To Serve and Protect

[Munemasa Iroka]

Name: [Insert Here] - To Serve and Protect


Participants: [Insert Here] - Munemasa Iroka , Satoshi Fuuko , Benjiro Hiroto


Location: [Insert Here] - Earth- Other Places


Difficulty Level: [Insert Here] - Medium


Setting: [Insert Here] NDE


Plotline: [Insert Here] - An SOS has been issued by a Shinigami on patrol in Earth. The area seems mostly deserted, being a ghost town that was completely evacuated many years ago due to what seemed like a nuclear leak, but was in actuality hollow activity. An unseated Shinigami from the 12th Division in the area, who had been gathering information on the strange occurrences in the area, seems to have issued a call for help before going radio-silent. The job is to get in, extract him and his data-collection tools, and get out. It doesn't seem to be a serious case, though. What could go wrong?


Estimated Enemy Strength: [Insert Here] 7-3


Estimated Time Until Completion: [Insert Here] - As long as it takes.


Starts: [Insert Here] - NAO!!!


Special Conditions: [Insert Here] - Who?

[Munemasa Iroka]

The lights shining out of the windows of the white-walled buildings of Seireitei stood in contrast to the blue-black shroud that night had thrown over Soul Society. A stiff wind blew, strong enough to whip hair and loose clothes about, even as much of the Gotei 13 were either retiring for the night, or already within their domicile places. There were those, however, for whom the night did not offer rest, but work. The sentries, for instance, were required to be the eyes and ears of the Gotei 13 while it slept. And then there were those who somehow had been roped into doing work while others were turning in for the night.

Iroka viewed the mission before her with ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, it felt good to know that she was improving enough to be considered for a mission which did not involve her being positioned as cannon fodder, or whatever it was that the unfortunate unseated Shinigami were tasked with doing, that saw them getting to line the stomachs of hollows. As a matter of fact, this mission involved going to search for someone who was likely lining the stomach of a hollow at the present moment. That she wasn't the one being saved was, in her opinion, a good change of pace.

On the other hand, there was something that worried Iroka about this mission. The region had been considered to be devoid of activity. both of human and hollow. It should have been a completely harmless mission, and yet there had been a call for help from the Shinigami who'd been sent there to collect data, shortly before he had gone incommunicado. Something dangerous had surely occurred. The question was, what was that? As far as the search and rescue team was concerned, they were going in blind, and Iroka suspected that the group might be surprised at what they would find in the apparently deserted place.

She was glad she wasn't going in alone. Her best friend would be tagging along, according to the books, as the leader of this expedition, seeing as Fuuko had the highest rank there. Also coming along was a Shinigami from the 10th, of whom Iroka knew little, except that he was very large. Well, since the 10th was all about defense, his addition to the team was likely to be a good thing, as there would most likely be the need for some strong defense, a tank, as the roleplaying games described the position. Hopefully, everyone would be able to work together and they would accomplish this mission successfully and quickly. Iroka had a feeling that it would take longer than she cared for, though.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Stuff}
STATS:
Strength: 70 (-50%): 35
Speed: 140
Reiatsu Strength: 80 (+50%): 120
Spiritual Pressure: 122 (+50%): 183 [Reiatsu: 1830]
Instinct: 50
Senses: 100 (-50%): 50
Energy Sensory: 00
Healing Expertise: 400

Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0

SKILLS: 13/17

Mental:
Analyzing: 2
Strength of Will: 1

Battle:
Hakuda- Shintenken: 2
Battle Analysis: 2
Kidō Mastery: 2

Body:
Mental Incantation: 1
Cold Tolerance: 1
Damage Recovery: 1

Utility:
Crafting/Forging: 1

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko walked up to Iroka with a yawn. She clapped her best friend and squadmate on the shoulder and flashed her a smile. "Oi, sis!" She chirped. "Feels like it's been a while since we went to the world of the living, huh?" She asked. Fuuko had taken a nap before the mission. After reading the report, a search and rescue was exactly the kind of mission designed for Squad Four. An SoS was a strange thing, but the idea was to get in and get out. Whatever was he cause of the SoS would be dealt with by some other investigation team. Squad Four's job was just to find the stranded Shinigami and bring them back alive. 

