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>>1671582
So instead, you've elected to focus on the problem at hand: the emergence of spiritual weapons that are neither quincy-style reishi weapons nor the typical zanpakuto derived from Ōetsu's work.

“So what is it?” you press after having relayed extensive details from your fight against the assassin-wielding swords mere hours ago. “I find it hard to believe you don't know anything.”

Ōetsu sighs, an uncharacteristic gesture of exhaustion. “You probably never heard of it, but one of the failed alternatives was called a bakkotō...”

“You're right,” you interject, “I've never heard of it.”

“Well that's for a good reason,” Ōetsu snaps. “And if you'll let me I'll explain it to you...”

“So what's the reason?”

Ōetsu spends a few seconds silently working out whether or not he should give you the reaction you're obviously angling for. Eventually he decides no.

“The bakkotō were livin' blades that didn't even bother with takin' after their wielders,” Ōetsu explains. “Strong shinigami could use 'em safely, an' some of them even had special powers kinda like kidō-based zanpakuto. But weaker shinigami could use 'em at a higher level than usual.”

“Only temporarily,” you complete the thought. “The cost was that the bakkotō would begin to consume its wielder.”

“They work by drawin' out reiatsu by force,” he continues. “That's the organic part's job, 'cept instead of feedin' all that power into a livin' animal it concentrates in a sword.”

>So how dangerous are these swords to their wielders? I'd assume very?
>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?
>Who decided to favor tying your forge into the cycle of reincarnation instead?
>Other?

>>1671605
>So how dangerous are these swords to their wielders? I'd assume very?
>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?

>>1671605
>>So how dangerous are these swords to their wielders? I'd assume very?
>>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?

>>1671605
>So how dangerous are these swords to their wielders? I'd assume very?
>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?
>Do you know how long it takes for a bakkotō to become inseparable from its wielder?

>>1671605
>>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?

>writing

>>1671605
>>So how dangerous are these swords to their wielders? I'd assume very?
>>What happens if a bakkotō gets into the hands of a Captain-class fighter?
>>Who decided to favor tying your forge into the cycle of reincarnation instead?

>>1671605
>>Other?
>What method is used to create bakkoto? And does that have anything to do with why they were rejected? Obviously they are dangerous, but there has to be more to it than that.

>>1671739
“So I have to ask, what would the difference be between a Captain with a bakkotō and a Captain with a Bankai?” you ask Ōetsu thoughtfully. “Which would be the more powerful?”

“It's more a matter of where each fighter decided to stop,” Ōetsu muses, going over the scenario in his mind. “A Bankai is powerful, stable, but limited. You don't get stronger, your Bankai can't work your way 'round that. But a bakkotō can. You can keep pullin' more an more power outta the sword until it kills you, but if you don't kill the other guy it don't do much good, does it?”

“So you're saying the difference is between resilience?” you guess, putting two and two together.

“Not all Captains are made equal,” Ōetsu agrees. “Though if a captain-class fighter got hold of a bakkotō and a Bankai we'd be in trouble.”

“I see,” you nod. “Alright then. I'm guessing for anyone whose strength isn't on par with a Captain using one of these things that way is basically a death sentence?”

“Sooner or later it's a death sentence for everyone who touches one,” Ōetsu counters. “Captain or no, you're gonna die if you rely on its strength. That's just how it works: he who tries to get his power quickly will loose it just as quick, ya see.”

“So that's why the zanpakuto were the option that lasted,” you realize.

“That's right.”

>What do you know about the Kasumiōji?
>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?
>And who made that decision? Are they still alive?
>Other?

>Sorry, got pulled into something else while I was writing

>>1671837
>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?
>And who made that decision? Are they still alive?

>>1671837
>What do you know about the Kasumiōji?
>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?

>>1671837
>>What do you know about the Kasumiōji?
>>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?
>>And who made that decision? Are they still alive?

>>1671837
>What do you know about the Kasumiōji?
>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?

>>1671837
>>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?
>>And who made that decision? Are they still alive?

>>1671837
>>So who designed the bakkotō? Where do they come from?
>>Other?
>Though if a captain-class fighter got hold of a bakkotō and a Bankai we'd be in trouble.
"Then I take it the knowledge on what makes a vizard zanpakutou tick and applying it to a bakkoto would spell even greater danger?"

>tallying and writing

>>1672008
“So who was it that designed the bakkotō in the first place?” you ask. “You've told me plenty about what they are and what they can do, but you haven't said anything about how they were forged, or by who.”

“Well, it was an old rival of mine,” Ōetsu explains wearily, thinking back on events thousands of years in the past. “A man by the name of Chinen, real clever guy.”

“Was he malicious at all?” you ask. “Evil-hearted, willing to harm others in the course of his work?”

“No, not really,” Ōetsu shakes his head. “He was never evil. He wanted to solve a problem, same way I did but a different way. Shit worthless as a swordsmith but clever, learned how to use kidō to warp the iron in a being's body into a blade comin outta its back and used that skill on the mindless reiatsu-suckers that became the bakkotō. Turned a real threat to us spiritual beings into an asset.”

“It sounds like you actually respected him,” you realize.

“I did,” he admits. “But what he made was more dangerous than anyone realized, cause he though people'd be sensible enough to know their limits. And everyone ever since's proven him wrong. He stopped makin' the damn things when we found a way to make asauchi reliably.”

“So who could have started manufacturing them?” you ask.

“Dunno,” Ōetsu admits. “But if I hadta guess it'd be one of his descendants.”

“And who would his descendants be?”

“No damn clue,” he replies calmly. “All these long years, all the marriages and muddled relationships. All that human stuff y'know, I'd have no idea.”

“So that leaves us nowhere,” you sigh. “Can't even confirm if it's the Kasumiōji at this rate.”

“Well, if I can't see the fool thing firsthand I can't very well say where it's from,” Ōetsu shrugs. “But what we've got is a situation where you can't move against the folks you suspect are guilty even if you knew for sure what the sword you got hold of was a bakkotō.”

“Swords I can do. Bureaucracy's not my game.”

>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.
>I'm sure Kisuke'd love to come and see all this.
>Then we'll go back and GET the evidence.
>I'd like to speak with one of your peers (who?)
>Other?

>>1672176
>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.

>>1672176
>>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.

>>1672176
>>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.

>>1672176
>>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.

>>1672176
>Then we'll get you to the sword. I'll take you.

>basically consensus
>writing

>>1672263
I'd vote too, but yea. Consensus.

Wonder if the creatures Bakkoto are based off of are related to the plant bulbs Apacci and company made their clothes out of.

>>1672263
I dunno man, it looks like a really close to me.

>>1672263
“Then I guess the only choice is to bring you to the sword,” you declare. “Come along, Ōetsu. We have places to be.”

“And you're going to break the universe a little to get it done?” Ōetsu raises his eyebrow suspiciously. “Y'know I'm not supposed to be party to that sorta thing.”

“Yeah, well,” you shrug. “Places to be.”
>3d10, DC 18, Crit 24
>best of three

Rolled 1, 2, 6 = 9 (3d10)

>>1672315

Rolled 2, 5, 2 = 9 (3d10)

>>1672315

Rolled 5, 3, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1672315
Dicerino.

Rolled 2, 10, 6 = 18 (3d10)

>>1672315

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>>1672331
>>1672335
>>1672339
>>1672343

Riparoni. Peace.

>>1672315
You feel around, eventually finding a weak spot in the fabric of the universe and tearing it asunder before stepping through yourself.

“I've never tried this,” you admit. “With two people I mean.”

“Alright,” Ōetsu nods. “I mean how hard cannit be?”

The two of you step out into the darkness, floating on cushions of reishi gathered beneath your feet as if floating in air. It's only a few dozen paces before you encounter a problem.

“Fuck!” Ōetsu shouts in alarm as he falls straight through a foothold...

>dice+3d10, DC 17 Crit 22
>best of three

Rolled 10, 9, 1 = 20 (3d10)

>>1672389

Rolled 1, 5, 7 = 13 (3d10)

>>1672389

Rolled 7, 10, 5 = 22 (3d10)

>>1672389

Rolled 3, 7, 9 = 19 (3d10)

>>1672389

Rolled 7, 5, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>1672389

>>1672419
A hero appears!

