Hedonists For A Better Future [Social]

[Deleted]

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{Music!}

Stepping through the Senkaimon with a smile on his face, Albin appeared in Karakura Town, making his way down into the busy streets. Seemed that afternoons still worked to pack the streets with moving people. Though, he couldn't say that he particularly disliked this fact; the sounds that accompanied busier days in the Human World were more than enough to bring a smile to his face. He couldn't quite say why, but the sounds of city life almost soothed him, completely opposite of how Camila had felt about them. Seems that each passing day went to show just how much the two contrasted from each other. He wasn't complaining.

Wandering through the streets, weaving in-between people where he could and almost making a game of sorts out of the act, Albin slowly but surely made his way through central Karakura. While not exactly on a strict time-frame given his arrival was unannounced, Albin still had a job to do; at some point today, he needed to check in at Uzaki Enterprises. While not a mission, and more an off-the-clock favor for his Captain, Albin knew that he was free to spend the majority of the day how he saw fit, but for the time being he wanted to get this job done.

If nothing else, heading to Uzaki headquarters opened up plenty of opportunities for meeting people he'd never get the option to otherwise. His last little experience with Uzaki Enterprises was... less than favorable, given the fact that Camila had sought out Mr. CEO himself to try to suppress him. Thankfully, that little excursion went nowhere, and neither her nor Kazura were able to really do much about suppressing him, but even just the thought left a bad taste in Albin's mouth. He'd have to watch his tongue, lest he let something slip about his past.

After spending a solid few minutes in the Human World, taking in various shops and spending his time window shopping, Albin eventually made his way into downtown Karakura around three o'clock; not inherently early, but it was safe to assume that the daytime rush was likely going to be starting soon, so getting that in now was likely to be one of the best opportunities he had, aside from doing so earlier in the day. Given that was an impossibility at this point, he settled for what he was currently able to do. Gently pushing open the front door, Albin walked in.

Making his way to the front counter, the Shinigami had seen someone sitting behind the front desk, so he took the opportunity to walk over to them. Thankfully he'd been in a gigai, so the thought of not being seen wasn't too big of an issue. As the man behind the counter turned to look toward Albin, he smiled. "Welcome to Uzaki Enterprises," he said, speaking softly, "how might I be able to help you today?" Shooting back a similar smile, Albin spoke in turn, trying his very best to keep his voice at a reasonable tone. "I'd like to speak with Mr. Uzaki if I've the opportunity to do so. I don't have an appointment, but I'm here on behalf of a Mr. Ludwig Verrlicht." Typing away at the keyboard on his desk, the receptionist spoke again. "I believe Mr. Uzaki is out today, but let me see who I can put you in touch with in his place."

[Zeich Yajuu]

“Mr. Wolf, we have a visitor requesting a meeting with Mr. Uzaki, on behalf of a ‘Ludwig Verrlicht.’ He does not have an appointment. How would you prefer to proceed?”

Golden eyes slid open as Zeich was paged, the man shifting in his seat as he focused on the new demand of his attention. Until a moment ago, he had been sitting with his elbows propped on his desk and his chin resting in his hands, his eyes closed and his form motionless. Anyone who hadn’t known the Vizard could have believed he was sleeping, he had been so still. Yet Zeich was no slouch to simply doze off at a whim, and his senses had been on high alert at all times. Nor was he taking a nap at the desk in his rarely-visited office, either; instead, his stillness had been the product of a connection with his companion, who also stood and stretched his legs after their extended session.

“Ahhh… good to finally get up again. This is why you need to visit the office more often, Master; we wouldn’t have to do this for such extended periods if you’d check in a little more often.”

The speaker was a large, gray-furred wolf that rose from a large cushion that had been spread out on the floor before him, his yellow eyes bright with a mixture of intelligence and mischief. That and the darker whorls of color along his sides and limbs marked him as something more than ordinary lupine, which he most certainly wasn’t. Haiiro was a former Zanpaktou Spirit, something that few could claim, and one that was linked to Zeich despite the fact that their souls were fairly distinct and separated by this point. Indeed, it was this link that allowed the Vizard to perform their current task at all.

“You know that you’re more suited to being here than I am, Haiiro.” Zeich’s tone was neutral, his words even and his expression composed. “I serve as security against threats, while you handle the paperwork and the social interactions.”

Kneeling, Zeich picked up a pile of papers that were placed on a small, shin-high desk that had been placed before Haiiro’s cushion, ordering the pile before placing it in a corner of his desk. The former Shinigami’s blindness, while unknown to most, required him to seek the aid of his companion in order to “see” via images transferred from one mind to the other. As a result, Haiiro read the documents and Zeich analyzed them, allowing him to perform his job despite his lack of sight. It made for an odd view for anyone watching, with the wolf reading and the man seemingly inattentive, but their office was secluded and rarely allowed for visitors, so few would witness it.

Pressing the button on his desk to return the message, Zeich sent along his message. “Get his name, find out what he wants with Uzaki, and I will see that he is put in contact with the appropriate person.” Gesturing Haiiro over to the camera panel, where they could view various parts of Uzaki Enterprises, the two of them went to examine the visitor. It took little time to find the camera for the front reception desk, and before long, images were being transmitted to the Vizard. A well-dressed young man stood there, and at a glance, he would have been taken as a wealthy, but average individual. Maybe a young investor, or someone Uzaki had taken a personal interest in—certainly there were no shortage of either. But Zeich knew better.

