>>1559129
The tea is carefully prepared in an old copper kettle from an old-fashioned cake of baked and compressed leaves, with a cup prepared and cleaned with boiling water from the kettle itself. The liqueur pours steaming hot and a deep, reddish brown, filling your cup before the owner tops off the pot itself. The dumplings are also steaming hot and fresh, a welcome relief from the gloom outside.

You're just in the process of digging into your meal when the gloom outside finds its way into the restaurant: two large shinigami in plain uniforms strut out into the room, pulling off their straw cloaks and their hats while tracking muddy water into the entryway. The owner sighs before screwing a 'polite' smile back onto his face and offering to take the mens' sodden cloaks and hats.

Although you were inclined to ignore them at first, you have trouble doing so after they open their mouths.

“Yeah, they say she went down in one hit!” one of them chuckles. “Can you believe that, a Captain getting one-shot by a guy her Lieutenant went on to beat?”

“I agree with you, man,” his partner sighs as they take a seat at a table a few paces away from yours, “but come on, not in public.”

“I'm just sayin',” the first man continues. “It's an embarrassment. I don't get why we should somehow be afraid of her if she's slipped that badly.”

You smack the edge of your plate, sending the dumplings sailing, and carefully spear all three of them on your hashi like a shrike pinning bugs to a thorn. Each seems to tumble almost in slow motion compared to the short bursts of movement your arm can execute, and the wooden tool penetrates cleanly and precisely each time. Then you release it, roll your hand, and grasp it like an oversized skewer.

That felt good, but the annoyances notice you.

“Hey, can you keep it down lady?” the first man asks loudly. “My friend and I are tryin' to have a conversation here.”

>Just wait for Shunsui. Ignore these two morons.
>Provoke one of them by skewering his dumplings to the wall behind him.
>Suggest that it's rude to talk behind someone's back.
>Explain to them, in precise detail, what it feels like to have every wound you've ever had torn open simultaneously.
>Other?

>>1559164
>>Suggest that it's rude to talk behind someone's back.
>>Explain to them, in precise detail, what it feels like to have every wound you've ever had torn open simultaneously.

>>1559164
>Suggest that it's rude to talk behind someone's back.
>Explain to them, in precise detail, what it feels like to have every wound you've ever had torn open simultaneously.

>>1559164
>"For your information boys, said 'Captain' is sitting right in front of you.
>Explain to them, in precise detail, what it feels like to have every wound you've ever had torn open simultaneously.
>If you two morons think a Captain getting one-shotted was an embarassment. Then explain why Old Man Yamamoto being 'dead' is not an embarassment.

>>1559164
>>Other?
Feign ignorance and let them divulge more details. It seems "really interesting" to hear.

Then drop the bomb one the feeling of all old wounds opening up once they dug their graves deep enough.

>>1559183
They're already deep enough that they're 666 ft under. They know the details of how Riku nearly died. spring the trap!

>>1559164
>Suggest that it's rude to talk behind someone's back.

>>1559164
>>Suggest that it's rude to talk behind someone's back.

>>1559188
Not. Deep. Enough.

>>1559201
I mean, we have actually been to hell. We could show them just how deep that really goes.

>3d10, best of three
>Higher is better

File: The_Third_Level.png (1.31 MB, 1280x696)

1.31 MB PNG

>>1559164
>Have Rosa Manifest and let her do the talking.
>>1559183
>>1559201
Sure I'll support in letting them dig deeper. How about Hell level 3? The one with all the Piss Nacho Cheese?

Rolled 7, 4, 10 = 21 (3d10)

>>1559207
here goes nothing...

Rolled 3, 1, 6 = 10 (3d10)

>>1559207

Rolled 2, 4, 3 = 9 (3d10)

>>1559207
YOUR GRAVES ARE DEEP BOYS. WANNA SEE HOW DEEP IT IS?

Rolled 4, 8, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>1559207

>writing

File: 1430001827095.png (86 KB, 337x268)

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>>1559223
You glare angrily at the two men, locking eyes with the one who was aggressively badmouthing you. The same sort of glare you gave to Mask de Masculine before you killed him, and to Aizen on a few occasions: the weight of it nearly causes the man to collapse in his seat.

“It's rude to talk about someone behind their back,” you tell him, careful to convey rage without raising your voice in the slightest. You can tell he's hanging on every word with existential dread.

“Wait,” his friend asks, panic creeping into his tone. “You're not... you couldn't possibly be...”

You're sitting at their table before they even realize you've moved, leaning in to stare straight into the loudmouth's eyes. “You know what it feels like to have every wound you've ever had ripped open at the same time?”

Their silence tells you all you need to know.

“Over the years I've had my arm incinerated nearly to the bone, my eardrums blown out, nearly all of my bones broken. I've been cut open and crushed, my tendons torn, my heart pierced, my stomach shot through. Were it not for kaidō I would be a walking horror show that made Captain Zaraki look stately.”

“And this man's trick, his 'one shot' as you call it, forced me to relive all of those wounds, from a hundred years as a Captain, two World Wars, and ninety years as a Lieutenant, all at once.”

The two shinigami are still sitting in stunned silence. “Lieutenant Matsumoto succeeded where I failed because she had far fewer wounds to exploit, and none of them were individually lethal.”

“I... apologize,” the first shinigami rises quickly and bows. Then he sets some money on the table and leaves without another word. His buddy watches, then glances back at you before doing the same.

On his way out he pushes past Shunsui, who seems taken aback.

“What was that all about?” he asks you as you return to you own seat.

“Just clearing some things up,” you shrug as the owner takes his haori and hat. “Thanks for meeting with me like this.”

“No problem,” Shunsui grins. “Good to see you back up on your feet.”

“Good to be back,” you admit. “All those young ladies coming in and waiting on me all day long was getting so tiring.”

“Maybe I should get a few holes shot in me next time,” Shunsui sighs. "Nanao won't even bring me tea anymore."

"No kidding?"

"She installed a coffee maker in my office..."
>1/2

>>1559298
>>1559298
>"She installed a coffee maker in my office..."

Harsh. Not unjustified, but harsh.

>>1559298
“That's cold,” you chuckle, “but I like her attitude. And I know you do too.”

“You're right,” Shunsui admits slyly. “So, how are the Lieutenants' training coming along?”

You consider your answer carefully. They're progressing about as well as you could expect, but you doubt most of them will be at a level where they can fight on their own.
>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.
>Fine, but I think we need to talk strategy.
>Actually, I'm here to talk about my own progress... it would be nice to have my hand freed.
>Other?

>>1559320
>>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.

>>1559320
>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.

>>1559320
>Progress is slow, They're slowly improving and shoring up their weaknesses. But what I'm most afraid of is their mindset when they approach a fight.
>They lack field experience, typical hollows won't do them good in improving their battle awareness. Much of their practices and sparring is done with a duelist's mindset, not a soldier's mindset.
>More Importantly we're lacking an overall strategy.

>>1559320
>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.

"Pretty sure I could have Captains of all of them inside of a century, but I expect this is going to come to a head in less than a year."

>>1559320
>90% of all major engagements so far since Aizen's betrayal have been done by myself, 2nd division, or the commandos of the 9th. Hate to say it, but I'm thinking the 9th needs to let the other divisions get some experience on the table. It's getting to the point where much of Seireitei's defenses are starting to become dependent on the integrity of the 9th division. Can't pin all your hopes and dreams on me.

>>1559320
>>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.
Probably a fighting chance at least depending on the type of arrancar, but we'll need a strategy to level the playing field on the higher tier ones.

>>1559320
>>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.

>>1559320
>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.
>Other: It's not that they haven't progressed well, it's just that they're so weak to begin with that what progress they can make in such a short time may not be enough. They've been slacking off their whole lives, and their captains have allowed it. You can see the difference in their lifelong training and my own children's, it's simply not possible to cram two hundred years of training into a few months, unless your name happens to be Ichigo.

