Full Circle [Adventure, DP, R]

[Ranth]

Name: Full Circle

Participants: Ranth, Senshi, Sargon

Location: [Insert Here] - Hueco Mundo / Las Noches

Difficulty Level: - Hard

Setting: NDE

Plotline: Having recently risen to the rank of Vice Captain, Ranth Amanite seeks out his old teacher only to find that she had gone on an unsanctioned expedition to Hueco Mundo and hadn't been seen or heard from in several days. Unwilling to abandon Senshi to an unknown fate, Ranth makes preparations to go after her, only to be discovered by Rin Minamimoto who blackmails him into letting her accompany him.

Thus, the pair embark on a dangerous journey to find Senshi and bring her back to Soul Society- no matter what obstacles they need to overcome. But when they eventually locate their missing comrade... nothing could prepare them for what awaits them.

Estimated Enemy Strength: Class 1-3

Estimated Time Until Completion: More than 1

Special Conditions: Each person is required to post within 7 days of the person before them

I will be making the opening post in the near future

[Ranth]

Ranth took a deep breath and hesitated for the hundredth time as he loitered outside the front gate of the Squad 2 barracks. It felt like a lifetime since he'd last been here to visit his mentor Senshi Odayakama, when in reality it had been a little over three months since he'd last seen his teacher face to face. In truth, the reason he hadn't visited hadn't been exclusively because of his growing responsibilities but rather because of the circumstances surrounding their last meeting. That encounter had seen Senshi hospitalised in the course of protecting Ranth from an Arrancar that had attacked them in the human world. Ranth had been wracked with guilt ever since and the prospect of seeing blame in his Mentors eyes was simply more than the silver haired Shinigami could face and with each passing day the prospect became more and more impossible... and now here he was, almost 3 months later and still trying to muster the courage to face the woman who had almost died because of his weakness.

At long last, Ranth steeled himself and strode forwards before he could change his mind again and pulled aside the first member of squad he came across, who was startled into attention upon noticing the Vice Captain of the Kido Corps hailing him down. "Excuse me officer, I'm looking for your Vice Captain", Ranth explained politely and was surprised to see the officer stiffen and look... almost guilty. "I-I'm sorry sir, she's... away" The officer apologised nervously as he shuffled from foot to foot.

Now Ranth was no detective, but even he could tell when something was amiss and he felt a pang of concern in his chest as his eyes narrowed. Had she given roders for Ranth to be turned away? Did she not want to see him that badly? Just the thought of such an order made his heart ache and although part of him wanted to just turn tail and flee back to his office, he forced himself to press the officer further. "Is she away on a mission? When will she be back?" Ranth held his breath when he asked this question, because in truth he'd already checked in to see if senshi had been sent out on any missions and according to the official record, she should have been within Soul Society at this time.

The officers discomfort instantly escalated and his shuffling became faster and he threw a couple of furtive glances about before muttering softly, "I can bring you to the third seat... it would be better if you spoke to him", he said furtively and gestured for Ranth to follow him. Although Ranth didn't know it, the truth was that within the squad it was somewhat common knowledge that Senshi had- at least for a time- taken the Kido Corps Vice Captain under her wing and it was a small point of pride that their Vice Captain had seemingly played a role in the development of such a promient figure within the Gotei. Almost anyone else would have simply been turned away with a generic excuse instead.

A short time later, Ranth was led into an empty office and told to wait. Several more minutes after that, a man wearing the badge of 3rd seat entered and offered a polite greeting. "Good morning sir, I've been briefed on why you're here and... I'm afraid I have some bad news. Truth be told, we've been trapped between a rock and a hard place for several days now with no idea what to do... so it's actually a relief that you're the one who came to visit", the 3rd seat said once he'd closed the door and taken a seat opposite Ranth. Upon hearing this, Ranth initially relaxed but only to become nervous again by the time the 3rd seat had finished speaking.

"Several days ago... our Vice Captain left on a private expedition to Hueco Mundo. We were given strict orders not to tell anyone- for obvious reasons- but frankly I've been worried ever since she left and now that she's been gone for this long... I've been torn between obeying her wishes and reporting her disappearance in case something has gone wrong", the man admitted and sat back in his apparent relief upon finally getting that weight off his chest. Unfortunately, the weight that the 3rd seat had just discarded had found a new home on Ranth's shoulders and he knew already what he needed to do. "Do you know how Miss Odayakama got to Hueco Mundo?" he asked seriously and the man nodded gravely. "Can you send me the same way?" This time, the 3rd seat hesitated and then finally nodded reluctantly. "We would need an hour to get things set up... but we could send you. But sir... are you sure it's wise to go alone?"

