The War Isn't Over

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Thread Title: The War Isn't Over
Participants: Hadrian vs Tsukuyomi
World: Human World
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: The top of Karakura High School on the roof. The roof has a metal fence around the edges that reaches up ten feet. There is one door that leads down back into the school.
Special Conditions: There may be assistance arriving at a later point in the thread.
Circumstances: Tsukuyomi has a day off from his assignments as a Shinigami and has chosen to go to the world of the living. Once in the world of the living he makes his way to the high school. He has already met up with Vesta for a brief moment and let her know to meet him on the top of the roof after school. It's almost the end of the school when suddenly a Vandenreich Quincy locates Tsukuyomi and chooses his own course for what Tsukuyomi will experience today.

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Standing on the roof of the high school that was located in Karakura Town that's where one would find the third seat of division seven at this particular point in time. The long black haired young Shinigami was out of Soul Society on one of the few days that he got off. Instead of using his day off to relax or continue his training like he had been doing for roughly two months now in order to fine tune his skills he was in the human world. For one reason and one reason alone. He wasn't here to find a hollow and purify it nor was he here to see the world that he along with most of the other Shinigami didn't know or remember.

Instead he was here to see the girl that although he hadn't told her yet he had feelings for romantically. Vesta went to this school and he had been here before waiting for her until after her classes were over with and they could spend some time together. The two of them had even been attacked on this very roof before by a group of hollows and been able to survive by working together. He didn't know for sure whether or not it was Vesta or his division members that had made him more comfortable with his emotions, but he didn't really care either way for he had changed from the first time that he had met her.

Today was the day that he planned on telling her how he felt about her and knowing very well that having feelings for a Bount would place him on Soul Society's radar even more than he already feared. Neither of them was normal and they both knew it. Tsukuyomi was afraid that one day he'd be found out and have to leave Soul Society. In order to do that and survive he'd have to have people that he could come to for help and while he didn't want to risk her getting her he knew that Vesta would be one of the people that he could count on whether she shared her affection or not that's just the type of person that he knew her to be.

He was at the edge of the roof with his hands up on each side of his head pressed against the chain fencing. He looked through the spaces in the fencing so that he could see the front of the school where all of the students would walk through either entering or leaving the school. He had arrived here roughly an hour ago and managed to see Vesta. She had seen him which gave him the chance to point towards the roof. He knew that Vesta would either come to the roof at that time or wait until after her classes were done to meet him. Since he had been up here waiting for so long it seemed she had chosen the latter.

He was struggling to gather his courage this wasn't something that he had done before. He had no experience talking to a girl in any romantic manner. All of the girls in his life aside from Vesta was very serious most of the time or was already engaged in romantic a romantic relationship. It had been hard enough though to just come to the human world to see her so he couldn't back down now. Mikoto was very adamant about not liking him coming to see her when he should be training. It had taken him all of yesterday just to let her give him a free day. So he would continue to wait and hope she'd get here soon.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength: 75 (56)
Speed: 310 (419)
Spiritual Pressure: 265 (358)
Reiatsu Strength: 80(60)
Light Aura: 50 Points
Dark Aura: 50 Points
Instinct: 200
Senses: 150
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0

Movement: (2)
Calm Mind: (2)
Weapon*Swords: (2)
Weapon*Chains: (2)
Battle Analysis: (2)
Battle Focus: (2)
Acrobatics: (2)

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

Hadrian slowly walked along the pavement, quietly considering his next mission. Karakura town was known for being a hive of Spiritual Activity, and the density of Spiritual Particles here drew in a huge number of Hollows. And so, Hadrian had been told to “go on a hunt.” A mission of purification on such a scale as had never been seen before. Hadrian did not object to the order. Hollows in the Human World were too dangerous to allowed live, and too numerous for the members of the Seireitei to deal with properly. So a culling would be in order. A quick, but efficient, extermination of the Hollows who dared cross into the World of the Living.

Naturally, such a mission was fraught with danger. Aside from the regular encounters with Hollows, Hadrian had to consider that the Shinigami would think of him as a threat - and would attempt to engage him in order to prevent his mission. Hadrian sighed. He had often thought that the tensions between Shinigami and Quincy were borne purely from ideological differences - but it was clear now that that was not the case. The way they dealt with the problems they faced due to this ridiculous 3-world system. There would never be peace between the races as long as the worlds remained separate.