>>1559320
>>Actually, not great. I'm not sure they'll be ready to deal with an arrancar or Sternritter.
Except the ones trained by the RG. No clue how they're doing.

>writing

>>1559416
“Not great,” you admit, setting aside your hashi and shutting your eyes. “In fact I'm not sure they'll be able to face a Sternritter in the time we have. They lack field experience, and most of them are still stuck in the duelist mentality to varying degrees.”

“In fact,” you continue, “seeing as nine out of every ten major engagements we've had lately has been led by either my division or Yoruichi's I'm not sure any other divisions are ready.”

“How do you mean?” Shunsui asks carefully, his eyes narrowing.

“Well, to be fair,” you admit, “the Kidō Corps will be able to do its role just fine, they're not even combat specialists so they're probably not going to fight an arrancar up close and personally, same with the SRDI. And the Lieutenants can probably handle some arrancar. But what are the Gotei 13 expected to do in this situation?”

“What would you have them do?” Shunsui counters, his tone quite calm and collected. “Not even your Ninth Division could face an arrancar at the level of Starrk or miss Halibel and hope to survive. Their reiatsu simply isn't great enough.”

“Not to mention that if we commit our entire force to a battle where it's almost certain that many of them will be killed, our ability to function as an organization will suffer in the aftermath even if we're victorious.”

>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.
>You may be right, but we need a plan to make the most of what we do have.
>So we're supposed to just hope the Captains are making progress.
>We need some outside help.
>Other?

>>1559440
>We could use*** some outside help.
>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.
>Other: It's true, individually they're weak, but in great numbers, their individual reiatsu could add up to quite a bit. What if there were a method to transfer the small amounts of reiatsu from weaker shinigami to captains safely, a way to essentially "recharge" our greater war powers after they finish a fight?

>>1559440
>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.

Healing is the most obvious. Keep as many high-class fighters in reserve as we can, every time one starts to get fatigued or injured swap off and let them get healed by as many people as possible. Not sure what else they can do off the top of my head

>>1559440
>So we're supposed to just hope the Captains are making progress.
>We need some outside help.
>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.

>>1559440
>>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.

>>1559440
>There has to be a way they can be involved, even as rear echelon duty.
>You may be right, but we need a plan to make the most of what we do have.
>Kisuke and Mayuri have come up with plenty of gadgets over the years. We may not have time to get a production line going but maybe there's something we can do?

For instance, Quincies still have that vulnerability to Hollow reiatsu, right? They need Riku's antibodies or something for them to survive.

So, we could try weaponizing the hollow reiatsu so that even if our soldiers are greatly inferior to the enemy's, at least there'll be able to poison and weaken some of them.

>>1559440
>>You may be right, but we need a plan to make the most of what we do have.
Maybe apply the small unit squad mentality of the 9th and expand it to encompass Lieutenants and Seated Officer tiers, regardless of Division affiliation?

>>We need some outside help.
Vizards yo, where ya at?

And let's be real, Shunsui and Nanao probably miss Lisa.

>>1559440
>We need some outside help.
>The more I think about it, the more parallels I see between Seireitei's situation and Japan of World War 2.
>If Aizen is drawing resources not from this plane, going so far as to conscript/recruit Sternritter 1000years prior, then why can't we do the same?
>Our pride as Seireitei and Shinigami will be our downfall if we don't swallow it and ask for outside help.

>>1559475
Oh shit, that's a really good idea.
Weaponized anti-quincy serum.

If you can just reach them, and the syringe is strong enough to pierce their blut, they're fucked. They'll commit soul-suicide whether they like it or not.

>>1559482
Yes, it'd be nice if we could get the support of the vizards by pardoning them. We could do it with the support of other captains, central would basically HAVE to listen if a bunch of captains came out in their defence. Those are lieutenant and captain-class war powers.

>>1559486
>>1559475
That's a warcrime and you know it. Doing that will kill our chances of recruiting more sane-minded Quincies, and make Bambi outright disgusted. Besides, even when Quincies commit soul suicide, you still get a hollow in the end. And

>>1559486
>>1559475

> Biological warfare

The question is if Soul Society are willing to industrially produce that sort of thing.

>>1559499
All you really need is some hollow blood in a really, really strong syringe.

>>1559486
We could see if kisuke can figure out how to encase the serum in rifle rounds

>>1559440
>Other: We're not alone in this effort. Even Artemis and Coyote know that our war against Aizen affects their realms as well. "We" helped them out in the last century, and established diplomatic channels with them, why not make use of those diplomatic ties and ask for help? We win together or die alone.
>Other: Lisa's still out there, she had hopes of returning to Seireitei. Don't you miss her?
>>1559507
>>1559486
They'll just shatter the vial holding the formula. Bio-warfare is not a pretty thing.

>>1559440
>Like I said to Ichibe, times change. This era isn't one that Seireitei that could sit easily from it's pedestal knowing that things will be alright. Change is coming whether we like it or not, but we've already made the first steps in adapting to the times.

FYI I'm all for condoning chemical warfare if the battle is this close to being over the existence of the world itself.

>>1559440
>Don't forget about Hell. Hell itself has a stake in this situation. If all of Seireitei were do disappear, what would become of hell?

>explain all of our horrific war crime ideas to Shunsui
>"A DEVICE THAT SUCKS THE ENERGY FROM WEAKLINGS AND MAKES THEIR POWER OUR OWN!!"
>"You've been spending too much time around Kisuke. Or Aizen. I can't tell which.

>>1559498

Not sure how many sane-minded Quincies are left, and we are fighting Aizen. I'd like us to get through without resorting to such measures but the other side is going to throw every dirty trick in the book at us.

>>1559510
Huh. That....could absolutely work. I mean it's putting yet more burden on the Ninth, and as people have pointed out it's very much dirty fighting, but with stakes this high? Might need to consider it.

Losing the respect of Bambi and the Femritters is a very legitiamate concern though.

>>1559550
Another good point, if Hell has assets maybe this will help.

Bring in the Vizards would also help a great deal if we can get them pardoned and willing.

File: 1443707896972.png (136 KB, 928x420)

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“Kaidō is a thing,” you muse. “Kisuke could probably devise a way for our top fighters to withdraw if wounded and get back to someplace safe to recover their reiatsu and heal their wounds.”

“That's not a bad idea, though to meaningfully help a Captain requires a large supply of reiatsu” Shunsui replies.

You nod knowingly. “Or many hands.”

“It makes sense to pursue either way,” Shunsui admits. “I'll pursue that as a plan.”

“We're also ignoring one more thing,” you add. “One very obvious solution that would take the strain off our individual Captains, even the odds a little.”

“And that would be?”

“The Vizards,” you explain, locking eyes with your superior. “You know as well as I do it's about damn time they received an official pardon from the Central 46, and that they despise Aizen with a passion.”

“True,” Shunsui nods, frowning to himself. “They deserve better than to simply be ignored, anyway.”

“We should bring that up with the Central 46,” you suggest, “make the case that they can help us close the gap with Aizen's forces in a way that our Lieutenants would struggle to match.”

“Agreed,” the Head Captain nods. “Any other ideas?”

“One,” you grumble, “but... I don't like it. I'm not even happy I thought about it.”

“Get it off your chest,” Shunsui shrugs. “I won't judge.”

“Well, Bambietta Basterbinne's been treated with my spiritual antibodies,” you explain carefully, “but if things worked out differently that treatment could have killed her.”

“You're talking about biological warfare?” Shunsui asks, seemingly just as stunned that you thought of such a thing as you feel disgusted by it.