>>1672389
You move with a blinding speed, realizing instantly that just reaching for Ōetsu won't accomplish anything. So instead you lift your body and create a cushion of reishi to push off of, diving headfirst after him in a white and black blur. The instant you catch up with him you create a soft, nebulous cushion to slow your descent, and soon come to a stop.

The Sword God glances at you nervously, then glances down into the abyss... or rather out into it. There are no landmarks and no sense of depth or distance, and that's what's sometimes so unnerving about it. Though you still have some sense of direction oddly enough, more instinctive than based on anything concrete.

“Good catch,” Ōetsu mutters, still staring into the darkness.

“Yeah, what the hell happened?” you ask, forcing the cushion around your feet. “You just suddenly fell.”

“My cushions must've lost cohesion,” he replies, looking at the platform you've created. “How can you do that?”

“This?” you ask, kicking the platform with your toe. “It's simple. Same way as doing it in the air, or in the Dangai.”

“Is it now?” Ōetsu asks, generating a hazy and barely-formed disk in front of his palm. “I'm still not getting' it to work.”

“Strange,” you grant, “but I'm not exactly a scientist. Makes more sense to just work our way back to the Seireitei.”

“And how do we do that?” he asks. “I've not no idea where we are or how far we've fallen.”

>I can take care of that. It's easy.
>We can call for assistance.
>Other?

>>1672558
>I can take care of that. It's easy.

>>1672558
>I can take care of that. It's easy.
I guess I'll trust Riku on this one.

>>1672558
>>I can take care of that. It's easy.

>dice+3d10
>DC 16, Crit 20
>best of three

Rolled 7, 9, 4 = 20 (3d10)

>>1672659

Rolled 10, 10, 5 = 25 (3d10)

>>1672659

>>1672558
>“My cushions must've lost cohesion,” he replies, looking at the platform you've created. “How can you do that?”
>“This?” you ask, kicking the platform with your toe. “It's simple. Same way as doing it in the air, or in the Dangai.”

Boy I should hope Riku didn't accidentally become a god of the creepy inbetween void or anything like that

Rolled 7, 1, 4 = 12 (3d10)

>>1672659

Rolled 10, 4, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>1672659

>>1672678
She is a demigod already so not really. Not to mention that being a half goddess of a third of Okami beats being a barely Divine minor God of swords.

>>1672558
in b4 this is specifically a god thing and Oetsu isn't anywhere near divine enough for this shit.

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>>1672659
“That's fine,” you reply, glancing back and forth through the void to try and find your way again. “Just follow me and try to stay close.”

“You sure?”

You stare at him disapprovingly. “It's more a question of how long it's gonna take then whether I can do it.”

“How?” Ōetsu demands. “I mean, feelin' like you can navigate the Dangai's one thing, but doin' it from the Royal Realm's a different thing!”

“This way,” you tell him, shaping the reishi beneath your feet into solid, stable stairs. They wind upwards in a shifting, writing pathway in what looks aimless. “Like I said, follow me.”

You ascend the stairs carefully, ensuring that Ōetsu is following closely enough that he won't fall through a second time. The path itself shifts ahead of you as you use your senses to hone in on where you want to go, focusing on the faint sensation that turning slightly left or right will bring you closer to the right path. That sensation grows stronger and stronger with every step you take, and eventually you feel that you haven't found something “close” but “perfect”.

And it's there that you press your fingertips against the outside of the Soul Society, then you pry open a rift that opens in a familiar place.

With a crash you and Ōetsu fall out into Kisuke's lab, where Yoruichi currently sits near a long table with a sword laid out on it. She has a cup of tea in her hands, from which she looks up with a smile.

“Nice of you to drop by,” she jokes. “Kisuke, another cup of tea!”

“Don't you mean two cups?” Ōetsu wonders aloud.

“That depends,” Yoruichi frowns.

>Recount what you've learned about the bakkotō.
>Recount what you've learned about the asauchi.
>Recount what you've learned about your own swords.
>Explain why Ōetsu is here, share the other details later.

>>1672735
>>Explain why Ōetsu is here, share the other details later.
lets not go for the asshat method yet, don't want to deal with monk bullshit round 2 yet.

>>1672735
>Recount what you've learned about the bakkotō.
>Explain why Ōetsu is here, share the other details later.

The other shit....it can wait. Possibly when Kisuke is not in the room, unless we want Yoruichi to extract a pound of flesh from Oetsu.

>>1672735
>Recount what you've learned about your own swords.
This is too good to not do.
>Recount what you've learned about the bakkotō after Kisuke gets here.

>>1672735
>Explain why Ōetsu is here, share the other details later.

>>1672735
>Give the monk the darn cursed sword thing then drink tea. He can get his own tea.

>Then again while Riku doesn't know this, the monk saved Rosa by being eaten by not Jesus. Although becoming a Hollow is just slighty better.

>writing

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>>1672804
“Ōetsu is here to see what we've found with his own eyes,” you explain, leaving out the details of what else you've learned since forcing your way into the Royal Realm. “And I have things to tell you after that, Yoruichi. Things about the way this world works that I almost wish I didn't know and that I'm not sure the rest of the world can know.”

“But I want to hear your opinions on it.”

Your wife looks at you, a knowing and concerned glance. After all these years she knows that things don't typically fluster you like this, and she knows that you wouldn't just flat-out avoid an issue like this unless it was beyond just serious: that your judgment is that it's critical, and that you can't share it with Ōetsu present. Little does she realize it's for her protection... as you know that it'd be a struggle for her to hold back trying to break his neck on the spot.

“I understand,” she nods stiffly.

Meanwhile the sword god has begun his examination.

“Curious,” he mutters, “the blade's a lot better than Chinen's work... far better connection between the organic and inorganic. Someone's developed the technique.”

“How much development are we talking about here?” you press.

“Centuries at least,” he replies.

“Development of what?” Yoruichi asks you.

“This thing is apparently called a bakkotō,” you explain quietly as Ōetsu remains too busy muttering to himself to respond. “A direct competitor with the asauchi at one point, draws reiatsu out of a wielder by force even at risk to their life.”

“Which explains what we saw when we encountered those assassins,” Yoruichi nods thoughtfully. “I see. And can they be wielded alongside a zanpakuto?”

“Nothing seems to be preventing that,” you shrug. “So I wouldn't be surprised.”

“Well this is a boring one,” Ōetsu sighs, prodding the blade with one finger. “And I think it's actually dead on toppa that.”

“What do you mean, boring?” Kisuke asks, two cups of tea in his hands.

“Ah, much obliged!” Ōetsu thanks the Seventh Division Captain, who hands you one of the two cups and promptly drinks from the other. The Sword God simply stares at the cup and grumbles before carrying on.

“Anyway, it's a plain bakkotō,” he clarifies. “Run of the mill. A sword for grunts if you will. You can forge 'em much weirder, though the way any exact treatment manifests into an ability is somethin' I don't really know.”
>1/2

>>1672735


Refresh my memory, why is Yoruichi testy towards Oetsu right now? Enough to be deliberately discourteous?

>>1672884
shes probably pretty missed at all the royal guards mostly because monk is asshat supreme.

>>1672867
“You don't know?” Kisuke asks, feigning ignorance of the situation. Or at least he's pretending to, even that comes off as facetious. “My, and here I thought you were the expert.”

“Yeah, and you tell me somethin' good, nerd!” Ōetsu shoots back defensively.

“Boys,” Yoruichi grumbles. “Try and stay focused, would you? Neither one of you knows everything, so quit acting superior and work with each other.”

“Fair point,” Kisuke shrugs. “I've determined based on the annular rings laid down on the inside of the creature's shell that it's less than a year old. Chemical analysis of a tissue sample showed high concentrations of carbamide.”

“Carbamide?” Ōetsu repeats, glancing at Yoruichi who shrugs. “The fuck's that?”

“Urea,” you explain, earning stares from all three of the other shinigami. “What, Rangiku had a western learning phase. Read it in a book about western agricultural processes, it's supposed to be a good source of nitrogen when used as a fertilizer.”

“That's correct,” Kisuke nods, still a little taken aback. “Given the purity of the compound and the lack of anything else you'd normally find in urine, I concluded that the presence of urea indicates that these have been fertilized.”

