A Forecast of Hell to Come - Social Brutus/Seiji

[Brutus]

Brutus had been lounging again in Shawns inner world. The realm far more peaceful now that the owner and the inner spirit weren't duking it out. Or worse, helping one another. Ugh. Brutus shuddered some at the thought alone of assisting Shawn. This only further aggravated him as he'd actually gone so far as to assist Shawn anyway and unironically. . . for free. Brutus's eyes shot open as he lay on the stone bed and then promptly narrowed immensely. He WOULD get his due payment from Shawn. Saving him not once but TWICE. He growled to himself at his "generosity", he needed to do something other than be present in this inner world. Sloth compelled his everyday actions and being but that did not mean he was going to allow himself to become beneath others.


However, he had to admit, he wasn't entirely certain about what all he was willing to do. He'd collected information on several individuals as he travelled inside Shawn's soul. Learning of Kimiko, Squad 11 captain, Gestalt a surprisingly corrupted Squad 4 member, a paltry amount of shinigami, and one Seiji Ishikawa. The last one was another curious individual. A Vizard, without a doubt. Perhaps one who did not yet know that they were given the soul of their hollow felt deceptive. Cunning in its own right. In addition to being malignant since it obviously was all but helpful to the host soul. "This is a curious point of information, isn't it? Shawn has dealings with me. Celes is a vizard and has dealings with me. Kimiko another captain has an inner hollow, and this Seiji individual does as well. With Squad 4 having demons amongst their kin. Hehe, Soul Society how you have fallen. What happened to your "Purist" ideology? What happened to "Vizards and Hell" being strictly forbidden and killed on sight? Unless. . . "


Brutus smiled widely. That was it wasn't it? Soul Society at large, did NOT know of them. Gestalt was easy enough to understand. His connection to Hell was "weak" which meant he likely had no idea what he was. Meanwhile Kimiko and Seiji had far stronger ties with their inner hollows. Meaning they had interacted with them. Knew of them. Even if they weren't super knowledgeable of the fact that said spirits were hollows. This meant, Brutus had an edge. Well at least in making a deal with them. Though he had to ask himself if he truly wanted anything else. More realms to reside within were a plus. Shawn's was getting. . . hmm. . .Boring to say the least. But he didn't desire another to fight Guujin. Kimiko perhaps would be a good addition, but Brutus had Celes alongside her own inner hollow. He had a surprising amount of trust in their capabilities.


So that left him with an uncertain goal before him. Perhaps Seiji could find themselves useful in other ways. Perhaps Brutus could take an I.O.U. and garner strength behind himself. Favors, even if they weren't used were powerful tools to have in his back pocket. He nodded to himself a bit as he considered the idea. "Especially when such favors include those who are vizards. Assuming they gain control of their powers. . . There's not many who could stand up to them. . . Hmm. . . which reminds me. I need to check up on Albin at some point. I've not sensed him specifically, yet his name still radiates his energy in my tome. Surely, he's not been eradicated. A project for another time to be sure. For now, I think it's time to find ourselves meeting with Seiji. Let's see what all you have to offer young one.~"


Brutus pushed himself off his collection of stones he called a bed. Stretched and popped his back with a soft groan. Moments after he then allowed himself to be flooded with reiatsu. Actively pushing it throughout his body and forcing it to shift and change as he returned to his true form. Though it took only a moment at most it would sound agonizing had another been present. Bones snapping and breaking, rock shattered only to be replaced by a far softer sound as stone turned to flesh. The chains at his wrists wrapped around his body and exploded in a dark orange burst as his entire body glowed. Once done he stood in Shawns world, gently radiating his potent hell reiatsu. A deep sigh left his body as he finally looked himself over.