“I am,” you nod. “And if it were really between using such a weapon and allowing the world to be destroyed I'd use it without hesitation regardless of my feelings on its morality. But it's the development and testing process that worries me more, and even with the best of intentions there would be a massive potential for misuse.”

“I recommend that you forget you heard that idea,” you finish.

"I can understand why..."
>1/2

>>1559588
“Well now,” Shunsui mutters darkly, “that's rare. Brooding doesn't suit you miss Kusajishi, if I may be so bold.”

“Then let's focus on the more immediate, morally acceptable measures,” you sigh. “Starting with the Vizards.”

“How would you prefer to handle it?” he asks, his tone softening. “I must admit, I'm looking forward to the idea of seeing former Lieutenant Yadomaru again.”

>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.
>I'll go speak with them, you can address the Central 46 while I do.
>I want to address the Central 46 with you, make my case in person.
>Other?

>>1559611
>>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.

>>1559611
>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.

>>1559611
>>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.

>>1559611
>>I'll go speak with them, you can address the Central 46 while I do.
>>Other?
It might also be worth bringing up the idea of forging second zanpakutos for them as well.

>>1559618
>>I'll go speak with them, you can address the Central 46 while I do.
>>Other?
>It might also be worth bringing up the idea of forging second zanpakutos for them as well.

That's a good idea. If their Hollow powers are converted to second zanpakutos, maybe that will make them more palatable to C46.

More importantly, it gives precedence for an alternative treatment for shinigami who acquire Hollow powers but don't deserve execution. Just have them make a second zanpakuto, and they can be considered rehabilitated.

>>1559611
>>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.
>>Other?
>It might also be worth bringing up the idea of forging second zanpakutos for them as well.

>>1559611
Also, is the crime of using multiple forbidden kido something that can be pardoned? Because Magic Negro would also probably be useful, even if he isn't a vizard.

>>1559647
His name is Tessai.

>>1559611
>Then I'll bring her over here to speak with the Central 46 with us.
>>1559618
That might not work. You see they're in that limbo state where they can't advance nor regress due to plot rock "stabilizing" their hollowfication state. It's worth a shot though.

>>1559662
And he happens to be a negro who specializes in magic.
>>1559665
I'd forgotten about that, but if one of the vizards feels like trying anyway, I'm all for dragging Sandalhat out of his lab for a second opinion and a trial run afterwards.

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“Well, if you wanna see her again so badly I can just bring her along!” you suggest cheerfully. “It'll be great, like a reunion!”

“You're actually serious about that?” Shunsui asks, nonplussed at how lightly you take the idea of bringing a Vizard along into the proverbial lion's den.

“Of course,” you nod. “This is explicitly about their fates, at least one of them should be present and they've already given Lisa a pass once.”

“If you're sure that will help instead of just making the Central 46 angrier,” Shunsui muses, considering the point carefully. “Okay, you have my permission on a single condition.”

“And that would be?”

Shunsui's good eye gives you a stern look, quite the rarity coming from him. “Keep her safe while she's here. That's all I ask.”

This... isn't like how Shunsui acts around women, not even like how he treats Lieutenant Ise. With her it's obviously done playfully, expecting to be told off for his behavior before the two of them move on to business. But to get so serious, to speak so candidly, is out of character. At least, it's not the character Shunsui typically plays, and it strikes you as deeply significant.

“You have my word,” you nod, taking the last swig of your lukewarm tea and rising from the table. “Please take care of the formalities while I'm away.”

“Of course,” the Head Captain nods, joining you. “That's my role these days, you know.”

It takes you only a few moments to enter the living world, and a few more minutes after that to locate the new base of operations being used by the Vizards. It's in a different storage building, this one located by the train tracks where they cross the river which runs through the center of Karakura town.

“Seems they've downsized,” you mutter, using your exceptional strength to pull the lock off a ground-floor door in the self-storage unit.

>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.
>Break through.
>Try and sneak through.
>Other?

>>1559678
>>Try and sneak through.
Can we exchange greetings with our fists? I wanna see how many we can take down in a go, just to assess their strength and totally not at all because I happen to like fight scenes.

>>1559678
>>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.

>>1559678
>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.

Be polite.

>>1559678
>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.
>Morse Code the Barrier. Enter this Message: "Kusajishi. stop. I have news from Seireitei. stop. Please open the barrier. stop. This do you want to be pardoned (question mark) stop."
We Morse Coded the Barrier once, maybe Hachi will remember the trick.

>>1559678
>Shunsui's good eye gives you a stern look, quite the rarity coming from him. “Keep her safe while she's here. That's all I ask.”
Well now we know whom Shunsui's Romance was actually intended towards.

>>1559694
>And then Riku disassembled all of them in under a minute, much like what a mechanical separator does to a chicken.

>>1559673
Just making sure you know his name. It's easy to forget because there are too many characters with very small roles.

>>1559678
>>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.

>>1559711
I've seen that machine in action on a live chicken on the Streets of Taipei. It was not pretty. It was half a washing machine on it's spin cycle, half a instrument of murder, half a butchering machine.

>>1559678
>>Try and alert Hachi to your presence.

>writing

>>1559678
“Hachi,” you announce, suspecting that the kidō expert has this room under intense surveillance. Strangely enough, you look up to spot what appears to be a regular camera and decide to stare straight at it. “I know you're here, and I know you're watching me. Please let me through the barrier, I have something important I want to discuss with you.”

A few seconds later the barrier shimmers, and a rectangular section of it peels upwards from the floor to let you through. You find that a stairwell has opened up through a hole in the floor, behind some cardboard storage boxes, and several flights down you emerge into the Vizards' training chamber.

“Hachi!” Shinji shouts, his hands on his head in disbelief. “I thought I told you to play it cool, not let her in!”

“She asked nicely,” Hachi points out calmly. “Also I do not take orders from you, Shinji.”

“You tell 'im, Hachi!” Hiyori cheers.

“I do not take orders from you either, Hiyori,” Hachi adds just as calmly, rising to his feet and nodding to welcome you. “I am simply doing what I believe is best. Nothing more or less.”

Shinji rubs the back of his neck, frustration still clear in his features. “Yeah, I guess you're right on that one.”

“So what do you want, Captain? Can't you see we're busy here?”

You spare a dubious glance to where Rose and Love seem to be reading manga by themselves. Only Kensei and the former Lieutenants actually seem to be doing anything, and of the three the only thing Mashiro is doing is napping while the other two have been busting ass by the look of it.

“Hey, Gally's lookin' pretty badass so far,” Love muses as he turns a page and looks up. “Oh, hey Captain Kusajishi.”

“You guys don't seem busy,” you observe.

Rose carefully takes his earphones out. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I said you didn't look busy.”

“We're not,” Rose agrees, putting his earphones back in.

“Some of us just don't wanna admit we're stuck, and out of good ideas for how to move forward,” Love sighs. “But refusing to admit it isn't helping either.”

“I'm telling you I'm tryin' to think of somethin'!” Shinji shoots back.

“You've been 'thinking' for three days straight,” Love counters. “And I'm almost outta new manga to read.”
>1/2

>>1559837
“Well, not being in your situation I know precious little about it,” you admit, “so I don't know that I can be any help whatsoever. But I do know one way I could be of some assistance.”

“Consider me interested,” Love nods. “Hey, you bunch! Come over here.”

A masked Hiyori tries to get in a cheap shot as the rest of her sparring partners stand down, only to have Kensei casually sidestep her assault and let her careen feet-first into a boulder.

“This should be good,” he grunts, releasing his own hollowfication.

Once the Vizards have all gathered closer, you explain the situation.

“Head Captain Kyōraku...”

“Gods help us all,” Lisa mutters.

