shinigami's zanpakuto always has two stages of release,” Apacci explains, allowing her own weapons to rest at her hips, “shouldn't ours as well?”

That's actually not an unfair assumption now that you think about it, but there's a difference between 'fair' and 'realistic': just because you can see the line of thought doesn't mean there's necessarily any validity to it.

>I'm not sure that's how it would work, because you don't REALLY use shikai either.
>It's possible. How have you been trying to go about figuring that out?
>I assume the first thing you tried was jinzen?
>Other?

>>1209623
>>It's possible. How have you been trying to go about figuring that out?

>>1209623
>>I assume the first thing you tried was jinzen?

>>1209623
>I assume the first thing you tried was jinzen?

We should take it easy for the rest of the day, but talking isn’t any great effort.

>>1209623
>It's possible. How have you been trying to go about figuring that out?
>I assume the first thing you tried was jinzen?

>>1209623
>It's possible. How have you been trying to go about figuring that out?

>>1209623
>I'm not sure that's how it would work, because you don't REALLY use shikai either.
>It's possible. How have you been trying to go about figuring that out?

It may work differently, but there may well be a different kind of release.
Maybe instead of going up a notch, they go sideways?
Not stronger, just different?

>writing

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>>1209772
“I see the line of reasoning there,” you admit, stroking your chin thoughtfully. “I presume that you started with jinzen?”

Apacci looks at you sheepishly. “Well... none of us really know how to do it.”

“You don't know how to meditate?” you ask calmly. “Well, luckily for you I'm here. It's possible that you can't actually perform jinzen because nobody's home, but we'll find that out soon enough.”

You take a seat across from your companions, who also sit still in their released forms. It's not immediately clear to you how this should work exactly, so you set your own swords at your sides and consider the problem. They already know how to release their zanpakuto, and can do it instinctively. So for them, it stands to reason that the best effect for their own form of jinzen would be performed while they're in Resurreción.

“So... like this?” Halibel asks, shifting her weight into seiza. “Should we remain released?”

“I think so,” you nod. “Try not to focus on anything aside from your breathing. Just focus on that. Let your eyes rest but don't keep them closed, let your head rest forward slightly but don't overcorrect either way. Just... relax. And breath. Turn your focus inward.”

An in moments, you're inside your own inner world. The terrain is familiar, though no less striking as the azure flames flicker all around.

“Welcome back, Lady Riku,” Tenkotsuki greets you. Rosa sits silently next to her, either asleep or totally relaxed. “For your information I am unsure whether your companions have succeeded as well.”

“No?” you ask.

Tenkotsuki shakes her head. “As I said, I am unsure. But I also would like to suggest something to you.”

“Oh?” you ask. “Go on then.”

“You recall I wished to teach you the final numbered Hadō? I still have that desire.”

“I'm in the process of recovering,” you tell her. “I don't think now is a good time.”

“You are already in our inner world,” Tenkotsuki observes. “It would be a better time than most, and I am certain your companions outside would not begrudge you this.”

>Okay... I'll take the time.
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.
>Other?

>>1209920
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

>>1209920
>>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
>>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
And it hurts to say this, but I literally nodded off while I was writing. So this has to be the end for now. I'll post one more update tomorrow and a couple of omakes to make up for it.

Thanks for turning out as brief as it was, and look forward to the next week's session. I'll update on twitter, and the pastebin should go up some time before then as well.

>>1209920
>>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
>Could we do it later? I should have the rest of the day off.

>>1209959
that falls under
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside

>>1209920
>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

>>1209920
>Okay... I'll take the time.


>You take a seat across from your companions, who also sit still in their released forms.
But... Sung Sun is a snake lady, how did she sit down?

>>1209920

>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

Let's not overdo things.

>>1209920
>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

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>>1210399
this will be in the archive forever

>>1209936
Unless it's plot-relevant, I'd like to request an Omake for the current status of the Urahara shop.

>>1209920
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

>>1209920
>Okay... I'll take the time.

>>1209920
>Sorry, but I'm expected outside.