‘On behalf of Ludwig Verrlicht.’ Hm. I wonder what business the Captain of Squad Thirteen has with Uzaki Enterprises? Though he had been away form Seireitei for a good while now, Zeich still kept tabs on the shifts of power there, including promotions to Captaincy as well as any major figures who made a notable name for themselves. The Vizard could not imagine what the head of Travel Operations would want—perhaps they were looking to create diplomatic ties, in order to better work in tandem with Uzaki Enterprises? It was no secret that the two shared similar goals and that, while the Shinigami tended to be more self-centered defenders, they were at least able to keep their eyes open regarding working with the Fullbringer-filled company in regards to safety in the World of the Living.

...

The sudden influx of Tsukikage’s presence drew Zeich’s attention, and the Vizard paused, curious as to the Inner Hollow’s awareness. Normally Tsukikage was more inclined to bloodthirsty suggestions and condescending remarks towards Haiiro, yet this time his silence spoke volumes for him. Intrigued, Zeich probed at the creature’s mental appearance. What is it, Tsukikage?

...I don’t know. A cryptic statement, for sure, especially from Tsukikage. If Zeich didn’t know any better, he would have thought that the dark wolf was being pensive, pondering something deeply. ...That boy. Something… my instincts cry out as I look at him, yet I see nothing but an ordinary person. I don’t like it.

Zeich visibly raised an eyebrow at that, surprised at the Inner Hollow’s sudden wariness. Through Haiiro’s eyes, he examined the young man more closely, trying to figure out what it was that drew such a reaction from Tsukikage. To his eyes, the visitor was just an ordinary person, just a regular Shinigami in a Gigai. He had no idea of the person’s strength through a camera image—no marks of rank, no visible Zanpaktou, nothing—and his ability to sense spiritual energy was far too limited for him to detect the visitor’s power as well. He couldn’t imagine a reason for Tsukikage’s agitation… yet the existence of such stress indicated that there was something going on.

“Haiiro.” The wolf’s ears perked up as Zeich spoke, indicating his own alert, likely caused by Zeich’s own rising focus, “Go get our visitor, and bring him to Interview Room B3. We’re going to have a chat with him, and see just what his intentions are.”

“Right-o. On my way.”

As Haiiro left, Zeich paged down to the reception desk again. By now, the visitor should have at least given his name, and perhaps even his reason for needing to speak with Uzaki. “Let our guest know a representative will be there shortly to show him to a meeting room. He’ll know when he sees him.”

---

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” The receptionist would hang up the phone, and speak to Albin once more. “Thank you for your patience. A representative will be down shortly to escort you to meet with one of our other employees who should be able to assist you and report to Mr. Uzaki directly at a time he becomes available. Our head of security says that you’ll know the representative when he arrives. Please take a seat in the waiting room until you’re approached.”

The wait would be short, a few minutes at best, before Haiiro padded into the waiting room. Most people would not notice him, likely individuals without any particular spiritual senses, but a few might notice a wolf walking through the door and directly towards Albin, and while one or two stared in surprise, it seemed that this was business as usual, or at least only uncommon as opposed to unheard of.

“Hello, hello, and welcome to you! My name is Haiiro, and I am here to be your guide~” As usual, Haiiro knew no boundaries, and had no qualms in turning his social personality to eleven. “So sorry that Mr. Uzaki is not able to greet you today, but I hope that you won’t mind speaking to his second-in-command, who will be able to report to him directly at a later time! If you will please follow me, we have an interview room already set aside where you two can speak at your leisure, and with the utmost privacy as needed!”

With that, Haiiro would turn and, making sure that Albin was following him, lead him to one of the ground floor elevators. The two would board one by themselves, and Haiiro would motion for the one with actual fingers to hit the key for the basement floor. It would not take them long to descend, and just as quickly the two of them would come to a large room marked “B-3” on the plate next to the door. “Aaaaaaand here we are! Go on in, Mr. Wolf will be in there, ready to speak with you. Be warned, he can be a bit on the prickly side~ Do try not to upset him, hm?”

The room inside was… simply furnished, to say the least. The interview room was a moderately large chamber with a table and two chairs set in the center, and one of the two seats, the one on the opposite side of the table, was already occupied. A tall, slender man in a surprisingly casual outfit sat waiting, his hands folded on the table before him. Two things would stand out at a glance, however: the first was that the man wore a mask over his face, a ceramic-looking facade that resembled a snarling wolf, ready to pounce. The second were the glimmering golden eyes that seemed to shine in the recesses of the mask’s eyes, a color that was not seen in standard human eyes. These were the eyes of a beast, staring from the shadows.

“Be seated, and we’ll start.” Zeich would gesture towards the other chair briefly. “My given name is Wolf, and I am the Head of Security here at Uzaki Enterprises. State your business with Uzaki.”

[Deleted]

“Thank you for your patience. A representative will be down shortly to escort you to meet with one of our other employees who should be able to assist you and report to Mr. Uzaki directly at a time he becomes available. Our head of security says that you’ll know the representative when he arrives. Please take a seat in the waiting room until you’re approached.” With a nod, Albin smiled toward the receptionist. "Much appreciated," he said, "thank you for your help!" Maintaining that same smile, and receiving a friendly nod from the receptionist, Albin found himself heading into UE's waiting room.