“... I'm working on it,” you continue, “has decided now is a good time for the two of us to push the Central 46 to issue an official pardon for all of you. If we're successful we may also request your assistance with Aizen and his army when the time comes, giving you your shot at him right alongside the rest of us.”

You hear a few murmurs, but unsurprisingly it's Lisa who speaks first. “And what makes you think this will work?”

Shinji watches you with particularly keen eyes as you respond, silently evaluating your every word. “We've been trying to train some of our newest Captains, the ones who took up their positions after your exile mostly, and to get our Lieutenants up to snuff.”

“It's not going well?” Shinji interjects.

“It's looking like it might not be enough,” you correct. “We'll be down two Captains even when we get back the ones we've sent off to train, and my... 'associates' don't add up numerically speaking. They have twenty-three on their side including Aizen, all of whom are at least on the level of an average Captain while most are stronger.”

“That does sound like shit,” Kensei agrees. “So how does this work?”

>I'll be taking Lisa along, and we'll make an appeal.
>... how do you feel about giving up your hollow powers?
>What do you think you can do to help? The C46 will ask.
>Other?

>>1559874
>I'll be taking Lisa along, and we'll make an appeal.

>>1559874
>how do you feel about giving up your hollow powers?
>Or more specifically, turning your hollow powers into a second Zampakuto? That way you guys won't be classified as Vizards.

>>1559874
>>how do you feel about giving up your hollow powers?
>>Or more specifically, turning your hollow powers into a second Zampakuto? That way you guys won't be classified as Vizards.

>>1559874

>I'll be taking Lisa along, and we'll make an appeal.
>... how do you feel about giving up your hollow powers?

>>1559874
>>I'll be taking Lisa along, and we'll make an appeal.
>>... how do you feel about giving up your hollow powers?
>>What do you think you can do to help? The C46 will ask.

I don't think i'd ask them to give up their hollow powers.
They may or may not feel the same way about it that we do, but that's still a part of them. A part of their soul. Can you imagine if someone just asked us to "give up" rosa?

I'd tell them to go fuck themselves.

>>1559900
that's why there's the addendum of forging it into a second zampakuto.

>>1559889
I'll support this addition, too

>>1559900
Thing is the Vizards' transformation was put in stasis. I'm not sure they ever reached the point where teir hollow powers became their own distinct personality. So it's not like another person is being lost, even if that person did end up like Rosa did in our sword.

I don't think Yoruichi ever got her Rosa though, or has mentioned anything. Still, maybe it's there? We'll see.

>>1559874
>>I'll be taking Lisa along, and we'll make an appeal.
C46 is so gonna attach a ton of conditions for this.

(Supposing I'm not mistaken in my understanding)
We could probably lead off with the case that, if not for the Vizards investigating the anomaly between Hell and the mortal realm, we would not have been able to get around to solving the whole planar convergence phenomena.

>>1559912
Yoruichi's Hollow side is literally a cat made out of lightning. Not every inner hollow aspect is a humanoid just like how not every zampakuto spirit is a humanoid.

>>1559903
If it's even possible... their powers aren't the same as ours.
They were frozen at that initial point, and never made peace with what they'd become. I don't know if it would go smoothly or not.

If they're willing to try it, they should know it's a big risk.

>>1559912
She did, but her "inner hollow" is so wild and inconsolable that she could only bring it under control by locking it away within her mind.

>>1559925
So no chance of lightning cat manifesting and lounging about like an ordinary housecat... sadness

Also, writing.

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>>1559939
“I'll be taking Lisa along,” you explain, “and we'll make the strongest appeal we can.”

“And... that's it?” Hiyori asks, stunned at the simplicity of your plan. “The hell?”

“And why Lisa?” Mashiro asks. “Why not a Captain like Shinji or Kensei?”

“Because a Captain would come across as threatening,” Shinji guesses, “and I'm willing to bet they've already given Lisa a pass once, making it more likely that they'll overlook her presence a second time.”

“That's part of it,” you nod. “But also, whatever Shunsui says... he has a personal reason to look after her well-being, even if it means ignoring the Central 46's orders.”

“You really think he'd place me before the Gotei 13?” she sighs.

You nod. “Yeah, I get that impression.”

The Vizards briefly confer among themselves, before sending Lisa forward with their decision.

“I'm going regardless of what anyone else thinks,” she declares, and Shinji palms his face in frustration.

“Then I have one more question,” you add with a stern look. “The Central 46 is going to take exception to your hollow powers. How would you feel about having to give them up entirely?”

“None of us can speak for the others,” Shinji quickly insists... apparently he's thought about this already. “But I for one would welcome it, if they could come up with a way to get rid of them. But if Kisuke's not managed it I doubt that's ever gonna be an option.”

“Alright,” you nod. “Good to know before it comes up.”

>Slip back into the Seireitei via the garganta, head straight to the Central 46.
>Use the garganta, but check in with Lisa and make her presence known.
>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.
>Other?

>>1559991
>>Use the garganta, but check in with Lisa and make her presence known.
Not being a dick. Not being a beta bitch. Feels like the Riku way.

>>1559991
>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

>>1559991
>>Use the garganta, but check in with Lisa and make her presence known.

>>1559991
>>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

>>1559991
>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

Central likes it when we do things the right way, it's a show of faith on our part.
They aren't dicks, so don't be a dick to them.

>>1559991
>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

>3d10, best of 3

>>1559991
>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

Rolled 10, 4, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>1560041

Rolled 5, 4, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>1560041
oh dear. Roll to see how the situation goes for how smoothly the red tape flows.

Rolled 1, 2, 2 = 5 (3d10)

>>1560041
>>Request two Hell Butterflies and do it the right way.

Rolled 6, 6, 7 = 19 (3d10)

>>1560041

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>>1560049

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>>1560049

You send a quick call to Rangiku, requesting official use of the Senkaimon and two Hell Butterflies. Since Ninth Division maintains its own supply of the spiritual creatures the same way most Divisions do, the Central 46 can't do anything to stop you from doing so.

However what they can do is prepare to meet you and your accomplice at the Senkaimon with an armed squad.

“Halt!” a familiar-looking shinigami with a sleeve-tangler orders, and his face suddenly turns pale.

“Hey, I remember you!” you grin menacingly. “You're the little guy who was talking shit about me earlier!”

“Everyone! Stand down!” the man orders frantically. “Clearly there's been some sort of mistake...”

“They didn't tell you who you were intercepting?” you muse.

He shakes his head emphatically. “No, ma'am! I swear! They made it out as some kinda emergency orders!”

“Look,” you sigh, shaking your head, “I'm not angry anymore, because honestly the uninformed criticism of someone who's not even my subordinate is so far beneath my notice that I can't bring myself to care. So quit freaking out, you're fine.”

“You... really mean that?”

You shrug. “I don't even know your name.”

“Well,” he sighs, seeming to relax slightly. “I guess that's about the best I could hope for.”

“Kind of, yeah,” you nod. “Unless you're packing Lieutenant-level skills, it's best to just fly below people like me's radar.”

“Thanks for the advice,” he replies. “And again, sorry for impeding you, ma'am.”

As soon as you get clear of the blockade, Lisa turns to face you.

“The hell was that all about?”

“The Central 46 must have known we were coming,” you realize, “and a minority of them probably took exception. The fact that they sent a squad after us tells me they're getting desperate, which is dangerous.”

“So what do you want to do about it?”

>We leave them waiting to meet us. The ones who pulled this lose face and pull among their peers.
>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.
>We call them out directly. Today's a great day to put this horseshit to an end, once and for all.
>Other?

>>1560132
>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.

>>1560132
That was pretty perfectly timed, I gotta say. Even their guard is so intimidated and in debt to us that he backs down nearly immediately, and accepts helpful advice from us.

