Conflict of Interests [R, DE]

‘Vizard’…

Zeich sat at the desk in his room, mulling over conflicting thoughts. Recently, there had been rumors moving throughout Soul Society, ones that were cause for concern. These rumors, repeated from those who had come back from duty in the World of the Living, had concerned a group of pirates that were raiding the Brazilian coastline. At first, the Third seat had discounted these rumors, as they were trivial; why were pirates even worth talking about when they had more important things to deal with like Hollows or the Vandenreich? But something about the rumors intrigued him; after all, even the lower-ranked Shinigami who simply patrolled in the World of the Living, performing Konso on wandering souls or slaying Hollows, would have squashed the rumor as unimportant before it spread too far. Curious, Zeich found himself listening further, though his informers were unaware that he was eavesdropping.

That was when he had heard that word. There were rumors passed on about a “Vizard” among the pirates, possibly as their leader. There were even hints of there being more than one. “Vizard.” Zeich had heard of such beings, though he did not know much about them aside from the fact that they commanded Hollow powers in the form of a mask that augmented their own abilities. They were rogue Shinigami as well, meaning they were already criminals even without powers that came from Hollows; in other words, Vizards were supposed to be monsters, beings considered evil enough to be on par with Arrancar. It was possible that they were even worse, as they were originally Shinigami.

However, these were all opinions. Zeich did not work with opinions and feelings; in his line of work he worked with facts and proof. With that he had gone to Squad 12’s records center, which contained a number of research notes on the exploration of the Vizard’s power, which was referred to as “Hollowfication,” a process named because the former Shinigami took on a Hollow’s powers and their mask. There was a whole section of one shelf dedicated only to notes about the process of becoming a Vizard, and the stages of change that occurred over time. Squad 12 even had observed a living Shinigami as he had slowly developed his Hollowfication, including several conversations on file about the alterations that occurred. In its own way, it was truly fascinating.

However, at the same time, the process was horrifying to read about. The actual degradation of personality and shift to disloyalty was apparent, but what bothered Zeich all the more were the symptoms that were shown as time passed. In the report, the subject had at one point talked about another presence, a dark one, a nameless figure. When asked if he was talking about his Zanpaktou spirit, the man had broken down sobbing. Later he revealed that his Zanpaktou spirit was long gone, consumed, destroyed; there was something else occupying his Inner World at the time. Atop that, the man spoke of violence, anger; the being inside his soul wanted to kill, to devour.

Unsettled by how familiar the report sounded, Zeich had closed the report and put it back on its shelf with the other documents he had been browsing, though he had taken one volume with him to browse through again back at his room. Once he had returned to his quarters in the Squad 7 Barracks, the Third Seat had locked the door behind him for privacy before moving to his desk and going back to reading the book. He took times to familiarize himself with the process of Hollowfication; generally an “Inner Hollow,” as the Squad 12 researchers had called the being within the observed Vizard, was a hateful being that constantly struggled for control of their host’s body in order to make it their own. This led to brief, momentary takeovers that generally had disastrous results, often resulting in destruction and death. As time went on, the takeovers became worse until the Vizard either submitted completely to the Hollow within him, becoming a monster himself, or until the victim himself took control. How the latter was done was not described; apparently the subject had escaped at some point, and had returned later with the ability to wield a Hollow mask. However, he had also become an enemy, and had leveled a large section of Squad 12’s Barracks before being killed.

Zeich closed the book and lay back on his bed, lost in his thoughts. The symptoms sounded familiar, namely because he had experienced several of them himself. The Shadow—was it a Hollow? That would explain much of its personality and the prominent flashes of bone-white in his last few memories of his living life—had been demanding control of his body, claiming that it deserved control, deserved the body through some bargain Zeich still could not recall. All he had to go on was what the Shadow itself told him, though he’d be damned if he believed the creature’s lies. The Third Seat only knew that he was fighting to ensure his body would remain his own, lest the Shadow cause unthinkable harm with his powers and its malicious nature.

There had been one close call recently, though; in the battle against Vice Captain Irudai Izumi, the Shadow had momentarily wrested away control due to the Third Seat’s near-unconscious state. In those few minutes where the being had been in control, Zeich had apparently been particularly aggressive and bloodthirsty, much out of character for the stoic Shinigami. He had attacked without hesitation, torn into his enemy with lightning-fast reflexes… but thankfully, Irudai was one of the more powerful Vice Captains, and could hold off the Shadow’s powerful charges long enough for Zeich to step in and regain control of his body. Even so, it was scarily similar to the descriptions of one of the “Hollow Takeovers” described by the research notes.

