Beneath Still Waters

[Deleted]

Name: [Beneath Still Waters] - The Adventure Name

Participants: [Soul Society Allies (later, Allies of Las Noches)] - Who can participate?

Location: [Starts in Soul Society / Unknown Location] - Where does this take place?

Difficulty Level: [Hard] - Easy, Medium, Hard, Extreme. How difficult is this adventure?

Setting: [NDE] Is this DE or NDE? Death Enabled or Non Death Enabled?

Plotline: [One night during the Summer season in the Rukongai, it happened. It happened so suddenly that nobody had expected it. Many citizens feared a Hollow attack, or some sort of invasion. Nobody expected this. It happened during the night, while many were asleep. The ground caved in. Over thirteen blocks of the Rukongai District 7 were gone. In their place, a gigantic hole that seemed to be nothing but a void. People couldn't see anything during the night, especially in the panic. Soon enough word spread to the Seireitei and lower seats of Squad 3 was sent in. They waited till daylight to see what had happened. When morning arrived so did they. What the Shinigami found was something shocking. A gigantic hole with what looked to be a giant tree had appeared over night. After a few hours of surface searching, the team received the order to try and open the massive tree. Using a combination of Kido and Zanpakuto releases, they managed to open up the massive plant only to find it was mostly hollow inside. A second order was received to investigate where the tree had come from. Half the team volunteered to enter the tree while the other half would scale it from the outside.

After two hours of climbing, the two teams met at a sort of "half way" point. The team on the inside explained that the tree itself seemed hollow, and seemed to have bridgeways as well as branches growing inside. They explained how much easier it was to navigate through the tree. The outer team had cut up hands from climbing. So the two teams decided to continue through the tree. The team made their way down the tree, stopping once to rest and eat. They had no idea how long they had been climbing down, but it had felt like hours. Luckily, however, the infrastructure of the tree seemed to have bridges made of thick branches, so climbing was more hopping down and setting ropes rather than free climbing. The team finally reached the bottom when they noticed light coming out of some sort of gap in the trunk. This was odd, because on the surface there had been no light coming from the hole. The team that had been climbing had stated that there had been no light, so they had been forced to use Kido. The teams used their Kido to blast apart the hole so that they could get through. No words could describe in detail what they saw. Beneath the Seireitei, beneath the Rukogai, was a black lake. Trees sprang up from the water in every direction for what seemed like forever. Giant archtrees, larger than any building in Soul Society, grew right from the black waters. Then the team noticed something. A few of the trees seemed to have been made from quartz rather than bark. One member suggested that they might be the trees from Hueco Mundo.

The entirety of the expedition was given to the Captains. One in particular believed that perhaps that this Lake did not just run beneath Soul Society, but Hueco Mundo as well given the appearance of the quartz trees. Going off of that assumption, and excited at the thought of a backdoor into perhaps Las Noches, a team was devised to investigate the lake, and see what secrets it held. - Explain the plot of your adventure.

Estimated Enemy Strength: [4-1] Estimate the strength of the NPC's people will fight in this adventure. Class 7-1, what is their strength on average?

Estimated Time Until Completion: [7-15 pages] - How many pages do you think this adventure will run for until it is over?

Starts: [The thread will start once all 3 players have arrived and done their introduction post] - When does the adventure begin?

Special Conditions: [Each of the players has been given the following items

- Canteen of Water: This is a near bottomless canteen of water specially designed by Squad 12 for things such as this. The canteen only refills once it has been empty by absorbing moisture out of the air.] - Any special conditions, limitations, or other things.

- Rations: The team has been given enough rations to last around a year, if proper dietary guidelines are followed.

- Camp gear: Tents and Sleeping Bags. A compass and a whistle for each member if they get lost.

-Flare Guns: Specialized flare guns designed for compatibility. They do not use actually rounds, rather they fire a glowing ball of reiatsu into the sky that lights up brightly and leaves a visible path. Costs 50 reiatsu to use.

-Medical ointment: Ointment that will heal most wounds/bruises/infections, but not broken bones or severed limbs or regenerate organs. A simple medical ointment that any idiot can use.

-Short wave radios: Each member of the team is given a short wave radio communication set that is able to pick up the other radios broadcast for about ten miles. Useful if someone gets separated.

Other special conditions: Later in the thread I might allow a Arrancar from Las Noches to stumble upon a similar hole in Hueco Mundo and thus he/she will be allowed to join. This will happen much later.

[Taien Hadohou]

"Huh. This isn't something you see every day, even around a place like this! I wonder how deep it goes. . ."

Taien was busy peering down the giant hole sporting a gigantic hollow tree inside it. Even for a place like the Seireitei, this was unusual. That said a lot about both the strangeness of the hole, and the strangeness of the Seireitei. Either way, Taien was here on a mission. Specifically, he was part of the mission to investigate the humongous black lake at the bottom of the tree-ladder. Along with the supplies they had been given, Taien was bringing along all of his items and the like for the mission as well. Walking back from the hole, Taien moved to find the rest of the team that would be going down with him.

To be honest, Taien wasn't exactly sure who else was going. All he knew was that someone from the Kidou Corps should go with them, and since Taien had happened to be the closest Corpsman around, he volunteered himself. It would be an interesting experience for him, maybe he could take a sample or something back for proper analysis. Before anything else though, Taien decided to suit up, so to speak. His Ice Guns went in their holsters, his belt with the Reiatsu Orbs and Aura Obs went on, he stored his Convert-A-Weapon in his robe's pocket, his Soul Gauge and F.O.R.M Prototype Overwatch on his wrists. . . Was he forgetting anything? Oh! His hat! He twirled his hat onto his head. Fedoras were cool. He also had his Anti-Venom Shots stored away as well, just in case. Pulling his the gauntlets that were the Secret Blades on, Taien was now ready for anything!

Well, Taien was ready for anything now. The rest of the team needed to show up, and they could begin! Haha! This was starting to feel like some sort of adventure story! Taien was getting excited, and a grin slowly started to emerge.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [50] Points

Speed - [350] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [200] (600) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] (1200) Points

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [0] Points

Instinct - [70] Points

Senses [70] Points

Energy sensory - [60] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1200] Points

Abilities

• [Reiatsu Control Mastery] {2}
  
  
• [Spellweaving (Kidou Fusion)] {2}
  
  
• [Charisma/Leadership] {2}
  
  
• [Learning] {2}
  
  
• [Analyzing] {2}
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] {2}
  
  
• [Mental Casting] {1}
  
  
• [Strength of Will] {2}
  

SKP Used/Unused: 15/16

SPOILER: Click to show

Item Name: F.O.R.M Prototype: Overwatch

Item Type: Time Piece/Defensive Instrament

Item Description: A fairly nice looking watch at first glance. Its completely black, save for the hands and the numbers. The hands and numbers are crimson red on the right half while the other half is sky blue. Normally all it does is tell time. However, with a press of a button, the watch takes creates a four foot purple circle of energy a foot from the surface of the watch. The circle of Reiatsu has a strength of 400, and deflects anything with lower Reiatsu strength than 400. The watch has four uses, and takes five posts to "reset". A second button on the other side of the clock face allows the strength to go up to eight hundred for one use, but it burns the energy in the watch out for a while, taking twice as long to recharge. As this is a prototype, there are some things wrong with it. While the watch could be used in succession, it overheats the circutry, causing it to burn out. As such, there is a two post gap between uses, otherwise the watch really will break. More advanced models will have it corrected, but until then, it breaks even once overused. It takes a Class 3 person to actually be able to use this watch's battle function.