This time it was Ranth's turn to hesitate, because he knew that the 3rd seat raised a valid point. The problem was, there could be serious consequences for Senshi if it was discovered that she'd gone to Hueco Mundo without authorisation. In the worst case scenario, she could be banished or even executed depending on the decision of Central 46. At the very least, there was a very real chance that she would be abandoned with no hope of rescue if they decided that her plight was her own fault and she was a victim of her own recklessness. Thus, the only way to ensure that Senshi received timely assistance- if she did indeed need it- was if he went himself. Without anyone knowing about it so they couldn't stop him. "I'll be back in two hours. Please have everything ready by then", Ranth said before rising from his chair and excusing himself - making his way back to his own barracks at a run- heedless of the greetings or acknowledgments of the people he passed on the way.

---

Somewhere in Las Noches

Senshi would awaken in a cold, dark room with no source of light. if she tried to move, she would immediately realise that her arm and legs were chained to the floor, tightly enough that she couldn't move any of her limbs more than a few inches- thus resulting in her being ultimately confined to lying flat on her back with her arm stretched out diagonally and her legs similarly splayed to prevent her from being able to stand. The good news was that her previous injuries seemed to have been healed since she last remembered being awake. But there were no sounds to indicate that there was anyone else nearby. The last thing she remembered was losing her fight with the Espada that had confronted her and now... there was only the darkness and the sound of her linking chains when she moved for company. Had she been taken prisoner by the Espada? If so, for what purpose and how long would she be chained here like this?

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

It was within the darkness, the shadow that she knew that she was somehow still alive. A question that made her wrench with worry as she took a first breath. However, she felt no pain, and she could briefly imagine the reasoning behind such. She was a prisoner. She was damned, condemned. She was in a fate that was quite possibly...quite likely was worse than death. Yet, she could feel...that she had an arm, that her organs were not spilling from her chest and stomach. That she could still breath, think, and therefore plot. However, within the very essence of the darkness, a place she was very familiar with in a metaphorical sense, there was a sensation...one that had left her wondering. One that left her feeling almost foreign now that she had it back.

She had recovered her left arm. From the former stump of her appendage, she remembered hearing from before...stories that Hueco Mundo was a place of marvelous medical science, some would say equal...perhaps even beyond Soul Society due to the sheer experience and age of some Hollow, and the lack of morals to keep the twisted experimentations from being done, usually focusing on the manipulation of Hollows, their spiritual bodies, and subsequent power as new Arrancar were formed within the proximity of the location. As she experimented with her movement, she found that she could not move, and she didn't bother using Kido, as she had no doubt in her mind these were Seki Seki chains. The chance of her breaking free had been likely none.

Even if she had? So what? She would be stuck within enemy territory. She would be stuck within this hell that was Las Noches...not Hueco Mundo any further with nothing. Her Zanpakutou was gone. Licking her parched lips, she thought about the Espada. Sargon. The Tercera Espada as he had introduced himself. He seemed to have enjoyed their brief bout, even if she had failed to subsequently rouse him into his state of battle joyous fury. Perhaps he had kept her alive as to play with her some more, like the twisted creature that he was. Or perhaps he had done so to act as an inquisitor, to torture and break her for information of which she would never willingly tell. Or perhaps...it was for something else entirely.

She clenched and unclenched her left hand, clinking and rattling in this location as she found her uniform, her black and white Shihakusho was all but ruined. Her sleeves demolished. Her fabric burned and torn by the splays of battle. Holes littering her outfit from when her own Kurohitsugi had been utilized to destroy her. She felt naked without her Zanpakutou, and with how her clothes were? She might as well be. Lamenting her fate, or rather, fate to be, she wondered for a moment...if anyone had noticed, and for a moment, she smiled to herself, shaking her head slowly no. There was to be no savior or messiah in this depth of enemy territory. Whatever was to happen to her? It would likely be alone. 