The Shinigami stared up at the ceiling, wondering what this meant. Was it possible, somehow, that this being inside of him was a Hollow? If so, did that mean he was slowly advancing towards Hollowfication, towards becoming a Vizard or even a Hollow himself? All reports said that Vizards were the enemy, traitors to Soul Society and dedicated to its destruction, but that was not Zeich. He might not always agree with their policies, but the Third Seat had always firmly believed in the order that Seireitei embraced and protected, and had supported it himself. He didn’t see any reason he would become a traitor even if it was true that he was a potential Vizard, with the power of Hollowfication growing within him. Yet even if he didn’t, was it possible something about the process of becoming a Vizard changed one’s mindset? Was there something more that the notes did not speak of?

It was then that Zeich made a decision. He was going to investigate in the World of the Living, to find this group that was supposedly led by a Vizard. The Third Seat needed information about Hollowfication, more than simple facts on paper could give him; he needed an experienced individual to enlighten him, regardless of what side they were on. It would not be easy, but Zeich was no stranger to confinement and neutralization of a target. He was confident that, despite his standing as a Third Seat position in Squad 7, he could handle a Vizard. The reports did explain that the Hollowfied Shinigami had increased combat prowess and potential, but to Zeich it was not about the potential; a Shinigami could be defeated, as could a Hollow. Together, while it would be more difficult, it was still doable.

Exiting his room quickly, Zeich made his way towards the main gathering hall of the Squad 7 Barracks. Rumors had even persisted to make their way among the Shinigami in charge of Internal Affairs, and as a high-seated member, it was Zeich’s duty to deal with it; that was the cover he planned to use in order to begin getting information. It wouldn’t be hard to find someone talking about the supposed “Vizard involvement,” as the presence of one of Soul Society’s enemies always made people edgy, and in fact the Third Seat managed to pass a pair of unseated Shinigami who were discussing it on their way out of the hall, talking in low voices so as not to disturb anyone resting in the rooms that they passed.

Zeich’s hand lashed out, and he caught one of the two as he was speaking, causing him to jump. A slightly annoyed expression was quickly replaced with stammered questions as the man recognized his superior officer, one of the two who was always present. Of the two, Vice Captain Kaen Youji was rather laid-back and lighthearted, while Zeich was the quiet and stern stoic, and naturally of the two people preferred to encounter the first. Zeich shook his head at the man’s increasing volume, indicating that he was to calm down and follow him, heading back towards his room. The man’s companion was dismissed, and soon the Third Seat was back in his room with his “informant” seated on his bed while Zeich himself at his desk, staring the unseated officer down.

“My apologies for the abrupt meeting, but I have a few questions I need to ask of you.” Zeich’s eyes were cold and flat as he stared his subordinate down, talking calmly and slowly to make sure every word was crystal-clear. “Before you begin to worry, you have done nothing specifically wrong, though the discussion you were just having is of concern to me, and I wish to ask you a few questions. If you do not comply or you knowingly misinform me, know that I will look upon it as insubordination. Am I clear?” Zeich barely gave the man time to nod in understanding; the Third Seat was in interrogation mode, and had no time to wait for stammered excuses. There were even those who suggested that with his natural abilities in intimidation, he would have been better suited to Squad 6.

“Now, first question: what do you know of the rumors surrounding the attack by ‘Vizard-led pirates’?” As he spoke, Zeich activated one of his techniques in order to further intimidate the man and ensure that he spoke quickly and with what needed to be said. Kuro Gigei Mikon: Ryoushi Reiki was an intimidation ability that increased the Third Seat’s presence and made it more fearsome, something to worry about. The man’s breath would catch slightly, and sweat would form on his forehead due to the difference in their presences. Zeich didn’t flex his Reiatsu, however; if he did so, the man might have a nervous breakdown.

“Second question: where did you hear this rumor, and with what certainty are you sure of its veracity?” There had been barely enough time for the man to finish talking before Zeich’s second question came, and then a similar pause came for the third. “Finally, if you know, under which Squad’s authority is this observation? With the troubling nature of the rumors, I wish to speak to its Captain and inform them of the spread of potential chaos-inducing information that has either been leaked or is the result of misinformation.”