Price: 1.2 Million Ryo

Ice Gun x 2

Cold Hat

Convert-A-Weapon

Soul Gauge

Anti-Venom Shot x5

Carrier Belt 9/12

Medium Reiatsu Orb x3

Large Reiatsu Orb x3

Steel Aura Orb: Tetsu Supaiku

Water Aura Orb: Gouzen Demizu x2

Secret Blade - Glove Model x2

[Zeich Yajuu]

This will not be a simple mission, master. Are you sure about investigating with such a small group?

It’s not my place to argue with the higher-ups. They have sent us with sufficient supplies and according to the basic reports, a fairly substantial team that includes the Vice Commander of the Kido Corps. I am uncertain as well, Haiiro, but let us take this one step at a time. A grunt of assent came from the wolf, and Zeich broke the mental contact between them as he made his way through the streets of Seireitei, heading for the southern gate into the Rukongai. His pace was unhurried, yet he didn’t slow or slack off in his steps either; he maintained a calmly neutral gait that was efficient in its speed. Like in everything he did, the Third Seat was in a focused mindset, thoughts on the mission ahead and the briefing he had been given in order to do his mission properly.

The reports had been pretty vague overall; an enormous hole had opened up in the Southern Rukongai overnight, causing the disappearance of several districts and the souls within. Emerging from the hole had been a tree of astounding proportions, one that was investigated briefly from both the inside and out in order to determine its general origin and immediate threat potential. However, all that had been discovered was that the tree itself was hollow inside and led down below the ground a fair distance. At the bottom, there had been reports of a body of water, though whether it was a lake or something far vaster was unknown. The presence of this unknown body beneath Seireitei was a concern, however; as it had not been recorded previously, there was the potential of threat from the unknown caverns, especially if more trees like this first one grew and caused further damage and loss of lives.

Zeich had been part of a team dispatched to investigate the subterranean area and determine the cause of the tree’s growth along with making an assessment of the threat level that the underground body of water presented. He would be descending into the cavern along with at least one other that he knew of, though the Third Seat suspected they’d be a three- or four-man cell in order to maintain a decent amount of defensive power while remaining a small enough group to remain mostly undetected. Though he had been told he would be going with Taien, the Vice Commander of the Kido Corps, there had been little said about the others in his group. The Third Seat wasn’t sure of his group’s makeup, but between a Kido expert and the fast attrition-type fighter that he was, Zeich knew that they would just need some form of support or a frontline fighter to make a well-rounded team. Hopefully, the higher-ups knew what they were doing when they put this group together.

As he passed through the gate, Zeich briefly went over what little he knew of the Vice-Commander. Taien was something of an outgoing fellow, with a very energetic personality and an eye for adventurous undertakings. The two of them had met briefly while the Third Seat was taking shelter form a storm, and though he had not developed a dislike for the man, Zeich still only gave him at best a tolerant indifference; as long as Taien did his job, then they could work together. Of course, that tended to be the neutral path Zeich took with others anyway; he didn’t care much for conversation or interaction. Instead he did his job, went about his duties, and found what little pride he did in the successful and efficient execution of those duties.

Finally arriving at the site, Zeich took stock of his surroundings, noting the entrance to the tree that was guarded by several high-tier Shinigami in order to ensure that nothing came from the depths to cause trouble. There were various supplies given, including special canteens that absorbed moisture from the air so as to prevent them from running out of drinking water. Zeich could appreciate the practicality of such a device, as they didn’t know how long they’d be underground or even if the water there was safe. It seemed Squad 12 had planned accordingly for this mission, something that would help in the long run. They would be down there for a fair amount of time, and the potential for threat was unknown; every bit of caution would count.

Zeich gave a brief salute to the other Shinigami present. “Squad 7 Third Seat Zeich Yajuu reporting in for the underground expedition.”

[Deleted]

Interest flicking across her face as she read the missive detailing the sudden appearance of a sinkhole in the Rukongai and the discovery of a massive hollow tree providing safe passage into the deep subterranean chamber beneath Soul Society. "How interesting. How interesting indeed" mused Yuki allowed. Gathering her meager possessions, Yuki dashed swiftly through the streets of the Seireitei to the gates of Rukongai. Slowing long enough to acknowledge the guardian of the gate, Yuki sped headlong toward her destination, giddy at the prospect of an adventure into realms unknown.

Arriving at the scene with haste, Yuki stared down into the cavernous depths and marveled at the sight before her. I sure wish it was me investigating that chamber. The prospect of being among the first shinigami to investigate such a wondrous discovery makes me giddy with excitement. Stepping back from the edge, Yuki spied Taien standing a short distance away and greeting him warmly, inquired as to his wellbeing. "Oi, Hadohou Fuku-taichou! What brings you out to this hole in the ground and who do I have to talk to in order to get in on a little spelunking expedition into the cavern below us?"

Walking casually toward her superior, Yuki gathered her long magenta hair and hastilly tied it into a bun with a ribbon she had pulled from a pocket somewhere beneath her kosode. Eyeing the crater with a look of wonder, Yuki could not help but repress a small shiver of excitement that tingled its way down her spine and set her skin to goosebumps. "Given we have no idea what to expect down there, I would not at all be surprised if my.... unique and flexible talents would come invaluable on such an expedition. I assume one has already been planned yes?" Flicking her gaze inquiringly toward her superior, Yuki was hopeful that he would look favorably upon her presence and put in a good word with whomever was organizing the expedition Yuki was certain would soon occur.

SPOILER: Click to show

___________Stats___________

• Strength: [60]
  
• Speed: [300]
  
• Spiritual Pressure: [240] (300)
  
• Reiatsu Strength: [300] (375)
  
• Light Aura: [75]
  
• Dark Aura: [25]
  
• Instinct: [100] (75)
  
• Senses: [100] (75)
  
• Energy Sensory: [100] (75)
  
• Healing Expertise: [0]

___________________________
          Stat Points: 1200

[/color]


__________Abilities___________

• [2] Weapons: Swords
  
• [2] Special Skill: Kidou
  
• [2] Battle Analysis
  
• [2] Imitation
  
• [2] Battle Focus
  
• [2] Pain Tolerance
  
• [1] Strength of Will

___________________________
          Skill Points: 13 (2 banked)[/spoiler]

[Deleted]

Once the three volunteers arrived, one of the Shinigami guarding the trees took off towards the eastern direction. Surrounding many Shinigami present to guard both the hole and the tree, many Rukongai civilians had formed a massive crowd trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. "Is it safe? Can we go home? What about our neighbors that fell down there?! Is it dangerous? Mommy! What if more holes open!? Shinigami, you are supposed to protect us!? What if their are Hollows in their!?" shouted many voices. The appearance of that hole that swallowed so many houses and people activated a fear in the spirits far greater than a Hollows. The Shinigami could slay Hollows, but could they slay giant holes? Aside from guarding the hole, a few Shinigami selected from Squads 10 and 11, as well as a few no-seats from Squad 7, were deployed to keep the citizens away from the hole and to not interrupt the investigation.