“Fertilized?” you ask. “What, like a plant?”

“Precisely.”

>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?
>What does that tell us about how to destroy them?
>Can you figure out anything more damning to be used as evidence?
>Ōetsu, what do you make of that discovery?
>Other?

>>1672901
>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?

>>1672897
Pretty much this. The Royal Guard haven't exactly made many friends since taking a more active role in events, and Yoruichi's opinion in particular has rapidly soured.

That's what happens when you unilaterally declare that someone's wife is a threat to reality.

>>1672884
>>1672897

He wants to kill Riku and would have if Riku had not become so smart, strong and likeable that doing so wouldbe suicidal.

>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?
>Ōetsu, what do you make of that discovery?
>Does this seem like the kind of Bio-organic science stuff that Mayuri did a lot of?

>>1672901
>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?
>Does this seem like the kind of Bio-organic science stuff that Mayuri did a lot of?

>>1672901
>>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?
>Can you figure out anything more damning to be used as evidence?
>Ōetsu, what do you make of that discovery?

>>1672901
>>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?

>>1672901
>So they're manufacturing these in some sort of grow-room?
If we can figure out how and where theyre being made, it will help a lot in figuring out where they are and who is growing them.

Unfortunately I'm not feeling well right now, so I have to call it shorter than I'd hoped. But I'll continue where I left off tomorrow at the same time.

I'll work out an alternate schedule for SoZ some time tomorrow morning and announce it on Twitter.

>>1672980

Thanks for running!

>>1672980
Thanks for running.

I came in late, but thanks for running!

I'm rereading all of Shadows of Zeon before I start archive bingeing your sequel. I honestly forgot about it for a long time due to life being crazy for awhile. Looking forward to see what's all happened, last I read SoZ: was a good chunk before it ended!

Also been following Riku's journey since the first few threads, rarely ever voting live but archive reading a ton. Thanks for writing stories that are so damned interesting!

>>1672901
>Other: Are you telling me those swords grow on trees? A bit ridiculous if you ask Oetsu.

I'll be putting the next update out at 10am PST, so in about an hour and a half. I want to take the opportunity to try the kind of pace a lot of threads end up with on /qst/ but that was never possible on /tg/.

Which is fine, because I'm not sure I'd be able to do another 7pm-11pm run today.

>>1673539
“So they're literally growing these things?” you ask.

Kisuke nods. “Certainly seems so.”

“They'd have to be doing it indoors, or underground,” Yoruichi realizes, “otherwise we'd have seen it on patrol at some point in the Onmitsukidō's investigation.”

“Probably a cave, then,” you hazard a guess. “Always easier to get away with building a secret lair if it's underground and both of you know it.”

“Hey, I don't build lairs...” Kisuke protests only to earn a glare from you and Yoruichi. “Well, it's not my fault people keep using them that way.”

“You've used them that way yourself,” you observe.

“Well, people should do as I say and not as I do,” he counters simply.

“If you're finished?” Ōetsu interjects. “I've seen enough, this thing's a bakkotō for sure, one meant for mass production, and it's breakin' the laws of the Seireitei just by existin'. So what you all need to be doin' is findin' me some information, ya see? Tie it to someone and that someone's goin' down.”

“We still agree the Kasumiōji are the most likely culprits?” you ask, glancing at Yoruichi and Kisuke.

“It's the best lead we have to go by,” Kisuke shrugs.

“Entirely circumstantial evidence,” Yoruichi sighs, “but it's a fair amount of circumstantial evidence. And if no amount of circumstantial evidence is enough to warrant investigation of the Kasumiōji then what would be? Or are we expected to break the law ourselves to get the evidence we need to prove our case?”

“With the way the Central 46 usually works I'd hardly be surprised if we are,” you admit with a grumble. All too often the laws of the Seireitei only make sense if you assume they're meant to give nobles extra legal protection and provide Central 46 carte blanche to declare anything and everything a crime when it suits them.

Well, when you're king that'll be the first thing to go.

>Head to the Central 46 with Yoruichi, lay out your explanations and see what sticks.
>Have the Central 46 summon Kumoi: he seems the one most likely to be responsible.
>Rurichiyo might be convinced to let you search... but only if brought before the C46 alone.
>Start planning to break into the Kasumiōji compound to search for evidence.
>Other?

>>1673629
Maybe you can bait the culprits, and subsequently ambush them.

>>1673629
>Head to the Central 46 with Yoruichi, lay out your explanations and see what sticks.

>>1673646
I forgot to greentext.

>>1673629
>>Rurichiyo might be convinced to let you search... but only if brought before the C46 alone.

>>1673629
>Start planning to break into the Kasumiōji compound to search for evidence.

Stealth mission: Start!

>>1673629
Actually, y'know what? Changed my mind.

>>Have the Central 46 summon Kumoi: he seems the one most likely to be responsible.
However, keep it under the pretense of their clan needing to report their military strength, which seems to be required AFAIK.

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>ask five anons and you'll get five answers

>>1673686
The options all have their merits.

If it's any consolation, I'm also low key in favor of delving deeper into the Kasumioji compound.

>>1673694
Well it's a half hour in and there's a five-way split.

>>1673629
>Head to the Central 46 with Yoruichi, lay out your explanations and see what sticks.

>>1673646
Guess I'll end the tie and change to
>Rurichiyo might be convinced to let you search... but only if brought before the C46 alone.

>>1673700
>>1673701
Okay, between these we're at least at a point I think I can work with.

>>1673686
Why don't we talk about why it is we picked what we picked, and why we didn't pick what we didn't?
Maybe we can convince some people one way or another.

For me, i feel like talking to the central 46 without any hard evidence isn't going to go well and may actually cause issues going forwards, like them keeping an eye on us or asking questions about how we got the evidence we did when we had nothing before.

I also don't want to bring rurichiyo into this needlessly, she has no idea what the fuck is going on and we'd be taking advantage of her, not necessarily gaining anything for sure out of it.

Just breaking in and finding the goods seems like the best option, it's the sort of thing we always do when the chips are down, and we were onmitsukido, we have centuries of skill and training in the field, putting us at an advantage in this regard.

>>1673707
“I think we need to go to the Central 46 and lay out the evidence,” you reason aloud, “but I also think one more person needs to be present.”

“Kasumiōji Rurichiyo,” Yoruichi guesses your thoughts immediately. “Hearing Ōetsu's account only makes me more certain Kumoi is to blame, the girl's hardly old enough to understand her own duties let alone know how to forge such a complicated weapon in total secrecy.”

“I've been surprised before, but that's the general impression I've gotten,” you agree.

“I can relay the message,” Ōetsu nods, “the Royal Guard's got ways of gettin' that done.”

“No need,” you shake your head, loosening your left armguard and showing off the tattoo underneath. “We've got this covered.”

Ōetsu immediately understands what the tattoo is meant to do and chuckles. “Fine. Guess you really do got this.”

“Now if you'll take me back to the Royal Realm Osho's probably gettin' ready to chew me out. Might as well get it over with.”

DECISION REQUIRED
>Explain to Yoruichi what you learned in the Royal Realm.
>Take Ōetsu back, then explain what you learned from him.
>Take Ōetsu back and explain things after the meeting with the Central 46.
>Other?

>>1673733
>Take Ōetsu back, then explain what you learned from him.

>>1673733
>>Take Ōetsu back and explain things after the meeting with the Central 46.

>>1673733
>Take Ōetsu back and explain things after the meeting with the Central 46.

It's mom's decision to make regarding his punishment, not ours and not yoruichi's.
We're don't lay down divine law, and this is their territory.

Don't want anything influencing her during the meeting with central either.

>>1673733
>Take Ōetsu back and explain things after the meeting with the Central 46.
>Other: "Yoruichi, Are you certain you want to hear about what I have to say this after the meeting? If you really want to know, please be prepared mentally. The best safe comparison of a hint I can give you is that what I learned is something straight out of a cosmic horror story."

>>1673716
To clarify, the result works out to bringing Rurichiyo to the Central 46 to hear the case, putting her in a situation where the circumstantial evidence paints her family in a bad light. Either she welcomes an investigation that would clear her family's name or root out someone who's secretly endangering her family's reputation, winning in both cases, or she risks further incriminating her family and convincing the Central 46 that something isn't right.

