open Soul Chaos

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

((Sorry about things being so slow up to now. I promise it's going to get more interesting soon.))

 

@,

 

Takahiko shrugged. "The 12th squad is already conducting tests here, so I don't know what you'd expect to find that they won't, but since we're already here, you're free to look if you want."

 

((I'm working on something right now, else I'd post something more substantial. Hopefully by the end of the night I'll have a better post up.))

@,@@00Pony, @, @@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Just then, a hell butterfly came fluttering up to Takahiko. He listened to it's message and stood quietly in thought for a while before turning to the rest of the group. "It turns out we won't be searching here after all. We have more important things to take care of. Apparently Captain Kenpachi Raptor has been seen in Western Rukongai. We need to head out and find him."

[Sekel 685]

@@Alex Kennedy

"West Rukongai? But that has 80 districts in that sector alone." Glisten Dew said with a sudden confidence boost. She has no idea how she got the boost but she was glad she had it. "How are we going to find the Captain in 80 districts?" She asked Captain Takahiko.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Takahiko nodded. "It's not the easiest task, but we'll be able to sense his general area at least once we leave the confounds of Sereitei. And we already know where he was last seen. One way or another, it's the only real lead we have, and if we don't move now he might vanish again."

[Sekel 685]

@@Alex Kennedy, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@00Pony, @

"Well why are we standing around here then?" Glisten Dew asked them. She seriously had nonidea where tgis new-found cnfidence came from. But she's still as paranoid as ever. She waggled a finger in her left ear to try and hear better. 'Nothing. I thought I heard something.' Glisten Dew thought to herself.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"Why don't we have a few of us run the roofs while teammates check the streets? That way we are less likely to miss anything...even if West Rukongai has that many districts." Shion suggested. She was more worried than she was letting off. Her captain had gone missing and though she may not have been here as long as the others; somehow he had shown her a bit of sympathy. Doing well to push aside her celebrity status and decide on her skills alone. She had already been teased as "The Pretty One" at her barracks.

 

What a stupid insult.

Edited April 16, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Takahiko nodded. "Very well. But nobody go too far from the main group. I'm not expecting any action, but if there's a fight, don't try anything without me or Captain Church there."

 

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@, @, @@00Pony,

 

"I'll take the rooftops. Church, you go on the streets. Everyone else, pick one or the other and don't lose sight of your Captain, understood?" With that, he leapt onto the nearest rooftop and headed off.

[Sekel 685]

@@Alex Kennedy

Glisten Dew leapt up onto the rooftop after Captain Takahiko and headed after him. Since she was high up, she was able to see much further and able to see more. Stopping in the middle of the rooftop, she did a quick 360 and spotted nothing. After that little stop, Glisten Dew hurried after the Captain.

[00Pony 286]

@@Alex Kennedy,@@RunsWithSquirlz, @, @, 

 

Church merely nodded to each of the selected Shinigami as they arrived, maintaining his position. Once all of them had gathered, he sheathed Kage Taigun and stood straight, arms folded across his chest, deciding to let Takahiko take charge. Despite being one of the older Captains - at least in age, being one thousand and twenty, though only having been a Captain for the last few centuries of that - he wasn't the quickest to take charge over any not of his own Division, as fitted his style. One of the others, Akuma of the 13th Division, spoke up, suggesting looking over the site of the rift. Takahiko said to feel free to, though the 12th was already handling it. Before much more could be said however, a hell butterfly approached him. Church waited in his usual silent, patient way as it gave its message to Takahiko.

 

His expression hardened briefly when his fellow Captain relayed the information to the rest of them. 11th Captain, Kenpachi Raptor, had been sighted in the West Rukongai. It was a vague lead, but a lead nonetheless. Glisten, of the 6th, was the first to speak up, questioning how they would find him in the large sector of the Society. Raptor was a Captain, and thus had a massive Spiritual Pressure. Even among as many souls as were found in Western Rukongai, you would be able to sense a Captain. Having two Captains aiding you would also help with that. Shion, of the 11th, spoke next, giving voice to her suggestion that they divide, some to the roof tops and others to the streets. Church allowed a brief smile to flit over his features, it was a good suggestion.