"All right!" came a new voice, one that would draw the attention of the three shinigami who volunteered for the second expedition into the tree. The man who walked before them was large, he had receding hair as well as a mustache that curved downwards. He stepped in front of the three, then bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, for coming. Taien Hadohou, Vice Captain of the Kido Corps. Zeich Yajuu, Third Seat of Squad 3. And you as well, Ms. Yuki Kaname Third Seat of the Kido Corps. Thank each of you for volunteering for this mission. My name is Itachi Yamahato, 7th seat of Squad 3. I was chosen to brief you on the current situation, which as you can see is getting chaotic. Please, walk with me." Itachi said, turning and walking towards the right of the hole towards where a good part of the tree was leaning against the holes edges.

If the Shinigami followed, then Itachi would continue. "As I am sure you are aware, at some unknown point last night this hole opened up here in the 7th District of the Rukongai. We are still estimating the total property damage, and attempted to identify those who had fallen. But, at another unknown time the tree you see here appeared. A team from Squad 3 was sent in and discovered that the tree was relatively hollow and were able to make their way to what we will call the bottom. I say that because we don't know if what they found was actually the bottom of the tree. However, once reaching the bottom they found a opening and when they exited the tree they discovered a massive, subterranean body of water that seemed to stretch forever. Reports said that to call it a lake was silly, because it seemed far to much like a ocean. However, we have decided call the body of water the Black Sea, for now." Itachi said, leading the Shinigami to a heavily guarded opening in the tree.

"Within the lake was reported similar trees to this one, both larger and smaller. But, what makes this mission far more important was the discovery of quartz trees, like the ones found in Hueco Mundo. A few of the Captains believe this lake could perhaps lead to Hueco Mundo without the use of a Garganta. Now, when the first team came back they did not spot any sort of life down in the Lake. Neither in or out of the water. But, please do remain cautious. We do not know if the report was 100% accurate. Now, you will find a majority of the inner tree already has rope, ladders, and other things set up. A few of us set those up, while the ones on the lower levels were already set up by the first team. Also, please be careful of the water. I advise to not go swimming, or to get the water on you unless some sort of test can be done on it. The water could be poison for all we know." Itachi explained as he looked each Shinigami in the eyes.

"Your mission is not just to investigate the lake, but it is too see if this lake can be used as a backdoor access to Hueco Mundo. The order was for you three to remain down there for as long as it takes, or until your supplies begin to run out. You three may be gone a long time, are you sure you wish to do this? We will understand if you do not wish to do this, for who knows what being down there for so long might do to you three. Now, do you have any questions?" Itachi said. He was giving them a choice. The three could leave now and another team would be chosen, or one could leave and a replacement found. What was going to be the decision of the three Shinigami? They could also ask Itachi any questions they wished at this time and he would answer them to the best he could.

[Taien Hadohou]

“Squad 7 Third Seat Zeich Yajuu reporting in for the underground expedition.”

"Oi, Hadohou Fuku-taichou!"

Taien turned to see the two other Shinigami that would be accompanying him.

"Ah! Zeich-San, Yuki-San! Welcome, I think our informant is going to be here soon. As for your question Yuki-San, it's more or less a volunteer operation, to my knowledge anyway."

Nice! It was good to go out adventuring with people you knew! Taien offered a smile to the both of them. It was going to be exciting, who knew how long they'd all be gone?! They might even find something useful down there as well, maybe even a gateway to someplace new! Maybe a strategically important area! Or maybe a treasure with massive loot, or hidden treasures! All of it was a good possibility! It was at this point that Taien realized a lot of the Rukongai was in a bit of an uproar. Understandable, seeing how a gigantic black tree had sprouted overnight in the middle of the district.

That wasn't very good; panicky citizens never yielded a good outcome. They might riot or something and get more of them hurt or injured! Which would inconvenience the teams looking for those missing. What to do about it though? Taien pondered the question for a moment before an idea struck him. Taien's power was already leaking outwards, he just needed to utilize it. Taien did, after all, have a huge amount of it. The tricky part was suppressing the Gravitational aspect of it, he didn't want to crush all of the people around here. However, due to his superior control of his own Reiatsu, it wasn't all that hard.

The aura Taien let out was one of both charisma, warmth, and general just good feelings. It spread outwards from him, and even at a distance it was quite dense. Even those with minimal, even no Energy Sensory in the crowd would be able to feel it. It wasn't a crushing, destroying feeling like it would have been had there been Gravitational Pressure in it. Instead, it would feel enveloping, blanketing almost. It was an aura generated by someone with a kind heart and strong will. It was a heroic, charismatic aura. It was at this point Taien decided to speak up. Even though the level of power might be mistaken for a Vandenreich Quincy or something, Taien's Reiatsu had a distinct feeling to it. This distinct feeling, to be precise.

SPOILER: Click to show

"Attention all! Calm yourselves, we're getting to the bottom of this problem as quickly as we can! We don't quite know what's exactly down there yet, but we'll make sure to keep it away from here and all of you if it's hostile! While we're down here, Shinigami patrols will keep watch over the entrance, for either us or whatever comes out if we don't stop it! We will make sure you are safe, even if it costs us our lives in the process! That I can promise! In any case, wish us all luck!"

Taien's voice carried pretty far out, he knew how to speak when he needed to. Although he still didn't understand a lot of emotions, he did know enough from analyzing and subsequently dissecting that information. On top of that, Taien was both fairly charismatic, and a good leader to boot. A good leader needed to know how to speak well as well. It came naturally to Taien, which was a gift that benefited him greatly when interacting with other people. Like now, in fact. Taien gave a good natured smile, and waved to the crowd for a moment before the other Shinigami, Itachi Yamahoto of the Third Division, grabbed the three Shinigami's attention.

Taien returned the Seventh Seats bow with a small one of his own, moving to follow him while he talked. Taien learned of their mission, what they knew already, the layout of where they were going, and the peculiarities of that particular place. It sounded like a strange place certainly, but that made going there all the more exciting! Taien wondered exactly what kind of things they'd see down in the deep darkness of the abyss that was their destination. Probably all manner of things trying to kill them! What was an adventure without a little life threatening every now and again? Or every ten steps in some random encounter. Either way, it proved to be an exciting prospect.

Itachi got to the end of his report, and asked if they wanted to leave. Taien didn't know about the other two, but he was set for this!

"Haha! I'm staying, Itachi-San. As a question though, what do you know of the water of the lake? Were any tests done on it?"

It was an odd question, but he didn't seem to tell them anything about the water. Which meant that either they would have to do that as well, or there was something about the water that prevented them from doing so.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich barely took the time to look up as the other Shinigami that had volunteered for the expedition showed up last. Amber eyes noted the female’s appearance briefly, and a brief eavesdrop on their conversation—it was hard to miss it, as neither of them were quiet nor was it quite a private conversation—gave him the young woman’s name, Yuki. The Third Seat hardly acknowledged the greeting from the Vice Commander of the Kido Corps, and as no conversation beyond that was directed at him, the remained silent. Zeich saw no need to interact with the others, as communication was unnecessary at this point and time; he was not a social creature, and as nothing needed to be said right this moment, he left the other two to speak among each other as they chose.