It also avoids the problem of the Central 46 itself: they'll go to great lengths to protect the rights and privileges of the nobility, but if nobility cooperates that's a totally different matter.

>>1673733
>Take Ōetsu back and explain things after the meeting with the Central 46.

>>1673733
>>Explain to Yoruichi what you learned in the Royal Realm.

>>1673733
>>Take Ōetsu back, then explain what you learned from him.

>>1673754
which means it's a dice roll on how well we convince the young lady in agreeing to cooperate.

>writing
>1d100, taking the fourth roll

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>1673775

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>1673775

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>1673775

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>1673775

>>1673780
hmm.... So average/above average situation?

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>1673775

>>1673780
>>1673781
Well, below 35 and her guards would be seriously wounded, below 20 and she'd be wounded and at least one guard would be dead, below 15 and she'd be dead.

So not bad.
>taking a quick shower

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>>1673791
After an uneventful return trip to the Royal Realm you take your leave of Ōetsu, but not before requesting he give your regards to Hitsugaya and Kenpachi whom you did not see during your visit and to Kirio and Shutara, who are increasingly the only two members of the Royal Guard whose presence you would find yourself welcoming instead of merely tolerating as you now do Ōetsu.

He promises to do so, in his own roundabout way, and you find yourself rejoining the Seireitei's dimension just a few hundred meters from the inside of the Central 46 chambers. It will take some time for Rurichiyo to arrive, you realize, and so you meet up with Yoruichi to discuss the situation.

“So there are two ways to react if you're her,” you sigh, working out the likely responses in your mind over tea. “You can allow us to investigate or you can put your foot down and refuse.”

“I think she'll allow us,” Yoruichi replies thoughtfully. “I think she's aware enough to realize that there's no losing in that situation, either you get rid of a bad apple or your name is cleared. If you refuse then that just looks incriminating, makes the members of the Central 46 feel even more like you're hiding something.”

“This assumes she's not complicit,” you observe.

“Do you really get that impression?”

You're forced to shake your head. “No. She seems to young and too... well, for lack of a better word 'innocent' to have actually been a mastermind behind this. She's a princess, not a warlord, and she's got nowhere else to climb.”

“Short of reaching the rank of a 'great' noble clan,” Yoruichi sighs. “That's the part I can't really shake, it feels weird that anyone would even think that's how it works. The Shihōin, the Shiba, the Kuchiki... they all have their social standing for very old, established reasons.”

“So old that for most people they'd be lost to time?” you offer. “Remember your memory and historical instruction both vastly outmatch anyone else's.”

“True... so, what was it you wanted to tell me?” Yoruichi asks with a curious glance.

“Not in public,” you respond, lowering your voice. “It's that sort of thing. Widespread knowledge could lead to serious social unrest.”

“That bad?” she grimaces.

“Worse than even you could possibly know, sitting here,” you estimate. “Like, eldritch horror sort of information.”

“Well then, we'll talk this evening,” she offers. “Last thing I'd want is for you to carry something like that alone.”

“Thanks,” you nod in quiet response before pouring her a second cup of tea.
>1/2

>>1673880
After several hours of contemplative relaxation and a few pots of tea, you head back to the Central 46 and work your way past security: this time refusing to leave your swords at the door. That insistence draws the immediate ire of some in the chamber.

“You have refused to follow convention in the past, Captains,” one of the councilors accuses you, “however to many this reads as an overt threat!”

Yoruichi snorts dismissively. “You realize you're talking to two of the Captains with the greatest skills in hakuda? It's a formality, and given that security around here's been so lax as to allow the theft of several zanpakuto while their wielders were in here bantering about with you I'd have thought you'd welcome the extra insurance.”

“She raises a fair point,” another councilor sighs. “You're picking fights where there isn't a reason to be had.”

“I thought Rurichiyo'd be here by now,” you mutter to Yoruichi. “You think something might have happened?”

“I doubted it at first,” Yoruichi admits, “but that may have involved too many assumptions.”

Just a few moments later the inner doors burst open, and a tearful, furious young girl storms down the stairs.

“Which one of you was it!?” she demands hysterically. “Which of you gave the order!?”

“Lady Kasumiōji, please calm down!” Kenryū begs. Enryū silently follows, seeming to beg as well with body language alone.

“No!” she declares. “We refuse to simply calm down! Not when we were so very nearly assassinated! You could have both been killed, we could have been killed!”

“And one of these... these people might have... but why would someone... I don't...”

The young Lady's voice falters as her eyes dart about the room wildly, from one numbered screen to the next, desperately searching for anything to explain her misfortune...
>dice+3d10, best of three
>Higher is better

Rolled 3, 10, 3 = 16 (3d10)

>>1673912
dice.

Rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1673912

Rolled 4, 8, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>1673912

Rolled 7, 9, 9 = 25 (3d10)

>>1673912

>>1673926
AYYY. MAGIC CLUTCH
HOLD THAT DIGNITY. HOLD IT FAST.

>>1673926
nice

>>1673912
There's one very simple technique that can prevent Rurichiyo from further denigrating herself before the Central 46, to help her save face and to reassure her that in this room she's as safe as can be. But it's not going to be easy for her... because it actually involves a different zanjutsu technique with your bare hand. This time, it's Shitonegaeshi.

With a single step you cross the distance between her and where you were standing, faster than anyone in the room save Yoruichi and maybe the elder Fēng could follow with their eyes, and hold out two fingertips of your right hand. They stop mere hair-widths from her brow, right between her eyes, and you hold them there. Rurichiyo's eyes widen in alarm, and the breath catches in her chest. Her knees shake slightly under her grey hakama, the only evidence of it being slight wobbling in her usually-strict upright posture.

Then your expression softens. She flinches as you brush the tears out from under her eyes with your thumb.

“Don't worry,” you insist quietly as Kenryū and Enryū stand in stunned silence, their hands hovering by the hilts of their zanpakuto. “Two of the most terrifying people in the world are in the room with you, and we're not going to let anyone raise so much as their voice to you. This is literally the safest place you could possibly be right now, so calm down and show us that stupidly poised little princess we both know you can be.”

“Can you do that?”

After a moment, Rurichiyo responds with a deep, cleansing breath. “How foolish of me, to allow such a thing...”

Then she nods, cutting off the thought. “Yes, we are fine now. Thank you, Captain.”

You lead her down to the center of the room where she faces the faceless crowd and declares herself. “We are Kasumiōji Rurichiyo, here to answer the summons of the Central 46 and Captains Shihōin and Kusajishi, of the Clans Shihōin and Shiba respectively.”

“Well said,” Yoruichi mutters encouragingly under her breath.

A gavel falls.

“Very well, let this hearing begin with the evidence brought forth by Captains Kusajishi and Shihōin.”

>Present it to the Central 46 as a criminal conspiracy involving prohibited weapons.
>Present it to Rurichiyo as an issue of internal matters that spilled over into public.
>Frame it in terms of the two attempted assassinations, place them into a wider context.
>Other?

>>1673965
>Present it to the Central 46 as a criminal conspiracy involving prohibited weapons.

>>1673965
>Present it to the Central 46 as a criminal conspiracy involving prohibited weapons

tfw i couldn't fucking load a captcha for the past however long and couldn't post

>>1673965
>>Frame it in terms of the two attempted assassinations, place them into a wider context.
A lot of that has also happened previously within their clan.

>>1673965
>>Frame it in terms of the two attempted assassinations, place them into a wider context.

>>1673965
>Frame it in terms of the two attempted assassinations, place them into a wider context.

>will be snagging a quick lunch, then will return.

>>1673965
>>Frame it in terms of the two attempted assassinations, place them into a wider context.

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>>1674014
With the news of what has just happened to Lady Rurichiyo, you decide to change the plan somewhat. Instead of taking control of the situation yourself, you turn to face her.

“Lady Rurichiyo,” you begin, “would you tell us anything you know about the attempt on your life that had you so rattled when you first joined us?”

At first she seems a little hesitant, but Rurichiyo forces herself to speak and eventually finds her stride. “Well... it was difficult for us to see, but when our palanquin's door was slashed we saw them. They wore all black with masks over their mouths, and wielded strange swords. Not clearly zanpakuto, like Kenryū and Enryū, our bodyguards.”