We could definitely use the rep boost after being injured, as that grunt demonstrated. We're still badass, but the rank and file could use some reminding.

>>1560132
>We leave them waiting to meet us. The ones who pulled this lose face and pull among their peers.

>>1560132
>>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.

>>1560132
>>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.

>>1560132
>We leave them waiting to meet us. The ones who pulled this lose face and pull among their peers.
As a note: "Face" is very important in Asian cultures. It's basically their social currency in terms of influence.

>>1560132
>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.
Literally none of this matters, let them throw their tantrum if they want.

>>1560132
>>We proceed as planned. The last thing I want is to make anyone thing they've won.

>>1560132
>We leave them waiting to meet us. The ones who pulled this lose face and pull among their peers.

>>1560178

On one hand yes, on the other hand our time is valuable and they SHOULD pay for wasting it.

Making them loss face is still kinda wasting our time so...

Well I think all paths will be fine but I'll choose:

>>1560132
>>We call them out directly. Today's a great day to put this horseshit to an end, once and for all.

>writing

>>1560194
Simply keeping our nose clean, walking in with a noble gait and acting business as usual makes us appear the bigger man, meanwhile they're behaving like children.

Getting upset about it and telling them off is no different than stooping to their level.
Did they really waste our time? Even if so, it's insignificant. Why should we be concerned with the tantrums of a few spoiled children?

>>1560208
Because if the children don't suffer some kind of retribution for their actions, they'll continue to assume that it's okay to keep acting this way.

>>1560229
>>1560208
the problem is that the "children" are in charge of maintaining the peasant populace.

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>>1560195
“We proceed exactly as planned,” you insist firmly. “The last thing I want to do is make them think their petty little temper tantrum is actually important.”

“That's pretty harsh,” she replies thoughtfully, “but that's exactly what I like about it.”

You lead Lisa to the Central 46 compound, past several layers of security where the shinigami on station examine your Vizard companion with far more suspicion than you've ever met. But eventually you reach the outer hallway where you're obliged as usual to set aside your zanpakuto, which join Katen Kyōkotsu and are joined shortly after by Tonbogiri.

“Good to see you,” Shunsui nods as you descend the stairs. “Miss Yadōmaru.”

“Head Captain,” she nods briskly in response, eyes flicking up towards her former Captain's eyepatch. “I... nevermind.”

“Agreed, we can catch up after we've finished here,” Shunsui replies. “Now then, the business at hand is the official pardon of former Captains Hirako Shinji, Muguruma Kensei, Aikawa Love, and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and of former Lieutenants Kuna Mashiro, Ushōda Hachigen, Sarugaki Hiyori, and Yadōmaru Lisa.”

“We have logged your request,” one of the councilors replies from behind his screen, “but may we hear your reasoning?”

“Ongoing concerns at our numerical inferiority compared to Aizen's faction,” Shunsui replies in carefully measured words. “Also, maintaining an improper sentence for so long after the reality of the case has been established has no precedent in the Seireitei's laws.”

“We do not need a lecture on the precedents set by this body,” a second councilor counters. “We shall keep our own council on what constitutes a proper treatment of these so-called Vizards.”

“Captain Kusajishi,” Yoruichi's father addresses you directly from behind his screen. “My guess is that you have a strongly-held stance on this as well? I believe your displeasure for the situation has already been noted.”

>And I stand by that. The original sentence was meant to end a scandal, not serve justice.
>Compare my treatment with that of the Vizards and tell me that's acceptable to you.
>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.
>You let me work with arrancars. You let me get away with MAKING arrancars.
>Other?

>>1560309
>>Compare my treatment with that of the Vizards and tell me that's acceptable to you.
>>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.

>>1560309
>Compare my treatment with that of the Vizards and tell me that's acceptable to you.
>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.
>As it stands Aizen could run us over or damn near close to it. We'd try our hardest but we're outnumbered badly, and that's not taking into account Aizen probably having dossiers on most of our abilities to the point he has counters ready too, where his followers are mostly unknowns.

>>1560309
>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.
>And I stand by that. The original sentence was meant to end a scandal, not serve justice.

>>1560309
>That stance was with the PREVIOUS NOW DECEASED Central 46 Court. This is the New Central 46 Court. So with a new court, I have new insight and a new stance on this situation.

>>1560309
>>Compare my treatment with that of the Vizards and tell me that's acceptable to you.
>>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.

>>1560309
>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.
>As it stands Aizen could run us over or damn near close to it. We'd try our hardest but we're outnumbered badly, and that's not taking into account Aizen probably having dossiers on most of our abilities to the point he has counters ready too, where his followers are mostly unknowns.

>>1560309
Would one thing to point out be that they had a hundred years of being treated like outlaws for a crime they didn't commit, and yet they still helped with the whole Hell situation?

>>1560309
>>The morality of the situation aside, we need their help and they need ours.

>3d10, best of 4

Rolled 5, 9, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>1560373

Rolled 5, 5, 9 = 19 (3d10)

>>1560309
>We have an enemy who knows our system and how we run it inside and out. Despite Shunsui's efforts, my own efforts, and the Royal Courts efforts to train up our numbers into a fighting force effective enough to stand against Aizen's coalition of Conscripted Hollows from Hueco Mundo AND Sternritter from the Great Quincy War, we'll still lose in the end, or at the best case scenario have a Pyrrhic Victory. What we need is support and factors that our enemy hasn't considered and knows nothing about.
>>1560373

Rolled 5, 10, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>1560373

Rolled 9, 1, 2 = 12 (3d10)

>>1560373

Rolled 4, 1, 3 = 8 (3d10)

>>1560373

Rolled 5, 1, 1 = 7 (3d10)

>>1560373
test roll

>>1560377
>>1560378
>>1560379
heres hoping these are good enough to not get them way pissed at us and throw us out.

>outreach left me pretty drained today, so this will be the last update for the evening
>because I'm already in and out of consciousness

>>1560403
rest easy Queen. rest easy.

“Just look at how I've been treated over the last few months and how they've been treated over the last hundred years,” you observe calmly. “It's absolutely unconscionable to maintain their sentence especially since everyone here knows it was nonsense.”

“Is that all?” a second man interjects.

“No, it's not,” you add. “Even with me having trained our Lieutenants, even with the Royal Guard training our Captains, even after having made arrancars who are friendly to our cause Aizen still has too much of an advantage. Too many top-notch warriors in his service, and he knows a lot about our capabilities while we know precious little about theirs.”

“The only sensible way to deal with this is to admit that your predecessors were wrong and address the problem that's right under your collective noses.”

“And what about their hollow powers?” one of the four leaders of the body asks.

“What about them?” you shrug. “Arrancars have those too and they're allowed to be here.”

“A fair point among many,” Yoruichi's father muses. “I believe we should take time to deliberate over the issue...”

“I believe I have just been stolen,” Tenkotsuki interrupts in your mind.

“Excuse me, what?” you ask aloud. “What do you mean by stolen?

“Myself, Katen Kyōkotsu, Kobara no Tachi, and Hagurotonbo have all been removed from the hallway,” Tenkotsuki explains. “I cannot account for what has happened...”

“Hadō 32: Ōkasen!” you roar, channeling as much power as you can into the spell. In reward for your efforts you hear an explosion from the entryway.

There's a series of loud murmurs and shouts from the Central 46 as Yoruichi's father calls for order.

“Captain Kusajishi, what the Hell are you doing?” he demands, sounding more confused than angry.

“Someone tried to take my zanpakuto,” you growl, spinning on your foot and walking out of the center of the hall. “I'm gonna figure out how they got in here and then I'm gonna kill them.”

>>1560472
And that's where I stop for now. Thanks for showing up, hope you enjoyed, and you can look forward to a continuation tomorrow afternoon once I've had some time to rest.