>will post the update before I go to sleep

>>1212761
“Sorry, Tenkotsuki,” you bow, completely sincere in your gesture. “I really do want to learn what you can teach me, but I'm running on fumes and I'm expected outside. So I don't think I have the time or the energy to spare.”

“I'll be back in a little while, once I have time to rest.”

For a moment you're not sure what Tenkotsuki's response is going to be. Then, she sighs exhaustedly. “May I confide in you for a moment?”

Taken a bit by surprise, you nod your head. Tenkotsuki never speaks of such things, she's normally far too proud... which means whatever it is she's about to say is something you need to hear. “Of course.”

“I am not normally given towards shows of weakness like this, however I must admit that... I have no plan for this, Lady Riku. And that fact unnerves me.”

“What do you mean no plan?” you ask, not totally sure what she means. “I never have a plan, why should you hold yourself to a higher standard than that?”

“Because for a long time I did have a plan,” she admits quietly. “Or at least I believed I did. I wanted to grow stronger together with you, little by little, until you were able to truly wield our power against any foe fool enough to threaten your new existence as a shinigami... and my own as your zanpakuto.”

“Our enemies are so numerous now... Aizen Sōsuke and his army, possibly the Royal Guard if we make a misstep, even Izanagi and Izanami if our theories prove correct. I could not possibly have foreseen such a result barely two hundred years after our meeting. I had hoped we would have more time, however at best we have but a few months.”

“Come on now,” you scold your zanpakuto. “We're not in this alone. Yoruichi, my kids, all our Divisions, Artemis, Coyote... so many of us realize now that we're all in it together. Even if one of us can't find a way forward another of us will, and between us we're unstoppable.”

“Your blind optimism never ceases to amaze me, Lady Riku,” Tenkotsuki sighs with a smile on her face. “But at the same time that is what I like about you. What you deem needs to be done, you find a way to do.”

“A la vittoria, o tutti accoppati,” you shrug, repeating the old mantra. “Either we win, or we all die. Since I refuse to let everyone die, I just have to do everything in my power to win. It's as simple as that.”

With a grim chuckle, you come to a realization. “You know how to cast Hadō 99 yourself, correct?”

“Of course,” Tenkotsuki replies calmly.

“Then I have an idea...”

>>1212984
>“Then I have an idea...”
Oh my.... This gon be gud in the next session. Thanks Queen.

>>1212984
>Hug Tenkotsuki.

Yes, I know a vote wasn’t called for, but who’s with me anyway?

>>1213005
>>1212984
yes. hug the fox. And our past persona.

>>1213023
Rosa's gonna be so tsun. it's gonna be great

>>1215422
So tsun she hugs you back to deny you the reaction.

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- OMAKE: 7 through 9 -
>Today we're gonna continue our introduction to the Captains of the Gotei 13... BG9, you wanna weigh in at all?
>Negative.
>Aw, come on! I had the set rebuilt an' everything!
>You erected it in my manor.
>Don't be that way, Captain Kuchiki. After all you were the one who destroyed it in the first place... jeez, what were you thinkin' using Bankai like that? I really thought I was gonna die.
>Superfluous drama detected.
>Anyway, we were up to Seven, right? That'd be Captain Komamura Sajin, a guy who was always super dedicated to Head Captain Yamamoto... rest his old bones.
>Admirable... in a hound.
>Wolf, BG9. Anyway his zanpakuto Tenken's focused pretty much entirely on offensive power and scale. In some ways he's a one-trick pony...
>Wolf, Ichimaru.
>... but if he hits you with that trick it's curtains. Eighth Division's new Captain is Shiba Kaoru, who's also the head of the Kidō Corps.
>Zanpakuto ability: metamagic.
>True, actually. Her zanpakuto operates kinda like a tuning fork, either enhancing or interfering with kidō. Her Bankai allows her flawless control of those frequencies in exchange for never bein' able to attack an enemy directly.
>Weakness detected.
>It's in a Captain's nature to rely on their subordinates... and I'd bet she has a way or two to get around that pesky little clause. That's also in a Captain's nature.
>Especially true of Ninth Division.
>Captain Kusajishi Riku leads that one... kinda infamous for skirtin' round the rules.
>Infamous, huh? Some way to talk about your own mother, brat.
>Ah, speak of the devil. Captain Kusajishi, mind tellin' these lovely people about your Division?
>Why? Aren't they the ones making all the decisions?
>They're not writing the dialog.
>I guess... this is all getting too meta for my tastes.
>Fourth wall status: nominal.
>Well, the rumors are all true... sort of. I've got this thing called an 'inner hollow' that I forged into a second zanpakuto, so the rumor about me being 'part hollow' is only sort of true. I do work with a lot of hollows though, if you think arrancar are still hollows.
>Debatable.
>Tia Halibel, everyone. Summarizing stuff in five words or fewer since 1900.
>Admirable.
>Thank you, BG9.
>Wow, we got through three without the set blowin' up... guess we should quit while we're ahead, right? Bye bye!
>Now would you mind leaving my manor before I have you escorted out?