The thought darkened Hadrian’s mood for a minute, but he registered a spark of Reiatsu nearby - and the discovery was enough to break him out of his dark reverie. It was an unusual signature - most definitely that of a Shinigami, but with a secondary signature that darkened the first. It wasn’t that there were two different people standing close together, Hadrian’s Energy Sensory had sufficient resolving power to work out that it was only a single person, but rather that this person possessed two conflicting signatures. It was as if someone had crossbred a Shinigami and a…

It suddenly struck Hadrian why the other part of this person’s signature unnerved him so much. It harkened back to one of his first times in Karakura town - when Discord had opened a portal to Hell and had allowed Hason to ravage the town. The second signature was that of the Hell Races. So, it seemed as though this Shinigami had a dark secret - that he was a Nakkabakki. A product of a relationship between a Shinigami and an Akki. Hadrian immediately felt sorry for the man - for he could tell that the person was male, simply from his energy signature - he would suffer severe discrimination due to the circumstances of his birth, but not through any fault of his own. Whatever path he took in life, he would be met with resistance.

Hadrian had it easy by comparison. Yes, being a member of the Vandenreich excluded you from many Spiritual Communities - but at least the Vandenreich themselves had accepted Hadrian. For a Nakkabakki, this might not always be the case. They were the spawn of “unholy” relationships between Akki and others - in this case Shinigami, obviously. Hadrian felt angry at the injustice of the situation. Those who were sent to Hell were sent for good reason - there was no chance of repentance, even with the cleansing blade of the Shinigami. Yet, these creatures were so vile that they considered it a sport to inflict misfortune onto the lives of others, claiming the offspring of gentle beings who remained in the 3 worlds. Not only did they ruin the lives of the unwilling parents, the children were condemned to a life of discrimination and injustice due to their heritage.

All of this, however, was Hadrian’s conjecture. He had never encountered or spoken with a Nakkabakki, nor could he find a mention of them in his study of the Vandenreich teachings. It would be naive to call them a “grey area”, however. The teachings of Der Kaiser, and the various interpretations which came after, were startlingly clear about Quincy blood that was tainted by external influences. The Quincyification process was designed with removing such impurities in mind - an ability capable of cleansing even the most corrupted blood. Perhaps he could offer the Nakkabakki that chance - the ability to start anew, without the stigma that his blood carried.

It was not difficult, using Air Ground, to reach the roof where Hadrian had detected the Nakkabakki. He stood alone on the roof of Karakura High, gazing out over the skyline Hadrian had once seen ravaged by Hason. Humans were resilient creatures, however. They overcame the battle, and rebuilt the city - there was now no trace of the monsters that Discord had allowed through. In fact, the only trace of Hell in this city was from the man in front of him. Hadrian could tell that he was not a bad man - his aura was mixed, but Hadrian could sense the potential for good in him.

“Hi! It’s a nice view, isn’t it?”

In spite of his carefree introduction, Hadrian had already begun preparations for a fight - which was always an inevitability when he faced Shinigami. He was still wearing his eyepatch, so his opponent wouldn’t see the hands of his golden eye spin counter-clockwise, drawing in Reiatsu from the air around them. It was only a minor precaution, storing his Reiatsu so that he would be able to counter, should the Nakkabakki decide to attack. From his initial analysis, Hadrian had quickly realised that his opponent was physically faster and stronger, but Hadrian was confident in his advantage when it came to Spiritual abilities. However, if there was one thing he had learned, avoidable combat should always be avoided. This did not have to end in a fight.

Reiatsu: 3050/2250: +800 from Quincy Cross and Spirit Fragment

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hadrian’s Stats and Skills}

Stats and Abilities

Strength - [80] Points -> [48] Points from Strategist Type -> [60] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Speed - [240] Points -> [180] Points from Strategist Type -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Spiritual Pressure - [180] Points -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Reiatsu Strength - [400] Points -> [500] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [0] Points

Instinct - [120] Points -> [360] Points from Strategist Type -> [450] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Senses - [60] Points -> [180] Points from Strategist Type -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Energy sensory - [120] Points -> [360] Points from Strategist Type -> [450] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1200] Points


Skills

• [Battle Skill: Weapon: Bow] {3}
• [Battle Skill: Weapon: Sword] {3}
• [Mental Skill: Calm Mind] {3}
• [Mental Skill: Battle Analysis] {3}
• [Mental Skill: Strength of Will] {2}
• [Utility Skill: Leadership/Charisma] {2}

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Tsukuyomi was starting to feel as if he was going into a panic attack his hands were sweaty from all of the thoughts that were racing throughout his head at the moment. He was here to actually confess to Vesta that he liked her in a romantic way and try to figure out a way that they both of them could try to make it work between them. However, that opened up so many possibilities for bad outcomes. Having a girlfriend that most of the spiritual community would consider a Bount wouldn't be something that the other Shinigami would approve or even allow.