Of course the situation seemed rather odd, so it was probably for the best that both a top level healer in Iroka and a top level fighter like Fuuko be the ones to go investigate. They were also, apparently, babysitting an unseated member of Squad 10, but he had yet to arrive. Fuuko didn't care as long as he wasn't in the way. Maybe Squad 10 saw something in him? Maybe he just needed a few flight hours logged, so to speak. Maybe he had a skill or piece of information useful to the division. Fuuko mentally shrugged at the thought. 

While they stood at the senkaimon waiting, Fuuko noticed the breeze. Unusual for Seireitei, but not completely impossible. The two Shinigami women were both busty and wearing pretty short-skirts. It didn't go unnoticed by Fuuko, especially as she leaned back and tried to get a glimpse of Iroka's panties. "Wearin white tonight, Sis?" She said and gave her friend's butt a goosing. "This weather ain't skirt wearin weather! Everyone's gonna know what we're wearin today, huh? Ha!" Fuuko grinned. "Hopefully it ain't like this on the other side." Fuuko commented. "But even if it is, this Juubantai kid better not try and get a look at you or I'll give him a personal  tour of the Yonbantai medical facilities!" Fuuko clenched her fist as she talked about Benjiro, in spite of never meeting him, and spoke about his potential perverseness and also in spite of her own lack of personal space with her bestie. 

After a small chuckle, she gave Iroka's back a gentle rub. "Nervous?" Fuuko asked and pulled out a kiseru pipe from her supply sack. She filled it, lit it and gave it a quick puff and blew the smoke into the air where the air carried away the cloud. "I'm kinda excited." She said and offered Iroka the pipe. "I finally got that bitch." The blonde said with a big grin and tapped her Zanaputou with her free hand. "And your training with Tsuyoshi-taichou? How was that?" Fuuko grinned wider. "I got to train with Nakajima-taichou. She's... somethin else! Damn did she kick my ass! Heh!" Fuuko mused. 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro sat cross-legged on the tatami mat in the quiet room, surrounded by the serene atmosphere of the Seireitei. He closed his eyes and focused his attention inward, taking deep breaths and emptying his mind of all thoughts. As he reached a state of complete stillness, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. He felt his connection to the spiritual world strengthen, and he knew he was ready to receive the guidance he was seeking.

In his meditation, Benjiro remembered the teachings of Okami Butsu, his mentor and guide. He reflected on the wisdom Okami Butsu had shared with him about the endless struggle for peace and the never-ending path to utopia. Benjiro realized that this path would be long and arduous, but he also knew that each step he took would bring him closer to his goal. He felt a sense of contentment knowing that he was contributing to a better world.

He needed to reflect upon this goal often, not only to reaffirm his resolve, but because he was afraid. He had seen what blind devotion to one's goal led to, he had seen it enough in the way that Lucien had acted. The Vandenreich had taken the easy path to peace, one paved from the corpses of those who disobeyed. Benjiro did not want to follow down that twisted path, for that was far from true peace. That was why he was so thankful for the teachings of the Okami Butsu, for he had changed his perspective enough to protect his strength of will.

With his resolve strengthened, Benjiro thought about his assignment for the day. He was to work alongside two Shinigami from the 4th Division as they carried out their mission. He didn't know the specifics of the assignment, but he knew that his role was to provide extra protection for his seniors should they need it. It was his role as a member of the 10th, after all. For the first time since he became a Shinigami, he actually felt like he could actually protect others somewhat. As he thought about his responsibilities, he felt a sense of pride and determination.

As he opened his eyes, Benjiro felt a renewed sense of purpose. He stood up, feeling refreshed and energized, ready to face the day's challenges. He donned his Shihakusho and his custom green haori, adorned with Buddhist prayers from head to toe, and made his way to the meeting place where his seniors would be arriving. He knew that this would be a new experience for him, but he was eager to learn and prove himself worthy of his role.

It did not take long for Benjiro to arrive at the Senkaimon, surprised to see that he was the last one there. Had he been meditating for too long? "I apologize for my tardiness, Hiroto (Last Name) Benjiro (First Name), Unseated Officer of the Jubantai." The gentle giant introduced himself with a deep bow, comically deep even, as his natural 7 foot 2 frame suddenly cut in half from the amount of respect he was giving to his two fellow Shinigami.