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- OMAKE: Mastery -
“Cast it,” Yoruichi orders.

With a sigh, Kaoru casts Dankū again. The shimmering translucent wall springs into existence between the two Captains. “You really mean to keep going, don't you?”

“Of course,” Yoruichi nods, the look in her eyes one of grim determination. “So I broke a few fingers last time, nothing a quick soak didn't fix. If I quit training every time it hurt do you really think I'd have gotten where I am now?”

“Probably not, but would settling every once in a while...”

“Yes,” Yoruichi interrupts, throwing a powerful punch at the barrier. “Even if it didn't literally kill me, it could easily get me killed... or worse, someone who's counting on me.”

“And besides, would you ever 'settle' when it comes to kidō?”

“No, I suppose not,” Kaoru admits. “That is after all why I was made Tessai's replacement.”

“And this is what similar dedication to mastery of hakuda looks like,” Yoruichi continues, her fists and feet pummeling the barrier in front of her. Despite their obvious power they're not breaking through, regardless of where on the barrier she strikes or what angle her attacks land at. All she manages to do is raise dark bruises all over her lower arms and make for an impressive lightshow as the Dankū shimmers and crackles with each strike.

“That being said, isn't this impossible even for you?” Kauru muses. “Dankū is specifically designed to stop anything short of a nineties-level hadō. To breach it by wailing on it without even using shunkō... I mean if anyone can do it it'd be you, but still.”

Yoruichi simply stares at the offending wall of kidō like a lioness watching a gazelle graze. “Even when I use shunkō with the Heihuquan hand techniques, hierro blunts my attacks. I can only fight at half effectiveness if my hakuda won't work, so I have to devise a counter.”

“It certainly must be annoying to punch someone who's effectively wearing body armor,” Kaoru sighs, taking a seat on a nearby rock as Yoruichi pauses. “I mean, I can just set 'em on fire if it comes down to it.”

“Like body armor, huh?” Yoruichi muses, glancing down at her bruised hand and making a flat fist. “Gotcha.”

Kaoru doesn't quite manage to catch what the mistress of the Onmitsukidō does next, at least not with her right hand, but the punch thoroughly shatters Dankū without relying on shunkō. Despite the fact that her hand is now in tatters, Yoruichi's grinning like an idiot the whole time Kaoru's working on healing her.

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>>1215894
Something something magic shockwaves?

>>1215938
decrease surface area, concentrate all power through a single focused point of contact and BAM. you can pierce armor.

>>1216051
Not quite. What she just did exploits a common problem for armor design, particularly modern body armor: it generally can't stand repeated strikes to the same spot. Essentially she's learning how to strike against hierro in such a way that the second blow exploits the vulnerability created by the first.

>>1216102
So she ATATATATATATATATATA'd the danku?

>>1216102
Mastery of two layers?

>>1216102
>>1216121
>>1216102

Twin Tailed Scorpion Fist? Eight Trigrams Two Palms? Two Finger Death Punch? Dim Mak?