Not to mention if anyone realized that she was a Nakkabakki then they would more than likely look closer at him and figure out the same. Tsukuyomi had gotten lucky with the friends that he had been able to make since becoming a Shinigami. Those that looked after him that knew of his actual nature didn't think ill of him for it and hid it from everyone else simply because they knew that he wasn't one to side with the forces of Hell over helping normal people who needed it. So he had to constantly train so that one day when someone that wasn't on his side eventually figured him out he'd be strong enough to leave and live his life with the people he cared about.

All of this was still going off the idea that Vesta felt the same way about him that he felt about her which was what led to his damp palms and slight trembling. His face was red as he just tried to calm himself and yet nothing seemed to work this wasn't like combat or survival it was something else entirely. Tsukuyomi had lived in the dirt and gone through figurative Hell to get where he now could call his life and yet none of that had prepared him for this moment. He in all honesty didn't know what would happen if Vesta turned him down if she didn't feel the same way as he did.

As it turns out though something else almost as troublesome just had to arrive a few moments later as someone spoke behind Tsukuyomi commenting on the view over the high school. Tsukuyomi was caught slightly off guard due to the fact he had been so inside of himself with worry that he hadn't even heard the approach of this individual. However, he also wasn't in a gigue so this had to be someone spiritual or else they wouldn't be able to see him. It was the voice of a male so it wasn't Vesta which meant this was some new party that was unknown to Tsukuyomi. All of this was thought through in the time that it took Tsukuyomi to turn around and see the white clothing.

His eyes widened for a moment knowing what uniform it was and by extension who this individual was aligned too. Tsukuyomi's face was quickly turning back to the pale natural tone while all of his worry about Vesta was now gone as he had a true problem in front of him. A member of the Vandenreich Empire had found him and he had been dumb enough to let this guy get behind him. He didn't look vicious, but it didn't matter the Vandenreich and Soul Society were at war and as a follower of the law Tsukuyomi couldn't let a foe go.

"If you've come to kill me than get on with it. You couldn't shot me yet you chose to run your mouth instead so either you're sick and like to play with foes or you're an idiot. I was planning on having a nice, peaceful, fulfilling day and yet it seems it'll be filled by war. Before we start though please do your best not to harm any of the humans nearby. If anything happens to them death won't be coming to claim you for a long time." Tsukuyomi was ready for battle he knew the basics of how a Quincy fought so he knew that close combat was his best bet at victory.

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

“If you've come to kill me than get on with it. You couldn't shot me yet you chose to run your mouth instead so either you're sick and like to play with foes or you're an idiot. I was planning on having a nice, peaceful, fulfilling day and yet it seems it'll be filled by war. Before we start though please do your best not to harm any of the humans nearby. If anything happens to them death won't be coming to claim you for a long time.”

Hadrian sighed. Why was every single being, in every single world, so trigger-happy? Hadrian couldn’t even compliment the view without some random Shinigami threatening to hold his Zanpakuto to his neck. He was yet to do or say anything even remotely aggressive. The fact of the matter was that, as soon as the Shinigami had seen the white coat of the Vandenreich he had been designated an enemy. Hadrian didn’t think that was particularly fair, or conducive to peace. The Shinigami held the Vandenreich in contempt for slaughtering their enemies, but the Shinigami were really no different at the moment. Death begets death begets death. A cycle without end.

All this aggression would never let them reach true peace.

”There’s no need to let me ruin your day, sir. I just wanted to know why you were here. It’s not often I find Shinigami hanging around on school rooftops.”

Hadrian gave a good natured laugh, the motion of his face making him acutely aware of the leather eyepatch that covered his eye. Yet another reminder that there were people in this world who only knew how to fight, and seemed to be incapable of forgiveness. Hadrian understood their pain, their anguish - in fact, he felt it as if it were his own - but he had to try and convince people that that pain could be used to fuel things other than violence. Of course, Hadrian had to spread this attitude both inside and outside the Vandenreich. He could not expect people to look upon the Vandenreich favourably when members of it acted against the message he preached.

But Hadrian was confident that he could convince the higher Sternritter that the path they had taken was wrong - that it was not only not the wish of der Kaiser to spread such strife, but in fact in direct opposition to those beliefs. The dream of the Wahrwelt was - no, is - incompatible with the road of genocide that the previous committee of Sternritter had so zealously pursued. Their killing, like nearly all of the violence Hadrian had come across, was motivated by twisted vengeance. A dark affliction that twisted the minds of so many good people into rage and slaughter. It hurt him, almost to the point of physical pain, whenever he saw people so foolishly walking along that path.