“Strange in what way?” you press, just loud enough for the assembly to hear. “Can you describe them more clearly?”

“They seemed to us to posses tentacles, like those of an octopus,” she replies, before frowning as she forces herself to remember. “No... perhaps that isn't quite right. They were almost more like roots than they were tentacles.”

“Like roots you say?” you repeat. “Please, clarify for the councilors who haven't seen this phenomenon.”

“They branched out across the assassins' bodies, the way a flower's root system looks when you pull it up to transplant it,” she explains. “More like a living web than single tentacles. And they seemed to be in the process of expanding, at least across the one assassin we got a clear view of. Kenryū and Enryū were hard at work trying to get us clear of them, and we were... upset by it. So unfortunately those are all the details we can provide.”

“For the record, Lady Rurichiyo has just described a bakkotō,” you add, turning away from her to address the Central 46 directly. “An old type of blade that once competed with the asauchi for widespread use. Its creator was a man named Chinen who was recognized by Ōetsu Nimaiya, and who himself realized its inherent danger and ceased to produce them within his lifetime.”

“How can you be certain of this?” Yoruichi's father asks, whom you recognize by his voice.

Yoruichi is the one to respond. “Ōetsu Nimaiya and Captain Urahara Kisuke confirmed it independently. These seem to have been forged from some sort of plant which Captain Urahara believes could be grown in crops.”

“Ōetsu also seemed adamant that the technical skill applied to the blades was more refined than Chinen's work,” you add, “meaning that someone has been keeping the skill alive, or else revived it some time ago.”
>1/2

>>1674121
“And who is it you believe has been forging these weapons?”

“We believe it is the work of someone within the Kasumiōji family,” you announce, turning to face the same family's young heiress. “The number of suspicious deaths within the family, the theft of five highly unusual zanpakuto including those of a Vizard, the mass production of an ancient and highly illegal spiritual weapon, an attack on my life and that of Lady Yoruichi shortly after meeting with you... all the evidence seems to fit.”

“And what of my assassins?” Rurichiyo asks, less of a demand and more an appeal for your input, you realize.

>Whoever it is has ambition... your death was probably an eventual goal anyway.
>They probably realized our own plan, to convince you to let us search your estate.
>It's difficult to say for sure. It depends on who precisely is behind all of the scheming.
>Other?

>>1674130
>>They probably realized our own plan, to convince you to let us search your estate.

>>1674130
>Whoever it is has ambition... your death was probably an eventual goal anyway.
>>They probably realized our own plan, to convince you to let us search your estate.

>>1674130
>Whoever it is has ambition... your death was probably an eventual goal anyway.

>>1674130
>Whoever it is has ambition... your death was probably an eventual goal anyway.
>They probably realized our own plan, to convince you to let us search your estate.
I'm guessing she didn't act on her own suspicions and investigate all the deaths?

>>1674130
>Previously, you were just a puppet figurehead who didn't know right from wrong when it came to internal affairs, you only became a clanhead recently and at a young age, They took advantage of your youth and naivety to forward their plans behind your back. But now when you got involved in our investigation, Your Assassin sought to remove you from the head clan seat to undermine cooperation between the Katsumoji and the rest of the C-46, install a new clan head in your place and pull a cover story to hide the conspiracy before the hearings took place.

>>1674130
>>They probably realized our own plan, to convince you to let us search your estate.
And if they wanted Rurichiyo dead, that must mean their operation is close to the estate's vicinity. The masterminds would've played it cool otherwise.

>>1674130
>>Whoever it is has ambition... your death was probably an eventual goal anyway.
>>It's difficult to say for sure. It depends on who precisely is behind all of the scheming.

>>1674130
>to your assassins, you were just a useful tool if you were blissfully about what was going on behind the curtains. taking advantage of your clan's estate and financial assets. But when they caught on to our plan... they panicked and sought to remove you.

>>1674171
*blissfully ignorant

>>1674130
“They probably guessed that we'd try and convince you to let us search the entire estate,” you explain to her. “And correctly too. But if you're dead you can't give us that permission and we're stuck with a case that we can't definitively prove.”

“As an already privileged noble the Central 46 will always have an institutional tendency to protect you and your interests,” Yoruichi adds. “Even when two other nobles have brought a strong circumstantial case. But if you accepted an offer for us to get to the bottom of all this they wouldn't even be a factor.”

“And if we survived?” she asks. “It seems too high a risk to contemplate.”

“My guess is they were counting on you to lose control of the situation out of paranoia,” you tell her. “You're still very young, still inexperienced. They expected you to crack under the sudden pressure and reject any offers of help for fear that the one offering was part of a conspiracy against you.”

“And if not, they're no worse off than if they'd just let us speak with you,” Yoruichi concludes. “If they think the situation's bad enough there's nothing really for them to lose.”

“So the only question remaining,” Rurichiyo begins with a frown.

“... is when they'll decide to cut their losses and run,” you complete her thought. “My thoughts exactly. Either they'll panic and bail, revealing their identity, or if they're smart they'll stay in place. We don't know who they are for certain and they probably know it.”

“This whole exchange was basically just a high-stakes game of hot potato that nobody won.”

“You brought us here to convince us to allow you access to our estate,” Rurichiyo begins. “Well, then convince us. We are listening.”

>Explain to her that it's a win-win for her.
>Explain that refusing only comes across as incriminating.
>Explain that the bakkotō are a threat to EVERYONE.
>Explain that the perpetrator will likely try to kill her again.
>Other?

>>1674205
>All of the above?
these are all good reasons desu

>>1674205
>It's you can't lose. Either you prove your clan's innocence, or you get rid of a bad element that still wants you dead. Refusing now would just consign you to death - they'll succeed eventually if they keep trying.

>>1674205
>Explain to her that it's a win-win for her.
>Explain that the bakkotō are a threat to EVERYONE.

>>1674226
Oops.
>*You can't lose.

>>1674205
3/4ths of those votes basically putting the fear on her, which is warranted given this situation.

>>Explain that the bakkotō are a threat to EVERYONE.
She's seen firsthand what it does to a person. If there is a bakkoto stash in their estate, who knows what'll happen to her household; the ones actually loyal to her.

Noble's duty or something, however it's pronounced.

>>1674205
>>Explain to her that it's a win-win for her.

>>1674205
>Explain that the bakkotō are a threat to EVERYONE.
>Other: You've seen what the bakkotō do first hand, now imagine if those things grow on trees and anyone can use them.

>>1674205
>>Explain that the bakkotō are a threat to EVERYONE.

Bribe the loli with candy, it's what I always do.

>3d10, best of four

Rolled 8, 1, 4 = 13 (3d10)

>>1674291

Rolled 4, 2, 7 = 13 (3d10)

>>1674291

Rolled 2, 10, 6 = 18 (3d10)

>>1674291

Rolled 9, 1, 4 = 14 (3d10)

>>1674291

>>1674297
>>1674299
>>1674300
>>1674301
back to mediocrity I see...

>>1674311
it's been terrible for so long.

Are any left old enough to remember the crit-train?
Maybe riku's getting too old for this shit.

>>1674318
We crit two in a row earlier, and I'm pretty sure we've only failed one roll in the past two sessions.

>>1674291
“Noblesse Oblige,” you explain. “Are you familiar with the term?”

Rurichiyo shakes her head quietly. “We are not. It's an unfamiliar language.”

“That's because it's French, translating to 'nobility obligates',” you explain. “It means that whoever claims to be noble must conduct themselves nobly, that those of us who find ourselves with power and authority have a responsibility to use those advantages honorably and responsibly.”

“It sounds like a fine and high-minded concept,” Rurichiyo admits.

“It also has problems,” Yoruichi sighs. “Because more often than not it's used by unscrupulous nobles as retroactive justification rather than as a guiding principle to action. They deliberately get it backwards because it suits them.”

“But you've seen what the bakkotō do to people,” you explain. “We've explained their power, and you've seen that as well. They're a danger not just to your family and its retainers in particular but to the Seireitei in general. So you have the chance here to define your own responsibilities as a noblewoman, to set a precedent for yourself and an example for others.”