 

Takahiko agreed with it, and stated that he would take the rooftops, ordering the others to choose which Captain to accompany before heading off. Normally, Church would have taken the rooftops, but one of the first things he was taught was adaptability. He merely nodded and watched for a second as the 7th Division Captain left, followed soon after by his Lieutenant, Akira, who had wasted no time in making her decision. Glisten also followed after them. Church glanced back down to the remaining Shinigami. Shion and Ditch of the 11th, and Akuma of the 13th. He uncrossed his arms and rested one hand on Kage's hilt, "Follow, if you so choose." He said, before turning and sprinting in the direction of the Western Rukongai. He refrained from using Hoho, choosing to allow those that may follow him a chance to match his pace before raising his speed.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

@@00Pony,

 

With a silent swoosh Shion followed Church, catching up to him in a short time. The sleeves of her robe flapped behind her as she ran against the wind. Coming to an intersection, she gave her superior a small nod and broke off running down a side street.  

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@@00Pony, @,

 

It wasn't long after exiting Sereitei before both groups were bombarded by Captain Raptor's massive reiatsu- noticeably larger than even most of the other captains. However, despite having such a big presence, his location was difficult to pinpoint. What wasn't hard to pinpoint, however, was the large trail of blood in the street. Knowing the captain, it was a safe bet he was at the other end of it. Takahiko continued to follow the trail from the rooftops, shaking his head. It was just like Raptor to be out causing trouble while they were in a state of emergency.

[Sekel 685]

@@Alex Kennedy

"I'm going on the other side of the street." Glisten told her Captain. Glancing down as she jumped to the other side, she saw a large trail of blood. She doesn't know the Captain Raptor very well but she does know that it's possible he could be on the other end. Glisten took off from her landing and kept pace with Captain Takahiko who was now on opposite side of the street to her.

[00Pony 286]

@@Alex Kennedy,@@RunsWithSquirlz,@,

 

Church cast a glance back. Shion had chosen to follow him. The Captain gave her a slight nod and a nearly silent grunt of acknowledgement before focusing back on where he had been going. There was one thing for certain; Raptor was out here, his spiritual pressure was unmistakeable. Shion ducked off into a side street, but Church maintained a straight course, following the tell tale crimson trail from the streets. As always, he kept one hand close to Kage's hilt.

 

He was mildly worried about what he might find at the end of the trail. You didn't get to be his age in the Shinigami ranks without getting to know those around you in some way. Being part of the Onmistukido - the Stealth Force - definitely helped with that too.

 

---

 

Akira bit the inside of her cheek as she followed along with Takahiko. Whatever Raptor was doing, she didn't feel like it was going to be very good. Glisten had transferred to another rooftop, o on the opposite side of the street to theirs. The Lieutenant glanced down at the streets once, before looking back up and loosening Abita in its sheath, but didn't draw it. Always helped to be prepared.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@00Pony, @, @, 

 

As both groups followed the blood trail, the force of Raptor's reiatsu grew stronger, almost overwhelmingly so. In addition, the streets here were largely empty, and that likely wasn't a coincidence. Eventually the sound of fighting could be heard in the distance, and they were rapidly getting closer to it.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Shion picked up her pace, running up a wall and vaulting onto the opposite roof. With the sounds of battle getting closer, the air became like static. Shion caught-up and ran alongside Glisten Dew, tensed and ready to fight. Her hand firmly gripped the hilt of Shizukana kenshin ; enjoying the cool ivory touch.