Scouts told him… that would be Squad 3’s jurisdiction then, as they are the squad in charge of expeditions and information gathering. Zeich was silent for a minute as he pondered his next approach, leaving the unseated officer to sweat while his superior considered. It would probably be best to head to their offices and see if I can find out who was in charge of the expedition. If I’m lucky and it’s a low-seated officer, or at least one inferior in rank, I can simply question them for information as well as find a way to quiet the rumors spreading about. Though quieting the flow of rumors wasn’t the most honest means of slowing down the investigation for him to check out the situation first, it also was information with the potential to cause chaos, which meant that Zeich would not be acting out of character by doing his duty. There would be no suspicion, and it was beneficial in the end to all parties, even if it gave the Third Seat a distinct advantage in his investigation.

Realizing that he had left the unseated officer waiting for his reply, Zeich looked over at the man, letting his aura dispel. The sense of pressure would vanish in an instant, allowing the poor Shinigami to relax finally. “My apologies for so rough of a questioning.” Zeich began, though his tone wasn’t anything but its usual neutrality. The apology was not sincerely from the heart, but a formality, a required act. “This is a concerning rumor, one that has the potential for severe consequences, and as a result I take it very seriously. For now, you are dismissed; I have to see to the source of the rumors.” Zeich nodded and held his door open, letting the young man run and get away from the room in which he had been so roughly interrogated.

Once he was out, Zeich was not far behind him in exiting, though he went in a different direction. It didn’t take long to leave the Squad 7 Barracks and make himself through the maze of Seireitei towards Squad 3’s Barracks; since he patrolled the streets often as part of the “police force” among the Gotei 13, he had mental maps of the entire area, and at least two routes that he could immediately recall took him by his destination. With that, it didn’t take but fifteen minutes for him to arrive, standing before the gates of the Squad 3 Barracks. He went inside quickly, giving his name to an unseated officer at the entrance and a request to speak with the highest-ranked present official about a private matter.

Zeich’s plan was simple: He would speak with whoever was in charge of the expedition under the guise of dealing with a potential information leak or at least stifling what could be chaotic information without further research, and then he would begin his own investigation. All it would take was some careful questioning that would lead to the location where the “Vizard Pirates” had been observed, as well as any other general data that could be gleaned without being suspicious, and then he could arrange with Squad 13 to allow him into the World of the Living at the proper coordinates. He just had to get his information, first.

Zeich was not impressed by the woman’s attitude as she spoke to the unseated Shinigami around her, likely exaggerating some tale for their amusement. One would think that at what was generally a minimum of a century in age, even the lesser Shinigami would be past such childish awe, yet those gathered seemed hooked onto every one of the woman’s words. Thankfully the intervention by his guide ended the story early, before Zeich was forced to waste more time than he already had. Investigations were already underway and every second that passed was another second that the advance groups had ahead of him. Still, time could be made up with more direct action; if he could get the information quickly, then the Third Seat could be on his way quickly.

The two of them were left alone after the woman waved off her listeners, much to Zeich’s relief; he much preferred to deal with people directly and without an audience to influence their words and reactions. “Now that they’re gone… we need to speak for a few minutes concerning the rumors going on about the possibility of ‘Vizards’ among the pirate crew that you just came back from investigating. This is a matter of concern, regardless of the veracity of the rumor, as it is an information leak that could cause panic in a situation that is already touchy after the recent invasion by the Vandenreich.” That was a key point in Zeich’s argument; people were already worried and nervous, and continued aggravation could cause chaos that Soul Society could not afford.

“So, as I mentioned, I request you to find the source of that leak and silence it, to ensure further rumors do not get out.” Zeich’s tone suggested that it wasn’t quite a request, but rather orders given that he outranked the woman regardless of what squad he was in. “Aside from that, however, I have my own investigation to pursue, and regardless of which squads are involved in the actual investigation and handling of the situation, it is my assigned task to ensure that I have all of the information regarding the manner so that I may confirm the stories as more than chaos-inducing rumors. Vizards are a serious matter, and if such a story is nothing more than gossip or a practical rumor, it falls on internal security to maintain the peace among our ranks.” Zeich was very careful in his words, assuring that he was not lying, at least not directly. It was his duty indeed to ensure internal peace, though it was not a specifically assigned task at this time; rather, it was his overall duty as a member of Squad 7 to make sure that there were no internal issues while the other squads dealt with their own areas of expertise.