>>1216145
Similar, but in this case there really is a physical property that the first punch serves to neutralize.

>>1212027
Since this IS a little bit plot-sensitive I'll open up for suggestions for one more omake.

>>1216806
Seiretei Court guard Olympics? (captains and LT's are not allowed to participate after the javelin toss incident)

>>1216814
>Central 46 (mental) gymnastics?

>>1216814
The javelin toss incident.

>>1216814
A proper backstory for one or more of the prisoners?

>>1216899
You have a preference?

>>1216102
>>1216511

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire?

>>1216806

What would happen if Unohana had been the one to find Riku?

Damnit Queen, you've got me ruminating on Bleach while I'm lying awake in bed. And I need to get it all out of my head before I can sleep.

Oetsu said that Renji and Ichigo were using their zanpakuto wrong. That their entire approach and how they thought of them were wrong. Assuming Riku is unequivocally doing it the right way, then what exactly IS the correct way to think of one's own Zanpakuto?

They're a sword, sure. But I think to call an asauichi just a sword is to call a shinigami just a spirit. There's more to it than that. So just thinking of the thing as a sword with a spirit is a misstep.

Obviously a zanpakuto once fully imprinted is effectively a person. So you can't just treat them like a tool. No matter how respectfully you go about it, it's still demeaning.
To consider it a partner or a friend like I'd originally assumed is, according to Oetsu, also incorrect. Riku does that, but not quite. That relationship is more intimate.
In the main series, Ichigo treats Zangetsu as something like a mentor at first, letting his sword teach him new techniques. For awhile I thought that was the way it had to be. But student and teacher are also incorrect.
Family, lovers, sweethearts, are all also right out as per Oetsu. So it's not just a matter of depth of affection. He even implies it to be sickening to think of them that way.

The big obvious one is that Riku's zanpakuto are representative of facets of her personality. Explicitly so in her case. And asauichi have been described as being like clay. Something to imprint upon in order to give them shape and form.

But just thinking of it as merely an extension of self would also be a mistake. It's not just another limb for you to do with however you please. There was a spirit in the sword before you got it, and it's doing you something of a favor by lending you its power.

It has to be respected as a separate entity, but also loved just as you would love yourself. It can't be admired or denigrated. You have to work with and even learn from it, but must never be wholly subordinate to it.

That certainly sounds like Riku's relationship. Perhaps made a little more apparent by the fact that Tenkotsuki was literally a separate person before she became a part of Riku, rather than a completely 'blank' spirit that sort of sprang from her.

Makes me wonder just what in the hell aspiring shinigami get told about asauichi when they're handed them. Just "Here's a thing, stick 'em with the pointy end and figure out what its name is if you can." ?

>>1216121
futae no kiwami, methinks

>>1218246
>It has to be respected as a separate entity, but also loved just as you would love yourself. It can't be admired or denigrated. You have to work with and even learn from it, but must never be wholly subordinate to it.
Precisely this, but with one additional caveat: to really get on Oetsu's good side you have to realize what aspect of your personality the blade reflects. It's an exercise both in empathy and in self-awareness.

Many shinigami struggle to truly accept that the anger, instinct, and sometimes pure viciousness that can manifest in a zanpakuto comes from them.

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As requested:
>Candice Backstory<
There was an old saying in Edo, about quarrels and fires being like flowers for the growing city.

The only metaphorical “flowers” Candice ever recognized were her peers in the Yoshiwara district, where she worked as a tayū under a name she abandoned centuries ago and has long since forgotten. Her life in the old pleasure district was never as bad as it could have been... she was blessed with good looks, a sharp mind, and artistic skills which set her far above the mostly poor and barely literate rabble in the lower ranks. Her fame was such that an evening alone in her company cost about the same as the annual wage of a skilled tradesman, and even beyond this barrier she was free to choose her clients at a whim. The style of hair and dress she chose no longer followed the trends of fashion for ladies of higher birth, but set them.