Archive's up, and see you all later!

>>1560472
>“I believe I have just been stolen,” Tenkotsuki interrupts in your mind.

no. one. steals. best. fox. and. best. Rosa.

We've had too much trauma when it comes to people touching our swords.

>>1560472
>“Someone tried to take my zanpakuto,” you growl, spinning on your foot and walking out of the center of the hall. “I'm gonna figure out how they got in here and then I'm gonna kill them.”

Ah yes, blunt honesty. Someone just fucked up.

>inb4 it was a trap for a surprise birthday party

>>1560482
Thanks for running.

Did you type Tonbogiri by mistake earlier?

>>1560472
>Myself, Katen Kyōkotsu, Kobara no Tachi, and Hagurotonbo have all been removed from the hallway,” Tenkotsuki explains. “I cannot account for what has happened...”
>“Hadō 32: Ōkasen!” you roar, channeling as much power as you can into the spell. In reward for your efforts you hear an explosion from the entryway.
>There's a series of loud murmurs and shouts from the Central 46 as Yoruichi's father calls for order.
>“Captain Kusajishi, what the Hell are you doing?” he demands, sounding more confused than angry.
>“Someone tried to take my zanpakuto,” you growl, spinning on your foot and walking out of the center of the hall. “I'm gonna figure out how they got in here and then I'm gonna kill them.”

>ending on a cliffhanger
Queen why

>>1560501
cliffhangers make the board go round m8.

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>>1560501
>this cliffhanger

I CAN'T WAIT
I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A RIKU RIGHT NOW
does anyone know what happened just now, because i have no clue

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>>1560523
>>1560472
Also, i have an idea.
What happens if we dual cast Ōkasen with Tenran right about now?

>>1560523
okasen fires a beam from the edge of a zanpakuto. so we probably just bisected the dumbass who tried to steal Tenkotsuki

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>>1560565
Maybe, maybe not.
But take note, tenran does not spin the blade along the edge, although i'm should we could manage that.
It spins along the width of the blade, meaning that, were we to dual cast Ōkasen, it would not create a disc-shaped beam, it would create what would LOOK like a solid, cylindrical blast of energy, but in reality would be a rapidly spinning twisted ribbon of white-hot, razor-sharp energy, which would drill into the target and blow them to fucking pieces.

>>1560591
And by "blow them to fucking pieces" i mean imagine the aftermath of someone getting sucked into a jet engine

>>1560591
I actually get what you're saying, and it's pretty badass, but okasen isn't really depicted as a solid, cutting type of thing. It's all jagged and wavy and washes over its target rather than bisecting them.

>>1560472
As great as it is we could take punitive measures immediately, I kinda wish we had used that back when that one hollow stole our sword. What happened ended for the best, but that would have been a really useful trick.

>>1560736
If it's not sharp enough, make it sharper!
We're pros at modifying spells into the 90's range, we probably wouldn't even need a roll to modify #32.

Soo, odds that a faction in the C46 is trying to make a move against us?
Whether the goal was to steal the swords or tamper with them though, that is the question.

I still really want to see Riku declared a traitor/rogue, just for the shakeup and massive change in direction that would result. After all, the ninth would follow her, as would a fair few other individuals.

>>1562986
As in, someone in central tried to steal our swords?
I dunno, that seems really fucking dumb, and political suicide.

Even if someone tried to ostracize us, most people seem to like us or at least think we're good people.
>"RIKU IS EVIL KILL HER QUICK"- A retard
>"Nah i know better than that shit by now" - 85% of everyone who matters

>>1562986
>declare Riku a traitor

>laugh as most people don't believe it and the people who do know how strong she is so they don't want to push the issue and risk dying

>>1562986
They intend to make us bend to their will by holding the swords hostage, and destroying them if we don't comply since they know much of a shinigami's powers is sealed into their sword. If they break or destroy the sword, there goes all of that power. Plain and simple.

>>1563176
That is tantamount to committing suicide.

Even without her Zanpakto Riku is a hakuda monster and still capable at kido even without best fox's assistance. And she would straight up murder everyone involved with it.

>>1562986

I was reading through the archives and I got to the point where we made the decision to go to Yoruichi when we were first infected, made me wonder about how the quest would've turned out had we gone to the other captains and gotten exposed. Exile arcs are cool imo, would've been interesting

So who do you guys think did it? Ichinose? Nemu? Kirinji? Tenrin or whatever her name was?

>>1563720
Does it matter?
They've already signed their death sentence.
Kill!

>>1563754
JET ENGINE

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>>1560472
You are Captain Kusajishi Riku, and there are a lot of things you're willing to tolerate and forgive. But there's one thing above all else that you cannot forgive, regardless of the circumstances behind it: and that's when someone fucks with your zanpakuto.

A murmur runs through the Central 46 as you storm out of the chamber: nobody has ever done that before. You ignore a call for your return and kick the doors open to the waiting hall, and find the two guards there lying on the ground in one big pool of blood. They've each been sliced open from hip to neck with a single wound and left where they fell. There's no way either one of them survived long enough to realize they were dead.

All of the swords that have been left with them are gone, but you can sense Tenkotsuki and Kobara no Tachi are close by.

“I'm not feeling anyone,” you mutter, kicking the front gates open to find a similar scene: two dead guards flank the doors, and the security measures are still in place... though they're now broken.

Whoops.

Nearby however you find what you're looking for: your zanpakuto lie together next to a mangled left arm, still in a bloodied black sleeve, with Katen Kyōkotsu resting nearby similarly abandoned.

“It seems whoever it was that took our blades realized you knew,” Tenkotsuki guesses.

You hear Rosa offer a short laugh. “Yeah, serves 'em right. If you'd cast through me too you mighta got both his arms.”

“Yeah well, if I'd thought about it I would've,” you admit. “But that was less a plan, more an act of instinctive rage.”

“Funny, seems you do take after me after all.”

>Interview Katen Kyōkotsu, see if they can shed any light on the situation.
>See if Tenkotsuki and Rosa can construct an image for you as you perform jinzen.
>Return to the Central 46 chambers, you have a feeling you know what's up.
>Other?

>>1564136
>>Return to the Central 46 chambers, you have a feeling you know what's up.

>>1564136
>>See if Tenkotsuki and Rosa can construct an image for you as you perform jinzen.

>>1564136
>>See if Tenkotsuki and Rosa can construct an image for you as you perform jinzen.

>writing

>>1564194
fuck, i just got back.
i've been moving heavy equipment all day, i'm so tired.

Let's do it.

>>1564194
Also, roll me 3d10. DC to get something useful is 19, critical is 22, best of four.

Rolled 6, 6, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>1564204
we should collect the arm in case he comes back for it

Rolled 2, 2, 6 = 10 (3d10)

>>1564204

Rolled 1, 7, 2 = 10 (3d10)

>>1564204

>oh fuck

>>1564206
>>1564207
>>1564209
Well, uh.... It won't be too hard to find a now one-armed shinigami?

Rolled 6, 2, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>1564204
Still need one more roll.

What the actual fuck are these rolls?

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>>1564225
just getting them out of our system, r-right?
this is where the crit-train leaves the station, right?

>>1564235
It's all over but the cryin' anon

We ain't found SHIT

>>1564136
Having retrieved your two swords, you sit in the middle of the crime scene and extend your arm.

“Rangiku, we have a Code 46,” you report. “Please send a forensics team.”

Then you center your mind, entering jinzen effortlessly.

“I want to know what you both saw,” you announce, walking a slow circle around Tenkotsuki's tree and standing on a wide flat spot in the lava fields.

Tenkotsuki joins you, while Rosa watches from a distance. “I will lend what aid I can, though I believe you may find my assistance less than useful.”

“Oh?” you ask.