"I do miss this form. It's a shame I don't use it more often. Taller, stronger, marginally more concerning upon first glance. It's perfect. Still, I cannot dally any further. It's later in the evening for Soul Society and if I'm to make it Seiji needs to be awake lest our conversation never occur. OPEN." Before Brutus, and subsequently within Seiji's inner world, appeared a wooden door. Finely crafted with dark tan finish, tinted glass, thin but artistic metal over the glass and the same black metal used for the handle. With his spear in hand Brutus walked forward, grabbing the handle and gently swinging open the door. He was surprised by what all he saw. A fusion of at least two "cities" one clearly mimicking the Rukongai and another mimicking. . . Well, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Definitely a major human city. Perhaps London? There was a massive clocktower after all. A dojo was also present in the distance and even further out were walls. Large and imposing and hiding the city from the grasslands surrounding it.


Brutus would have likely preferred being in the grasslands but given the nature of the walls? He had a suspicion that if Seiji were to find him then he'd need to remain inside said domain. Thus, completely stepped into Seiji's inner world, closing the door behind him, only to open in again showing the more modern city in this case. He'd seen the Rukongai enough to have an idea of it. Even with the rain, the chills, and the strong breeze, this was still leagues more pleasant than Hell. And thus, simply ignored all of it while he walked through his door before banishing it and beginning to roam the city. If Seiji couldn't sense him, his inner spirits would. And they'd no doubt inform him of his presence. In the meantime, he simply stuck to the streets and wandered, gazing upon the various structures, even going so far as to peek inside them to see if they were furnished or simply empty buildings. All the while waiting and expected a less than pleasant welcome.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reference image for the door}

[Ishikawa Seiji]

Recruitment had come and went.

That, unfortunately, meant a new wave of paperwork to deal with. Something that he could not help but loathe, a quiet sigh as he'd sat down at the start of that afternoon. A pile in which no one else could work through, there was no one else he could shift such forms onto. Not because they were incapable of filling out such things in the first place, but because they required the signature of someone of his rank or higher, and with no Captain around to do such things? That left all parts of such critical work left for him to pick up, again and again. It wasn't that he hated it, not per say, the Lieutenant knew things like this would happen when his new position had been thrust upon him so suddenly before he'd even been discharged from Squad Four's hospital. A fact that he was still rather annoyed about, but of course, couldn't dare question. Central 46 held all the power over this Division, and as they had reminded him time and time again since taking the post, he wasn't to complain and instead to just follow orders.

He was nothing but a tool to them.

And perhaps for some that was fine, maybe those that served the Gotei wouldn't mind being seen in such a manner, they had a duty to fulfill that they had agreed to from the micro-second they graduated and put on that uniform so well known throughout the Soul Society. But he was not such an individual. So he did his job, but never in a way they completely liked, never to the letter. Always something left to frustrate the old fools that had nothing better to do then boss him around, powerless without that thought of control. Of what would happen if he said no, if he had not in joining the Kido Corps, so graciously agreed to be their sword and shield against anything that tried to cause them harm. Most were just nobility, he suspected most had never worked a hard day in their entire life, let alone even considered the thought of combat themselves as an option. No for them, that was his job, lesser then the great sages that saw to the laws of this very world. The word of the Soul King, they said, what complete and utter bullshit.

But he smiled, he played along to their little pointless whims, and one small part of that was doing the paperwork required without another word. Had he someone to press it onto, he would have, but that was the problem with so many deaths and no leadership but him. Everything had to go through him, the only benefit of that? Well molding those they had left into an effect unit and as individuals was going rather well. None of them ever dared to be late anymore when roles were assigned for the day each and every morning either, not after the punishments he had dolled out for those cocky few, oh how quickly they had learnt. Strangely he'd picked up on it rather well, a flash of memory, Shin mentioning that he himself was more a follower than a leader. Perhaps that was why he'd always been the one dragging his twin around Rukongai, despite being younger, who knew. It was with a languid stretch that he banished the thought, and a sip of coffee from the cup he knew to be at his side, that he returned to the dreaded task that was form-filling.

