With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
Era Memory sniffed. What was this? A sense of nostalgia? Overrun by emotions of coming home? Or was his nose just sensitive....
The young, dark-haired boy sniffed again. The 'scent' of reiatsu had changed...drastically, till everything was foreign and he couldn't tell head from tails. Even the buildings had been re-modelled, and more than once he turned a corner to find himself backed down a wrong end. He'd have to get acquainted to the place all over again. Era wished Satsu would come with him. Then at least he'd have someone to lead the way. Both Karel and Kenpachi, Captains in their own aspect, had run off somewhere, and judging from their general outlook of life- to kill or not to kill - they'd probably gone off to find more people to could battle with. Satsu had disappeared with them, perhaps finding new ways to blow himself up again, or show off his Vizard mask to everyone else who hand't seen it yet.
Era sighed. Things indeed had changed if they allowed a Vizard, especially one as hot-blooded and rash as Satsu, to roam free around the Seireitei. Was that why the smell of reiatsu had changed? No, it wasn't merely that. Some of the Captains from before had remained, like Kenpachi, but even them had had their reiatsu infused with more... shall we say, flavors from before. That wasn't a suprise, taking into consideration the ongoing war raging between Arrancars and Shinigamis...Everything was different. Everything seemed alien to him.
But that didn't deter him from being in a good mood. The teenager wandered around, from building to building, willing to reach his destination by trial and error alone. He had always believed in his ability to find his way no matter what; and exploring the new grounds was enjoyable for him. It was like rediscovering something that had long been forgotten.
But what was it that unsettled him?
Era stopped outside his destination; the office of the Head Captain, Captain of the first Division. In his days it had been the old man Yamamoto Genryusai had took that office. But nowadays, he had been informed, it was the preivous 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohanna who sat in there. Era hesistated outside the door, wondering what to do. He had come to see her after all; but Satsu must have accidentally-purposely forgotten to inform her of his little visit. That posed a probelm; he'd have to come unannounced, and that was something intimidating about that. For all he knew, he'd be executed on the spot. Era would just have to pray that no one's soul perception would be able to pierce through to what lay beneath him, and that Retsu Unohanna would not be as fixtated on wiping out beings like him, as the preivous First Captain was.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. It was time to announce his return.
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 21, 2009 23:22:18 GMT -5
"Enter," a soft, warm, female voice spoke after Era had knocked. It was friendly enough, and hardly stressed. Calm, peaceful, it soothed nerves even at a range.
Odds are he'd open the door at this point, and he'd be welcomed by a pristine, clean, white room with la few wall scrolls here and there, and at the far end is Retsu Unohana herself.
There were no apparent guards, and her Zanpakuto was on a sword rack behind her in a simple shrine. It was just him, and Unohana who sipped some tea calmly as she say on her legs in a proper manner.
With the war regaining steam, and some foes who aren't foes at all, there are some movements to get the Vizards back into the Gotei 13, but many oppose it as they are easy to use as spies, and, well, Vizards are volatile by nature. Despite that, Unohana is too kind to turn away people so readily.
Due to the new leadership there were even rumors of a "14th squad" made completely out of Vizard much like the Masked army that assaulted them at one time. Now, maybe, the Shinigami will be the ones gaining some Vizard allies aside from the substitute Shinigami, and the handful of once outcasts.
She'll at least meet with them to determine their nature with an open mind, and open heart, and thus show she is truly a motherly figure for the Seireitei.
"You sought an audience with me, Memory-san?" she said with respect, and the serenity of a frozen lake as she set aside her tea on the small, simple wooden table that rested in front of her. Said table stood about 1ft tall since she were not in a chair, and a normal table would be silly, right?
She regarded him with a soft smile, and warm brown eyes, and waited for his reactions, and actions to help understand the man she looked at better. To judge his character with her ever perceptive nature.
"Have a seat?" she offered with a gentle movement of her right hand, but there were no chairs in the room, since it was traditional Japan culture. With that in mind one of the floor cushions would have to do, if one even wanted to bother with that.
Era did open the door, and he found the once-medic, master of arts of both Kappo and Sappo- killing and healing, and the one now in charge of the hundreds of Shinigami and by default, the legenday 13 Captains. Retsu Unohanna.