Your zanpakuto nods thoughtfully. “I am a zanpakuto, my dear Riku. I do not have eyes when I am a sword.”

Over the next few seconds, a figure appears... like a mass of shadows, barely even appearing tangible. And the blurry figure doesn't actually grow any clearer, remaining indistinct.

“Well, that was a waste of time,” you sigh.

“I warned you that it might be,” Tenkotsuki reminds you. “Lady Rangiku has sent the squad you requested, they will be on the scene in a few seconds.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

You open your eyes and rise to your feet just in time that the forensics team doesn't see that you were sitting in the middle of a blood-soaked crime scene, meditating like a freak.

“I'll leave you in charge here,” you announce, thrusting your swords into your sash. Hagurotonbo you thrust into the sash on the other side, and Katen Kyōkotsu you carry in your hands “There are two more bodies in the secure waiting area inside.”

“Understood, ma'am.”

When you finally return to the meeting Shunsui has clearly been keeping the conversation going without you. He looks at you in concern when you hand him his zanpakuto, and one of the Central 46 shouts at you.

“How dare you enter these chambers armed!?”

“Quiet down,” you snap, voice intense despite not having been raised. “Someone broke into the secure holding area and tried to make off with the zanpakuto of two sitting Captains and a Vizard. At this moment the Central 46 itself is only secured by my squad at the door and the three of us down here.”
>1/2

>>1564293
“Here,” you announce sternly, handing Shunsui and Lisa their weapons. “Keep on your guard, I can't guarantee things will go smoothly from here on.”

"Wew," Lisa grumbles. "Exciting."

“What did you find outside?” Shunsui asks.

>Someone in this chamber probably ordered it.
>I'm not sure, but there are a few details that bother me.
>I can't say until the forensic team gets back to me.
>I don't care, I took his arm and next time I'll take his life.
>Other?

>>1564309
>I'm not sure, but there are a few details that bother me.
>I can't say until the forensic team gets back to me.

>>1564309
>>I can't say until the forensic team gets back to me.

>>1564309
>>I'm not sure, but there are a few details that bother me.
>I can't say until the forensic team gets back to me.

>>1564309
>>I'm not sure, but there are a few details that bother me.
>>I can't say until the forensic team gets back to me.

He was sneaky enough to kill those two without being heard.
He was wearing shinigami garb.
He wasn't very strong if that severed his arm.
He wasn't very bright if he did that in the first place.
He probably gave up entirely and focused on escaping when he lost his arm, since katen kyokotsu was separated from the other swords, meaning he must have had it in his other hand and dropped it.

This might mean he was paying special attention to her, holding her in one hand while carrying all the others under his arm. Possibly some personal connection to kyoraku?
It also seems possible that he wasn't working for himself, rather perhaps being sent by someone? But working solo at that moment for sure, since the swords were abandoned.

Someone should get a blood sample from the arm back to kisuke, he should be able to scan the whole seireitei or something and find the guy.
And if not, he'll find out who it was for sure.

>>1564309
“The forensic team will get back to me eventually,” you sigh, “but there were a few details that bugged me.”

“Oh?” Yoruichi's father asks from behind his screen. “By all means, speak freely.”

“The defenses on the first gate were still in place,” you explain carefully, “which strongly implies that our intruder was allowed in. The fact that there was zero evidence of a struggle or that his presence was reported implies that the guards knew the intruder and didn't think they were a threat. The strikes which killed the guards were all clean, precisely delivered, and deep, suggesting that the killer was exceedingly well-trained. But my spell blasted his arm off easily, meaning their reiatsu wasn't anything special.”

“Also, and this is very important, the intruder abandoned the zanpakuto that were stolen,” you conclude with a confident glance at your father-in-law. “If there was a personal motivation there, I wouldn't expect them to abandon their goal so quickly even if they realized I was on to them.”

“You can't be suggesting...”

“That's what the evidence indicates,” you insist sternly. “This was most likely someone who was paid, and someone known to the guards standing outside. The most likely suspect is a member of the Central 46 guard unit itself, paid by someone to pull this kind of stunt.”

“That's absurd!” someone in the assembled Central 46 shouts. “Such a thing simply could not occur, there are dozens of safety protocols in place to ensure it!”

“No protocol can account for greed,” you observe. “And if you thought that was absurd, you're not gonna like where this line of thinking ends up...”

“Someone in this room most likely pulled the purse-strings,” Shunsui realizes aloud. “Assuming it was someone in the Central 46 Guard, who else could be responsible?”

There are several long seconds of silence, where the only sound you can hear is Lisa shifting uneasily.

“Well then,” Yoruichi's father eventually muses. “That's not good at all...”

>>1564431
And that's the end for the weekend. Thanks for coming back, and hope you had fun!

Omake ideas are welcome, as are questions and comments. I'll get around to them tomorrow.

>>1564437
What are we supposed to do with this murderboner?

>>1564469
Finally destroy Central 46 and assume the soul kings throne.

>>1564437
Are katen kyokotsu and hagurotonbo happy we managed to get them back?
Were their bonds not strong enough to alert their owners at that distance?
How did they feel about being carried by us for a minute there? hagurotonbo in particular
Does the dumbass that tried to steal our sword regret it just yet? how much was he paid?
How much is the dumbass that tried to pay someone to steal our sword sweating his balls off right about now?
Is lisa regretting coming again yet?
Do the central 46 half expect one of their colleagues to die shortly?
On a scale of 1 to "god fucking damn it" how does shunsui feel right about now?

Oh shit, i just remembered.
Shouldn't we send a message to the gods that we figured out and then solved the issue regarding planes expanding/colliding?
They'll be glad to know that's dealt with, and we should also tell them exactly how it worked so they can deal with it in the future, should it ever happen again.

>>1564437
Omake idea: Riku has the week off and uses that time to tour the seireitei, visiting all the other divisions. Not in her haori, but in a cute, flowery dress.

>>1565316
>>1564437
seconding this. Even better if Yoruichi accompanies as a cat that wraps herself around Riku's shoulder/neck.

>>1564437
Seireitei Olympics. Except the captains aren't the participants, it's in fact the seated numbers that participate.

>>1565445
I'm just remembering that episode of Hercules: Legendary Journeys where they invent the olympics

>>1564437
Ive dot an Omake idea. I'd like to know more about the academy, specifically, about the teachers, like who they are, how theyre chosen, if they've started changing their curriculum given recent events, etc?

>>1565777
seconding this:
>>1564437
A glimpse of Ichigo's family. Particularly Yuzu and Karin testing out/practicing Kaido/Kido Quincy Powers taught by their parents. Or maybe the parents giving the daughters "the talk" about spirits and their heritage.

>>1564437
Remember when we sparred with nel in front of our division, destroyed the barrier and all that?
What were the reactions of the division members who watched? What'd they tell the ones who missed it?

I must admit to being slightly smug that my suggestion that a faction within the C46 was responsible for the attempted theft now appears to be likely.
>>1564437
Have you considered something related to the missing time and memories that the shinigami now have? There must have been a few interesting occurrences where people can no longer remember how they ended up in a particular situation. Or perhaps something involving the maggot nest's two newest guests.

>>1564437
I wouldn't mind finding out a little bit more about BG9. A proper backstory might be spoiler territory, but I figure Sandalhat has deduced some things by now, maybe even written a cheeky report about him.