Hours later beyond the trappings of the afternoon, the evening sun long since fallen beneath the horizon and dinner having been consumed, the Lieutenant had not long returned to the Kido Corps compound. A place well protected from those that may try to sneak inside and discover their secrets, heavily warded just as his own room was, far better than some of the Gotei Divisions in his opinion. Maybe they were just a less private bunch overall, who was to say. Only as he meandered down the shaded walkways, hidden by high walls and safe from the looming dark skies above, did Seiji begin to sense that something was off. Not with the air around him, not even with the reiatsu of another nearby, no nothing like that. He would've felt it flaring, distinct enough to know it wasn't intentional. Few would practice at this time of the evening anyway, no whatever it was, it was something far more personal in nature.

"Seiji... you need to get in here."

"Oh, so it's not just me feeling as if someone's reached down my throat and pulled out my guts."

"Less sarcasm more moving, it isn't him... but the reiatsu is hell based."

"Destroy it, I'll be there in a moment."

Kaze for her part, had noticed the intruder the moment they had arrived. A flare of reaitsu unlike anything that should exist here, how could she not, added to the fact that Shin had been growing increasingly more active and pestering as the months went on. Slipping past the walls that kept him out to bother her, or Seiji whenever he visited, it was difficult to not be on high alert. And if Seiji asked her to destroy whomever it was, well for once she had no trouble listening to the overly self-critical and doubting idiot that he was. Hidden within the alleyways of the city, she weaved through them with practiced ease, blade called to her grasp on a gentle breeze. A glint of steel reflecting against the slowly growing storm-clouds above, clearly her words had rattled her master, not surprising the onyx haired spirit whatsoever. Worry at least in her mind, seemed the natural response to someone entering such a private place without express permission, best to get to work then.

That starting strike came with the first drops of rain, seemingly appearing from thin air itself, a flurry of strikes soon directed at the Hellion in question. No doubt so now she could see him, one had already caused such turmoil, there would not be a second. "You do not belong here hellion, leave or perish." Words a subtle hiss, a snake like tongue peeking out from a seemingly human like form even as she rained blows down, one after another with a blade that seemed almost half translucent yet found it's mark nonetheless. Only as it seemed to strike this being down for good, cut entirely in two, did Seiji appear. Having had to rush to his own quarters before going into Jinzen. Because whatever was happening? He knew it would likely take a while to deal with, both mentally and spiritually.

A rush of air burst forth in the wake of his arrival, the rain now slowing from a heavy pounding of water to a gentle patter against the empty streets as he stepped out of a nearby building. Glad for once, to have his sight returned to him within his inner world, the look on Kaze's face alone was concerning enough. Let alone the lingering of Hell reiatsu, unlike the hollow he had known come to know and loathe as well as his own beside it. "Gone?" He asked simply, getting only a short nod in response, though neither of them truly trusted it. That same identical blade now grasped between slim fingers on his left side, a quiet and almost soundless murmur was all it took of her name before he was released into Shikai. Something that could get into his world and he only noticed once it was inside? This wasn't something to joke around about, much as he'd like to, perhaps it could be useful. Though, speaking of that.

"O'course if ya are still alive. Do tell me so we can kick ya back out again. Like she said, ya ain't welcome here."

[Brutus]

Brutus sensed Kaze before he'd ever see her. Already sensing her murderous intent. He chuckled to himself knowing that he'd have to do the same thing he did with Celes again. Prove that their best efforts were futile and that he wasn't here to be aggressive. Though considering the spirit was calling out to her master perhaps the two together would attempt to permanently banish them. He sighed to himself. Her energy was shifting to a dangerously aggressive stance, and he had to guess, she'd called upon Shikai to assist her. That's when he realized and raised his eyebrows some. Wind, eh? Well at least it shall not simply be me being bisected again. Though this one does have quite the power backing them. Let's hope it takes less than 20 deaths this time to have them become willing to speak with me.