It was an almost memorable piece of flashback, as Era suddenly recalled the last time he had been in this exact same room. It had been during Yamamoto Genryusai's rule, and he had been brought in when he was still studying in the Shinigami Academy. He had played a prank that involved the loss of the hair- also known as the pride of the samurai- of half a dozen older seniors who had not been fair to him and the other students. The old man had reprimanded him harshly enough to make stones cry, but he didn't even blink. All he had done was lower his head in a gesture of apology, which was considerably a relatively large amount of emotion, considering that Era had been so stony back then he could eat one of Mayuri's concoctions with a straight face. Not that he hadn't been scared; he had been terrified. And if the old general showed any suprise at facing such an apatethic boy, he didn't show it. He simply treated Era like any other student, punishing him so greivously that Era couldn't sit up for three months.
But now the oen had changed. The old man's rows and rows of scrolls that he kept in a corner were now kept handy on a shelf. A vase or two of bright flowers decorated the otherwise colorless room. Papers and reports that had littered the ground in disarray had somehow disappeared somewhere invisible. ...And of course, the biggest change of all, was the smiling, bright and motherly face of Retsu Unohanna instead of the ancient, wise and stern mask of Yamamoto.
Era nodded curtly with a smile to hide her nervousness, still hanging about the door. He stepped through, taking caution not to step on the perch, and took a seat as the Captain invited. This triggerred another memory, one of another female Captain who had taken care of him as if he was her own son..but that was history, and one long forgotten. Era shut his eyes and burnt away the image. This wasn't the time for reminiscing. There would be time to mourn later.
"Greetings, Head Captain, Retsu Unohanna-sancho. It really is suprising- I would've have thought no one would remember me... and of all in particular, you, Sancho.. I was under the impression that I remained, after the graduation, unranked and of no Division, till the day I went....away..." His voice trailed off, then Era put on a funny smile and gave a little bow to apologize for rambling. That matterred little now.
Of course, there's another reason why one might remember me out of the thousands of Shinigamis...has she heard of my past with the Spirit King? ...I thought I had long buried that story...
Era fidgeted about the cushion uncomfortably. He had changed into a classic black Shinigami hakama on his return, but that didn't meant that he was used to the old Japanese culture. Habits learned from the other side truly was hard to kill...he peeked at the Captain to see if she minded, but her face was passive, hiding any thought behind that same smile. Truly, she was unreadable.
The Head Captain was a wonder. Beautiful and wise, ageless peace flowing from her very presence.... Retsu Unohanna had the purty of a priestess, the divinity of a megami, and the unconditional love of a saint. He had thought her weak at first sight, a naive thought from a young boy, but soon learnt that she was indeed all that she stood for, and more.
Yet...
"...Shall I pour some tea...? Era offerred, stalling for time. There was so much to say, yet it seemed so ahrd to get started. He felt like he was at the brink of fate, choosing a path between the raging seas and the barren lands. Scary didn't cut it.
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 24, 2009 1:07:16 GMT -5
"To be honest, we have never met, but I was told of your coming," she said calmly, with a bit of a serious face which was fueled by some embarrassment. As much as she wished to, she could not remember every last Shinigami's name. Only those who'd worked with her, or were iconic somehow were truly known. Era had some stand out features from the sight of him, but he was one of those that she hadn't met enough, if at all.
"No, it's not necessary," she raised her hand gently to the polite offer to serve her tea, "Would you like some?" she regained her smile, and warm, smiling eyes that was like gentle rays of sunlight.
"While I have been informed of your arrival, I'd like to hear why you sought an audience in your own words," she said in a prim, proper manner as she offered him a tall, clay glass with tender grace. It was no more a demand than the offer for him to sit. She was genuinely curious as to what it was he sought here. She's never known a Vizard to return to the soul society like this. It's true there was good reason for it, but few were so bold as to return so soon after the change of command because few knew what the Soul Society thought of the Vizards.
All the while she studied him thoroughly, yet it was so subtle that one would be hard pressed to notice. He seemed, outwardly, to be a polite, proper young man, but an old soul. That made him a refreshing visitor to have.
Era raised a brow and half-smiled almost amusedly. "Well then. I'll kindly decline, as well. Perhaps its best for either of us to just keep our talk quick and simple.
The young boy paused for a moment, gathering his own thoughts. What did the woman sense in him? What did she thought of him? He couldn't see past her barrier, that untelling smiling face. Era may be old, perhaps older than even her or the passed away Yamamoto... but that was all in terms of years only. It was strange, but... time seemed to apss differently in the palace. It seemed that his aging, of mind, body, and soul, had slowed down in there... mentally speaking, he might be no more wiser than a boy of eighteen years of age, on the verge of discovering adulthood, yet still unwilling to step from the shows of youth yet. Still, he wasn't an easy one to read. Or rather, what was inside his head was at best...troubling.