She thought briefly back to Amanite Ranth, a student who likely no longer wanted to associate with her. Youji Kaen, the man she loved and admired, but was to never receive loving affection from. Kasumi'Oji Himitsu...and July, the men who saw potential in her as a Vice Captain, as a subordinate and player of games. These four, these four hit Senshi deep in her mind as people who might have cared for her deeply. Perhaps. Or perhaps...nobody did? The illusion shattered her existence as she had to wonder. Did these men care for her because of her person? Or...did her student disgust and disdain her? Did her rolemodel and love interest think of her too pathetic and simply was not cruel enough to display it as such, being polite and telling her fantasies she wanted to hear.

Did Himitsu simply see a poor reflection of himself and therefore pity of the child before him? Did July simply find himself in such boredom that he recruited her to entertain him? For the first time in a long time, Senshi began to weep. "Ahaaaaaagh! AHAHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAH!" Screaming out into the darkness, she yanked at her chains like a savage animal looking for escape. She looked for some form of relief from the disgust in her heart, and with it, she almost felt like a savage Hollow. A Hollow...how funny. By the way she was restrained, she imagined in the next few moments? She'd be dinner to one. Oh, what a dinner she was going to be. For a moment? She just imagined...whispered to herself, 'I'm doomed...' 

[Sargon Denumic]

“Well about time you regain consciousness little one.” Senshi would hear the voice in the darkness coming from in front of her. After a moment a candle would be lit illuminating the surrounding with a faint light. That orange glow would show Senshi the figure of the adversary that had defeated her and now held her prisoner. The Arrancar sitting in the obsidian throne beneath him as he held a glass of red in his right hand. “How does the arm feel? You did well enough to deserve the return of such an appendage.”

“Struggle as you may, move as you wish, nothing you attempt will free you from your bondage. This is the result of your choices and the only one who can free you from the consequences is me.” Sargon stood from his throne taking a sip of the red from the glass as Senshi thrashed against her restrains. “You did fairly well in our little skirmish. Now let’s see how solid your determination is little one.” In the moment that followed Senshi would feel the cold bite of steel against her chest as Sargon raised his right hand and slowly dragged the edge of her own zanpakuto against her flesh diagonally from left shoulder to right hip.

“You may be questioning why I saved you. Save your time. You should steel yourself to survive what has just now started. I’m curious just how much you want to live.” Pulling back only to press forward the zanpakuto would bite through the flesh of her regenerated arm at the bicep. Repeating this for the next two minutes without pause until the arm that Senshi had seemed to miss so much was now nothing more than a heap of mutilated flesh. Blood pouring down to the ground below. Taking the final sip of red Sargon placed the glass beneath Senshi’s arm. In a single motion the arm was severed at the shoulder joint.

A fresh glass of red as Senshi would experience further pain as the familiar sensation of a limb being removed from her body washed over her. “Oh stop you did quite well without it so there isn’t much reason for you to have it. In fact you seemed to employ kido better than using this blade of yours.” Just like that Senshi would be faced with a horror she more than likely had faced in her thoughts so often. Her remaining arm had been severed just like the other leaving her upper body limbless. “Hmmm really quite bland perhaps I’ve become rusty over the last few decades. Just means I’ll need to get back in the swing of things so let’s continue shall we little one.”

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

Pain. When she felt a presence, a voice calling to her, she looked to see the figure before her, feeling both arms as she suddenly lurched forward against her chains, only for a sharp tip of blade to plunge into her chest, she widened her eyes for a mere moment, and then immediately dug inward, trying to pierce her own blade through her heart, if perhaps only the chains keeping her from doing so,feeling sharp agony as the blade dug into her arm. A deep breath as she didn't scream, her pain tolerance high after years of severe injuries and mutilation. However, this was the second time...she had ever experienced legitimate torture. Even as the blade washed over her new and pristine body, ripping her arm to mutilated shreds as blood flowed onto the floor of the prison, she didn't scream, instead leaning back as she panted, sweat dripping from her whole body as she let out a silent scream.

Both arms were mutilated, and for a few moments, she stopped there, still bound, but bleeding copiously as she laid there slumped. "H-Huuhnn...G-Gu-Guahhhhahhh..." Stopping there for a moment, she looked up, her lips bleeding, her teeth nearly snapped from the exertion. "I've paid for my mistakes..." She spoke in a raspy voice, tired. "Though they were mine to make. That ability...was all I ever wanted. No matter how you torture me...I accept it was all mine to blame. Kill me...and be done with it. I've sacrificed my body a hundred times for Soul Society. For the Seireitei. I will die for the Seireitei. " Though when her second arm was sliced, chopped off, she could only sit there, shaking as she did feel forsaken. However. However...it was her choice not to be saved.