For the time being Brutus simply walked in a direction of his choosing. Following a street and glancing upon the windows of this dreary city. The rain a refreshing change for him. As Kaze got close, he held up his right hand and began to count down from it. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. When he made a fist, she was present behind him. He continued to walk, though from how relaxed he was, going so far as to yawn, it was clear he not only knew she was present but that he was unconcerned to the extreme. Then he died. He heard her rambling and ignored it. No screams or sounds came from him that weren't soft grunts. He died almost immediately though as his body broke apart into ash Kaze had continued to strike him. By the time Seiji had arrived there was no body left. His ash pile had already been blown away. Unaffected by her gusts of air nor the water raining down upon them.

Brutus registered shortly thereafter that he was in a void. Waiting for his reconstitution to occur. Not but a moment later had he found himself physically present again but buried alive. He was in Greed's depths. Surrounded by hardened stone that looked akin to dark gray concrete. Bound by the stone and unable to move himself beyond small breaths he had to admit, if it were anyone else, this would be hell to deal with. Thankfully. he was Brutus and he could leave and return to Seiji's world in but a moment. He willed the rock beneath him to become a door, a simple trap door made of wood and with a metal handle atop it. The door opened and he fell through. The door immediately led back to the inner world he was previously at and conveniently close to Kaze and Seiji, about 10 feet away.

He fell back into the world just as Seiji was speaking. The patter of water under his feet and the door above him closing would signal his return. He looked unconcerned and worse yet bored. A quick peering into Seiji's soul and he was able to tell this was going to be an especially stubborn shinigami. Alastor I hope I can convince enough Shinigami to come after you. For all the effort I have to put into this shit, this is ridiculous. The shinigami were already idiots and now this moron is going to be even more stubborn than Celes. Not to mention his two-bit harlot of a zan spirit isn't going to make this any easier. Ugh. Still. . . if his soul isn't lying, and it's not. He has quite a lot of issues, doesn't he?

Once Seiji had finished speaking, assuming Brutus was still alive in some capacity, he'd speak. Though his tone was tired, admittedly somewhat dull, and conveyed his boredom if only to insult the two's frankly bargain bin reactions to him. "I'm right here. Feel free to kill me as much as you want. You can't prevent my return nor am I here to harm you. Even if you are quite rude." Assuming he was still present he continued to yawn at them. More than willing to continue reading their souls so he could gain a further understanding even while he died again in a likely more gruesome manner than the last time he died. His only hope being that these two could make his deaths interesting. If not, they truly were going to be boring and a waste of his infinite time.

[Ishikawa Seiji]

It seemed, as much as Kaze had tried, that this little ordeal was far from over. Not by a long shot. Those this Hellion's form was naught but ash by the time he arrived, Seiji didn't trust that for one fucking second. If this bastard could reach and step into his inner world without prior permission, let alone without his knowing about the intrusion until after he had stepped inside and begun wandering around the city he called home as if it were a place everyone could visit, then he wasn't nearly stupid enough to assume that a few attacks would do the job in getting rid of whomever this being was from his own mental space. Permanently. Certainly it seemed that his Zanpakuto spirit felt the same way, judging by her stance even as he stepped out into the streets drenched with rain water, readied even as that ash floated away and dissolved upon the wind. Of course if anyone were to observe the pair, they might find the fact that Seiji was speaking to the environment around him rather strange, yet unless he got no response whatsoever he'd keep going until this Hellion left him the fuck alone.

So of course, when such a being showed themselves again barely ten feet away, neither Seiji nor his spirit were all that surprised. They both expected that this would take some time, a bit of hard work and effort in getting them to leave so he could go about his day, and maybe even consider getting a decent night's rest without being disturbed. Even if the chance of such was low, he'd rather take that risk, then spend all evening dealing with this shit. Still what was rather different were what they were told, not here to harm them? Yeah sure, that was rich, as for preventing his return - well he had plenty of options to work with that was for sure. And within his own inner world, the possibilities for setting up such things were almost endless, a space filled to the brim with what he needed and Kaze more than willing to double up on that destructive impulse to get this Hellion gone. His sight within this space was only the icing on top of the cake really, despite that, he was no fool to take such words to heart. The body language and even tone told him plenty, this wasn't a fight, not really.