It would almost be so respectful that it was disrespectful, like a mockery of a bow, if not for the sincerity in his face and his irisless eyes as he looked back at the two of them. "I am glad to be of assistance to the Yonbantai, especially after training with a few of your members. Speaking of, it has been a while since I have seen Gestalt, is he doing well?" Benjiro seemed to be meekness and politeness incarnate, a stark contrast to his large and muscular frame. At the very least, it didn't seem as if he was interested in Fuuko or Iroka's appearance whatsoever, contrary to Fuuko's assumption.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}
Strength: 100 (133)
Speed: 100 (70)
RS: 120 (180)
SPPR: 100
Instinct: 50
Senses: 50 (37)
ES: 100
HE: 0
LA: 75
DA: 25

---

Learning - 1
Calm Mind - 1
Strength of Will - 1
Weapons: Swords - 1
Pain Tolerance - 1
Bleeding Tolerance - 1
Damage Recovery - 1
Mental Incantation - 1

Munemasa Iroka Satoshi Fuuko

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka smiled as she felt the slap on her shoulder and heard the familiar voice. "There you are, Oni-chan!" she exclaimed happily. "And yes, you're right. It feels like it's been forever. The human world is so interesting, but I'd personally hope for this particular mission to just be a simple extraction and nothing more." Somehow, though, Iroka suspected that this might not be the case. She didn't consider herself to be the luckiest person around.

The question of what color Iroka was wearing was, like most statements which were not completely unequivocal in nature, flew over the carrot top's head. "Hmm? Funny you should ask. I'm obviously wearing bla--aah!" She slapped her hands over her backside and whipped round to face Fuuko, her cheeks red and her face bearing a shocked expression, though there were hints of a scandalized smile on her face. "Fuuko-chan!" she exclaimed. "You shouldn't do that! Who knows who could be watching?"

A confused expression crossed Iroka's face at Fuuko's threat towards the 10th Division fellow who had not yet arrived. "Since he's very likely going to have eyes, I'm not sure I see any issues with him looking at me. I might get uncomfortable if he stares too long, but I don't think it would be fair to him if he got castigated because he looked at me." Again, Iroka had no idea as to what Fuuko was talking about, and simply assumed Fuuko meant the word 'look' in no metaphors. She supposed Fuuko had a reason for this, but there was no point in asking. She thought it was probably something she was supposed to know, so best not to ask.

"Admittedly, yes," Iroka answered the question about her state of mind. "For some reason, I feel that this mission might not be as straightforward as I hope it to be." She politely declined the pipe; she had never gotten around how people smoked. The stuff always went the wrong way and left her a coughing wreck. Best to avoid such embarrassments tonight. "You got a bitch? Isn't that dangerous? Did you get bitten? Unattended bites could cause rabies, you know. My training with Tsuyoshi-sama was nice; not mind blowing but nice. I sparred with one of his squad members. He said he'd kill me if we fought. I believe him."

It was nice to hear that Fuuko had trained with a captain. Maybe it would be good for Iroka to fight against stronger opponents, as that would probably improve her combat prowess. If she learned anything at all. In any case, the goal was to fight against opponents who were not trying to kill her. Even though there were many who believed that engaging in life-and-death battles was a good thing as far as getting stronger was concerned, Iroka did not see how losing an arm, or getting multiple organ failure due to trauma was going to make anyone stronger. She was about to ask if she could also go to the 11th to look for training, when Benjiro came.

"Hajimemashite, Benji-kun," Iroka said good-naturedly, turning around to find herself staring at the bowing giant of a man. She visibly jumped as she yelped in shock. As to the 'disrespectful' nature of his bow, it did not matter to Iroka. She didn't really care for such trivialities as being rude or not. She wasn't sure why people seemed to put so much emphasis on those things. Anyway, social etiquettes were not important. What was important was just how big this guy was. He was practically two feet taller than she was. She stared up at him for a moment before realizing Benjiro had asked a question.

"Eh? Gestalt?" Her eyes furrowed as she tried to remember who that was. It didn't take long, though, as recognition lit up her features. "Oh, you mean Daddy-san!" she exclaimed, nodding her head. The first time they'd met, Gestalt had made the 'mistake' of identifying himself as 'Father Gestalt'. Daddy it was. "He's fine, or at least when last I saw him, I think he was." There was a pause, as Iroka stared at his face. Then she asked rather bluntly, "um, are you blind?"