 

@,

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@@00Pony, @,  

 

As Takahiko was about to turn the corner separating him from the fighting, another hell butterfly fluttered up to him. Apparently the fourth squad had finished studying the bodies. Many of them had died of blood loss despite suffering only relatively minor wounds. He only knew one person in Soul Society who could do that: Raptor. This wasn't technically enough to condemn him, but it was pretty convincing evidence.

 

Shaking off the shock of this news, he ran around the corner to see Raptor fighting... someone. Not a shinigami, but clearly nobody ordinary, either- the stranger's reiatsu was just about a match for Raptor's. Not sure what to make of this, he drew his sword and called out to Raptor. "What's going on? What have you been up to?"

 

---

 

Ditch arrived at the scene shortly after Captain Masaru did. He drew his sword, his first instinct being to protect his captain. At the same time, it was against the unwritten rules of the 11th squad to interfere in a one-on-one fight. All he could really do for the time being was stand and watch.

 

---

 

Upon hearing Takahiko's voice, Raptor spoke, though his attention remained centered on his opponent. "What does it look like? Get out of my way while I end this guy!"

 

((Church would have received a hell butterfly as well. The rest of you, however, still don't know about the message. Also, keep in mind that at this point, Raptor is still technically a captain (he hasn't actually been charged with anything or had his position revoked yet), and his orders are just as valid as the others.))

[Sekel 685]

Glisten slid to a stop on the rooftops and had her hand on the hilt of her sword. She leaned over the edge and looked at the trail of blood. "Where is this going to?" Glisten asked herself. Thinking she heard something, she turned her head towards where she thought she heard it and found nothing. She pulled her sword out it's sheathe slightly and continued running across the rooftops, following the trail of blood.

[00Pony 286]

@@Alex Kennedy,@, @@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

(Just pretend this came out last night lalala...)

 

Church paid little mind to the hell butterfly as it fluttered to his shoulder, but he did pay attention to its message. The news was a bit disconcerting, all in all. It was a possibility that it was Raptor, but there was always the possibility that it wasn't. So far as he knew, Raptor's blade was the only one to do that, but that wasn't an instant condemnation. He would just have to wait it out and see. He hadn't stopped moving while he received the message, and soon after the butterfly left, he rounded the same corner from street level, coming to a quick stop, dropping to a combat ready stance - which involved loosening his Zanpakuto but not drawing it - and remained silent, sliding into the shadows, again choosing to let Takahiko speak. 

 

Church may not have been part of the 11th for a long time, but he still didn't interfere with one v. one fights, unless requested. He simply watched and waited. He knew how Raptor fought, but his opponent was unknown. It was best to wait and study it before doing anything rash, after all. Once in the darkness, he drew Kage, ready to release it should the need arise.

 

---

 

Akira remained on her rooftop upon coming up to the scene with Captain Masaru, biting the inside of her cheek at the scene below her. Swallowing, she drew her Zanpakuto as well, but refrained from any sort of further action. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@00Pony,@, @@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

((Not that I expect any of you to recognize it, but Takahiko is reciting the incantation for Geki, which even I only know because I looked it up.))

 

After several more minutes of fighting, Raptor finally defeated and killed his unknown opponent, and was about to leave without bothering to explain himself when, as he brushed passed Captain Masaru, he noticed he was muttering something almost under his breath. "Disintegrate you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat!" He made a series of motions with his hands, drawing a symbol in the air. When he spoke again, it was no longer softly but instead almost a shout. "Bakudou #9: Geki!"

 

Raptor fell to his knees and found himself suddenly unable to move. Takahiko walked up in front of him and began to speak in a more level tone. "Now then. You're going to explain what you're doing here, and why the bodies of shinigami we found were killed in a way only your zanpakutou is capable of."

 

The two captains had never really gotten along, and even if he was restrained and essentially helpless, Raptor wasn't inclined to tell him anything. He simply sat there in silence. Takahiko stared hard at him for what seemed like ages before turning to Church, who he'd noticed approaching earlier. "I doubt he's going to say anything. What do you think we should do with him?"