Looking around, Albin took a bit of time to scavenge through a few magazines that he'd found laying out in the open; presumably for patrons like himself to look through during his wait. Looking through each magazine that the place seemed to offer, the Shinigami found himself somewhat upset with the selections. Not that he knew what he was expecting from the place, but this really wasn't enough to even begin to distract him for the time being. Placing the remainder of the magazines he had scattered across his lap back where they were found, Albin pulled out his Soul Pager.

Though, not a few seconds after he did so, before he got the opportunity to do much of anything, a rather unexpected sight found itself upon the waiting room. Putting away his Soul Pager as a... wolf seemed to approach him? “Hello, hello, and welcome to you! My name is Haiiro, and I am here to be your guide~” Albin couldn't help but smile. "Well, Haiiro, it's a pleasure to meet you. Can't say I expected this, but I'm pleasantly surprised nonetheless." As he finished speaking, Haiiro continued, and Albin made a mental note of what he'd said.

Seems he wasn't going to be able to meet with Kazura, but for his second-in-command to have been so willing to reach out and extend that offer toward him was something he welcomed nonetheless. "Sounds great," Albin said, maintaining that same smile, "I'll be glad to follow behind." Standing up and quickly stretching his legs, Albin made sure to follow Haiiro. Though, not directly behind; as Haiiro turned away from the Shinigami, it seemed that... something, was starting to find its way flying off the wolf. Considering his already somewhat ashy appearance, Albin didn't want much of that to end up on his clothes.

As the two eventually made their way to the elevator in relative silence, Albin immediately took note of Haiiro's gesturing toward the Basement Floor button on the elevator's panel. With a chuckle, the Shinigami pressed the button, leaving him lost in thought over how Haiiro had managed to have gotten to the waiting room to begin with. Assuming it must've been a struggle, he couldn't help but feel a bit bad for the wolf. Nonetheless, though, he was glad to help where he could in getting the two of them where they needed to be.

Turning to Haiiro, Albin smiled graciously at the wolf's warning. "Understood. Thank you for the heads-up, Haiiro! I appreciate your assistance thus far." Turning to face the door to the room, Albin allowed himself the time to take a deep breath. Aside from very sparce meetings with his Captain since his rebirth, Albin hadn't met anyone of a higher-stature in quite a long time. The only other time he'd felt himself get this nervous was over- Nope, he thought to himself, not about to think about that Traitor right now. Keep cool; everything's going to be okay.

Gently pushing open the door, Albin found himself immediately caught off-guard by the man that had been sitting across from where he'd entered. Taking note of the mask he wore and the eyes he'd allowed to show through that same mask, Albin couldn't help but still feel that tinge of nervousness shoot through him. Regardless, though, he took a seat as instructed, and allowed his hands to fall into his lap as the man in front of him spoke. All the while, he still couldn't help but stare into his eyes; something about them captivated him, but not in a way he found himself particularly enjoying.

“My given name is Wolf, and I am the Head of Security here at Uzaki Enterprises. State your business with Uzaki.”

Straight to the point, he thought. Realizing he was Head of Security, Albin allowed himself to relax somewhat; seemed there was a reason for the mask. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Wolf, My name's Albin Landry. Firstly, I'd like to thank your willingness to meet with me, despite Mr. Uzaki's absence. Truly, it means a great deal to me." Giving Wolf a serene smile, Albin continued. "I'm here on behalf Captain Ludwig Verrlicht, seeing as he was a little busy otherwise I'm sure he would've made the trip here himself."

"Truthfully, I'm not here out of ill-intent; quite the opposite, in fact! Captain Ludwig had asked me to make the trip out here unofficially, seeing as Soul Society, from what I've heard, has been... fairly adverse in the past, regarding working with Uzaki Enterprises. So, naturally, I'm here 'off the clock', so to speak. Captain Ludwig wanted me to check in on how things were going around here, and make sure that hopefully y'all aren't in a bad spot or anything. Not to mention the possibility of potentially securing some sort of unofficial 'alliance' of sorts between the Gotei 13 and Uzaki. Or, at the very least, those of us within Squad thirteen."

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich waited patiently, waiting for Albin to take his seat. The Vizard sat completely still, his golden eyes still boring directly into the young Shinigami. Yet despite his constant stare, the man’s eyes saw nothing, embraced darkness from the veil that Tsukikage’s defeat had inflicted upon him. His gaze was unwavering, and never left Albin, however. In the course of his blindness, Zeich had long since learned to use his other senses, to reach out with his senses of hearing, smell, and touch to paint the picture around him.

Right now, his ears were catching every breath, every step that Albin took as he tread across the room to the table. No sense of stealth, or at least no attempt at it. Zeich thought to himself, though he guessed the former; it was a habit picked up by those who worked in quiet to maintain that quiet subconsciously. The Shinigami’s pace was casual, though there was a slight hesitancy to it; Zeich could tell his appearance unnerved the visitor. Good; that was the intent. A bestial facade and an unwavering, intimidating stare went a long way towards making an individual feel smaller than they were, and left this one more open to potential probing for information.

Albin settled into his seat, and his general presence seemed to relax, to diminish. A steady, albeit faintly elevated heartbeat, a calm pace to his breathing, and most importantly, his words came out concise and clear; confidence for a reason, or simply conquering stage fright? Zeich made a mental note, and allowed the Shinigami to begin his speech. His introduction was… flowery, and a bit too complementary, but neither of these were a crime, merely a nuisance. So far, nothing about this Shinigami proved him to be threatening or harmful, though the Vizard remained patiently wary.

Anything, Tsukikage?

...No. I don’t know what it is. I can’t tell you what’s bothering me. Yet I want to rip out this boy’s throat, more so than usual. I feel it in my blood...