While he did wonder if Satsu had indeed managed to get the message across after all (perhaps he blew himself up again to send a smoke signal over) , he merely kept quiet about it and did not question further. It was already revealed then; though he hadn't openly admitted it, he had already as good as confirmed his Vizard status. So at least there wouldn't be any nasty suprises that might make Retsu Unohanna want to take off his head anytime soon...
The boy finally spoke, his voice, crisp, dry, but strong, like a summer's leaf. "I won't say its nostalgia that brought me here; Soul Society indeed leaves few good memories to be reminisced. But that's not to say there was never any good times during my brief stay here; nor would it be fair to say that bad memories are, undeniably, not strong memories too.
I am here to know what has happened. Even now, I see the battle still warring as though as it had just begun. Arrancar. Shinigami. The two sides still claw at each other's necks, and I who cannot even fathom what might be going on..." he trailed away, trying to compose himself, and speak in more clearer terms. "...What I mean to say is, I would like to know what happenned. What is happenning. And what will happen still. The last I was here, I met Arrancars that did not neccessararily hate Shinigamis, and I thought I saw a flicker of hope for the future..but apparently I was mistaken. Perhaps that is never to be..."
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 24, 2009 21:16:45 GMT -5
Unohana nodded softly, then set the spare cup aside, and she didn't lose the smile.
She listened calmly as he spoke in riddles, it seemed, "So you've come to learn? We have a library that's largely unrestricted, but, obviously current, and future events will not be so easily found," she said calmly.
"Have you come to simply observe, or try to have a hand in the coming events?" she asked softly. It was a simple question but there was so much that it could change. Would he be a militant force, or no?
She didn't doubt that there were Arrancar who could coexist with the Shinigami, and indeed, all the worlds, but there were many who simply could not. She had no delusions that all Arrancar were evil, and were to be wiped out. It was just a shame that many of the Arrancar did not share her peaceful outlook, and with the masked army, it was obvious many of the Vizards were displeased as well. Such hard facts made the kinder people she met of those two group all the more pleasant.
Of course she had to deal with the notion that inside this man there was, likely, a violent, maniacal being in him. He'd have to have an eye kept on him to prevent him from going on a rampage even though the captains here could easily bring him down.
She silently, and imperceptibly weighed the pros and cons of the situation. He seemed to be a grand enough person when in control, but she has no data on his masked form, and as so many killed while masked, or, more horribly, simply used the mask as an excuse to kill, well, she knew full well the ramifications of having a Vizard loose in the Soul Society. At least one who had not proven their alliance to them as Ichigo had.
So, she waited for his answer as she pondered a great many things in a fantastic mental multitasking that hadn't distracted her in the slightest.
Era smiled, his eyes twinkling knowingly. "Learn... in other words, to discover. I've already seen too much of the world, since the time I blinded myself and saw nothing..." He took a breath, and looked away. "Shinigami and Arrancar both believes each is more superior than the other. It's ... pathetic, to say the least. The most pathetic, weak reason to fight of all. Conceitness. Yet, that is the truth..."
He turned back to the Head-Captain, his eyes as strong as red steel. "...Sancho. I'm both a Watcher and a Meddler. I'll wait and see how the tides turn, and then I'll move to take action as and when I want. But what I truly desire is change the entire hands of all the players- and if it takes my participatioon; by force or will; then so be it."
He glanced to the side. No weapons were allowed in the room, so naturally his staff was left outside, which made him uneasy. Not because he was without a weapon, but he was afraid of losing it, the way he ahd lost so many things precious to him already. After a moment he went back to dwell on the present with the Captain.
"To say the truth, I have no idea of what has happened since I returned. I wished for you to tell me that... fo one, what has happened that cost so many Captains their lives?" He flickered back to a residual memory of the few Captains he ahd met that were no longer, and had to endure a brief twang of pain in his chest. " I heard Aizen was no more, but then why do the broken Espada persist in this hatred? ...And what of them?" He spoke of the Vizards; Isshin and the others. The largest group and most united family of the half-breeds, in his opinion. "Are they gone too...?
"I have answers, maybe solutions, and perhaps knowledge yet more to share. But I cannot say anything till I know the current state of thsi world. I was hoping you could tell me."