To reach a form of salvation. It was her fault that none cared for her in actuality. It was her fault that she was ostracized and disgusted with herself. She deserved this . She knew with a certainty in her heart and mind that none would save her. She knew it with a passion. Her student Ranth had used her to progress himself to a higher rank, and with her help in guiding him to the upper echleons of status, he had become a Vice Captain for Soul Society and she was to be forgotten. For that, she was grateful she could help him reach it. He would surpass her and she would die here. Alone. Kaen Youji the man who she confessed her feelings to, her love for had ignored her, lied to her and was clearly in love with another woman. She was hurt, betrayed, but she knew now that it was destined for it to happen. She was destined to be hurt. Her only regret? Was that she longed to be loved. To feel.

She was a fool to feel such a way. She was a fool to believe she mattered more than a body of flesh for Soul Society to use. She was a fool to have not blown her brains out in the Wilderness on that day. She was a fool for fighting so hard to survive only to be utilized by one form or another. As he drank her blood through the now stained glass, her long red hair covered her face, and in the silent moments of solemn judgement, she realized that she was a fool for ever having been born. It wasn't good she was born. It wasn't good she existed. It wasn't good that she...that the concept of Odayakama Senshi existed. With her head lowered, her Cerulean eyes stared at the ground at her severed limbs as she slowly opened her mouth in a gasp at the pain as she felt another blood spurt through her right arm, and she felt cold. Numb. It felt like a heavenly embrace as she took a deep breath.

A crunching noise resounded through the room, and with it, a second chomp as blood began to pool on her exposed chest and what remained of her robes, and a third would bring a chunk of red...flesh of her tongue as she shut her mouth, feeling blood flood her mouth as she could feel it clogging, running in her mouth as she wanted to at least die loyal to the cause. The worthless cause she devoted herself to. It was the only thing. The ONLY thing, Odayakama Senshi had left after the endless losses and betrayals.

[Kaen Youji]

Geeze.... Kaen had way too much on his mind today. That talk with Shizuyoko had cost him too much time. Granted, he hadn't exactly expected her to drag him off to Squad 4, halfway across the Seireitei from Squad 7, but by the time he returned it had become way too late to approach the Empress. He knew Rin needed her rest. She was always so busy nowadays, and Kaen now endeavored to take some of what Shizuyoko had told him to heart. He'd been Rin's "lazy third seat" for a little too long. It was time to start seriously relieving the Empress's workload. Working alongside her together. It was time to step it up. In his endeavors for the Empress, he knew he had to bring his A game... no. His S rank game to even stand a chance of being worthy.

Buuuut, he hadn't managed to find her today. Shit! Had she gone out training or something? Kaen had taken a little time to try to ease up her workload when he hadn't found her in her office. Sure, there were some things that, since he was no longer Vice Captain of Squad 7, he could not do, but he still found a few papers and filing projects that could be done by a lower ranked officer and he'd done what he could to do that, as well as try and tidy her desk a little. He'd even left a tray of spicy tuna sushi on her desk as a gift for the Empress, should she return before him. It may have only been a small dent in Rin's colossal workload, but he hoped it would at least help a little bit, and possibly raise her spirits while he was at it. But in the meantime, he was doing his best to track her down, as he darted through Soul Society. His injury from his spar with Shizuyoko barely healed, Kaen was garbed only in his Shinigami uniform, and his chainmail, which had become practically part of his standard uniform. Concealed underneath his top, a hidden layer of protection against attacks. Kaen had taken notes from his Vice Captain, about the value of defense.