I see. Let’s see where this goes, then.

Albin was just getting into the purpose of his visit, one that caught Zeich’s attention: a potential, if unofficial, alliance between Uzaki Enterprises and Soul Society. Even with a single squad, that was a large step in the right direction, to the Vizard’s opinion; if this were truly a hand stretched out in cooperation, then Kazura would no doubt be interested in it. Zeich himself was interested in it, in fact; if Soul Society could lose some of its conservatism in potentially building allies among other worlds, then there was a very real chance that it could have some personal benefit towards the Vizard’s own goals as well.

Albin had given the right of it, though; Soul Society and those in the World of the Living were constantly at odds, and Soul Society’s nature was strictly unchanging. Individual minds—and in this case, a Captain’s—might change, but those in the greatest position of leadership, between the Captain Commander and Central 46, were unyielding. Long had Soul Society not just frowned upon, but actually acted against those in the World of the Living in order to keep them out of spiritual matters. A good example were the Quincy, albeit for a strong reason as well; though their acts did destroy souls instead of purifying them, their initial goal was to slay Hollows who threatened them. If Soul Society had worked with them to find a means of purification, or even attempted to simply curb their aggression and use them as a non-lethal support force, then many unspeakable acts in history would not have happened. Alas, that was not the Soul Society that Zeich knew.

And so he chewed on this situation for a moment, but only that one moment, before he responded in the same, neutral tone, disguising his doubt in Soul Society politics. “Historically, Soul Society has not just suppressed, but even condemned involvement in spiritual matters to the point of slaying those who would risk even the slightest imbalance, rather than cooperate with them. Only in the recent past were Substitutes allowed, and even then, their acceptance is rare and their very lives conditional based on their cooperation and obedience. Even Uzaki Enterprises, who aims to secure and ensnare Hollows rather than slay them and risk imbalance, has been censured in practice. Shinigami are unbending as the steel they wield, and those in positions of power are even more rigid. I cannot believe that there is any chance for a proper alliance in any form.”

Zeich let his words sink in, letting the sensation of a negative response sink in. Right now, he spoke only factually, and made his stance incredibly clear to Albin: he’d never believe that Soul Society, as a whole, could ever consider a partnership with those in the World of the Living. However… “That being said, individuality does exist even among the rigid Shinigami, and there are those who would push for change. While I doubt that Soul Society in its larger part could ever accept such an alliance, I don’t doubt the possibility of a single Captain being willing to at least humor the idea. This is something that Uzaki will likely be interested in, and I will relay it to him pending further information and analysis of the situation. It is, however, enough to open up an unofficial line of communication that we may have further dialogue on the subject. I will think further on how best to proceed.”

Why are you playing nice? This… thing… is right here in front of us. We should capture him! Interrogate him! Torture it out of him! Tsukikage was normally the kind to enjoy another’s suffering, yet there was something… not quite desperate, but frustrated. This truly was bothering the dark wolf, driving him into a bloodthirsty frenzy. It was truly odd.

Quiet, Tsukikage. We’ll be moving into the next stage in a moment. For now, this is at least worth my time, if it is legitimate. Be patient.

While Zeich was speaking with his Inner Hollow, he stayed silent, letting Albin digest the response and determine his own thoughts on it. It wasn’t long, however, and he decided to move on to his own topic as he leaned forward. It was time to take this examination into a more direct questioning. “Let me ask you something, Albin.” The air in the room became tense, and this was on purpose; Zeich let out the faintest hints of his spiritual pressure, and it felt as though everything became heavier, weighing down upon Albin by the moment. It was a very mild Gravitational Pressure, however, compared to most; just about anyone would be able to stand up through it with ease. It was just tailored enough to Albin, however, to keep him pinned to his chair, to feel the pressure without quite being driven to the ground. “We all wear masks, some literal—” He gestured to his own mask, which seemed even more intimidating in the suddenly high-tension room. “—and others less so.”

“What lies behind your mask… ‘Shinigami’?”

[Deleted]

Finishing up his thoughts, Albin went on to further try to analyze the man in front of him. Despite his initial panic having left, the Shinigami still felt himself incredibly unnerved by the mask that Wolf had been wearing. He understood why the man was wearing it, given his identity as the Head of Security within Uzaki Enterprises wasn't exactly a position that needed to get around, but that didn't make him any less unsettled by it. As Wolf started to ponder over what he'd said, Albin did what he could to avoid eye contact, occasionally glancing back toward the Vizard only to quickly avert his eyes every time he made eye contact with the man.

As he listened to what Wolf had to say, Albin found himself letting out a defeated sigh. Truthfully, he didn't know what he expected; the last almost ninety years had shown him all that he needed to know about Soul Society being absolutely atrocious. Though, that seemed to be the reason that he wanted to stick around; from Camila's short time in Hueco Mundo, Albin was able to get a refresher on just what Hollow society was like; something he didn't want to be apart of anymore. Especially after having seen what Souken Kouhai and Guujin Karai were like. Instead, he opted into seeing what Soul Society was like; still not great, but he could work on that. In fact, that's exactly what he was here for; to start cleaning them up as best he could.

As Wolf picked his thoughts back up, though, the Shinigami felt himself perking back up. Seems that Wolf, at the very least, was in agreement to the ideas behind forming an alliance with Squad 13. That was good; seems that his reasoning behind being here wasn't in vain at all! Captain Ludwig's gonna love to hear about this, he thought to himself, as Wolf finished up his thoughts.