Satoshi Fuuko Benjiro Hiroto

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko understood, after being around Iroka for so long, that Iroka took most things quite literally. In spite of this, Fuuko took that idiosyncrasy with a grain of salt most of the time. Either Iroka would get it or she wouldn't and Fuuko could express herself nearly consequence free because of it. She rarely explained herself either, but Iroka rarely asked for any sort of deep clarification, which meant Fuuko did not have to embarrass Iroka by talking down to her. The last thing Fuuko wanted was to make Iroka feel ashamed or stupid. She was definitely smart, probably smarted than Fuuko, not that that was a high bar to hop over in Fuuko's eyes, but she was also simple and naive and innocent. As much as Fuuko tried to corrupt her friend with her bad manners and worse habits, Fuuko wanted Iroka to keep her rose colored glasses for as long as she could. In the blonde's eyes, it was ok for Fuuko to be herself around Iroka, because Iroka was her friend and they shared a bond. Soul King help whoever else tried that shit around the orangette. 

She considered Iroka's words and thought about her encounter with Shukketsubuki. She smiled and gave her hilt another pat. "Yeah... I guess I did." She mused. "Don't worry, though, I'm tougher than any rabid dog!" She said and puffed out her chest.  It was about that time that Benjiro had shown up. "Geeze, yer a tall motherfucker." Fuuko said as benjiro bowed deeply and greeted the tow of them. 

As he was folded in half, Fuuko raised her arm, clenched her fist and wrapped her knuckles against the back of Benjiro's head. "Oi! See! I told ya he was a pervert, sis! Tryin ta look up our skirts, huh!? Iroka-chan ain't that kinda girl, so straighten up before I fold ya in half the other way!" 

Fuuko huffed, took a drag off her pipe and then tapped out the ash on the back of her sandal and put it away. 'Tch. Some people." She said and then realized what else was said. "That ojiisan? Old fart probably died of old age." Fuuko said with a shrug. "If you see him, give him a kick in his ass and tell him to get back to work!" Fuuko's eye twitched at the thought, but now that everyone was here, it was time for  business. 

"Ok, Pervert, it's time to head out. Have ya been to the world of the living before? What kind of experience do ya have? I mean, why'd they saddle us with ya? I ain't no babysitter, so if ya can't pull yer own weight, turn around and go cryin back ta Cap'n Shindazu, ok?" Fuuko said as she stuffed one hand into her shirt and casually scratched at one of her boobs. "Iroka-chan here's one of the best healers in the Yonbantai. I'm here ta make sure anythin that shows up that ain't welcome is sent packin. Any questions?" 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro arrived at the gate between worlds, the Senkaimon, he had felt a little nervous. He was determined, of course, to do his responsibilities and help others with his strength, but the prospect of meeting two other Shinigami had concerned him. There was no time to work on teamwork or tactics, which meant they were going into this assignment blind. Still, he was looking forward to working with them. As he looked around, he saw the two Shinigami not too far away from him, and with respect, he greeted them. The first one, a woman with long orange hair, was smiling brightly as she approached him. Benjiro felt a sense of ease wash over him at the sight of her friendly demeanor. However, as soon as she got a closer look at him, she jumped back in shock.

Benjiro felt his cheeks flush red as he realized what was going on. He was used to this reaction from others because of his size, but it still made him feel a little self-conscious. He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself, hoping to shake off the awkwardness. He opened his mouth, ready to apologize for the shock that he had caused. Most of the people that were shocked with his size felt unsafe after all, and he wanted to reassure her that he was no threat.

The second Shinigami though, a girl with long blonde hair, was not as friendly. She had interrupted him before he could apologize. As soon as she saw Benjiro, she walked up to him and placed her fist on the back of his head. Benjiro's eyes widened in surprise as he heard what she had said about him. Before he could even say anything in the contrary, the girl accused him of being a pervert and trying to peek under their skirts. She made a comment that Iroka-chan, which was most likely the orange haired girl, was not that type of girl.