Damn, but where could Rin have gone? He did recall hearing tell that she'd been hanging out with Ranth from the Kido Corps lately... Maybe he could check in with the newly instated Vice Captain to see if he'd seen her anywhere? Wait... Kaen blinked for a moment, and his brow furrowed in momentary confusion. That's not right... Newly instated? Hasn't.... Hasn't Ranth been a Vice Captain for awhile now? He wondered. Then shook his head. Well, that wasn't important anyways. Finding Ranth was the important thing, not how long he'd been a Vice Captain. Kaen picked up the pace, heading straight for the kido corps, at a decent pace. Kaen was known for being pretty quick after all. And though it seemed his speed had lost a tiny bit of its edge since his voluntary demotion, to allow Rin to return to being Vice Captain, he was still one of the quickest Shinigami in Soul Society, with barely a handful able to match his speed. Most of them either Captains or Onmitsukido. Actually. Come to think of it. Pretty much only the Onmitsukido, when Kaen actually considered it. Not that he did at that moment. Other things on his mind. Many, many things. Like finding Ranth, so he could find the Empress. Kaen entered the kido corps area, attracting multiple glances. The third seat pulled aside the first Shinigami he saw, probably a little more forcefully than he'd intended, but oh well. When Kaen had his mind on something, especially with as many butterflies in his stomach as he was dealing with, it was hard to be precise. "Hey. Where's your Vice Captain?" He asked. He noticed the Shinigami's eyes suddenly fixated on the badge of Squad 7's office which Kaen proudly displayed, alongside his third seat rank. He saw a sweat break out on the Shinigami's brow. "I err... uhh..." Kaen's eyes sharpened for a moment. Then relaxed. "Ohhhh.... Gotcha. Nah, he's not in trouble. I just need to ask him a couple of questions!" Somehow, the notion that Kaen "wanted to ask some questions" did not seem to alleviate the Shinigami's concern. "He left the barracks earlier! I'm not sure where he went! I think it was in the direction of Squad 2 though." Kaen made a "tch" sound. "Damn. Missed him, huh? Alright, fair 'nuff. You get back to whatever it was you were doing. Sorry to bug you." He then turned on his heel and went to bolt out of the Kido corps again. Well. At least now he was looking for two people in the massive Seireitei instead of just one. Kaen worked his way around winding corridors and even kicked off the ground, pulling off midair cartwheels and somersaults as he sprang over the dividing walls of the Soul Society.

It was during one such display of athletics that Kaen accidentally landed in front of a Shinigami moving at a particularly brusque pace-- no, that wasn't right. The Shinigami was sprinting, and Kaen was crashed into. Well, crashed into, yes, but Kaen didn't really move much from the collision. "Whoa! Sorry!" Kaen exclaimed, reaching out in case the Shinigami stumbled or tripped from the collision. "Wasn't watching where I was goi-- wait, that you Ranth!?" He suddenly exclaimed, recognizing the white hair before anything else. "Shit, I've been looking for you--" Kaen's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Hang on a sec. Is there something wrong?" He asked the Vice Captain. It was kinda weird, actually. Last time he'd met with Ranth he had been the one that outranked him. Ah well. It was an Empress Kaen had to surpass in order to match Ranth's rank, and that was an arduous challenge. One he was finally ready to try to tackle, after Shizuyoko's "pep talk" the previous day, but still. He felt like he was ready to try-- Ack, hold on. One thing at a time. Ranth seemed like he had a problem, and Kaen was willing to lend a hand if the Vice Captain needed one, even if they weren't from the same division.

[Ranth]

Ranth ran through the Seireitei and as he did, his thoughts wandered to dark places in regards to Senshi's fate. It felt like a lifetime since he'd last seen her, when in reality it had been a little over three months since he'd last seen his teacher's face. In truth, the reason he hadn't visited hadn't been exclusively because of his growing responsibilities but rather because of the circumstances surrounding their last meeting. That encounter had seen Senshi hospitalised in the course of protecting Ranth from an Arrancar that had attacked them in the human world.

Ranth had been burdened with guilt ever since and the prospect of seeing blame in his Mentors eyes was simply more than the silver haired Shinigami could face and with each passing day the prospect became more and more impossible... and now here he was, almost 3 months later and still trying to muster the courage to face the woman who had almost died because of his weakness. But what if he'd been strong enough to have come to see her sooner? Would she have still gone alone? Would she have taken him with her? Would it have made any difference either way?

These questions and more were tormenting him as he tore through the front gate to the Kido Corps barracks and immediately crashed into someone and found his forward momentum completely halted as he staggered back a step and found himself face to face with Kaen Yuuji- former Vice Captain of squad 7 and currently the 3rd seat that served the newly reinstated Vice Captain, Rin Minamimoto. Of the course of the last few months Ranth had developed a... close friendship of sorts with Kaen's superior officer. She'd even made a point of visiting the Kido Corps barracks on at least one occasion and he'd likewise returned the favor. Nevertheless, the last thing he'd expected was a visit from Kaen.