"Well, color me glad to hear you're willing to get something going," he said, "I'll let Captain Ludwig know that you're willing to get an unofficial partnership up until we can press the higher-ups into making things official. Truthfully, I look forward to hopefully working with Uzaki Enterprises in the future! Someone... Someone I knew in the past got along with Mr. Kazura, so I'd like to do what I can to make up that relationship where I can. I don't exactly want to leave an old friend's efforts high and dry, if that makes sense."

Keeping on that same topic, Wolf seemed to have a point of his own he wanted to hit. "Yeah, not a problem! What's-" Albin cut himself off, as he felt the area around him suddenly grow heavy. His shoulders were practically forced down, his back ever so slightly compressed. Moving his legs simply wasn't an option; the force being exerted on him was far too strong to even consider something like that. Despite having cleared it earlier, panic found itself once again sitting in. To Wolf's exceptional hearing, Albin's heart was beating at its fastest since his arrival, his breathing quickly escalating.

“What lies behind your mask… ‘Shinigami’?”

His... mask? He knew he wasn't wearing one, so what exactly did- Oh, gods no," Albin thought to himself. Replaying those words through his head a couple of times, Albin made clear note of the emphasis Wolf placed on his last word; "Shinigami". If nobody else was able to figure something like that out, how on earth did someone like him manage to do so?! "I..." he started, looking around the room, completely avoiding eye contact altogether, "I don't know what you're talking about."

[Zeich Yajuu]

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

In that moment, Zeich’s eyes narrowed, his muscles coiling like springs as though he were about to pounce. To his ears, a several signs made themselves apparent: the racing speed of Albin’s heart, the rapid intake of breath, and most of all, the intonation and hesitance in his voice. He had lied, and was in a panicked state. The latter could be attributed to the sudden Gravitational Pressure that had been placed upon him; who in their right mind wouldn’t be at least a little uncomfortable being pinned down so casually? Doubtless adrenaline was coursing through the Shinigami’s body right now as he likely suffered a demand for a flight response from his instincts, but it would do him no good, not against someone of Zeich’s caliber.

But he had lied. The moment that he had spoken, Albin’s inability to conceal his reaction had given him away. What did that mean? Zeich had uncovered something, a hidden secret that the Shinigami was afraid to reveal. But what? A threat? A crime? The Vizard carefully considered his options, keeping his pressure on Albin as he worked out his next step. It was a slow, patient process on his part, and in that time, all the other could do was sit and watch, or give excuses if he dared. The wait was likely excruciating, time stretching out as the Shinigami watched the proverbial executioner’s axe hang over his head. One motion, and Zeich could end his life.

Then do it! Rip his throat out, you’ve already bared your fangs!

No. We need to know what it is that this boy is hiding. It could be as innocuous—relatively speaking—as a crime he’s afraid to be punished for. But for now, we need to dig deeper. Do not worry; I am ready to end it the moment I determine he’s a legitimate threat. Tsukikage’s growl rang through Zeich’s consciousness, a challenge that threatened to turn into a confrontation. Yet the Vizard was the master here, and he shut down that confrontation with an exertion of his willpower, pinning the Inner Hollow down much as he was doing so to Albin. I need you to watch him, to read him. You are the only one who can tell something is up, so you need to be alert. So focus. What we do after will depend.

For the moment, Tsukikage acquiesced, albeit begrudgingly. Once his inner turmoil was handled, Zeich slowly rose, taking his time as he did so, drawing things out. He was letting Albin sweat, letting the Shinigami anticipate what was to come. He let a little of Tsukikage’s bloodlust seep into his spiritual presence, spreading through the room and adding to the oppressiveness of the Gravitational Pressure. If it were to be described in colors, drops of red had been mixed into the heavy gray, tinging it a scarlet color that screamed of violence. Albin would be enshrouded in that bloody mixture, a predatory grasp that threatened to consume him at any moment.

Slowly, each step measured and deliberate, Zeich stalked around the table. “You cannot lie to me.” He made his way over to Albin, looming over him, his presence that much more powerful up close. The Vizard made no motion to strike or contact the pinned Shinigami, instead letting his presence, his aura of malice surround them, a chaotic tide of bloodthirst and oppression. “Your every reaction screams of a poor deception, and what was once an uncertainty has now gained potential for threat. I suggest you choose your next words carefully, lest you find yourself condemned by them.”

Yet despite the steel in his words, his tone softened ever so slightly afterwards. “I have no intention to judge you in the eyes of Soul Society or its laws, nor do I have the inclination to pass sentence without fair chance, an opportunity that was not given to me in the past. All deserve at least some consideration.” His tone sharpened again, the bite back in his words as he delivered his ultimatum. “But if you attempt to lie to me again, I will have to assume that you are a threat to this company and Soul Society, and will immediately terminate you. Are we clear?’”

[Deleted]

The very moment he'd said those damned words, Albin immediately knew that he'd messed up. Wolf's lack of response, and prolonged silence that felt like eons upon eons were passing with each second where absolutely agonizing for the boy; that much alone had made it apparent that he'd made a very grave mistake. One he hoped he didn't have to severely regret, all things considered. As Wolf's aura continued to weigh down upon him, Albin felt himself shrink into his seat; shoulders tucked into his core, arms in his lap, neck low, and legs together. Still, though, he refused to make eye contact. He couldn't bring himself to consider what would've happened if he did. Would Wolf snap? Would he be unintentionally sealing his own fate?