Hadrian looked calmly at the Nakkabakki across from him, allowing his warm Reiatsu to focus on his opponent. The Shinigami would receive a lot of interesting information about Hadrian from this. The first thing he’d probably notice, given that he was so focussed on combat, was that Hadrian’s power and Class was greater than his own. Hadrian could have exerted his Gravitational Pressure, or used the technique Cog, to instil fear in the Shinigami - but such a move would have gone against what he had wanted to achieve. However, “combat data” was not the only information the Shinigami would receive. Hadrian had far more than just the strength of his Reiatsu to convey.

The Shinigami stood on the precipice between Light and Dark, and the two affinities were balanced almost equally in his heart. This made him especially sensitive to the Light and Dark in others, given that he had the ability to empathise with both. And what he would receive from Hadrian was pure light - a desire for peace and prosperity for everyone, a desire to make everyone lay down their weapons and work towards a common goal, a desire for the Wahrwelt, the world where everyone could live in harmony. The Shinigami would have no choice to acknowledge the fact that Hadrian had nothing other than pure intentions.

But, Hadrian had discovered long ago that empathy was not enough to overcome the feuds that existed between the races. The hands on his Spirit Fragment slowly rotated backwards, drawing in Reiatsu in case a battle started to break out.

Reiatsu: 3850/2250: +800 from Quincy Cross and Spirit Fragment.

Timer: 2/12

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Tsukuyomi had turned around and was ready at any moment to draw either of his zanpakuto in responds to an attack from this young looking Quincy that had an eye patch over the left side of his face. For a brief moment Tsukuyomi felt that he might have made a mistake he had heard about the Quincy from Karakura that had recently married into the Kuchiki family. A powerful one that had an eye patch on his face. Perhaps this was that Shinigami since everything seemed to be leading to that however it was when the Quincy sighed that Tsukuyomi realized he had forgotten something specific about that Quincy. He was said to hate the Vandenreich more so than almost anyone and only ever had been seen in black clothing.

The Quincy that was on the roof in front of him right now was wearing white like the Vandenreich. That wouldn't normally be enough to get rid of the possibilities that perhaps he was mistaken and this was that Quincy ally, but this one also had white steaks in his hair which Tsukuyomi remembered differently from everything he had been told and read about. The Quincy spoke and it seemed that he felt the two of them could just speak to each other like there wasn't some big problem between the both of them when in Tsukuyomi's eyes that was all the two of them shared together.

”There’s no need to let me ruin your day, sir. I just wanted to know why you were here. It’s not often I find Shinigami hanging around on school rooftops.”

"Tsk" Tsukuyomi sneered at the Quincy obviously getting angry over the words that the Quincy had just spoken to him. He had to be careful not to let his guard down at any moment knowing that based on the distance between the two of them at this moment he was actually at a disadvantage and he'd need to be able to react within the moment this Quincy did anything or else he'd likely not survive to see Vesta. "I don't have to tell anything to a cultist. My business just like my time is my own and Karakura is under the protect of Soul Society something your cult knows about I trust. The idea of you recruiting or should I say removing others from their families just to serve your own cause disgusts me. You won't be doing anything here today Quincy so leave!"

Tsukuyomi while a half demon something that many would deem unnatural and completely justifiably killable even among Soul Society meant every word that had just come from his mouth. He had been born as something that others would more than likely hate due to his father for his entire life and there was nothing he could ever do to change that. This Quincy though and all of the others that followed the same path chose it or had it forced upon them. It wasn't the same in Tsukuyomi's eyes and just knowing the lives that had been lost after each and every fight against them brought more and more contempt to his eyes as they starred at the Quincy.

The good natured laugh that this Quincy had started to try and lighten the mood had been cut off by Tsukuyomi's obvious hatred towards the Vandenreich and this individual for being apart of them. Tsukuyomi for some reason could only feel light purity from the Quincy's aura which just served to make him more angry at the fact that he was a member of such a horrific group. That wasn't the only thing that he felt though coming from this Quincy. He could tell that the bastard was sending out these sensations and based on them Tsukuyomi could tell that by spiritual standards this Quincy had him beat. He'd have to treat this situation as life and death just as he did as a child on the streets.

While all he could feel from this Quincy's aura was pure light filled with virtually nothing, but good intentions for everyone and anyone Tsukuyomi still wouldn't budge on how he felt. Even if this Quincy wanted peace for everyone it didn't mean that he was going about it in the best manner. If he truly wanted no one to be hurt for his goal to be realized then he wouldn't have joined the Vandenreich. At the moment this Quincy if he felt out how Tsukuyomi truly felt he'd sense that his darker side was taking ahold at least towards him specifically. Nothing would change how he felt this Quincy had to leave.