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 25, 2009 0:50:59 GMT -5
"I'm afraid you do not have the luxury of having your cake, and eating it, too," Unohana stated kindly, yet sternly, then took a gentle sip of her tea, "We do not know where your loyalties lie with such an ambiguous answer. Further, if you are to raise your sword, you must do so as a defender of the Seireitei, or I have little doubt that the other captains will move to strike you down," she wasn't going to bullshit this guy. "In other words, you'll be on the side lines, or work under the Gotei 13 in defense of this world, or you simply will not be here," she boiled it down to that. She disliked giving such an ultimatum, but he left his loyalties in question, and she could not afford to have so many loose cannons. Ichigo, and his charisma was about all she could tolerate in her orderly, nice, Gotei 13. That, and she had to listen to other captains from time to time, and the higher ups. Well, you can imagine that she didn't have her own say, and her own will in every ruling she made.
"I'm surprised you are unaware of the last battle with Aizen (This takes place before homecoming apparently). He, inevitably was defeated, but it cost us dearly," she said as she felt sadness well up in her sinuses as she spoke, and it created some pain for her, "We've lost captains in that battle. And other allies that I wish we had not. We're still reeling from the battle to this day."
"While Aizen was defeated, Gin Ichimaru escaped, and no doubt became the central charismatic figure to lead the Espada. Even without Gin's guidance, other Arrancar have struck out into trying to make a name for themselves at the cost of the souls of others," she explained. "Arrancar naturally seek the souls of humans to eat, or they do so because of some reason likely because of their past as a Hollow, and what made them such beings in the first place," she explained calmly, "And because we Death Gods, protect souls, we are forced to clash with those Arrancar who desire the souls of mortals." she explained the obvious so simply.
"Still, if there are reasonable Arrancar who can be peaceful, and not predatory of souls, I'm not afraid of attempting to reach an understanding," she admitted without hesitation as she knew there were more than a few. Reports of Halibel, and Stark were particularly assuring that they were able to be peaceful, and even emotional. Still, she was certain Halibel was an enemy as it was due to the Shinigami that she lost the underlings she apparently cared for. Stark, she was not certain of...
"As for the Vizards, many had sided with Aizen, and created an army to attack us. Most of them were natural born, or corrupted somehow. Despite our Substitute Shinigami, and several other Vizards that sided with him, we've been forced to take a distrustful look on Vizards who have not proven themselves to be in control of themselves. Obviously, your, yourself, are part of the latter category."
"Still, unlike my predecessor, may he enjoy a wonderful reincarnation, I'm more open to Vizards as allies, and am willing to trust easier, but not too easily," she stated her stance. She could swear that there were more than a few Vizards in hiding in the Gotei 13, but she dare not raise a fuss over it. Not until someone else brings t to her attention. Hopefully it won't be too late, however.
"That is the rough current situation," she said calmly, then took one more sip of her tea.
The cake is a lie. Era had to restrain himself from smiling when Retsu Unohanna used that analogy, raising both hands to cup his mouth in what might be a thoughtful manner to hide his oddly twitching face. But aside from taht, the young boy listened to the Head-Captain's story diligently. He had heard the gist of it from others like Karel... but this was the first time he got the full version, or half of it at any rate.
When Retsu Unohanna paused for tea, he sucked in a breath, and massaged his temples. "... Okay. I think I got the hang of it now, hold on..." he mutterred, looking down as he compiled his thoughts into legible words.
"I heard of Aizen's bold move while I was still in seclusion; but I remained where I was. Forgive me, and call me a coward; but I was still in the midst of re-finding myself. I simply did not want to get involved with pugilistic matters any further.
"But I see now that the loss created by war is a gap that cannot be filled. It saddens me too to hear of the great sacrifice it took to throw Aizen down. I had known people too, while I was here... And time to time again, I wonder if... if I had taken a more active approach, would events be altered? Would fate changed? Or will it not be denied?" He lapsed into a silence, eyes melachonlic, a deep, swirling musty red. "...Which is why I'm back to take up my sword again, but before I discuss for whom I wield my sword for, let me provide my own opinion...and perhaps you, first and foremost, may decide whether or not someone like me truely belongs anywhere.
"...Do you know...? Arrancar do not require to feed on souls per say- or at least, the ones truely fused with a shinigami doesn't. Why then do they continue to consume souls...? Different beings have different reasons, but I believe there are those who willing starve themselves rather than to take the lives of others.