As Wolf slowly allowed himself to rise to a stand, this thought merely began to cement itself in his head. Seems he was utterly screwed; he was going to die. There was no ifs, ands, or buts about that; he simply resigned himself to that fact. The added presence of overwhelming violence in Wolf's aura only made things that much worse. Though, he wasn't going to act on this resignation; he wasn't that dumb. He'd known very quickly that he was horrendously outclassed by this man. To even consider fighting was-

“I have no intention to judge you in the eyes of Soul Society or its laws, nor do I have the inclination to pass sentence without fair chance, an opportunity that was not given to me in the past. All deserve at least some consideration.”

...What? Albin thought to himself, there's no way. Things can't be that easy. As if on queue, as Wolf continued to speak, Albin nodded to himself. He wasn't upset; he couldn't even hope to be upset. Wolf was merely doing his job. If he'd lied again, then he wouldn't blame Wolf for taking his life. if he were in that same situation, he'd make the same move. "C-Crystal," Albin stuttered, forcing out that simple word despite the situation at hand. Wolf was right; he'd have to choose his words carefully. And, given the story he was about to tell, he only hoped the man didn't think he was lying.

"All I'm asking is that you're willing to hear me out. I do promise you that my words are truthful. I'm... I was originally one of two people, so to speak. Given your position, I'm sure you're relatively familiar with everyone that comes in here, yeah? Well, does the name 'Camila Adaronde' ring a bell at all? She stopped by here a few months back, sought out Mr. Uzaki himself to get some help on a Hollow problem. Namely, a Hollow inside of her kind of problem. Long story short, she ended up getting herself killed, and that Hollow made a deal with the devil in order to live. Ended up getting himself sent to Soul Society to start over. Well... I'm that Hollow."

[Zeich Yajuu]

This… is unexpected.

Rarely did Zeich experience anything beyond mild surprise, a fact that could be attributed to the constant suppression of his emotional state as well as his stoic nature, yet for the first time the Vizard legitimately paused, taken aback by the information that had been presented to him. Whatever sense of oppression had filled the room lifted slightly, another indication of his shock, though the pressure would still hold Albin in place. Zeich said nothing at first, pondering the information that had been given to him, his sense of order slowly asserting itself. Consider the information, fit it into the larger picture, and decide on a reaction based on how everything came together. Reshuffle everything until a fuller image made itself clear. Slowly his calm restored itself.

A Hollow… and not just any Hollow, but an Inner Hollow. That means that Albin once belonged to a Vizard, was once like you, Tsukikage...

Explains a lot. Surprisingly, Tsukikage was much calmer, his bloodlust shuttered, but still present in the background. Perhaps identifying the unknown feeling of threat had helped him regain his senses. “Hollows are often very territorial out of necessity, so that we may survive in our harsh world. All I had to do was get a sense of this boy as something like a Hollow, even if his energy doesn’t seem to indicate it, and my instincts screamed at me to kill him or drive him away.”

Tsukikage had also brought up another good point: Albin, despite his proclaimed past as an Inner Hollow, had no feel to his spiritual energy that would indicate his status. At such a close range, even Zeich’s minimal ability to sense another’s spirit would have told him that much. So either this boy was an outrageous liar with a death wish, or he was telling the truth and he had truly been sent to “start over.” Perhaps he had been purified? It would explain his reawakening as a Shinigami, and as a purified soul he was no longer that original creature that had possessed the soul of another. Indeed, the entire mass of souls that had conglomerated into a Hollow would have been released and purified to take their place in Soul Society. In this instance, the boy was no longer a threat, but…

There’s that matter of a “deal with the devil.” Tsukikage was right on the mark. Either he collaborated with a Shinigami—or perhaps a Vizard like you—in order to be purified and sent back, or someone else out there was able to “purify” him, meaning that it’s not exclusively in the realm of Shinigami and that we may not be able to trust whoever purified him to have done so in a manner that the Shinigami would approve of.

Correct. He could be legitimate… or he could be a planted threat, a sleeper to come into his nature at a later point. This is going to bear some investigation over time… something we’re in a position to do, thanks to the original purpose of his visit.

It was time to act. Were he completely sure that Albin could be a future threat, Zeich would have ended his life then and there with no hesitation. As it was, the option was on the table, and a risk could be nullified before it came to bear fruit. Yet if Albin were truly reformed, a properly reborn soul and not something more sinister, would it be right to simply end him as he was? He clearly remembered who he was as a Hollow, and despite memories of that past life, seemed to have a personality that would oppose that of a standard Hollow. A clever act, or a sincere difference in personality from one form to the other? No, Zeich didn’t think he was lying; Albin was poor at deception, and would not easily escape the Vizard’s scrutiny. Maybe, just maybe, another possibility existed…

“Albin.” The word came out of the silence like a whipcrack, “If your story is true, then there are many unexplained factors, and much I wish to ask. But I do not think it wise to detain you too much longer, as I’m sure your Captain might question an extended absence on your part, and I would rather not ruin the potential for an alliance that Uzaki Enterprises would value so highly.” The sense of Zeich’s pressure slowly faded, and within moments, Albin was free to move and act as he pleased. The Vizard himself stepped back, giving the Shinigami the comfort of personal space, and left the path to the door available for Albin to walk down.