Immediately, Benjiro straightened his back and stiffened up, trying not to disgrace himself further. "I apologize. I did not mean to offend, nor did I try to take a peek! I assure you, I saw nothing at all!" He tried to defend himself, insisting that he was just trying to be respectful. However, it just seemed as if he was digging himself into a deeper hole with each word he said. He couldn't believe that things had turned out this way, especially since he was looking forward to working with these Shinigami.

Despite the rocky start to their meeting, Benjiro hoped that things would get better from here on out. He took a deep breath and straightened his back, ready to show them that he was a capable and reliable Shinigami. He was determined to earn their trust and prove that he was worthy of being a member of the 10th Division. His first course of action was changing the topic of conversation to hopefully retain some sense of dignity, and that was by asking how Gestalt was.

Immediately, Iroka seemed confused before recognizing who he had meant, affectionately referring to him as Daddy-san. It was... a strange name to say the least, but one that Benjiro could understand. When he had met Father Gestalt, he couldn't help but see his own father in him. With a soft smile, he nodded. "That is good to hear, Father Gestalt had trained me well a few months ago. I still rely on his tutelage to this day!" He shared, hoping to enjoy some shared camaraderie.

That hope was quickly dashed when the ruder Shinigami had proclaimed that he was probably dead due to old age. Benjiro was shocked at the sudden shift in tone between the two of them, but he listened as she gave him a request. He was supposed to kick him in the ass and tell him to get back to work. Benjiro's eyes widened a little, still in shock as he nodded his head. "U-understood! I will let him know when I see him again." Just what exactly did Gestalt do to earn her ire? Benjiro wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

It was then that the blonde Shinigami took charge, saying that it was time to head out. She had asked him if he had been to the World of the Living before and what experience he had. Those were fairly standard questions, but then she had asked why they had to burden themselves by working with him, telling him to pull his weight or else he had better just stay in the 10th Division. Before he could answer, she casually scratched her chest while explaining that Iroka was one of the best healers in the Yonbontai and that she was clearly the fighter of the two.

"I have been to the World of the Living a few times now, dispatched to patrol Karakura mostly, but I visited Kyoto once. Before that, I lived in Kyoto prior to my death. As for experience, I have tested my mettle against hollows both within the Rukongai and in Karakura. You needn't worry about me, I can pull my own weight." His words were laced with resolve, showing off no false pride nor arrogance as he spoke. "It will be an honor to serve with the both of you, I am sure that I can be of assistance. I specialize in Bakudo and I can take a decent hit."

That was when the woman asked if he had any questions, but Iroka was the one who took the opportunity and asked quite bluntly if he was blind. Benjiro smiled, shaking his head softly. "No, I am not blind, but thank you for your concern. Even in my life, my eyes looked this way." He addressed Iroka with a patient respect. He then turned to the blonde Shinigami. "As for questions I have, I would first like to ask for both of your names, or how I should address each of you. My second question is, and forgive my ignorance, what exactly is our mission today? I'm afraid they were sparse on the details when informing me."


Munemasa Iroka Satoshi Fuuko

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka laughed cheerfully at Fuuko as the latter tried to defend her from perceived perversions on the part of the giant, who responded apologetically. "Come now, Oni-chan," she said, using her nickname for the blonde, "Benji-kun doesn't seem to be that sort. He seems like a nice person." For all her quirks and vagaries, Iroka could accurately intuit the intentions of people. Benjiro seemed, as far as she could sense, like a straightforward and calm, though not strict, person. He seemed dependable. In spite of her initial reaction at seeing his height, Iroka had lost all fear of him. "Like a massive, serious, teddy bear."

Fuuko asked what Benjiro's specialty was, and the latter replied that he specialized in sealing spells, and was quite sturdy as well, which was, in Iroka's opinion, perfect for this mission. "Excellent!" she said, clapping her hands in delight. "So we have major offense, major defense and support. Oooh, just like that game I played on one of those Earth-game-thingamajigs. The Lancer, the Sentinel and the Cleric. Uh... what game was that again?"

So Benjiro wasn't blind. That was interesting. She would really have liked to see how his eyes worked, since they didn't seem to possess any visible pupils, but sadly that was not in the menu for today's work. Still, it was worth a shot to ask if he was up for furthering knowledge in the name of science. But there was a question to answer first. "All we know is that some poor fellow called Kajou from the 12th was sent to Earth to collect data on some suspicious happenings in some deserted place in the north of the world. I think it's one of those Scandinavian countries."