Rurichiyo glances away from you and remains quiet for a few moments. “We are... frightened. You are right, Lady Riku, Lady Yoruichi, this is certainly an opportunity... but you are also right that we are young and inexperienced. It is distressing, so that we find ourselves wishing we were born with any other name but Kasumiōji.”

“But we are Kasumiōji, the last of our name who draws breath, and you are right about one further thing. We must set an example, we must establish sooner rather than later what kind of leader we wish to be.”

She turns to face you once more, having found her courage... at least for now. “You have our blessings to investigate the Kasumiōji compound. Our orders will be to allow you full and unrestricted access to every nook and cranny. On that you have our solemn word.”

You incline your head curtly, and Yoruichi matches the gesture. “Thank you, Lady Rurichiyo.”

>We will require your presence to explain the situation, so we'll head to the compound now.
>We wish to guarantee your safety, so we'll spend the night at my Division's headquarters.
>My Division will see to your safety overnight while Yoruichi and I conduct our business.
>Other?

>>1674327
>sessions
Threads. My bad.

>>1674329
>My Division will see to your safety overnight while Yoruichi and I conduct our business.

>>1674329
>We wish to guarantee your safety, so we'll spend the night at my Division's headquarters.
No need to put our guys at risk, these bakkoto wielders can be dangerous.
She'll definitely be attacked again, unless we sleep next to her. In which case, i dunno what they'll do.

>>1674329
>My Division will see to your safety overnight while Yoruichi and I conduct our business.

>>1674329
>>My Division will see to your safety overnight while Yoruichi and I conduct our business.

>>1674329
>We wish to guarantee your safety, so we'll spend the night at my Division's headquarters.

>>1674329
>>My Division will see to your safety overnight while Yoruichi and I conduct our business.
Ojou is stepping up. I'm liking it.

>Noblesse Oblige
Ah, so that's the phrase that eluded me. Thanks for the refresher.

>>1674356
No problem. I'd actually forgotten the term myself, but it's fairly applicable to the quest.

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>>1674373
“Allow me to offer my Division's services,” you continue, voicing your next concern. “I do have some fears that there will be another attempt to assassinate you, and this time I doubt Kenryū and Enryū will be up to the task.”

“And why is that?” Kenryū interjects from the top of the stairs.

“Because they managed to help you escape this last time, but I heard nothing about them successfully killing any of your attackers,” you explain. “So they're likely to send more assassins this time, and better ones at that. And for two bodyguards who, without passing judgment on their skills, only managed to escape last time...”

“You are saying we have need of professional soldiers,” Rurichiyo realizes, “and large numbers of them, rather than relying on two bodyguards... and are willing to provide those numbers?”

“My daughter, Lieutenant Matsumoto, is as strong as many Captains,” you explain. “Rest assured you'll be perfectly safe with her in charge.”

“With her in charge?” the young noble asks.

Yoruichi nods. “I suspected as much, but Lady Riku and I will want to conduct the raid personally, with the cover of darkness. Which means going without you.”

“But my loyal subjects...”

“Will hardly know we're there,” Yoruichi reassures her. “Anyone with a bakkotō isn't loyal to you anyway, so we can kill them without too much concern. Anyone else we'll knock unconscious if we have to and interrogate them later.”

“This is the sort of mission the two of us spent a hundred years practicing together for,” you add confidently. “This is something we do better than damn near anyone else.”

After taking a few moments to consider, Rurichiyo responds. “Very well, we shall leave our clan in your capable hands, Captains.”

>>1674449
And since I feel much better about ending here, I'll quit while I'm ahead. Expect a continuation either monday or tuesday night, I'll announce it on twitter once I have a better idea which is possible.

SoZ will commence in about four hours.

>>1674449
We should give her headpats later.

>>1674463
After the whole fiasco, yeah.

Maybe Rangiku would inadvertently end up as the elder sister archetype Rurichiyo will look up to, if her skills are displayed on any would-be assassins?

>>1674462
Thanks for the run! Also looking forward to the right timing on revealing to Yoru what we learned from Oetsu.

>>1674496
>rangiku becomes her big sister
this needs to happen

>Riku sneaks a Bakkoto out, develops it for crazy powers, and sees the look on Aizen's face when she pulls out a third, crab claw looking sword.

Help me, I have bad ideas.

>>1674533
Holy shit this would be amusing, but the C46 would be pissed.

>>1674462
Thanks for running.

>>1674496
>Maybe Rangiku would inadvertently end up as the elder sister archetype Rurichiyo will look up to, if her skills are displayed on any would-be assassins?
You have my vote.

>>1674533
>tfw by the time Aizen rolls around to finally enact his invasion Riku has two whole Hogyokus of her own and a spare Soul King in her back pocket

Can't stop the Riku science? train.

>>1674496
Like if we assigned Rangiku as her Yojimbo?

>>1674462
Pastebin updates?

>>1676527
I'm about five minutes from unconsciousness, but I'll check what needs updating tomorrow.

>>1676536
When are we gonna go back to the living world and learn getsuga tensho from isshin or better yet, berry boy?
It should make learning gozan tensatsu easier, right? Plus i totally want to hear what they think about literally casting 98 different hado at once.

>may be restarting a bit early, though 7pm is when I'm shooting to start writing the next update

>>1678266
This feels much better than a thread just on the weekends, honestly.
Is it any easier on you? to be able to leave and go do shit then come back later, that is.

I just leave this thread tabbed anyways.

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>>1678266
“Well” you announce some time later that evening, “this is the Ninth Division, my unit and its base of operations.”

“Was it necessary to carry us in such a manner?” Rurichiyo pouts as you set her back down on her own two feet. “We are not baggage to be handled!”

“You get carried in a palanquin all the time,” Yoruichi observes calmly.

“Yes, but that at least maintains the image of dignity!” Rurichiyo contests. Then she finally looks around herself at your Division's facilities. “This seems... surprisingly nice.”

“With good reason,” Kenryū informs her, his shunpo having finally caught you up. “Most shinigami assigned to a Division live there full time, so while individual dormitories are rather small the grounds are often lavish by most measures.”

“My subordinates take it in turns to maintain the gardens and buildings,” you explain, “as part of their regular duty rotation. Though sometimes we end up having to rely on the printing staff if we're overextended.”

“Printing staff?” Rurichiyo asks curiously as you escort her into the Division's inner court.

“We run the Seireitei's news bulletin,” you clarify for her as you cross the small moat. “Another difference is that our top-ranking officers all live on the grounds as well. Most other Divisions' Seated Officers maintain homes in the districts surrounding their Division barracks.”

You lead the Kasumiōji princess and her retinue into your own inner sanctum, where Rukia and Tatsuki have already adjourned for the day. They're probably eating a late dinner right now, and knowing Kai he's pulling a late shift at the presses. Mirai is leading a patrol this evening, so she's absent as well. The three homes stand empty for now, save for yours.

“Hey, Rangiku,” you call out as you take your shoes off at the door to your home. “What's new?”

“I was wondering if you'd planned an appearance today,” she quips from the kitchen. “I'm fixing leftovers, who are the three newcomers?”

“Lady Kasumiōji Rurichiyo and her bodyguards,” you reply.

Rangiku leans out the doorway to take a closer look, her eyes and tone inquisitive. “You mean the filthy rich Kasumiōji clan? Sorry, but she'll have to settle for leftovers same as the rest of us.”
>1/2

>>1678581
“... big,” Rurichiyo comments quietly, too busy staring enviously at your daughter's assets to come up with anything more constructive to say.

“Listen, Rangiku,” you insist, “they're here so our Division can keep a watch on them for the night. The same assassins who took a crack at me came for them this afternoon, and Yoruichi and I are gonna go raid their manor to figure out who's behind it all. But if Rurichiyo here dies...”

“Then that's a problem,” Rangiku nods in understanding, “because it's probably part of what the conspirators want.”

“That's it exactly,” you nod. “Kenryū and Enryū here can fill you in, I need to head upstairs and confer with Yoruichi real quick.”

“Come on,” Rangiku gestures at Rurichiyo. “Let's get you in an apron.”

“Us?” the princess asks in confusion.