“As a member of Squad 7, I am fully within my authority to investigate into this manner provided that I have sufficient evidence in order to press my case." Zeich’s manner was cool and efficient as always, as if he were reading directly from a textbook. “In this instance, the fact that the rumor has spread throughout my squad as well as several other regions of Seireitei is enough evidence to prove that it is well-known and at least somewhat credited. In addition, with the recent events of the Vandenreich invasion, the potential for fear and chaos exists. While we are not in charge of keeping information from the public, it is part of Squad 7’s jurisdiction to ensure that if knowledge must spread, then at least it is accurate rather than fear-inducing gossip.”

“Now that I have proven the grounds for my inquiry, I ask that you cooperate or be taken into custody by Squad 7 for hindering an investigation. If you would be so kind as to give me all of the information you have on the event, including any opinions or concerns you may have on the manner, I will not trouble you long.”

It was all that Zeich could do to restrain a sigh of irritation at the woman’s words. She was nothing more than a low-seated officer that was “borrowing” her superior’s badge? If he weren’t pressed for information at the moment, the Shinigami would have immediately arrested the thief on charges of impersonating a superior officer and hindering an investigation. Still, she was a member of Squad 3 regardless of the trouble she had caused thus far, and as a result, she had at least some usefulness, if aimed properly. If his first impression of the woman served, Zeich realized that she probably had a fair-sized circle to speak with, a web of contacts that could serve as an information network among Squad 3.

“Alright.” Zeich’s voice was like a whipcrack after the few moments spent in contemplative silence, likely startling the young woman should she have let her guard down. “I have several tasks for you, if you are so eager to be of assistance. The first is simple: I want directions to your main reports depository, as it will likely have the information I am looking for on file. If they are not there due to the obvious disarray I have seen there, I will not be surprised, but it is a good place to start.” Cold and calm, Zeich’s orders were straight to the point, issued one after another in rapid fire. “Second, I want you to gather up your little group again, and send them out to gather information. Any clue as to the leader of the expedition out into the human world, or even contact with one of the members involved will be a start. Bring them to me if you find them.”

Zeich paused for a moment after giving those two orders, considering, and then decided to twist the screws a bit more to ensure that his information would be accurate, would be delivered at a reasonable pace… and in fact, to ensure that it would be delivered at all. “Before you go, I would like to remind you of the consequences facing you should you choose to run off. I have memorized your face and features, and I have you on counts of insubordination, impersonating a superior officer, spreading of instability through malicious rumors, hindering an investigation… you have several severe charges trumped up against you, which could have you arrested and even thrown out of your squad should they be reported.” Again his tone was cold and certain, a suggestion that he knew the laws he was quoting from end to end. Zeich could not afford to let his certainty slip, lest his bluff become known; he could not let this woman think he was desperate for the information he could provide. “I will be reporting them, have no fear, but if I feel that you are cooperative, I will be sure that the wording is in your favor, and will only have you charged for impersonation of an officer. At worst, you will be put on temporary suspension, though I suspect the punishment will be more lenient than that. Are we clear?”

“I cannot make that promise; much of the information will be classified if the rumors have any truth to them, and until more time is taken to understand the effects of the information on the populace, it will have to be contained and filtered to them in smaller amounts to prevent or at least reduce the ensuing panic.” Zeich’s words were clipped and quick as he followed his companion to the records room, giving his answer with complete sincerity and complete neutrality as well. His mind was more on where he’d begin his search through the records, as they were likely to be in as much disarray as the rest of the Squad was; finding the files would be a true needle-in-a-haystack endeavor.

“I can promise, however, that should there be information I am allowed to share, information that is not immediately classified, I will inform you first, so that you can gain your ‘standing.’ I do not approve of fame through dishonest means—” At that, Zeich glared at the woman, nodding at her fifth seat badge as a reminder of her actions, “However, with legitimate information that you will be given, should such information come about, you will likely gain the attention of many followers again as one of the first to know. That will be our bargain for your cooperation.” There was no room left for argument or compromise; Zeich had already shown his companion the stick with the potential charges leveled against her, and was now offering the only carrot he would give. It was a small, pathetic carrot, but next to the stick he had threatened her with, it was a far better choice.