For now, the Third Seat examined the growing chaos that was forming about the hole. Despite the Shinigami patrols ensuring that the Rukongai citizens remained out of the way, the Pluses were not happy with the presence of such an enormous opening and the tree that came from it, causing the absence and destruction of what was once a large number of Rukongai Districts. Zeich could understand why it would be upsetting; the loss of so much life and particularly the loss of family and loved ones could be painful. Though he had not lost either and could not be particularly empathetic for such specific instances, Zeich too had lost something very dear to him, and understood the pain of loss on such a scale.

Polaris…

Ventus, too. The name drew a stir from Haiiro, as that had been his former name before the loss of his mate and his weakness in the face of the Shadow had made him decide to cast away his former identity and name in order to become what he was today. Though you are here, Haiiro, I lost Ventus that day too. There was a silent agreement from the wolf, who understood all too well the changes that had occurred on that night, over three months ago.

Still, loss in such a manner did not warrant the panic and madness being caused by the crowd. The chaos and noise was stifling to the point where Zeich wanted to simply leave, but duty in the fact that he had volunteered for this expedition kept him rooted to the spot despite his intolerance of the constant agitation. Instead of losing their heads, the people should be considering the next steps; moving away from the nearby districts would be a good start, in case the hole widened further or more trees grew from the opening, and any chance to decrease the lives lost was one that should be taken. No, Zeich could sympathize with the pain of loss and the fear and hurt it inspired, but he could not condone the manner in which the Rukongai citizens conveyed themselves. No, calm thinking and a rational mind was the best way to handle things.

Taien stood up to the milling crowd, releasing his Reiatsu in an aura of confidence. Zeich could sense the tension flowing out of the crowd, but the Vice Commander’s charisma and sense of security did nothing for the practical and paranoid Third Seat. The Shinigami knew that it was not necessarily so easy; what was in the tree’s depths were unknown, and there was always the possibility of a stronger entity than the Gotei Thirteen could combat. There was no guarantee either way, but with the unknown Zeich preferred to assume the worst; as the saying went, assuming the worst meant any surprise would be a pleasant one. It was better making promises that they could not be sure to keep, in the manner Taien did; though they would indeed give their lives in the defense of Seireitei, there was no certainty that doing so would mean the Rukongai citizens would be safe. Between the fact that they could be killed and bypassed down below as well as the fact that they did not know the cause or nature of the trees, they could not guarantee anything.

Zeich wanted to say something, to lower the expectations a bit, but Haiiro interrupted him before he could start. Let them keep their hope, Master. Even if it’s a false hope, better for them to live with confidence rather than fear. I know you’re being practical and you don’t want to feel like you’re lying to them but… perhaps it’s for the best right now. All you can do is further panic them, as they’re not as logical as you are. The Third Seat fought a sigh, but agreed with his Zanpaktou spirit after thinking about it; there was nothing he could do to change the current situation for the better, and so it was best if he stayed quiet.

Instead of worrying about Taien’s boasting to the crowds—in the end, wasn’t that what it ended up being? He was merely pronouncing their “ability” to keep the citizen’s safe without any information on what they could be facing—Zeich instead turned to the man who was in charge of the investigation, who introduced himself as Itachi Yamahoto. He listened intently to the detailed report, amber eyes narrowing as he considered the basic situation. They knew that the tree led to some underground body, the “Black Sea,” and that there was quartz trees that were similar to those in Heuco Mundo located there. Their mission was to determine whether or not there was a bridge between the two worlds, and to determine if it could be used as a back door to the world of the Hollows. Implied was that there was the possibility for the tunnel to be two-way, however; if the Shinigami could use it to get to Heuco Mundo, could the forces of Las Noches use it to invade Seireitei, or even just to attack it by formation of more such trees?

Once the report was given, Zeich considered the information given before requesting additional details. “You say that the water’s quality is unknown at the moment; do you have any means we can use to test it while we are down there to check for acidity or any other harmful effects? In addition, what sort of light sources do we have while we are down there? How is the visibility level, and does it change at all in accordance with our sense of time?”

[Deleted]

"Ah! Zeich-san, Yuki-san! Welcome, I tink our informant is going to be here soon. As for your question Yuki-San, its more or less a volunteer operation......to my knowledge anyway". Greeing his subordinate with what appeared to be true joy, Yuki smiled in return. Zeich? I don't think I've ever been introduced to any Zeich. Think Yuki, what do you know of him....... Thinking hard for a moment, Yuki tried with all her might to recall any pertinent information she knew about the third seat of squad 7, but failing to recall anything of value, she instead smiled warmly at the only other person Taien addressed with his greeting.

"Hello. You must be Zeich? My name is Yuki Kaname; First Magus of the Kidou Corps. It is a pleasure to meet you, although you will have to forgive my ignorance in not knowing your rank or squad." Yuki stated with formality, while studying her comrade whom would be watching her back and vice versa, over the coming weeks or months as they investigated the cavernous chamber below. Standing just over 6 inches taller than the magenta haired officer with her intense, piercing gaze that took in every detail of her fellow shinigami with her most unusual, yet striking eye color. Wondering whether his apparent frailty was a sign of sickness, or malnutrition, Yuki wondered why such a sickly looking fellow would even volunteer for such a mission.

Taking note of his heavily tattooed arms with mild interest, Yuki stored that particular detail for later, wondering to herself the importance of the "Triple 6" duplicated on each arm.... hmm.... I'm fairly sure that number has significant meaning in the western world, but for the life of me I can't recall what it means. Ah, it probably doesn't matter too much and I can always ask him about it later if its still bugging me mused Yuki. Noting his scarred pale complexion, Yuki assumed he had seen his fair share of battle, and therefore could handle himself well in a fight in the very least.

Before she could say anything further, Taien turned to face the nervous crowd which still clamoured in fearful chaos around them. "Attention all! Calm yourselves, we're getting to the bottom of this problem as quickly as we can........." Feeling a wave of calming reiatsu wash over her, Yuki nodded silently in approval of her superiors chosen course of action. Yes. Good thinking High Magus. It is best to calm the citizens before we set out on our expedition, lest they complicate matters further. Standing in solidarity with her superior, Yuki spoke up and added her own words of encouragement to the assembled civilians whom were no doubt experiencing the same calming energy that washed over the young officer.

"What my superior says is true. As we speak, we Shinigami, protectors of Soul Society are preparing an expedition into the unknown depths where we will ascertain the true nature of this mysterious occurance. I know what you all feel. How can you trust the words of those whom hide behind their walls in the Seireitei when you are out here? How could we possibly know what it is like to live with such a threatening and unexpected event that has disturbed the peace and tranquility of your homes? While I cannot speak for my comrades, I truly know how you feel for I was one of you in the not too distant past, eeking out my existence in the dangerous West 81st district while trying to make my neighbourhood safer for not only myself, but all those who shared my district. While I know not whether anyone from my former district is present here this day, I swear on my honor as Yuki Kaname, the former Shadow of West District 81, that I will do everything in my power to make you all safe........"