“Yeah, you,” Rangiku reaffirms. “It's just fried rice, so it's real easy. But I could still use an extra hand... I may be fast but I can't be in two places at once. I'm not Yoruichi.”

As she ushers the still-stunned Rurichiyo into the kitchen, followed by her shocked bodyguards, you head upstairs with Yoruichi. After all, you promised to tell her what was going on after the meeting with the Central 46.

>Full disclosure. Get it all out in the open.
>Just tell her about the asauchi for now.
>Tell her about the asauchi, explain further if she catches on.
>Other?

>>1678584
>Full disclosure. Get it all out in the open.

>>1678584
>Full disclosure. Get it all out in the open

rurichiyo a cute, i can't wait to see her denying her love of down-to-earth activities

>>1678584
>Full disclosure. Get it all out in the open.

>>1678584
>>Tell her about the asauchi, explain further if she catches on.
Now this got me thinking. Does Yoruichi's ability allow her to notice the peculiarities regarding the asauchi that Oetsu kept secret?

>>1678584
>Tell her about the asauchi, explain further if she catches on.
>Other: Are you sure you want to know about this? This may change your perspective about how we do our duty quite literally.
Double check with her to see if she really wants to know. This is for her own protection as well as we don't know what Yoruichi will do when enraged.
Full Disclosure before a raid? that'll hamper our performance.
>Other: Make her swear and promise that she will not do anything considered rash.
Even if we delegate judgement on Oetsu with Mommy Inari, Yoruichi might take justice into her own hands.

>>1678584
>Full disclosure. Get it all out in the open.

>>1678584
>“... big,” Rurichiyo comments quietly, too busy staring enviously at your daughter's assets to come up with anything more constructive to say.
Rurichiyo pls.

>>1678597
>Rurichiyo a cute, i can't wait to see her denying her love of down-to-earth activities
W-What are you talking about!? W-We do not enjoy cooking at all! The smile on our face was because we were thinking of something else!

>writing

>>1678632
To be fair, that is the reaction of pretty much everyone who meets Rangiku for the first time. Stacked.

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>>1678641
“Alright, I know you're going to want to break your way into the Royal Realm and personally strangle the life out of Ōetsu Nimaiya with your bare hands,” you tell your beloved wife, “and I'm going to need you to not do that.”

“That bad, is it?” Yoruichi sighs. “Alright. I'm not going to kill him.”

“Asauchi are forged from reclaimed reiryoku from shinigami,” you explain succinctly. “The swords I forged Tenkotsuki and Rosa into were forged using reiryoku taken from Tamamo no Mae and myself when we died.”

Yoruichi seems to struggle with that for a few moments, her lips starting and stopping a few times before she comes to a conclusion.

“... I'm going to kill him.”

“Okay, I figured that was how it'd go,” you sigh, “but listen, as soon as Inari finds out about this she will deal with him, since Tamamo no Mae is her daughter. So if you don't do anything Ōetsu will still suffer the consequences for his actions and you won't get in trouble for it.”

Yoruichi sighs heavily. “Fine, fine. I won't kill him until after Inari's dealt with him.”

“Close enough,” you shrug. “So the explanation he gave me was that you can only forge spiritual power into a sword that matches it. So Tenkotsuki had to have shinreiryoku, and Rosa had to have a blade that matched us. The sword that became Raijūsenkō had to be forged from a menos.”

“I see...” Yoruichi mutters, still processing the new details. “I see. So that's what it comes down to. It's almost funny, you know? Those of us born into nobility wonder about that sort of thing when we're young, and here I finally know the answer to the age-old question... but I kinda wish I didn't.”

The room remains silent for several long minutes.

>So... how are you coping?
>We have a raid to plan.
>Other?

>Sorry that took so much longer than anticipated
>Something came up

>>1678742
>Other: No words. just hug Yoruichi. Hug her for several minutes. nothing but silence.
After the hug,
>....Enough moping. Let's count our blessings. We have each other don't we? And we have a raid to plan on top of that.

>>1678742
>So... how are you coping?
>We have a raid to plan.
>explain details, like the lack of reborn shinigami due to this

>>1678742
>We have a raid to plan.
Look a distraction!

>>1678742
>Hug
>We have a raid to plan.

>>1678742
>So... how are you coping?

>>1678742
>Hug Yoruichi
>We have a raid to plan.

>>1678742
>>So... how are you coping?

>>1678742
>Hug Yoruichi
>We have a raid to plan.

"And back on topic, the delixe model of those parasite swords probably has a reiatsu that rivals a Captain on it's own. So make sure to finish fights as soon as possible since if the basic model increases reiatdu attack power the longer a fight lasts, the elite version will probably be like facing a melee type Bankai."

>3d10, best of three
>high is better

Rolled 5, 7, 8 = 20 (3d10)

>>1678911

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

>>1678911

Rolled 4, 4, 2 = 10 (3d10)

>>1678911

Rolled 5, 8, 8 = 21 (3d10)

>>1678911

>>1678915
here's to hope the 20 and the hug will help best cat cope.

>>1678922
Yeah, it's a solid roll.
>update in a minute or two.

>>1678978
You settle down next to Yoruichi on the couch and pull her in, down against your shoulder.

“So... are you still wrapping your head around it all?” you ask quietly.

She nods against your shoulder. “Yeah, yeah I am. You think you know so much, about the way the world works... and then all of a sudden someone comes in and tells you that you're wrong about something so basic.”

“I get that feeling all the time,” you admit with a hollow laugh. “Except I never knew better in the first place, so I guess it's easier for me. Helps me understand why it drives Kisuke so crazy.”

“That's part of what I always liked about you,” Yoruichi chuckles. “You're irrepressible, you know that? You just shrug off what you can't do anything about, and move on to dealing with what you can do something about.”

“I'm fine,” she insists. “It's just going to take a while to unpack all the implications of what you've told me.”

“In the mean time,” you decide, “we've got a raid to plan, don't we? Let's consider it occupational therapy.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Yoruichi agrees immediately, sitting upright. “So, what do we know?”

“Your patrols took note of the ways in and out I assume,” you observe.

Yoruichi nods. “And we know which of those is the official entrance. What's more we've seen where most of the guards are concentrated. The men I sent even made note of the typical patrol patterns.”

“So that means we could move in under the cover of darkness.”

>Once we're in, how do we find the place the bakkotō are being grown?
>Do you think it would be helpful to recover written records while we're there?
>Let's think... are there gaps in their security that they wouldn't suspect?
>Other?

>>1679000
>>Let's think... are there gaps in their security that they wouldn't suspect?
>>Once we're in, how do we find the place the bakkotō are being grown?

>>1679000
>Do you think it would be helpful to recover written records while we're there?

>>1679000
>>Once we're in, how do we find the place the bakkotō are being grown?
>Let's think... are there gaps in their security that they wouldn't suspect?

>>1679000
>Do you think it would be helpful to recover written records while we're there?
Any paper trail is as good as damning evidence to the culprits.
>Is it possible to take nighttime photos of the place? photographic evidence is a powerful tool in convicting a criminal lately in the human world.

>>1679000
>>Do you think it would be helpful to recover written records while we're there?
>>Let's think... are there gaps in their security that they wouldn't suspect?


>Do you think they'd be smart enough to hide the place we're looking for by not actually guarding it?

Like a hidden panel in the wall. Not so hidden if you stick guards next to it.

>>1679019
>>1679000
supporting
>Do you think they'd be smart enough to hide the place we're looking for by not actually guarding it?

>>1679000
>>1679019 is worth a shot

Rolled 9, 9, 2 = 20 (3d10)

>3d10, dc 18, no crit
>QM rolling

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

>>1679054
RNGesus be kind, my rolls have been shit lately

Rolled 10, 8, 4 = 22 (3d10)

>>1679054

>>1679058
i will personally drag you down to hell alongside me with my own two hands, RNGesus

Rolled 2, 8, 9 = 19 (3d10)

>>1679054

>>1679063
Well, you didn’t ask RNGesus to be kind to you.

File: 1468285801834.png (1.94 MB, 1269x1755)

1.94 MB PNG

>>1679054
“What if there's another way into the compound, one they'd never suspect...” you mutter, thinking carefully. Your eyes meet your wife's, and you have a moment. It's increasingly a common occurrence, when the two of you reach the same conclusion at roughly the same time, and it happens yet again as you realize your ticket into the Kasumiōji compound.