>Will work on some of these omakes later tonight for delivery tomorrow

>>1564509
>Are katen kyokotsu and hagurotonbo happy we managed to get them back?
Definitely.
>Were their bonds not strong enough to alert their owners at that distance?
Most zanpakuto aren't anywhere NEAR as talkative as Tenkotsuki, who can speak to Riku even when she's not in jinzen and has her sword sealed.
>How did they feel about being carried by us for a minute there? hagurotonbo in particular
Most zanpakuto don't mind, and there's a very short list of them who would be anything more than "fine with it". Neither Katen Kyokotsu and Hagurotonbo are on that short list.
>Does the dumbass that tried to steal our sword regret it just yet? how much was he paid?
Yes, and in retrospect not enough.
>How much is the dumbass that tried to pay someone to steal our sword sweating his balls off right about now?
As he'll probably learn, not enough.
>Is lisa regretting coming again yet?
Yes.
>Do the central 46 half expect one of their colleagues to die shortly?
One is a low number, but it's a distinct possibility.
>On a scale of 1 to "god fucking damn it" how does shunsui feel right about now?
A solid 8.

>>1564573
That's a good idea, hope we remember too after this sword stealing situation is dealt with.

>>1564573
Yes.

>>1566357
Can't competent shinigami, once they've figured out their zanpakuto's been nabbed, track down said zanpakuto with relative ease? It was one of the first tricks canon!Ichigo learned (something about ribbons).

Even if they put up a barrier or something, Riku's the former Onmitsukido lieutenant, Shunsui is the head captain, and Lisa has powers too foreign to really account for. Doesn't that narrow the culprit(s) down to morons who can't into ghost swords?

>>1566836
What Ichigo used was an active Quincy technique. Few Shinigami have sixth senses so honed as to notice such a theft passively in practically the same moment it happened: Riku, Yoruichi, and oddly enough Lieutenant Kusajishi among them.

Riku reacted before the culprit had time to cover their tracks, but Shunsui would probably have probably realized something was wrong as well. Just perhaps not quite quick enough.

>>1566889
I hadn't even thought about that.

Are Fullbringers a thing? Also, did we do that thing where that guy became one with his sword and went batshit? It kinda feels like it was mentioned.

>>1566992
Baishin has been name-dropped but has not appeared.

Riku has no knowledge regarding whether or not Fullbringers are a thing, and I haven't foreshadowed them at all.

>>1567037
I'm taking that to mean they exist, but have a chance to not really become relevant to the quest, depending on our choices and/or your whim.

>>1567086
Pretty much.

>>1567156
So are we about to have a "let me show you why the seireitei's politics has no room for corruption" moment?
a public beheading or two would really make a strong point in our favour

>>1567791
That's up to you when the rest of the details are on the table, but generally speaking executions would be frowned upon.

Still working on omakes.

>>1569541
Well, that's kind of the point.
Here's what happens when you feel like you don't have to play by the rules anymore.

No rules anymore? Oh, well i'll just kill everyone that gives me a hard time then, and there's a *very* short list of people that could do something about it, most of whom are on my side.

>>1569701
Good time for a reminder: just because Yoruichi is on Riku's side doesn't mean she'll support her blindly. In fact their marriage means that it's even more important to Yoruichi that if Riku ever starts doing something really reprehensible she step in and oppose her.

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211 KB JPG

>>1570194
“Welcome,” a voice announces, causing heads to turn immediately, “to this session Head Captain Kyōraku asked me to plan.”

Captain Kusajishi Riku strides calmly out onto the high plateau overlooking the Seireitei, grinning cheerfully despite the fact that she's called the First Division's seated officers out to this spot well before sunrise. A small black cat jumps down from its perch atop her massive backpack, and she sets the bag down y her feet.

“Ma'am,” Okita yawns. “So what exactly have you got planned?”

“Well, open the bag and see,” she explains simply, taking a step back so that the Third Seat can follow her instructions. Inside he finds dozens of pieces of prepared rice paper, along with ink stones and brushes.

“Okay?” he muses, glancing over his shoulder at the view out towards where the sun is getting ready to rise.

“You probably got it,” the Captain nods, “but for those of you who still need an explanation I want you to paint the sunrise. I'll be doing the same.”

The officers comply with her rather odd instructions, and set to work painting. Riku herself takes a seat with the cat curled up against her legs, and paints in silence. Dark, straight lines and a long, wide curve, darker and lighter shades of greys and greens with bands where the natural tones of the paper are stained lightly brown. Reds and oranges give way to each other, fading subtly into a dark sky with a few scattered stars, and the small figure of a black cat sits as if peering out over the precipice onto the world below.

Many of the others struggle.

Some keep accidentally looking at the sun and waste time rubbing their eyes in annoyance. Others delve deeply into tracing every line they can see and never get around to the colors. One even flips over his paper and starts over, though at the opposite end of the spectrum Okita seems to have little trouble with the task.

“Alright, that's enough,” Riku declares as the lightshow finally ends. “Let's see what you all did.”

Next to hers, only one really stands up. The others are amateurish at best, with some obviously unfinished and others totally having failed to capture the moment.

“I figured as much,” Riku nods thoughtfully. “Not one of you save for Okita here managed to capture the essence of the moment, and he I suspect did so without fully understanding how or why."
>1/2

>>1570617
“How do you mean?” Okita asks, slightly confused himself.

“Chinese and Japanese painting has never been strong at conveying the objective reality of a situation,” the Captain explains carefully, putting away her many tools. “Kara-e painting largely eschews such details for replicating the essence of the subject. In that way it's inherently impressionistic, using shade and tone and a limited number of lines to portray how a subject is rather than what it looks like.”

“The same can often be true in battle,” Riku continues.

“I see...” Okita muses, seeming to pick up on the lesson much quicker than his peers. “Getting lost in the details means you miss the bigger picture, and lose the proper sense of space and rhythm.”

“Exactly,” she nods. “I saw many of you needlessly glancing at the sun and hurting your eyes, when you could have easily observed the way the sun lit its surroundings and conveyed its presence with far greater impact. Others were going into far too great of detail in ensuring every building in the city was just right, and missed the beauty of how the light was washing over that city this morning. Some of you just ran out of time, having gotten bogged down in addressing various mistakes.”

“Just like the stroke of a brush, the stroke of a sword can't be taken back. If you lose your broader awareness while painting and make a mistake, you miss capturing a beautiful moment,” she concludes. “But if you lose your awareness in battle, you lose your life. Remember that as you hone your technical skills.”

The First Division officers exchange glances as those words sink in, and Captain Kusajishi finishes re-packing her bag. The cat leans against her ankles as she faces her students.

“Thanks for spending the morning with me,” she says, bowing her head slightly in a gesture of respect.

Okita bows deeply, and his peers quickly follow. “Thank you for the lesson, I think none of us are likely to forget what you've shown us.”

"It was my pleasure, Third Seat Okita."

With that, cat and Captain stroll off to find breakfast.

>>1570194
Is it really reprehensible, though?
Or would central just really really not like it.

Whoever it was just did everything in their power to go outside the bounds, ignore all diplomatic order and upset balance with a sitting captain in an attempt to discredit and remove us from power.
A captain who happens to both be and command a significant portion of the seireitei's war power during a time in which it sits on the brink of destruction by an outside threat.
That's as close to "attacking a captain" and "disrupting the balance" as they can personally get, and we know what the punishment for that is.

Thinking about it, I wonder if the thief was the other guy that was trash-talking us in the tea shop. First dude apologized, and then got sent to stop us at the gate; second dude probably exists for a reason as well.

>>1570995
It's basically treason, even if it's fully justified, and would have a negative impact on the Ninth Division. It would break her heart if it came to blows, but Yoruichi would definitely try to prevent it.

>>1570995
It's pretty reprehensible desu senpai

>>1572955
That's the point i'm trying to make.
When nobody's following any rules anymore, there's nothing stopping anyone from doing anything, and that includes us. In a world like that, might makes right, and they're not very mighty, so it goes against their best interests.

i may or may not have a particularly strong hatred for corrupt politicians
maybe don't behead central
this time

>>1572248
There's some good thinking going on here