Before she could say anything further, a large mustacheoed man drew their attention and bowed in respect. "Thank you, for coming. Taien Hadohou, Vice Captain of the Kido Corps. Zeich Yajuu, Third seat of Squad 7. And you as well, Ms. Yuki Kaname, Third seat of the Kido Corps..........." Turning her attention to the newcomer, Yuki listened intently as he introduced himself as Itachi Yamahato, 7th seat of Squad 3, and then proceeded to brief them on all available intel, gathered to date. Hmmm... So the underground trees are in fact made of some quartz-like material. At least the report I read had been accurate on that account. I wonder what else is down there, other than a possible pathway to Hueco Mundo?"Crystal Trees Yuki! How exciting. I hope there are hollows down there that have never been seen before! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be the first shinigami to encounter a new type of hollow........"[/i][/color] Ignoring her zanpakutou as it prattled on in its child-like monologue, Yuki endeavored to commit each reported detail to memory.

"...........We understand if you do not wish to do this, for who knows what being down there for so long might do to you three. Now, do you have any questions?" Finishing his report, Itachi waited expectantly for each of them to respond in turn. While Taien responded quickly with bravado and confidence, and Zeich with caution and reservation, both of them asked the same question in their own way.... The same question that was burning in Yuki's mind also.

".............what do you know of the water of the lake? Were any tests done on it?"

"You say that the water's quality is unknown at the moment; do you have any means that we can use to test it while we are down there to check for acidity or other harmful effects? In addition..........." Waiting patiently for Zeich to finish his list of questions, Yuki turned to face the mustacheoed officer herself and, with an inquisitive look in here eye added her own questions which mirrored those of her comrades.

"I too am curious to know what tests have been done, if any. Furthermore, what are our orders in the event that this cavern does indeed turn out to be a passageway to Hueco Mundo? Are we to return immediately and report back our findings? Are we to ascertain the likelihood such a passage might be used against us, and... if such is the case, are our orders to find some way of collapsing the passage if its existance is deemed too dangerous to be allowed to remain? From what little we know, this passage may be a sister-passage to the Senkaimon that links Soul Society with the Human World......." Letting her voice trail off, Yuki looked Itachi squarely in the eyes, and awaited his response to their mutual concerns.

[Deleted]

Itachi gave a sort of nervous chuckle. Each of the three Shinigami not only agreed to stay, but also were wondering what was the property of the water as well as whether or not it had been tested. This caused a slight red blush of embarrassment to spread across Itachis face as he did not wish to make a fool of himself in front of his superiors. "W-well, the first team was not capable of performing any form of test on the water due to them not being equipped with proper items. But, I had sent a word to Squad 12 asking them to send us some sort of...something to test the water. They were supposed to get back to us before you three arrived but it looks like they haven't yet. But, what we do know is that just about all the debris from the fallen buildings...as well as the corpses... are you where to be found. There is a possibility they fell into the Black Sea" Itachi said, bowing his head to the three. He then turned to look at Zeich, who had asked about possible light sources. "Well, the first team reported that there had been no detectable source of light, but they were able to see just as fine as if it hd been a stormy day. So yes, there is light but no source of it....from what the first team said." Itachi responded.

Itachi looked at Yuki as she asked her question, which had been especially large. Itachi only received a few orders, so he needed to answer this correctly so hopefully the team did not do something they were not supposed to do. "If you discover that there is in fact some sort of passage into Hueco Mundo, your mission is to enter the desert for only a short time and determine its distance to Las Noches. However, if you indeed find a passage then you are to return immediately and a team from Squad 3 will be sent in after you to determine the use of the passage. Second, you are also determine the level of danger in the cavern. If you deem it to dangerous you are to return immediately to report your finds. And finally, if you think that the enemy could use this same cavern as a way of invading us you are to destroy the passage." Itachi explained to the three. Simply, there mission was to find a passage to Hueco Mundo. If they found one, they were to investigate it and determine its use. Secondly, if the Black Sea was deemed far to dangerous they were to return and consideration would be made whether or not to destroy the tree. And finally, if the team deemed that a passage could be used by the forces of Arrancar, the team was to destroy that passage as well.

"Well...while we get you ready we can still watch to see if 12th division guy shows up." Itachi said, extending his arm to direct the three shinigami to a table. Itachi walked over to the table, which had four rucksacks on them. He walked over to the one on the furthest left. "Now, we are not sending you down there empty handed. That would be absolutely foolish and stupid. Here are your supplies. Inside there is rope, a compass, enough rations to last you all a year...if you follow the dietary guidelines we have provided inside." Itachi said as not only showed them a few more supplies, but he also handed out rucksacks to the three Shinigami. Itachi looked over to the Shinigami guarded the hole inside the massive tree trunk and nodded to them. They peeked inside the hole and nodded back. "Alright, whenever you are ready lets get this going." Itachi said.

Itachi then lead them each to the hole, guarded by two large Shinigami. Itachi stood in front of the three and once again bowed his head to them. "You are providing a extraordinary service to the Seireitei, and to all the Gotei 13. On behalf of the entire Seireitei, we thank you for your service and wish you the best of luck." Itachi said, stepping to the side to allow the three Shinigami inside.

Once the Shinigami stepped into the great hollow, they would see that inside was as massive as the three outside. There would be no trouble moving about, in fact it was just massive. The three would see that there was large tree trunk growing right up the center of the inner tree. Surrounding the walls of the initial tree and seemingly chocking the inner trunk were massive branches that grew from the walls, up from the depths, and around the inner trunk. The Shinigami would notice a branch growing out from where they stood, large enough to be easily hold the three of them up, leading around the inner trunk and going downwards. This was to be their first method of moving down the tree, by simply walking down on the massive branch.

[Taien Hadohou]

Taien simply smiled and nodded along as their questions were answered. Itachi-San looked nervous at first, but he seemed to get better as time went along. Apparently they were supposed to be getting some testing gear from Division Twelve, but it never showed up. Whether they forgot, couldn't get it, or didn't care was a mystery though. However, knowing Division Twelve, something probably happened or came up that was a lot more important. Or perhaps they were on their way, but weren't here yet. Regardless, they had been given their objectives, their mission, and supplies. That was what they needed right now.

Taien moved around with Itachi-San as he went over everything one last time, and handed them their rucksacks. Taien looked around in his a bit before tying it back up again, content on on what he saw inside of it. He slung it over his back, and was more or less ready for the adventure ahead. Along with all of his other nifty items, of course. He still needed to use his Ice Guns for something, those things had been expensive to purchase! They were cool (no pun intended), but he rarely used them. Ah well, have something you don't need, rather than need something you don't have and all that. Well. . . It was time to go!

"You are providing a extraordinary service to the Seireitei, and to all the Gotei 13. On behalf of the entire Seireitei, we thank you for your service and wish you the best of luck."

And with that, they entered the Hollow.

SPOILER: Click to show

As they entered, Taien looked around at everything he could. Massive branches grew around the entire area, and it just looked. . . Hollow. For lack of a better word. Wait, could trees become Hollows?! That was a scary thought! It was also rather silly, as trees couldn't be Hollows! That was just ridiculous. However, they were on the first part of their journey now. One step in front of the other, and they'd be there in no time! The large branch that would serve as their causeway into the lower parts of the tree did not go unnoticed; Taien mearly was looking at everything else first. Especially up. Because things liked to hide up, and no one ever seemed to look up.