A great dry wind was blowing out of the northwest that day, rattling the shutters and shaking the eaves all through the district. Few people went out to brave the weather: far more pleasant on such an evening to stay indoors, especially if you could afford equally hospitable company.

“Madam, you have a caller!” one of the many servants attached to this place called up the stairs, rousing the tayū from a daydream. Who could possibly be calling on a day like this, completely unscheduled?

Best to inquire after the caller's identity, she decided. She walked carefully down the narrow stairs to see this caller for herself... a woman, as it turned out. One with dark hair and fair skin, beautiful after her own fashion but clearly foreign: especially judging by her outfit. A long white coat with buttons and narrow sleeves, her head topped by a strange hat not of any Japanese fashion, almost aggressively out of place.

“May I ask your name, miss?' the tayū asked courteously, wondering in silence if this interloper even spoke Japanese. To her mild surprise, the foreign woman responded easily.

“My name is Bambietta Basterbinne,” she told the tayū, “and I'm here to talk.”

From her sleeve dangled a five-pointed cross set amid a silver circle, a familiar shape from the tayū's past. The moment of shock was quickly hidden behind a practiced smile.

“If you have the coin, I have no guests this evening,” she explained. "If you wish, you may spend it 'talking' and I will listen."

“I think you'll find this sufficient,” Bambietta smirks, setting a pile of coins down on the low table in front of the tayū's assistant. As she said, that would certainly be enough to spend an evening quite comfortably in any establishment in the Yoshiwara... including her own.
>1/?

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>>1218713
The tayū still had a choice in the matter, of course. Unlike those beneath her in standing she could have turned the quincy away. But that was not what she ended up deciding, and instead she invited Bambietta upstairs with her.

The quarters of an oiran were almost as luxurious in that day as those for women who lived with lords or even the Emperor himself, and those recognized as tayū were especially lovely. Artwork given as tokens of appreciation hung in carefully-selected places on the walls, and the tatami were freshly replaced on a strict schedule. The upholstry was finely embroidered in colorful fabrics, and even her own clothes on this day would hardly have seemed out of place in the Imperial palace.

“Nice place you have here,” Bambietta mused, having been offered a seat. “I assume you're familiar with tea ceremony?”

“Of course,” the tayū bowed graciously before retrieving the appropriate tools. Each was made by the finest craftsmen in Kyoto, and the matcha itself came from the renowned tea-growing town of Uji. Bambietta accepts her bowl and drinks carefully, following the normal protocols for such an occasion.

“So you know what my cross signifies?” Bambietta pressed.

The tayū nods in admission. “Yes, I have seen one like it. But not for a long time... not since I lost my parents.”

“Your parents were quincy,” Bambietta declared, her eyes falling heavily on the tayū. “They belonged to an order of humans with a special gift. You know of this gift, don't you?”

“Sometimes I see things which cannot be there,” the tayū admitted. “As my parents did before me.”

“Those things you dismiss are real,” Bambietta insisted, a glint in her eye. “Come with me. Serve our Lord the way you were meant to, find a purpose in your life that's greater than this.”

“My life here is quite fulfilling,” the tayū tried to argue, though deep inside she realized she was lying. Bambiettta however refused to let such a thing slide.

“You're a prostitute!” she countered. “Any way you dress that up the truth is the same.”

“What you suggest is that I take on the life which killed my parents,” the tayū spits, momentarily losing her composure. “I cannot deny that I once had higher aspirations... but I was a child then. I will not do what it is you ask of me. That door closed to me long ago.”

After finishing her tea, Bambietta stood to leave. “My offer stands, if you ever change your mind.”

“And my door remains open to you,” the tayū responded in turn, secretly surprised to hear herself saying such a thing.
>2/3

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>>1218721
They called it the great Furisode fire, so named for its mythical origins tied to the burning of a allegedly cursed kimono at a nearby temple. Perhaps the garment truly was cursed after all, or perhaps the wind simply caused a house fire to go out of control and the story about a cursed kimono was a convenient lie people told themselves later to try and explain how a simple accident could do so much harm. Either way the city of Tokyo burned that day, and a hundred thousand of its inhabitants burned with it. The wooden buildings of the old Yoshiwara district, so dried by drought and whipped by the winds, were nothing more than kindling before the roaring inferno. Little of this separate wold of pleasure and amusement was left but ashes and charcoal.