"You were looking for me?" Ranth repeated Kaen's words back at him as he tried to think of anything that either he or Rin might require of him, but came up short. Although Ranth had certainly spent more time in Rin's company than kaen's, the pair had collaborated on a handful of occasions and Ranth had a very positive impression of the man as a result and he hesitated for a moment as Kaen picked up on something not being quite right. "Are... are you familiar with the Squad 2 Vice Captain, Miss Odayakama?" Assuming that Kaen indicated that he did in fact know Senshi, then Ranth's decision would be made for him. "We can't discuss it here", he said quetly and he'd indicate for Kaen to follow as he led the way into the barracks and towards his barracks.

Once they arrived in Ranth's office, he'd gesture for Kaen to take a seat before closing and locking the door behind them and crossing the room to take a chair himself. "What I'm about to say is strictly confidential and I need you to promise to keep what I'm about to say to yourself", he began ominously- giving Kaen one last chance to back out. But when he didn't, Ranth would just nod and tell him everything that he'd just learned from his visit to the Squad 2 Barracks. "Several days ago... Miss Odayakama left on an unsanctioned expedition to Hueco Mundo. She left strict orders not to tell anyone- for obvious reasons- but given the lack of contact and the fact that Senshi was my teacher when I first graduated from the academy, her 3rd seat caved in and informed me of the situation..." He paused to give Kaen time to absorb his words and assess the gravity of Senshi's predicament before adding, "So I've agreed to go after her and attempt to bring her back", Ranth said gravely. "As we speak, Squad 2 are preparing a method of travel to Hueco Mundo and I plan to leave as soon as I gather essential supplies for the journey... and I'm not too proud to admit that having you along for the journey would be a releif", he finished.

As soon as Kaen opened his mouth to speak, Ranth suspected he knew what the man was about to say and so he jumped in first. "May I remind you that Miss Odayakama left without authorisation and anyone that goes after her runs the risk of punishment from Central 46- especially if the rescue goes poorly. For a Vice Captain such as myself, Miss Odayakama... or even your own Vice Captain that could mean demotion if we're lucky or execution if we're not. For a 3rd seat such as yourself though... well, it'd be easy enough to just tell them that I pulled rank on you and you'e receive little more than a reprimand", he explained calmly. In an ideal world, he would have liked nothing more than to drag along a Captain or two to guarantee Senshi's rescue... but under the circumstances, one Vice captain and one former Vice Captain was already better than Central 46 would have likely allocated for such a mission if they sanctioned it at all. Which just wasn't something Senshi had time to wait for... if she was even still alive.

"So then, are you in?" Ranth asked as he leaned back in his chair and awaited the other man's answer.

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen nodded. "I was actually. But if something's up I've got a few minutes. What's wrong?" He asked, with a curious tilt of the head. When Ranth asked if he was familiar with Senshi, Kaen gave a short nod of confirmation. "She's a good friend of mine, of course I do. Though it's been awhile, and I haven't seen or heard from her in awhile." When was the last time he'd-- Oh right. That day. Kaen cleared his throat, and moved on with the topic. "Well.... Anyways.... What's going on? Is Senshi alright?" Ranth's answer surprised Kaen, and his eyes suddenly sharpened. Kaen was fiercely protective of his friends. It was one of his two reasons for being here as a Shinigami, after-all. To grow strong enough to protect his friends and family. To be strong enough to protect... well. Everyone who was in need of protection. Something Kaen.... When he honestly thought about it... Had a lousy track record at. Whenever his division members or others were in trouble, he always seemed to arrive at the scene a few moments too late. During the mod soul attack, he'd fought and battled his way through dozens of enemies, only to be a hair too slow, and walked in on the bodies of his subordinates. That day had broken Kaen for a number of reasons, and while the illusions that one mod soul had put in his head had been the primary reason for it, his failure to save his comrades was more than just a side note.

No way was Kaen going to let there be a repeat performance of that day.