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

”I don't have to tell anything to a cultist.”

”…I suppose that’s how you would feel.”

Hadrian sighed, hanging his head low and breaking eye contact from the Shinigami. Hostility poured from him like an overflowing chalice - tainting the very air around them. Such twisted gnawed at his heart, biting and writhing. Perhaps this was the twisted aura of Hell he had sensed? Or was this Shinigami simply so full of hate that his soul echoed the sense of the depths of Hell…? Either way, this wasn’t good. Hate lead to death which only lead to more hate. Would this Shinigami seek to continue this vicious cycle? Tearing at things until there was nothing left?

”Do you intend to fight me here?’

Hadrian was calm, collected. He raised his head ever so slightly, allowing his good eye to meet that of the Shinigami’s. It was a challenge, perhaps. There was something holding this Shinigami back - some reason he wasn’t willing to just swing his sword and slice away the problem before him. If Hadrian could bring that thought to the surface. The single restraint that was holding him back… Perhaps he would re-evaluate his stance. Sometimes all it took to stop someone from doing something evil was to remind them of the obstacles they erected for themselves. Tsukiyomi was the same. He had bottled up his hatred, true - but he had principles. He could be held back.

”I’m not here to snatch children from the cradle, sir. I respect anyone who has a desire to see good done for the world. Please don’t project your hate…. It may come back to bite you some day.”

And with those words, Hadrian turned his back on Tsukiyomi. The magnanimity of the decision was certainly respectable, and was most certainly something Hadrian would remember the Shinigami for. Most warriors would never allow an opponent to simply walk away, to throw down their weapons and allow themselves to move forward towards their respective futures. Sure, their paths would cross again at some stage - but it wasn’t something to worry about just now. Tsukiyomi needed to find his own reasons for fighting - beyond the hate he felt for his enemies. He would find the answer in time, Hadrian could only hope.

But that burgeoning darkness had Hadrian worried enough that he allowed his Cross to wind back - granting him the Reiatsu and preparation required to battle…

Reiatsu: 4650/2250: +800 from Quincy Cross and Spirit Fragment

Current Time Total: 1

Updated Stats/Skills/Powers, as agreed:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hadrian’s Stats and Skills}

Stats and Abilities

Strength - [80] Points -> [48] Points from Strategist Type -> [60] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Speed - [240] Points -> [180] Points from Strategist Type -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Spiritual Pressure - [180] Points -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Reiatsu Strength - [400] Points -> [500] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [0] Points

Instinct - [120] Points -> [360] Points from Strategist Type -> [450] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Senses - [60] Points -> [180] Points from Strategist Type -> [225] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Energy sensory - [120] Points -> [360] Points from Strategist Type -> [450] Points from Captain Supervisor Rank

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1200] Points

Skills

• [Battle Skill: Weapon: Gunblade] {4}
• [Mental Skill: Calm Mind] {3}
• [Mental Skill: Battle Analysis] {3}
• [Mental Skill: Strength of Will] {3}
• [Utility Skill: Leadership/Charisma] {2}

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Tsukuyomi continued to stare down the Vandenreich Quincy that had arrived atop of the school as he waited for Vesta to finish with her classes for the day. It seemed that whenever he tried to spend some time with her that something always got in the way and today was no different even if this Quincy by a slight margin seemed to be different than the Vandenreich that most of the other Shinigami reported about in the past. He had warned him and given him the option of simply going away without a battle between them. Tsukuyomi had the duty as a Shinigami to simply kill this Quincy, but he didn't wish to risk any of the humans in the school below them or Vesta.

Tsukuyomi could tell that this Quincy seemed to make up his mind, but then he decided to just say one more thing. This Quincy sought to make it a point that he was gripping onto hate so much that it would come back and potentially bite him one day. Tsukuyomi's gaze intensified in dark contempt. "Our definitions of good for the world I believe are simply to different Quincy. Perhaps our next meeting will reveal just which one of us will be the one bitten by our emotions." Tsukuyomi would watch as the Quincy left the school and the battle between them was no longer a risk. He'd stay on guard knowing that at a range he was still a possible target, but after a few minutes and the sound of the school bell Tsukuyomi would leave the rooftop.

[Col Arana]

19 paragraphs for Tsukuyomi, so 190 TP

17 paragraphs for Hadrian, so 170 TP

No victory TP will be awarded.