Once they had arrived in the records room, Zeich took a few minutes to note the level of organization, which was to say that there wasn’t any. Books and papers were scattered everywhere, and the room appeared to have been turned into more of a dormitory rather than a records room. The Third Seat let out an audible sigh this time; he couldn’t restrain his frustration much longer at the rate it was building. Where was he to begin in this chaotic mess? With papers strewn about at random, along with many of the records books, there was no possibility of finding what he wanted within any reasonable amount of time. That meant that, once again, he would have to take charge.

Stepping forward until he was in the middle of the large room, Zeich stood on a convenient table to make himself visible before doing something unusual: he raised his voice beyond its normal tone, at about three-fourths of the volume that a normal person used. Instead, he was now visibly shouting to make his voice heard, and while his quick words had been like a whip crack of certainty before, this was more like cannon fire in the midst of a village, rousing everyone to wakefulness and attention instantly. It would also likely cause a scene of confusion for a few minutes while people adapted to the sudden change.

“LISTEN UP, ALL OF YOU!” Once he had grabbed their attention, Zeich’s tone lowered slightly, raised enough to be heard through the echoing room but far quieter than the shout he had just given. “I am Zeich Yajuu, Third Seat of Squad 7 and in charge of the investigation into chaos-inducing rumors that could spread unnecessary panic among Seireitei. As head of the investigation and member of the Internal Affairs Squad of the Gotei 13, I have unquestionable authority from any but the Third Seat, Vice Captain, or Captain of this squad. If one of those three is present, step forward now; if not, my orders are absolute in this case, and any argument or disagreement will be charged with insubordination and hindering an investigation, the punishments for which are severe.” Zeich made absolutely sure that there were no uncertainties; he would not let those he was addressing waver in the least. If he wanted to find anything in this mess, he would need many, many hands.

“Now, my orders are simple: recently there was an expedition into the human world, investigating a strain of ‘pirates’ with unusual qualities. There is no confirmation as to these qualities, nor the location or any other information necessary to confirm the veracity of the rumors that are sweeping through the squads like wildfire. However, should the leaders of the expedition have shown more organization and efficiency than… this—” Zeich waved a hand around at the disarray with disgust, clearly unhappy with the way things were being handled. “…Then there should be reports on record that contain this information. I expect all of you, given the disarray that your squad has fallen into, to begin searching through the paperwork in here and finding that report file.”

“I cannot give many criteria based on the information I have, but I can tell you these facts: The reports were recent, so no earlier than the last month, with emphasis on the last two weeks, and they were involving the observation of a group of ‘pirates.’ The reports may also mention unusual qualities about these pirates.” Zeich listed off the details slowly enough so that even the fog-brained members of Squad 3 gathered around could understand clearly. “If these reports or anything that may resemble them are found, they are to be brought to me immediately. I will be in the main courtyard when the reports are found. However, know that I will check back here; if I suspect that my orders are not being followed, understand that my reports on this squad will not go unnoticed either. That is all; dismissed.”

Once his orders had been given, Zeich stepped down from the table and gave a nod to his companion, who had given her name as Yuja Shiba. He had met one other Shiba briefly, who had attained the Vice Captaincy of Squad 9; it was hard to believe that there was a relation between the two. The Third Seat and his companion both made their way out of the records room, which would likely be in a tumult given the absolute nature of the orders Zeich had given, and would head out to the main courtyard. There they would wait, either for discovery of the proper records, or for Yuja’s group to find those who had been involved in the actual observation squad.

Total QP: 10

Zeich looked up as the young Shinigami approached, amber eyes narrowing as he noticed the folder in the boy’s hand. Finally, someone of some competence… Were he anyone else, the Third Seat would have taken Yuja’s comment that the boy was her cousin with disbelief. However, Zeich had a very limited sense of humor, and as a result he simply took facts as they were: information. Relation did not necessarily encourage similarities in behavior, as shown by the boy’s quick delivery. There was no embellishment or twists to the truth; the young man was willing to tell him the facts as they were despite the Third Seat’s irritation at the lack of organization and the laziness displayed by Squad 3.