The tayū's little corner of that world would not be spared.

It was all due to the Blut in her that Bambietta found the woman with any life in her at all... she was the only one in the building with flesh still on her bones in any condition, let alone one that allowed for a pulse. But it was plain to anyone present that the situation could not last long.

The wind was still strong and dry, a static charge setting the quincy's hairs on end.

“You're still alive... but only just,” she muttered, kneeling over what remained of a woman whose beauty had once helped to dictate the whims of fashion for an entire culture. “You have nothing left but your life, and a choice.”

Bambietta held out a small glass phial of red liquid, red like the life-blood of a living being and yet somehow brighter and more vibrant. As if it truly possessed a life of its own.

“Drink this,” she said, “and you'll have another chance. Or you can die here your choice.”

“Nod if you want to live, and if you want to die... then hurry up and do it.”

A single nod was all the tayū could manage, but that was all Bambietta needed.

The blood trickled between her cracked lips, sliding down her throat with ease... either because its recipient had accepted it or because she was too far gone for a gag reflex to even be a problem. The wind picked up once more, a charge tingled through Bambietta's skin, and she stepped back just in time to avoid a bolt from the blue that struck in front of her. The blood worked a miracle before her eyes, and by the time the flash faded a renewed woman lay before the Sternritter. Her hair was different, messy and now a pale shade of green rather than its previously shiny black, but she was still recognizable as the same woman who had all but died on the same spot.

Her eyes opened.

“Where... I thought I was dead?”

“You're alive, thanks to the blood of Yhwach,” Bambietta replied, reaching down to her new comrade with a hand the newborn Sternritter gratefully accepts. “Come on, we've got lots to do.”

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>>1218728
Holy shit, senpai. You don't fuck round when noticing people. That's well-written far and beyond my expectations.

I'm pretty invested in what becomes of Candice now. Dice gods better not screw us when the time comes.

>>1218652
So is Yoruichi's her curiosity?

>>1218779
Shōsōtō reflects her pragmatism, and Raijūsenkō reflects her own impatience and restlessness. Similar to Riku, one "positive" trait and one "negative", both of which need to be accepted and managed to grow.

Makes me wonder what Kenpachi's is. Bloodlust is too obvious, and I think he wouldn't have had any issues with hearing it if that were the case.
If he can't even hear it, it must be some aspect of his personality that he's not even willing to acknowledge exists.
Compassion perhaps? I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with there, Queen.

>>1218886
my money's on fear

>>1218945
Ooh good thought

>>1218886
>>1218945
You're both thinking along the right lines.

>>1219010
His Mortality? (or i guess his "Spirituality" lel)

>>1219036
I'm thinking more along the lines something deeper than his fear. His despair.

>>1219038
Or maybe his loneliness? Going off the fact that in canon, Yachiru was his Zanpakuto that became his lieutenant. (However that happened, fuggin kubo man)

>>1219036
Well he was a kid in the worst part of the entire Soul Society, right? He HAD to kill people to survive, and I imagine he didn't make any friends there . Wouldn't loneliness make the most sense, especially because Yachiru manifests as an actual person.

>>1219042
Fuck, you beaet me to it. Dammit captcha.

>>1219044
>beaet
beat

>>1219045
well maybe a better way to frame it would be his "Childishness" since Yachiru is his Zanpakuto and looks so young and acts so carefree.

>>1219042
We already have someone who embodies loneliness. Although that someone is taking care of that by attempting to get into the pants of a certain mongolian commando and failing to charm her in an entertaining way.

Last guess is that it has to do with his dependency on others, either as competition, or actual help with things he doesn't know how to do. Maybe his Humility?

>>1219048
His lust for loli it is.