“What we shall do is this, then: unofficially, Uzaki Enterprises can ally itself with Squad Thirteen. When next I speak with Kazura, I will see what terms we can set and what we look for in our part in an alliance, and we will communicate further at that point. You, personally, will serve as liaison between the two parties; as a lower-ranked Shinigami, you will not be watched nor would your actions as an unofficial messenger draw questions. This will give us more time to talk in the future, so that I may understand who and what you are. I will keep your secret between us, of course, unless I deem it prudent to share it.”

“These are my terms. Do you agree?”

[Deleted]

"Albin." Hearing his name called quickly pulled the Shinigami from his own thoughts. Looking up immediately toward Wolf, Albin watched tentatively. To say he was curious to what the man had to say was an understatement, especially given the fact that he was in a rather precarious situation. Predominantly speaking, Albin wanted to do what he could to get out of this situation alive, and he'd only hoped that speaking his mind was going to be what helped him do exactly that. Hopefully he was that lucky?

As Wolf spoke, and the pressure that was lifted over Albin was slowly released, he found himself taking a long, deep breath. A sigh of relief, of sorts. "Well, I'm glad to hear that," he said, "can't say I was the most keen on potentially losing my life here, if you're feeling me on that one." He chuckled, gently feeling around his neck. He felt like he was going to lose his head at any given time; a thought that genuinely horrified the man.

As he continued to speak, telling Albin about how he was willing to form a potential alliance between Squad 13 and Uzaki Enterprises, Albin found his face lighting up rather quickly. He quickly nodded upon the mentioning the fact that he was going to serve as a sort of intermediary. "Not a problem," he said, "I'm sure I can get back and forth as necessary. I'm sure Captain Ludwig will be glad to hear of this, too!" His expression was akin to that of a kid in a candy store.

"Regarding your terms, though, I'm absolutely on board with them. I absolutely look forward to working with you in the future, Wolf. I apologize if I came off as a bit of a threat from the get-go, I promise you it wasn't intentional; I do appreciate you keeping this whole.... situation, a secret, though. You're one of what, I think only two or three people that know? You can imagine that I've been pretty tight-lipped about that." Albin chuckled at his own comment. "Regardless though, I do appreciate it. It means a lot."

[Zeich Yajuu]

“Don’t be so quick to thank me, Albin.” Zeich’s harsh tone was a sharp lash that contrasted Albin’s amusement and relief. Though the Vizard did not renew his Gravitational Pressure, his golden-eyed glare suggested that all was not as well as the Shinigami thought it was. Zeich made no move towards his companion, yet there was still plenty of threat in his words. “I keep it a secret because there is no need to reveal it at the moment. You are still an unknown, and a potential threat. Our agreement today is nothing more than an excuse for me to monitor you, with the side benefit of improving relationships between our organizations. Do not think of yourself as free from risk; I will observe you, and the moment I sense any threat from you...”

“We will come for you, and tear your throat out...” Once again, Zeich fought to maintain a calm expression even behind his mask, surprise sending a jolt of adrenaline through his body. From the shadows near the doorway, another figure had stepped out into the room, a lupine in form but not in nature. Wolfish in appearance, the apparition stood nearly five feet in height, despite being hunched over, with long, sinewy limbs leading to claws that nearly scraped the ground. Black eyes with golden irises to match Zeich’s own rose above bared fangs that glistened a polished white, in contrast to the creature’s fur. The sense of bloodlust that came off of the creature was undeniable, a fervent wish to sink his fangs into Albin and rip him apart.

Tsukikage. This was Zeich’s Inner Hollow, projected upon the living world in a form of his own. Zeich had not used either technique that normally would allow him to summon Tsukikage; somehow, the dark wolf had done so himself. Was this another facet of his fragmented soul, the one that allowed Haiiro to exist as a separate entity in the world? Was it merely a matter of his control slipping, allowing the Hollow to break past his spiritual barriers and emerge into the world on his own? Either way, the Vizard made a note to focus on keeping his unwanted companion in check; who knew what damage an Inner Hollow could do if it casually escaped whenever it felt like it?

Tsukikage casually stalked around Albin, his gait bipedal, yet his hunched form allowing the tips of his claws to slide across the ground, the light squeal of bone on metal echoing in the room. Looking nothing more than a predator circling his prey, Tsukikage’s muzzle split, his fangs separating as his expression turned into a monstrous, malevolent grin. His eyes were focused, dilated, intent; his tail lashed across the floor behind him. Everything about the Hollow’s stance and nature suggested scarcely-restrained violence, ready to uncoil and spring out at a moment’s notice.

“You know nothing about what we will do, boy. Your current facade may be innocent, but let me assure you, I will pray to whatever higher powers there are that your mask slips, so that I may sink my teeth into your flesh. I’ll tear off one limb at a time, savor your screaming—”

“Enough, Tsukikage!” Once more Zeich’s voice broke through the Hollow’s threat, and this time, it was tinged with a bare hint of anger, a small glimpse at the seething cauldron that was the Vizard’s anger that was barely confined beneath the surface. The Vizard’s eyes narrowed briefly, and his concentration surged as Tsukikage seemed to melt into the shadows again, fading like a dark mist into the air. Within Zeich’s soul, the wolf’s metaphorical cell would slam shut, the chains re-fastened with new diligence. All of this happened in but a second, a brief moment that showed a break in the Vizard’s emotional mask that was quickly concealed as calm re-exerted itself.