“Very good. Thank you for your cooperation; I’ll be sure to note it in my report.” The rarely-used carrot came out again, a compliment given in exchange for competence and effectiveness. Zeich was not completely cold; though he had an off-putting personality and a strict way of handling things, he also did respect those who put the effort forth to accomplish something. This young man, despite being a new member of Squad 3, would likely go a long way as long as he kept up his perseverance and dedication to work, unlike the rest of the slackers Zeich had encountered so far. The Third Seat wondered how any respectable Captain or Vice Captain could leave their Squads in such disarray, but such was not his business; he would make his report to Squad 1, who would deal with things their own way.

Zeich reached to take the folder, eager to get the information he had searched for, but as he did, a flash of light caught his eye. There wasn’t enough time to react as an arrow pierced the boy’s throat, emerging out the far side and splitting into a tri-pronged head that served as a hook. Even as Zeich started to catch up to the events mentally, drawing Haiiro from its sheath at his side, the unnamed Shinigami was tugged backwards and across the courtyard. Zeich barely had time to notice the flash of white clothing that marked a Vandenreich uniform, barely had time to consider the actions unfolding before him. All he knew was that, at the exact instant the boy’s blood had sprayed across his face, Zeich’s mind was bombarded by twin snarls from both his Zanpaktou spirit and the Shadow, echoing simultaneously.

The difference, however, was that one was in anger while the other was in joyous bloodlust.

Yuja lunged forward first, closing the distance between herself and the Quincy in a moment. Her sword came down with little effect on the man’s body, but Zeich could have guessed as much even without knowing the Vandenreich’s spiritual strength. Most of those within the Vandenreich, according to the bits of information gathered during the invasion, had some special technique that was similar to an Arrancar’s Hierro but was far more absolute, a defense that was difficult to surpass. It was why Zeich had not immediately lunged into action as well, and instead had stayed back a moment to analyze the situation. No good would come from rushing in against a superior defense, not without some way of breaking through it.

Not all offensives are attacks, however…

Zeich quickly activated two techniques to aid him in the sudden battle he had found himself in, twin sides of the same coin that he had learned and mastered together. Gigei Mikon: Douzen Heisei was a self-enhancement tool that sealed away emotion to allow for greater mental clarity and reaction speed, both of which the Third Seat would need against a Vandenreich member, and he felt its effects immediately as all worry and anger faded to be replaced by cool neutrality. Kuro Gigei Mikon: Ryoushi Reiki, however, was the opposite; it created an aura of presence, of fear and intimidation that would weaken foes through trepidation, slowing their mental reflexes. Zeich could feel the other members of Squad 3 quake as they looked upon him, the sense of dark presence about the Third Seat growing, but he ignored it as he focused on his objective: the Quincy.



“Suppress, Haiiro!” Zeich’s Zanpaktou immediately burst apart into its ashen form, forming a gray cloud around the Third Seat. The command was barely given before he summoned the ash to him, coating his arms in two thick gauntlets that had reinforced knuckles and extended halfway up his forearms. The rest of the ash remained about him in a cloud, but that was part of Zeich’s plan. Running forward, Zeich let his ash trail behind him, as the cloud could not keep up with his maximum running speed. The Third Seat hadn’t expected it to do so, however; it had a static pace that it could keep, and no faster, but he had planned for that as well as he closed the distance.

About halfway across the courtyard, Zeich vanished in a sudden Shunpo. Rather than stopping in front of the Quincy, however, the Third Seat continued on until he was past the man, just behind him. As soon as he reappeared, the Shinigami released Haiiro’s ash from the gauntlets on his arm, giving him a partial cloud that had moved with him rather than lagging behind. That cloud was put to immediate effect as well, clinging to the Quincy’s arms and binding them together by forming gray wrappings that kept them completely immobilized. This would prevent him from firing another shot, unable to draw his bow back thanks to the way his arms were pinned, and would effectively neutralize his main means of attack.

But that wasn’t all; Zeich’s reappearance would likely draw the attention of the Quincy, causing him to turn to follow the Third Seat’s movements; that would keep his focus off of the other cloud of ash, which would come in from behind the man and form a second pair of bindings, one that would tie the man’s legs down and keep him from moving. Likely it would even cause the Quincy to lose his balance, due to how tightly his legs were wrapped up in the ashen bindings. Zeich’s technique, Haiiro Gokusha, was one that would not only suppress the enemy’s movement, but would also suppress use of Reiatsu by increasing the toll of using techniques; with two sets of bindings, the effects would only be that much worse, even if the Quincy wasn’t completely immobilized.