"And your ignorance is forgiven, because we know little more than that there were plans to build a nuclear reactor on the island, but halfway through, it was deserted due to nuclear accidents, so people think. We suspect those accidents to have been caused by a hollow. In any case, the mission was supposed to be simple and straightforward: get in, take data, get out. And then Kajou-san goes in, and then shortly after sends a message that there's crazy stuff going on, and he needs help, and then, radio silence. We've been asked to find out if he's still alive and recover him if so, but as well get his data collection devices and return them to the 12th."

So saying, she wheeled around and marched into the Senkaimon waiting to transport the group to the site of interest on a relatively uninhabited Swedish island. On getting out and feeling the cold, crisp air, while the average person who wasn't too well-clothed would feel the nip in the air, Iroka took in a deep breath, stretched, and sighed in pleasure. Cold weather was always acceptable to her. The converse was true about heat. Due to her high metabolism, hot days were rather uncomfortable. As her companions arrived from the Senkaimon, Iroka turned to Benjiro.

"I'm interested in examining your eyes, Benji-kun. It might provide insights into the creation of new tech to assist the Gotei 13. And you will have the glory of being a lab rat." Okay, that didn't come out well. As Iroka fidgeted, trying to figure out how not to sound like some creepy scientist who just wanted to lay Benjiro on a table and cut him up with a scalpel, anyone with at least a 100 in Energy Sensory would detect reiatsu signatures approaching the group. There would seem to be six individual signatures, and one extra signature which appeared to be shared by the group.


Satoshi Fuuko Benjiro Hiroto

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Nnn..."

Fuuko raised an eyebrow at Iroka's description of Benjiro. She waved her hand and shook her head. "I don't see it." She muttered, glancing back at the tall man. "Satoshi Fuuko. I don’t care what ya call me as long as ya put respect on my name. That’s Munemasa Iroka. You address her as Ma’am or Munemasa-san, got it? Anyway, it's great you can cast some Kidou cause I can't." Fuuko admitted, neither proud or ashamed of her inability to cast magic. Fuuko just stared at Iroka when she tried to make the comparison to a videogame. Fuuko preferred her games to be more analogue. 

Fuuko listened attentively to Iroka's explanation of the mission and shook her head. "I still can't believe we gotta pick up their shit too. They really shoulda sent someone from Squad Twelve with us so we can identify it without having to look around forever. We're medics, not scientists. As far as I'm concerned, once we find out what happened to Kajou, the mission's over. If they wanna get their shit back, they can come back with some recon squads." With that, Fuuko followed Iroka through the Senkaimon and when they appeared, she frowned. 

Immediately, she crossed her arms over her chest. "What the shit!? It's fuckin cold here!" Fuuko hissed as her teeth chattered. She nestled up to Iroka and wrapped her arms around her and hugged the orangette close. "K-Keep me warm, Sis!" Fuuko pleaded as she tried to position the two so Iroka was blocking the wind. 

Iroka's words, however, gave Fuuko some pause. "Oi, sis! Are you sure you weren't supposed to be part of Squad Twelve!?" She asked. "We can pull out the pervert's eyes and look em over when we're done with the mission, ok?" Fuuko said, as if it was no big deal and all parties involved would be perfectly ok with it. "At least then he won't be able to look up our skirts anymore!" 

Fuuko shivered against Iroka and clanced around from her huddled position. "Where the fuck is this nuke plant we gotta got go check out?" Fuuko asked.  Fuuko closed her eyes and tried to focus on any reiatsu that wasn't Benjiro's or Iroka's. Not that she was particularly good at that. "L-Let's just h-hurry up and find Kajou and get the fuck out of here!" Fuuko reluctantly unlatched herself from Iroka and pulled her hand up to her eyes and focused on scanning the area. 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro's attempts at defending himself only seemed to make things worse, and the Shinigami continued to tease him relentlessly. Even Iroka's attempts to calm her down were to no avail, and Benjiro was left feeling like a complete fool. He had never been good at dealing with these kinds of situations, and he was starting to regret ever taking on this assignment, wondering if he could have spent some time with Akira instead. But he reminded himself that he was a Shinigami, and he had a duty to fulfill.