“Do they have an unauthorized Senkaimon?” you ask aloud.

“I'd be shocked if they didn't!” Yoruichi confirms. “But hey we have the heiress of the Kasumiōji just downstairs. Let's go ask her.”

The two of you bound down the stairs and burst out into the reception room, which Rangiku has reconfigured as a dining room.

“It's just leftovers,” she jokes.

“We only burned it twice...” Rurichiyo mumbles apologetically.

“Better than I usually manage,” you shrug. “Hey, listen... does your family operate a private Senkaimon off the records?”

“It's not a problem if you do, every noble family has one,” Yoruichi insists before anyone can get a word in edgewise.

“We believe so, our parents acquired one in secret,” Rurichiyo admits in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

You exchange a triumphant fist-bump with Yoruichi, and quickly explain. “We're gonna use it to sneak into the manor, dropping us so far inside their defensive perimeter that they'll never even realize we're there!”

Kenryū shakes his head dismissively. “Even for you Captains, that's...”

“Inspired?” Yoruichi offers.

“Impossible,” he insists. “Nobody has that power.”

“Well, you're looking at someone who does,” you counter, giving Rangiku a nonchalant wave. “Be back soon, pumpkin!”

“I asked you not to call me that in front of people a hundred years ago,” Rangiku sighs. “Will you be back before the rice gets cold?”

“Probably not,” you admit. “Sorry, Rangiku. Be safe, be alert.”

Rangiku's smile fades slightly as her expression grows a little more serious. “Leave it to us.”
>1/2

>>1679103
“So this is how I see it happening,” Yoruichi tells you as she follows you out into the garden. “You know how we figure the bakkotō are being grown like vegetables? Well they have a specific kind of reiatsu signature, and there're going to be a lot of them.”

“You're thinking Kakushitsuijaku,” you realize aloud, “not even bother trying to figure out the internal layout.”

“That's right,” she nods. “We suppress our reiatsu and step out of their senkaimon, I'll knock out anyone nearby while you use the bakudō and track our targets. Then we move in, seize any evidence we find, and take out anyone who gets in our way.”

“Simple,” you nod. “I like simple.”

>Suggest moving more slowly within the compound to try and collect other evidence.
>Suggest that finding Kumoi's quarters and especially his personal notes would help.
>Agree to the plan. Simple, fast, direct action that gets you something incriminating.
>Other?

>>1679103
>“Well, you're looking at someone who does,” you counter, giving Rangiku a nonchalant wave. “Be back soon, pumpkin!”
>pumpkin.
Auburn colored hair? Big shapely assets? it's apt for a pumpkin.

>>1679118

>Suggest moving more slowly within the compound to try and collect other evidence.
>Suggest that finding Kumoi's quarters and especially his personal notes would help.

The more we can build our case, the better.
They aren't going to be able to move or hide an entire bakkoto farm while they're being hunted without us finding out, worst case scenario they go full retard, use all the bakkoto and we have to kill all of them, disposing of the swords along with them.

>>1679118
>>Suggest that finding Kumoi's quarters and especially his personal notes would help.

>>1679119
And she's technically a ghost, so thematically fits too.

>>1679136
Remember, we need hard evidence, something we can bring into court.

>>1679119
It'll also have Rurichiyo asking questions to Rengiku. I don't recall if it's common knowledge that she is our daughter so if they get talking about that I could see Rurichiyo starting to idolise Rengiku as much as she idolises both Yoruichi and us.

>>1679118
>Agree to the plan. Simple, fast, direct action that gets you something incriminating.

>>1679118
>Agree to the plan. Simple, fast, direct action that gets you something incriminating.

>>1679103
>“Better than I usually manage,” you shrug.
Odd, I thought back during the Karakura High culture festival Riku’s cooking was highly praised.

>>1679118
>>Agree to the plan. Simple, fast, direct action that gets you something incriminating.

>>1679145
>during the Karakura High culture festival Riku’s cooking was highly praised
Under Yoruichi's direct observation. Yoruichi is literally that good.

Though downplaying her acquired skills is in-character.

>>1679118
>>Agree to the plan. Simple, fast, direct action that gets you something incriminating.
>Get photographic evidence of 3 pictures: of where the place is, where it's secret entrance is located, and a picture of bakoto weapons development live with a Katusmoji personnel operating the farm, and Kumoi overseeing the farm to frame him.

>>1679155
Must be downplaying quite a bit, if she’s been learning from Yoruichi.

>>1679165
Since we're actually looking to solve the case framing anyone for it whether or not what may suspect of them is counter productive.

>>1679118
“Does your denreishinki record video?” you ask your wife, who cocks her head at you.

“What, does yours not?”

“I don't really do photography,” you shrug, “but if yours can record what we're seeing, give it some context, that's all I'd add.”

“Not a bad plan,” Yoruichi agrees. “Okay, senkaimon, punching and tracking, pictures, theft, escape. Good plan?”

“Great plan!” you grin. “Let's do it.”

You suppress your reiatsu while Yoruichi does the same, then thrust Tenkotsuki into the fabric of reality in front of you.

“... Bankai...” you whisper, briefly letting your zanpakuto's divine reiatsu pour out of your body and into your blade.

>Dice+3d10, higher is better, best of four

Rolled 3, 6, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>1679197

Rolled 3, 5, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1679197

Rolled 4, 2, 2 = 8 (3d10)

>>1679197

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

>>1679197
time to ruin everything
FUCK THE DICE GODS

>>1679203
>>1679202
>>1679200
>>1679204
And Riku forgot how to be stealthy

this is so painful like mediocre painful.

File: 1469666396856.jpg (42 KB, 640x480)

42 KB JPG

Rolled 3, 3, 8 = 14 (3d10)

>these rolls

>>1679208
Spent too much time printing newspapers not enough time training stealth.

Rolled 10, 1, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>1679197

>>1679214
We're not the only ones, look at this shit.

>>1679214
ouch.

I think this might be our worst roll since we started using this dice system...

Rolled 8, 4, 2 = 14 (3d10)

>>1679218
>if it was best of six the highest still would have been 15

Rolled 8, 2, 10 = 20 (3d10)

Can we break 16?

Rolled 4, 5, 3 = 12 (3d10)

>>1679231
>if it was best of seven* the highest still would have been 15

Lessee how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Rolled 2, 2, 4 = 8 (3d10)

>>1679232
Oh shit, an okay roll.
Are we working it out of the system yet?

My shiny metal dice aren't fucking me like these dice are.

>>1679232
AYY... you're too late.
>>1679214
So how are we gonna play this out? Riku wastes too much time trying to get her swords to cooperate due to rage at Oetsu?

File: images.jpg (7 KB, 284x177)

7 KB JPG

And when you step through the senkaimon, you find yourself in an all-too familiar building.

“Hey, what are you doing here!?” one of the uniformed Kuchiki guards demands. “I need backup!”

With a wild swing the man forces Yoruichi to raise her arms and defend herself... only for the swing of his polearm to float slightly high and knock the phone from your wife's hand. The phone's in a million pieces in less than half a second.

Yoruichi simply stares at the offending guard in disbelief.

“Do you... really not know who we are?” you demand angrily.

“That was my phone,” Yoruichi mutters, glancing down at what's left of your recording device. “I needed that for an investigation. You broke my phone.”

>Well, let's take his.
>No time to explain, let's try again.
>Other?

Rolled 1, 5, 2 = 8 (3d10)

>best of 10
>highest was a 20

inb4 nat 30

>>1679250
>>Well, let's take his.
At least they both fucked up equally

>>1679250
>Other: You! Guard! hold out your phone!
>Then use your bankai and Copy his phone Yoruichi!

Rolled 6, 3, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>1679250
>Well, let's take his.
>We're captains, you dumbass. Tell little byakuya that riku and yoruichi accidentally dropped in.


Please for the love of fuck stop giving us 8s
>>1679251
>>1679240
>>1679204
>>1679203

>>1679250
>Well, let's take his.
We ended up in the Kuchiki compound?

EIGHTS AND FOURTEENS
I have never seen such shit. What are these fucking rolls right now.
Could it be that the dice gods are not just a meme?