After making sure no stabby stabby death from above was going to happen, Taien let himself look down at their walkway. He couldn't help but remember a quote, and smiled as he spoke.

"Well. . . once more, into the breech!"

Thus their journey into the depths of darkness began.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich gave a brief nod at the answers to his question, somewhat satisfied with the explanations given. He was admittedly perturbed that no proper tests had been done, showing the incompetence of the advance group that had gone in to explore the initial sections of the underground, but there was nothing to be done about it now. The Third Seat was determined to perform his own tests once they reached that level, as knowledge of the water’s properties could be life or death depending on what was encountered below the surface. If there were enemies that pushed them in water that could be proven acidic or toxic, then that could spell certain doom. Preparation would be the key to surviving down in the depths for long.

Grabbing his own rucksack, Zeich quickly delved through its contents, confirming what was inside. A compass would be useful for keeping track of directions, especially with the pad of paper and writing utensils the Third Seat added in; until there were confirmed landmarks it would be best to keep track of their progress in order to ensure they could return safely. Zeich made a mental note to make an inquiry on the mental acuity of the other two; if either of them had a particularly good memory, then they would have to be in charge of marking their route so as to allow the three of them to return when it became prudent to do so.

Continuing through the bag, the Third Seat was somewhat reassured at the competence of the exploration squad, as they had prepared an adequate supply of rations along with canteens that would fill themselves, something that would become necessary if the water of the Black Sea proved toxic or harmful. In addition there was a short-wave radio with a ten-mile range should they become separated, and a Reiatsu-operated flare gun for signaling one another. The gun would likely be a last resort, as signaling the others with a brightly visible flare would also attract any other beings within the underground area. Still, the tools were handy and much appreciated, as they would aid in the exploration of the underground lake.

Once the supplies were checked, Zeich slid his arms into the straps of his bag and headed for the hollowed tree’s opening. He needed to make no farewell speech, needed no dramatics or luck wished; he had a mission to do, and that was all. There was no glory or fanfare necessary, only the pride in doing one’s duty. It was because of his apathy towards attention that Zeich was actually the first one into the opening, moving quickly and with greater speed than the others. He didn’t wait for them to catch up, making his way into the tree with one hand on his Zanpaktou. The Third Seat waited in the entrance for the others, however, taking the time to look around and get a feel for the “tunnel” that they would be traveling down towards the lake in, and mentally charting the route of ladders and ropes that would lead them in their descent.

Once they were all inside, Zeich started on ahead again, scouting the path. Lowering himself down the first ladder, he quickly and quietly made his way down its rungs and onto the next platform, repeating the process. Though he wasn’t as agile as a true acrobatic, he was very dexterous and used to fast movements, so he slid down the levels with ease, making a fair amount of progress ahead of his other two companions. He was moving ahead in order to gather information ahead of the others, serving as a “scout” in his role, but at the same time the Third Seat was doing his own thing, determined to rely on the others as little as possible so that he did not drag them down, and vice-versa. They all had their own skills and methods; they did not all need to interact.

Maybe you should wait up for them, Master. This is a big step into the unknown, and you do not know if you can handle what lies ahead by yourself. Haiiro pleaded with his owner, obviously worried about the expedition. You do not know what lies down there, and though you are not comfortable working with others, you must realize that combined efforts will serve you better than individual ones.

I am aware of my limitations, Haiiro. Feeling a mental cringe from the wolf, Zeich realized that he had snapped unintentionally, and he softened his tone. Sorry… you know very well why I cannot let people get near me. It’s too dangerous with the risk of… well. The two never spoke of the incident in which the Shadow had momentarily claimed control over Zeich’s body, using it to fight the Vice Captain of Squad 10. The possession had been something fearsome, one that had allowed the being to use the Third Seat’s body in a berserk manner, tearing through anything before it. If that happened again around those unable to properly defend themselves… It’s better that I don’t get too close to anyone, and don’t allow myself to work too closely with anyone. I need to be able to rely only on myself, and you.

If that is your wish, master… Haiiro’s tone was forlorn, however, as if he felt that there was more to be said, but he left it at that. Zeich appreciated the understanding; it was a sore subject right now. Instead of dwelling on it, he focused on his descent, making his way further into the tree. He was still in sight of the others, though he was a few levels lower than them; at the rate he was going, it wouldn’t take him long to get out of sight.

[Deleted]

Although unsurprising that the Seireitei Research and Division Institute goverened by Squad 12 would be involved in this affair, Yuki still shuddered involuntarily at their mention, convinced as she was that their presence boded ill fortune to her future. Typical. Bloody typical. Squad 12 is involved in this debacle. Better keep your head down Yuki lest they catch wind that your here, and request to run "routine" health and fitness tests before granting you clearance to depart. While she did her best to hide it, Yuki was intimidated and more than a little frightened by the Gotei 13's research and development squad, believing (perhaps rightfully so) that they would seek to use her as a guinea pig and attempt to dissect her in order to determine how her unique talents functioned.

With any luck, we will be long gone before they finally show up with the testing gear and notice my presence..... Cheered a little by her thoughts, Yuki listened intently as Itachi explained the mysterious disappearance of the buildings and missing rukongai citizenry which had fallen into the black abyss below. Hmm..... Were they spirited away by some dark denizen of the abyss, or did they fall into the black liquid morass below? If the former is true, we will likely determine their existence throughout our investigations, but if the latter is true..... it means that the lake is far deeper than it appears, or...... it is filled with some highly corrosive liquid...... At least there is sufficient light which we can at least navigate by, although the lack of a clear light source is itself troubling.[/i]

While Itachi seemed nervous in answering Yuki's pointed questions about what they should do in the event they discovered a passage to Hueco Mundo, his answers to her questions supported her own conclusions regarding the appropriate course of action. At least we have permission to destroy the passage in the event that it proves too dangerous to be allowed to remain in existence......."Well...... while we get you ready, we can still watch to see if the 12th division guy shows up" Suppressing yet another involuntary shudder, Yuki cast her gaze furtively around District 7 for any sign that Squad 12 or the SRDI would be arriving imminently. Noting their absence, Yuki breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to investigate the contents of the rucksack Itachi was handing out to each of them. Noting the well stocked supply of provisions and quickly reading the instructions provided, Yuki was satisfied that they were well equipped to survive a considerable period in the subterranean passageway should the need arrise.

If properly rationed, the trio was equipped with twelve months of food each, a canteen that refilled itself with an endless supply of refreshing, clean drinking water by absorbing moisture out of the air, a compass which would prove incredibly useful, medicinal supplies in the event of an emergency, short wave radios, and a reiatsu-based flare gun. Securing the canteen firmly to her tabi, and pocketing in a concealed pocket beneath her Kosode, Yuki fastened the straps to her rucksack and hoisted it onto her back. Scanning the immediate area, Yuki spied a three foot branch which would serve as both a walking stick and as a prod, and stripped it of the few minor twigs still remaining along its length. Within minutes, Itachi lead them to the edge of the crater, causing yet more dust and debris to fall into the cavernous chamber below.