After what felt like an eternity of being teased, Iroka and the other Division 4 Shinigami relented on talking about his appearance and moved on to their strengths and roles in the coming fight. Iroka explained that she was a healer, the blonde Shinigami took on the role of the main fighter, and Benjiro stated that he would focus on restraining and taking attacks. As soon as they all finished, Iroka seemed to be overjoyed by the prospect of matching a traditional group in one of the games she had played. Benjiro just smiled gently, not knowing what a video game was.

Afterward, Benjiro had asked the two questions he needed answers to before beginning their mission in earnest. The first was answered by the blonde Shinigami, who introduced herself as Satoshi Fuuko, but she answered to anything for as long as he had respect for her. Fuuko also introduced her partner, Munemasa Iroka, but he was only to address her as Ma'am or Munemasa-san. Finally, before he could speak, Fuuko admitted that it was good that he could cast Kido, because she could not. Benjiro found that a little strange, unsure as to why.

From his training with Akira, Kido was simply the most focused form of utilizing one's soul and spiritual energy. Well, it was for Shinigami at least. It was interesting at the very least. "Understood. It is an honor, Satoshi-san, Munemasa-san." As soon as he finished, Munemasa-san took charge and explained their assigned duty for the day. Apparently, they were on a rescue mission, as a Shinigami from the 12th named Kajou had gone missing. Immediately, Benjiro's expression become one of immense worry and sympathy.

He listened with intent and concern as she explained that they were to head to a Scandinavian country, which was home to a malfunctioning nuclear reactor that the 12th was researching for potential hollow activity. Their duty was to save Kajou, first and foremost, but also to possibly recover the data that he was working on. Satoshi-san continued by complaining about collecting their data, especially because the three of them weren't scientists. She said that their mission was solely focused on saving Kajou, while recon squads could focus on collecting the data.

"I see. I agree with Satoshi-san, the data, while valuable, should not be our priority. If we can save Kajou-san and the situation is not dire, perhaps then he could identify what needed to be recovered. If not, then we should focus on taking him back home." Benjiro spoke with a calm and quiet resolve, already having made up his mind. Despite the non-confrontational nature of the gentle giant, he was surprisingly stubborn.

After that, the three of them had walked through the Senkaimon, guided by their Hell Butterflies through the familiar gate between the Worlds of the Living and the Dead. The trip itself was uneventful, but as they arrived in the mountainous region of this Scandinavian country, Benjiro was shocked. In the century of his life, Benjiro was accustomed to mountains and high altitudes. He had even gotten used to the cold mountain air that permeated throughout Mount Otowa in Kyoto, but Scandinavian mountains were alarmingly different.

The gentle giant began to shiver from the sheer cold, even going so far as to numb his fingers. He was so thankful that he decided to bring his haori this day, pulling it in closer in a vain attempt to be warmer. Satoshi-san seemed to be feeling the same way, rushing behind Munemasa-san to keep herself warm. Without a second to delay, Benjiro positioned himself in front of the two Shinigami, blocking the wind with his massive frame. "Abandon the body, clear the mind. Abandon the body, clear the mind." Benjiro repeated over and over as he regained control over his breathing, trying his best to ignore the rush of cold. It did not stop him from shivering though.

Suddenly, Munemasa-san asked if she could examine Benjiro's eyes in an attempt to create new technologies that could benefit all of the Gotei 13. She even said that he would have the glory of being a lab rat. Benjiro was immediately taken a back, lost for words at the sudden shift in her tone. Thankfully, Satoshi-san spoke for him, asking if she wasn't actually a member of the 12th Division, with her proclivity towards mad science. Unfortunately, she also volunteered him for it anyways, for as long as it was after the mission, ending it with yet another tease about being a pervert.

"...If it may benefit the Gotei 13, then you are free to examine my eyes. However, Satoshi-san is correct, we should save it for after the mission." Satoshi-san continued by asking where the nuclear reactor was so they could save Kajou then get out, but Benjiro suddenly stiffened up. Over the course of the past few months and the aid of both Akira and the Okami Butsu, Benjiro's ability to sense spiritual energy had grown immensely. By gently prodding the reiatsu in the air with that of his own spirit, he could feel shifts and changes in the natural current of reiatsu.