They were being toyed with.

"Rude? Bit rich fer someone steppin' inta my space without askin' first. That's real rude o'ya, then 'gain, I ain't expectin' much from ya lot after what some of ya did ta the Soul Society.'' There wasn't true malice in that statement, what the Hellions had tried to do on paper was relatively smart, even if the execution of said ideas was absolutely awful. That said, he hadn't been all that keen on a mass group of them showing up trying to tare down the entire realm to begin with. Spiritual instability aside, even the Gotei and Central 46's own fuckups aside, some kind of balance had to remain. In the world in which he inhabited and now, within his own soul, which meant this Hellion had to go. Like it or not, it seemed he'd have to do things the hard way to try and get the other to leave.

The first attempt made was simple enough, blade quickly sheathed yet still released as he sprinted forward, pressured gathered within the sheath before being unleashed at a frightening 800 speed, more than enough speed with a fierce enough onslaught to destroy some in a single blow. And given the Hellion seemed content in that moment to just stand there and take the entire attack, well he wasn't going to complain about having an easy to hit target. The second followed mere moments after Seiji had witnessed the other reemerge from a doorway, his own reiatsu along with Kaze's, golden chains formed and quickly wrapped about every part of the body. Squeezing tight enough until his head simply popped and was left with nothing else but a lifeless form.

A third strike came in a similar manner, the moment Brutus stepped beyond the safety of that now familiar door, he would find himself assaulted. Not by blades or other weapons this time, but by the sheer spiritual force of two kido being launched at once from either side. His inner world could fix itself in due time, it generally always did given his mental state, the same however could not be said for anyone who wished to take such force head on and come out of this alive. The forth was a little slower, seeing someone still alive after that was an impressive feat, but perhaps not for a Hellion. That had a way of being tricky bastards like that, or at least, most that he had met thus far had been exactly like that. A mixture of Kido and slicing the other apart to keep them off-balance, Kaze moving and striking of her own accord mere seconds after he had certainly helped keep things unorthodox as well.

For a while it continued just like that, over and over, and if Brutus thought others were stubborn then the Hellion truly had no idea of just who exactly he was dealing with. Even his own sibling had called him too stubborn for his own good on multiple occasions while he had been more understanding, but why bother? Seiji knew others looked down on him for his own upbringing and he wasn't about to pretend to be nice to get people to forget where he was raised and hope they liked him. Fuck that. One strike after the next, nearly always just after Brutus had stepped out of his doorway back into the inner world. All in all, it took forty attempts before the Lieutenant looked even somewhat ready to concede, some methods used merely to conserve his own stamina. Yet even that was staring to wane after going at the same target over and over again for so long. It was like the worst kind of loop ever, in which he'd never win, not that it stopped him completely.

"Yer... a persistent fucker.. ain'cha?" The words breathed out as a harsh pant as he witnessed the Hellion appear once again through that same damn door. Forty attempts and still nothing had changed, only his drained reiatsu and stamina showed even the slightest bit of change across the passage of time. The lieutenant planting his blade into the dirt below in order to raise himself to his feet, swaying slightly before he regained his balance enough to remain in one spot, Kaze stood only a few feet away looking rather tired as well. But just as determined, he knew she'd keep going until she couldn't anymore and he would too under normal circumstances, but after so long there came a point in which he supposed fighting would only hurt them. Not the Hellion that kept walking around uninvited. Removing the blade from the sodden earth below, Seiji sheathed his blade and sighed, raising a hand just enough to stop Kaze from charging at the Hellion again.

"Whatddya want?"