"You are providing an extraordinary service to the Seireitei, and to all the Gotei 13. On behalf of the entire Seireitei, we thank you for your service and wish you the bset of luck" stated Itachi formally, although the expression on his face clearly revealed his relief that he, himself was not selected to participate in this little excursion. Entering the massive trunk of the hollow tree, Yuki wondered thoughtfully how such a massive tree could survive in such an inhospitable and sunnless environment. Easily as large, if not larger than the mighty Redwoods Yuki had heard existed on the west coast of America, Yuki could not help but think that the tree was somehow artificial in nature, and that it had either been deliberately hollowed, or had been forced to grow in this unusual shape....for no tree Yuki had ever heard of, had an inner trunk complete with branches, nor a clearly defined "staircase" made out of overlapping branches, which wound downward into the chamber below. Touching the bark of the inner trunk, Yuki half expected it to be cool to the touch, yet it felt like a normal tree. With walking stick in hand, Yuki glanced at Taien whom was peering up into the canopy above them, most likely for any signs of ambush...... and indicated she was ready to proceed.

"Well.... once more, into the breach!" Announced Taien finally, and the two shinigami began making their way, carefully down the winding passage to the chamber below. Meanwhile Zeich, the third member of their little expedition party, had wasted no time proceeding directly into the trunk, ostentatiously with the goal of scouting ahead of the main party, and had already disappeared from view. Yuki could only hope that the soft, wooden "clunks" she heard echoing up from somewhere below them were the sounds of Zeichs rapidly retreating footfalls as he descended at a rapid pace.

Her senses and energy senses alert for any signs of danger, Yuki proceeded deeper into the hollowed tree, hoping to reach the Black lake quickly, and without incident. With some degree of foreboding, Yuki could not help but notice her zanpakutous uncharacteristic silence, which seemed deafening to the Kidou expert, as she descended deeper and deeper into the winding wooden tower, taking her further and further away from her home for the past 40 years, and all signs of civilization.

[Deleted]

Perhaps the most unsettling thing about the three to the Shinigami was the silence. There was no sound, aside from the ones that they made themselves. No trees, no sound of life, the massive hollow sounded empty. While a tree itself wouldn't exactly produce sounds, it was a unnatural silence. It was the sort of silence one experienced from either walking into an abandoned church...or somewhere one was not welcome. It was a uncomfortable, abnormal quiet. Zeich was ahead of the group, leaving the two as he lead the party, he would be the first to notice how the deeper he went it began to become slightly more colder. It would be easy going for an unknown amount of time as the massive branch curved around the massive central tower of the tree. However, at one point, the branch would have broken its normal pattern and turned straight into a wall putting a stop to the group. While this may have looked to be the end of the adventure, as it lead to a dead end, if Zeich looked down he would see a second, narrower, branch growing from the wall and into the pillar. Below that one was looked like a platform growing from the wall, and from it grew two more branch bridged. Zeich would have to jump down to the first branch, then down to the platform. Of course, Yuki and Taien would have to do the same thing. The first jump was at least a five meter drop which shouldn't be a problem for the Shinigami. The issue was landing on the branch.

With the branch being a third of the size of the bridge, the Shinigami would have no choice but to plan the jump carefully, lest they slip and begin to free fall through the tree to be smashed on the base or another branch. If the Shinigami made the jump, then they would see that the platform was a simple six meters down. This time, though, they did not have to worry about trying to balance after landing. They would simply have to land on it. The platform was illuminated by a floating red orb, a Kido left behind by the first team to lighten the tree up. Various areas of the tree had the orbs that casted large amounts of light but would not blind a Shinigami. Once the three Shinigami made the jump to the platform they had the option of resting or continuing, as the decent down the tree had been at least a forty five minutes "hike"

The Following Events Happen Depending on which Action is taken

Zeich Continues to Go First, Alone and Doesn't Rest

If Zeich did not wait on his teammates and continued on without resting, he would be the first to hear it. It was subtle, barely even breaking the silence within the tree. It was a scratching sound from somewhere, however the problem was determining the source. It both sounded like it was coming from below him AND above him. As he was alone and had naturally high senses. He would hear it, just barely, and it would no doubt draw his attention. However, it was all that happened. Zeich simply heard something like the sound of something. What it was, the 3rd seat wouldn't be able to determine. It could have possibly been the tree itself simply making a noise?

On Taien and Yukis side, being left behind by Zeich, they would not have heard the noise. They were not as deep as Zeich was, and most likely the two would be having small conversations. However, at some point, Yuki told Taien she was not feeling well. She felt ill, very ill. She begged his forgiveness, and would ask someone to come down in her place. She would give her supplies to Taien and depart, heading back up the tree. Taien now has two options, rush to let Zeich know so they can wait for their new squad mate or keep going. Or, Taien could wait himself and let Zeich continue.

The Following Happens if Zeich waits for Taien and Yuki, and doesn't rest

There is no actual difference from the Zeich Goes Alone option. The only difference is the scratching sound is not heard. Yuki still leaves, giving her supplies to the other two and departing. Zeich and Taien have the option of waiting for the new squad mate or continuing on, hoping number 3 catches up.

The Following Happens if Zeich waits for Taien and Yuki, and they rest

They will not hear the scratching sound, Yuki still leaves. They must wait for Squad mate #3 if this option is taken.

After Yuki leaves

Yuki never exits the tree. Upon reaching a certain distance from Taien and Zeich, far from them net not close to the exit, Yuki hears a nose. Turning in its direction she suddenly sees movement. Yuki never reaches exits the tree.

[Taien Hadohou]

Well. This was. . . quiet. It was very, very quiet. So quiet that the only things Taien could hear were his own footsteps, Yuki's footsteps, his breathing, and his heartbeat. Oh yeah, and the occasional breaking of a branch they had to do to get further down. It was a really annoying thing. It was also helpful. It was annoying because there really wasn't anything interesting going on. It was helpful because he could hear if something interesting was coming straight at them to do interesting things with their spleens and it's talons. How would roast monster taste? Mentaly shrugging, Taien went back to walking.

Not too long into their journey, as Taien's watch helpfully informed him, they came across a little gap. The drop itself wasn't too bad, but the platform was a lot narrower than the bridge they were on. Zeich wasn't around, which indicated that he'd made the jump. It would be silly to think someone like him fell. Now, how to handle their own predicament. . . Quite easy really. Taien grabbed onto Yuki, and jumped. No he wasn't suicidal. No this wasn't a stupid decision. Taien had used the Advanced Air Ground technique to create a platform of Reiatsu mid way down. Jumping down now would be much safer. The two jumped, and safely landed on the bridge.

Unfortunately Yuki felt ill. Like very badly ill, and it was clear that she needed to be returned to the base ASAP. It had taken them a while to get to the point they were at, but they weren't too far down. Taien offered to take her back up, and she accepted. Two quick jumps up with some effort from the both of them brought them back up to the main branch. Before they went further, Taien brought out the radio he had in his bag. He had taken the time to look through all the nifty stuff they brought with them, and had reorganized it to make things more accessible. Adjusting the knobs and the like, Taien signaled Zeich.

"Ah, Zeich-San. I have to take Yuki-San back to camp, she caught some sort of illness, and it would make it rather hard on us to both take care of her and continue our journey. I'll see if I can't pick up a new third from the camp. Take care of yourself, we don't want any beasty to make a meal of you! I'll be back as soon as I've found someone to replace her, Taien out!"