Kaen followed Ranth into his office, and sat down, leaning back in the seat, to look Ranth's office over for a moment, seeing what he could glean about him. He'd only worked with Ranth twice before, and much like Ranth, had a generally positive impression of him. He seemed a decent enough guy, though Kaen hadn't spent quite enough time to really and truly peg Ranth's personality. He was in the kido corps though, and it was in that moment, that it struck Kaen that he was sitting in the office of the Vice Captain of the Kido Corps. The only less likely place he could have found himself in all of Soul Society was the Captain's office. Kaen's kido scores at the Academy had been abysmal. Even if he'd had an interest in joining the Kido Corps he would have been written off immediately. Kaen had made it through the Academy on an above average talent for Zanjutsu, and paragon level scores in hand to hand fighting, that he had continued to excel in. Not exactly someone the Kido Corps would be interested in, despite the fact that Kaen had ended up with a reiatsu-based Zanpakuto. But that was beside the point. He found the location he was in situationally bizarre, but not enough to lose focus, and when Ranth told him what he had to say was confidential, Kaen looked over at him, and nodded. "Just tell me what's going on, and why you pulled a third seat from another division to tell this to, instead of your own." He replied. Especially Squad 7 at that.

Ranth explained the situation. Senshi had gone on an unsanctioned mission to Hueco Mundo, and Kaen's mind drifted back to their last conversation. She had been somewhat distraught about her lack of strength. Feeling she wasn't worthy as a Vice Captain. Granted, Kaen did know of other Shinigami who had done so. As a representative of Squad 7, he was officially probably not supposed to condone that kind of thing, but he did understand the appeal. It was intense training, where you didn't get to set the rules. Made you have to watch your back, and your opponents were almost always genuinely trying to kill you. As far as training went, it was as good as you could get, he supposed. But that she hadn't returned? That was very worrisome. "Gotcha." He replied. When Ranth said he was going to bring her back, Kaen smiled and stood up. "Perfect." He said. He allowed Ranth to finish his phrase but then nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ranth cut him off, as if predicting what he was going to say. Kaen let Ranth finish his spiel but the third seat crossed his arms, and his eyebrow slooooowly started raising the more Ranth kept on going.

"Ara ara ara.... There's so much to break down in that little statement you made, I don't even know where to start." He said, bringing a hand to his forehead. "Number one. I know she left without authorization, but I'm inclined to say "so what", on or off the record. I won't let some stupid paperwork or bureacracy, or committee tell me it's wrong to make sure my friend gets home safe." He began. "Two! Fuck the Central Forty Six." Kaen stated. "They can throw down whatever consequences they want, at the end of the day, I answer only to one woman in all of Soul Society." Kaen had no hesitation in his tone for delivering a statement that might have raised more than a few eyebrows in Soul Society. Officially, Kaen was forced to recognize the pull that the Central 46 had. They laid down the very laws that he enforced in Soul Society, after-all. But, while that may have been the case, Kaen could not personally agree with every decision the Central 46 made. And this was a personal assignment. One he wasn't going to let his position get in the way of. The Central 46 laid down their decrees from on high without even looking at the consequences of their decisions. Yes. They kept the order in Soul Society, and for that Kaen was grateful. He acknowledged they had a place in the machine that kept Soul Society running. But he would not let the Central 46 stand in his way. Only one person in Soul Society would have had a prayer of talking Kaen out of this, and Kaen honestly figured Rin might have allowed him to quietly slip away, off the record, anyways. And hell, maybe she'd have even asked to tag along. That willfulness of Rin's and refusal to accept any rules but her own was one of the many reasons Kaen adored about her.

"And three. You "pulled rank" on me? Nobody would believe you. Seriously. Ask around Squad 7 sometime what happened when Kimiko Shihoin was Captain. You being a Vice Captain, while an admirable display of your abilities-- and by the way, I mean that, it sounds like you might be fast-tracking your way into the position of Captain. You have a lot of skill and talent, Ranth." Kaen interjected briefly. "But at the end of the day, I don't answer to you either. I'm not helping you because you're a higher ranked officer asking me. Anyone asks me why I'm doing this, I'm doing it because I would never leave someone stranded out there like that and at risk of certain peril. The fact that Senshi's my friend only makes that fact that much more absolute. I'm going to Hueco Mundo Ranth. Whether you want me to or not, whether we have clearance or not, and whether it'll bother some paper-pushers in the 46 or not, in fact if it does, I consider that a bonus." He finished.