"...That aside, I feel suprised. The Vizards... actually joined Aizen's faction. ...Nay, perhaps that is not that suprising after all. Isshin's gang hated Aizen with a passion, but the others..." Era paused to check on his train of thoughts. He had heard of those who generally became more Hollow-like over the years- he not an exception- and many of those worked with a fury and a darkness that would surely find it hard to reject the temptation of power by someone like Aizen's side. But... "...If I may. I am right in the assumption...that most of these defect Vizards have either perished in battle or gone into hiding...? For in my experience, Vizards are not the most sociable of beings... only the weaker or more insecure look for support in the form of company. "
It wasn't generalization; it was a true fact. Vizards were beings rejected and despised for being more cross-breed than even Arrancar, and found no place in either side. Many preferred to go rogue, waiting for either foe, isolation or time to wear their lives down. Era, too, had not found it comfortable to mix with other races for too long. The Arrancar made him feel deject, their base desires on a primal level that one took with natives. The Shinigami made him feel outcast, as if he had lost a great part of himself from since then...
"...Now I shall address myself and confirm with you where I stand. " A touch of more metal than before in his tone, Era leant forward, brushing away the dark bangs that obscured his pale face. His eyes were the most serious they had been since he entered, and seemed to peer into the Captain's very soul. "I'm neither a pacifist nor an antagonist. I do not enjoy killing, but I don't hate it either. I shall do what I must; prevent the war from spreading in my own ways. ....Or I may simply lay back to see what happens. Forgive my selfishness, but today what remnant of my ties to the Gotei 13 is cut. I am not what I once was no longer. I cannot pretend to stay as one of you, still. I am no longer... a Death Reaper."
Era got up, a heaviness in his heart. He had thought that after clearing his relationship with the Shinigami, he'd be relieved of some burden; but the weight on his back seemed only to drag him down further. His eyes were downcast; coming back after so long , only to break off all relations? What a joke. Had he came here harboring some hope that he would allow himself back into their ranks once again? Either way, it didn't matter. There was no place for a Vizard like himself. He couldn't let himself go, just yet. He couldn't forgive himself.
"If it means anything, I swear upon my sword that I will not willingly side with Gin's faction either. Is the conversation over? ...If so, forgive my impudence, but I have just one more small favor to ask.
"...I'd like to pay my respects to the fallen Captains; just once."
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 26, 2009 1:36:17 GMT -5
"It was not cowardice that kept you from the field. You needed to know yourself, and I understand that," she said in a tone that threatened to soothe his worries over it if it hadn't already. "Even the Vizards that sided with Ichigo waited until the last moment to arrive, and were only with Ichigo, and not us," she said with, perhaps, some regret that she were not able to help heal their hearts.
Her expression of dulled tranquility soon returned to the warm smile, and her eyes regained the wizened look, then she spoke on, "You mustn't linger on the past. There was no telling what you might have done had you arrived, but it was not your fault you weren't there, and you had reasons not to be." She further sought to calm him with her words, and she obviously didn't blame him. There were many who weren't there, apparently, and some for worse reasons.
"I regret to say that your thoughts on Arrancar are not correct. The creation of an Arrancar is not done through fusion of a hollow, and a Shinigami, rather the excess hollow power is stored away in sword form, or in one case, a little girl that seemed adorable through reports," she smiled a bit more a moment, "but you are correct in that they do not need to feed off the souls as Hueco Mundo is saturated with the sustaining energy they need."
His next question seemed as plain as day to her, "They consume souls to further their own power, or to feed their cruelty," she replied, " however, I agree that there are some who are not compelled to do that, and in fact, can be benevolent as far as the souls of others go," she said calmly.
"Vizards, like Shinigami, and Arrancar are not uniform in temperament. Vizards can be especially erratic as their Hollow instincts are rarely balanced by the soul of the Zanpakuto, and their own desires," she refrained from calling those desires dark, or evil, "With early Vizard made violence it was only logical that they decided to shun those who shared a body with a hollow they could not control. To this day, we prepare for when Vizards are born here, and are ready to prevent their violence." she informed him bluntly, but kindly.
"I'm sure you understand this as you no doubt feared your own inner hollow for some time, and the evil it might have wrought," she reminded him incase he forgotten what it was like, and how violent one might get.
"Those that have fought for Aizen were mostly defeated, while some managed to flee... those few that sided with Ichigo, and to some extent, the Seireitei that survived are welcome here, though many do not care to chance any hatred that might have lingered," she said with some regret that even in what was considered heaven such prejudice could remain against those who meant no harm, but were of a majority that did mean harm.
It was almost crazy how she was a near 180 from the old man who would never have allowed this meeting.
She heard his last request of her, "I shall go with you," she said softly, then rolled her legs back, and straightened them at the same time so she stood with no problems. As she arose she clasped a hand on her Zanpakuto that rested upon a shrine behind her, then rested the long strap on her shoulder. "Shall we?" she flashed him her near trademark closed mouth smile. The sort of smile tat she always seemed to have as if she were afraid to bare her teeth.