Zeich took a deep breath, getting his equilibrium back. This was not a side he wanted to show to anyone, much less this unknown agent of the Shinigami. He was already risking much, exposing himself to a Shinigami at all. Should anyone recognize him… “My apologies, Albin. That was a… companion of mine, much akin to Haiiro, who you met earlier. He’s unfortunately very aggressive, and tends to be more bloodthirsty than I could ever begin to condone. He slipped his leash for a moment, but he’s back under control. Understand that his words are just that—I have no desire to enjoy any suffering on anyone’s part. Should you prove a threat, I will indeed act to end it, but I do not plan on letting him take pleasure in it. Rest assured that it will be quick, should it come to that.” The comment was spoken idly, yet it was clear that Zeich was still as much of a threat as ever himself; Albin would have to tread carefully, lest he give an impression that would cause the Vizard to decide on his execution.

“One last favor, Albin.” Zeich reached into a pocket, where he pulled out a folded piece of paper that he had tucked into it upon learning of the meeting with a Shinigami, albeit a strange one. Circumstances allowed for this opportunity. Zeich held out the folded paper, on the outside of which was written “To Kaen Youji.” “Should you have the opportunity to meet with Kaen Youji of Squad 7, I ask that you deliver this message to him for me. He and I know each other to an extent, but I have not had an opportunity to contact him. You may read the note yourself; there’s nothing compromising in there, but I do not blame you if you choose to be diligent.” Indeed, the note was a simple message, a request for a meeting at any opportune time in the future, though the signature at the end was unusual: S73S. Zeich had every confidence that Kaen would understand it immediately.

“With that, you are dismissed. Return to your Captain, and let him know that we will discuss further conditions of our alliance at a later point.” Zeich made no motion to leave his spot, allowing Albin to go when he wished. Their meeting was done, unless the Shinigami had more to say.

[Deleted]

“I keep it a secret because there is no need to reveal it at the moment. You are still an unknown, and a potential threat." These words carved deeply into Albin like that of a knife. He couldn't quite put a finger on to why these words hurt him so much, but just the very idea of being treated as a potential threat didn't sit well with the boy. That said, he made absolutely no effort to show his disposition on the matter. "Do not think of yourself as free from risk; I will observe you, and the moment I sense any threat from you...”

And that's when his demeanor changed. As Tsukikage made himself apparent, and Albin made immediate note of a second voice from behind him, he quickly turned his view to face that of the hollow whose presence was now filling the room. Staring into Tsukikage's eyes immediately filled Albin with a sense of existential dread. He knew that look far too well. That was a look filled with a rampant desire to kill; something made ever more clear by the words of the hollow; the mention of tearing out a throat. Albin visibly shivered.

Though, something quite familiar about Tsukikage. He struggled to tell what it was, but... something resonated with him regarding Tsukikage. He felt almost intertwined with the wolflike being. A feeling that didn't sit right with Albin. This made itself even more apparent as Albin listened to what Tsukikage had to say; something about a façade, a mask. A facade? He thought to himself, Just what is this thing on about? His thoughts, though, were immediately put on pause as Tsukikage seemed to start to go into detail about how Albin was going to meet an untimely demise, before being stopped by Wolf.

Being dragged back into reality, Albin went on to listen to what Wolf had to say, but found himself lost in his own thoughts on the matter. What he'd just seen was certainly something far different than anything Camila had encountered before; it almost reminded him of their time back when she first arrived in Soul Society. Back when they were split from one another, for a short period of time. That thought got him thinking; perhaps Wolf was the same? Perhaps he was in a similar situation, with that of Haiiro and whomever that was-

Albin got another glance of Wolf's eyes. As if on queue, things started to "click" for him. Things began to piece together; Wolf was like him. Well, not him specifically; Wolf was like Camila. He was someone that could manifest his spirit outward, much like Camila had found herself able to do. Did that mean that one of those wolves that he seemed to "summon" - either Haiiro or the other one - were like Albin? A hollow? Perhaps they were something more? Something less? To say things were getting confusing for him was a bit of an understatement.

"I appreciate your... Kindness," Albin said, "for your willingness to give me a swift end if something went awry like that." He didn't particularly know how to respond in that situation, but something told him he should watch his words. As such, he looked to do exactly that. "If you don't mind my asking though, what was that companion of yours? Something tells me there's a bit more than meets the eye to you, and I'll be the first to admit I'm deeply curious. I won't pry, but I would appreciate it if you were willing to share just a bit about yourself." Albin hadn't aimed to sound rude on the situation, he simply wanted to know just what was going on.

After giving Wolf time to respond, and subsequently pass Albin the note he did, Albin glanced down at the paper; "To Kaen Youji." "Huh," he mumbled to himself, "didn't expect to be meeting him again so soon." Turning back to Wolf, as he spoke about the note and his interactions with Kaen. As Albin opened up the note itself to take a precursory glance at it, he made note of the signature marked down at the bottom; "S73S". He furrowed his brow. A few ideas as to what that meant had run through his head, but it wasn't enough to confidently comment on. He kept that information to himself, refolded the paper, and tucked it away in his Shihakkusho.

And with that, he was dismissed. Standing up slowly and stretching his back, Albin turned to Wolf. "Thank you for your time, Wolf," he said, "it's been fun. Horrifying at times, but fun." He chuckled. "If you're willing to meet up again at some point once more, I'd love to do so. You seem to have a bit more know-how regarding my whole situation than even I do. Which, isn't saying much on my part, but I digress. When next we meet, would you by chance be up for a tussle of some kind? You've gotten me keenly interested on your own abilities, both on and off the battlefield. I'd love to see what I can incorporate myself!"