Finally, the last of the ash from the secondary cloud would form a katana similar to Haiiro’s sealed form, but ashen in color with a black spiral pattern that wrapped around the length of the blade. This was the manifestation of Haiiro’s Shikai form through the Haiiro Ken technique, but without the bladed chain that normally was at its end. Holding his newly-formed sword to the Quincy’s throat, Zeich stared at the man with a cold, emotionless intensity that suggested he was ready to react at any time. The blade’s edge shone in the sunlight despite its ashen composition, suggesting that it was as sharp as any sword, and could cut just as easily. It was a partial bluff, of course; the Shinigami did not think he could pierce the Quincy’s defenses, but he could not hesitate either.

While he had the Quincy bound and captive, assuming that all went as Zeich’s plan detailed, the Third Seat gave several quick orders. “Yuja. Remove the arrow from the boy’s throat and take him to Squad 4’s Barracks. Explain what is happening here and ask for medical support to be sent, and then remain in the barracks with that file. I will come to pick you up when this is all done.”

Remaining Reiatsu: 1600/2500 (-100 for Natural Calm, -150 for Predator’s Aura, -200 for Shikai, -50 for Shunpo, -100 for Haiiro Ken x2, -300 for Haiiro Gokusha (Arms and Legs))

Shikai: 1/10

Shikai Ash: 0/5 Remaining (1 for Haiiro Ken, 2 for Haiiro Gokusha (Arms), 2 for Haiiro Gokusha (Legs))

The Quincy was fast. Not only did he manage to dart away as Zeich closed the distance, but he managed to avoid the majority of the ash on him. Haiiro’s bindings managed to close around the man’s legs, tripping him up and halting his retreat suddenly, but they didn’t last long; a sudden surge of Reiatsu flared up, shattering the bonds that held the Quincy’s legs, and the man was free. Ralf’s actions suggested that the information in the file was of importance to his superiors, so Zeich was not surprised at the vehemence with which the man retaliated. The arrow was dodged with fair ease, as the Third Seat was not known for being physically slow, and it slammed into the far wall past him even as Zeich retreated slightly to give himself room to think and see the arrows he was dodging.

Mentally, Zeich worked out what little he had learned about the Quincy from their initial encounter. The man was fast at his full speed, easily outpacing Zeich’s Shunpo with his own step technique, meaning that it would be difficult to land a hit. In addition, Ralf could easily shatter Haiiro Gokusha, meaning he couldn’t be bound or slowed down through physical bonds. However, Zeich was not without a large number of techniques at his disposal that could continue to suppress the man’s attacks, and he was already planning his next means of attack. It would be a simple task to close the distance again and release his ash in the form of a mask to seal away his opponent’s senses, or to do the opposite and enhance his vision or hearing to the point where they could easily be overloaded.

Yuja’s request, however, would have surprised Zeich had his emotions not been sealed away. As it was, he noted that she had released her Zanpaktou and that her eyes were filled with anger and hatred, not with the same sultry teasing she had displayed before. It didn’t take much to consider that the woman’s request had to do with her Zanpaktou’s powers, especially judging by the shape of her weapon’s released state. Knowing that he would not be able to perform to her expectations, as passion and lust were two emotions that Zeich never felt compared to joy, fear, or anger, nonetheless the Third Seat knew that it was in his best interest to comply. He didn’t trust the woman’s cooperation when it came to organization or reliability, but with her family on the line he could at least trust in her knowledge of her Zanpaktou’s capabilities.

Though he couldn’t summon up the passion for a sincere kiss, with or without his emotion-blocking technique up, Zeich went through the motions anyway. Quickly he grabbed Yuja, one hand wrapping around her waist while the other caught the back of her head, supporting it even as he pressed his lips to hers. It was an unpassionate, cold contact, their lips meeting for as long as it took for whatever Yuja had planned to take effect. There was no sincerity, no feeling behind it; Zeich simply put himself in the appropriate position as was required for the embrace, and held himself in place. His body was loose in the sense of battle, but it hardly melted in the fires of passion, and there was no pleasure in the act. It was an imitation, far different from the real thing. Hopefully it would do, as there was nothing more Zeich could do about the matter.