It would triple the time it took to get back there, but Taien wasn't leaving his Third Seat feeling sick and wandering back to the base by herself. Who knew what kind of nasties would eat her? Especially when she was in no fit condition to defend herself. It would take another ninety minutes to get back, but it was worth if if he could find someone else to replace Yuki. The return trip was, thankfully, uneventful, save for Yuki's illness getting worse as time went by. Taien even had to carry her for the latter part of the trip.

Arriving at the top once again, Taien opened the doors and treked upwards towards the camp.

"Ah, sorry to bother you, but my friend here is very sick. Would you be so kind as to request someone from the Fourth Division to come over and pick her up? Would it also be possible for you to procure a new third for our party as well? Anyone would be good, especially if they had some knowledge of healing and the like."

All that was left to do was wait.

Remaining Reiatsu: 5975/6000 (-25 Reiatsu for AAG)

[Deleted]

The time comes for (almost) every academy student that they must bid farewell to Shino Academy. That time had come for Seireitei’s resident kitsune, Amaya Azarola. Her time at the academy had taught her many things. She had learned about Kido, Hakuda, and even about how to have confidence in herself. Yet above those lessons stood one supreme piece of knowledge. She had learned how to party! The medic had a few weeks off until she was scheduled to start working with Squad Four, and she intended to spend most of that time under either a cute boy or the influence of some sort of substance.

So far, Amaya was doing pretty well on that goal. She’d seduced a few boys already, and god only knows that last time she was completely sober. This night she was out in Rukongai’s Seventh, hitting up a bar she hadn’t been to before. The Closet… what a weird name for a bar. It was a weird name, but that’s because it wasn’t your usual kind of bar. Sadly for the kitsune, she wouldn’t learn that until it was too late. Amaya had stuck with the plan that had been successful so far. Step one: drink until buzzed. Considering her size, that didn’t take more than a drink. Step two: find the cutest boy at the bar and buy him a drink.

Thus far, step two had never failed. Boys were always so shocked that a girl was buying them a drink that they were in the palm of her hand. This time, step two didn’t go as planned. When Amaya offered to buy the next drink for her mark, she immediately felt a tap on the shoulder. Apparently the mountain of muscles next to that twink had an issue with Amaya’s intentions. ”And tha fuck do you think yur doin’ wit mah boyfriend you fox bitch?” Now the healer normally wasn’t one for getting into arguments, but this guy had crossed a line with “fox bitch.” She hadn’t been called that one since her days in the orphanage, and she wasn’t about to let people call her that once again.

”Well, I was thinking about sleeping with him, but if he’s already been ruined by you, I guess I’ll pass.” It was at this point that the bar’s name finally made sense to Amaya. Ooooooooh, it’s called The Closet because it’s a gay bar, and you can make jokes about coming out of The Closet. Because the medic was that slow on the uptake, she had already managed to piss off the entire bar. It seemed like they were used to this type of occurrence, and they didn’t tolerate it very well. The crowd circled around Amaya menacingly. It was clear from their body language that they weren’t just going to escort her to the door. They had every intent to beat some common sense into her.

With her back figuratively against the wall, the kitsune did what any unreasonable Shinigami would have done in her situation. She released her Zanpakuto. A flood of reiatsu swept over the crowd, flattening almost all of them instantly. In an instant, Amaya had released her weapon and covered herself in Tattersall Bindings. Her previous outfit had been replaced by a pair of khaki slacks, brown leather dress boots, and a white dress shirt with a blue grid pattern. Since it was Amaya wearing it, and not someone more conservative, enough buttons were undone on the shirt to make sure it showed off her assets well. The toughest guys in the crowd were undeterred by the healer’s fashionable magic powers. They were about to jump at her, but that’s when it happened.

Everyone felt the room start shaking. ”Is it an Earthquake?””That’s impossible. Soul Society doesn’t have tectonic plates! ”Who cares about plates! Get under the tables!” The bar’s patrons had the right idea, but no table was study enough to survive this phenomenon. It was not a mere tremor, but rather a massive sinkhole. In an instant, block upon block of Rukongai fell into the ground. All that was left behind was a giant hole. Try though she did, Amaya was unable to save anyone but herself from this fate. In her drunken state, it was all she could do to switch her bindings to Mode B and slow her descent. When she finally found solid ground, the kitsune reverted her bindings to Mode A. Despite her eyes no longer being covered, she still couldn’t see.

”Well, this clearly isn’t happening. Time to sleep off the crazy I suppose.” Rather than admit this had actually happened, Amaya concluded this was so bizarre that it was simply a hallucination of some sort. It was nothing a good night’s rest wouldn’t fix. The kitsune curled up right there, under a freshly spawned Red Cross blanket and passed out. It wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep. She tossed and turned throughout the night. Her nails found a nearby tree that she scratched up in her sleep. Understandably, her dreams were of a cat with a new scratching post.

When she finally woke from her slumber, nothing had visibly changed. It was still pitch black…except in one direction. There was a faint glow that way… and a Shinigami’s energy signature? The medic wasn’t the best at sensing reiatsu signatures, so she wasn’t sure. Rather than being able to distinctly determine the race of someone based on their signature, Amaya tended to feel emotions from the reiatsu. This signature felt cold, but not hostile. Probably a Shinigami with a stick up their butt. The healer decided to chance it. She mentally dismissed the Red Cross sheet she had used as a blanket and headed off towards the reiatsu signature as well as the light. Eventually this brought her to Zeich.

”Recent academy graduate and soon to be member of Squad Four, Amaya Azarola reporting for duty!” Her sarcastically formal greeting was accompanied by a half-hearted salute. ”Care to tell me where I am and what the heck I’m doing here?” As Amaya finished her introduction, a voice popped up in the back of her mind. Ooooh! That’s Zeich! Tell him I say hi! Sure thing Hibiki. The healer’s father was relatively bright, but at that moment his desire to say hello to an old friend overcame his reason. Zeich was the first familiar face that he’d seen since in quite some time.

”Oh, Zeich, Hibiki says hi.”

There weren’t many ways to baffle the third seat of Squad Seven, but that sentence might just be one of them. Not many people were aware that Hibiki was back “alive” as a Zanpakuto spirit. This was likely the first time Zeich had even heard the name since the former vice-captain’s funeral. Zeich was a sharp cookie though. It was possible he would figure it out right away. Amaya was wearing an outfit that was very similar to what Hibiki often wore, though Zeich likely never saw this exact design. The fashion sense and name-dropping would be enough to hint at some sort of relationship between Amaya and Hibiki, but what conclusion would Zeich draw with such little information?

SPOILER: Click to show

• [Battle: Hakuda] {2}
  
• [Other: Kido] {2}
  
• [Battle: Battle Analysis] {2}
  
• [Utility: Charisma/Leadership] {2}
  
• [Body: Mental Incantation] {2}
  
• [Mental: Analysis] {2}

Stats

Strength - [100(50)] Points
Speed - [200] Points
Spiritual Pressure - [150] Points
Reiatsu Strength - [300] Points
Light Aura - [100] Points
Dark Aura - [0] Points
Instinct - [150(75)] Points
Senses [75] Points
Energy sensory - [25] Points
Healing Expertise - [100] Points
Total SP: [1100] Points