These changes came in the form of seven unique signatures in spiritual energy. No, there were six individual signatures there, but also a strange energy that was shared among them. Either way, they had to be cautious and prepare for a fight. "Hold, Munemasa-san, Satoshi-san. I can sense about six people not too far away. They seem to be approaching us." He spoke as he focused in on the direction of their approach. He couldn't shake the suspicious feeling he got from that shared energy, so he placed a hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto. Once he pinpointed their location, he would raise his left hand to point in their direction. "There."

Munemasa Iroka Satoshi Fuuko

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka, being the amazing ditz that she was, had absolutely forgotten that Benjiro had asked for their names, and Fuuko had ended up having him address her rather politely, another thing she had absolutely missed due to her interest in getting into the Senkaimon. There was also the fact that both of her teammates seemed eager to get the beleaguered Shinigami, and possibly leave the data collection devices behind. Iroka did not approve. "Definitely, Kajou-san is the priority, but I will personally look out for the equipment. I'm quite certain I'll know what it is when I see it. Seireitei tech has some subtle aesthetic differences from human tech, you know."

They probably wouldn't, though. But as a rather scientific person herself, Iroka had done a lot of studies on human technology. It was part of the reason she knew what video games were and her companions didn't. She had absolutely no idea that she had lost them on that, though. Most people had no idea that Iroka was science-inclined, simply because she tended to mind her business and focus on healing, which she was very good at. But she could boast that she was even in the process of patenting a medical tool for the 4th Division to use; she'd made the design and all that was left was mass-production. Being the person that she was, though, she would never talk about it unless she was asked.

Now, out on the abandoned Scandinavian island, it seemed the cold weather was really affecting Fuuko. "Gladly," the carrot-top said, in response to Fuuko's request to keep her warm, as she wrapped her arms around her friend. "I could give you my shihakushou, if that will help," Iroka offered, presently unaware that if the offer was taken, that would leave her in naught but her undies. The wind itself was of little concern to Iroka, due to her ability to withstand cold temperatures. Benjiro seemed to be cold as well, but had placed himself between the two women and the wind.

"Aww, you're so proper, Benji-kun," Iroka said in honest approval. "The wind isn't a bother to me, though. I kind of like the cool weather. It does feel refreshing. But I appreciate your gesture." She turned to Fuuko. "I told you Benji-kun was a nice person," she crowed, oblivious to the fact that her words could be taken for teasing. She had no intention to tease anyone. Even if she wanted to, Iroka would probably fail if she tried to pull anyone's legs.

Fuuko's question about Iroka being in the 12th was met with a sigh. "Do you know, Oni-chan, that I actually applied to the 12th, when I graduated from the Shin'ou Academy? Apparently, they didn't think I was worth anything, as I got thrown into the 4th. But I'm glad for that, now, because it means I got to meet you! In any case, I'd rather not pull out Benji-kun's eyes. That sounds painful. And yes, it would be foolish to do something else, when we have a mission on ground. I just wanted to know if you were amenable to the idea of having me examine you, Benji-kun."

And then the giant called for a pause, alerting the group of six people approaching them. Very possibly hostiles, since this place was supposed to be deserted, but one would have to meet them just to be extra sure. Iroka tensed, as she peered out into the gloom, but couldn't see anything for a while. And then out of the fog, they came. They were apparently local folk, and they seemed like normal humans, except that they could apparently see the three Shinigami. Also, they did not seem friendly. Although they were dressed for the cold, when the foremost of them cracked his neck in an attempt to seem more intimidating, anyone with Senses of 50 and above would see what seemed to be a bulging purple vein on his neck, which was quickly hidden by the folds of his clothes.

"Well, what have we here?" he asked in fluent Japanese, which would be weird, seeing as it wasn't expected that Swedes would naturally speak Japanese. "Rough them up, boys!" As he spoke, all six drew out various mechanical tools like spanners, tire irons, clamps, and hammers, as they split into groups of twos, each pair coming up against each one of the Shinigami present. It seemed a fight was in the works. "I think we should take them alive," Iroka whispered to her colleagues. "There's something slightly off about the way they move."

At this proximity, anyone with ES up to 40 would sense that the amount of spiritual pressure coming from these guys was not supposed to be enough to make them capable of even seeing Shinigami. They would also sense that there was an extra reiatsu signature that all the men shared, though how and why they shared it was anybody's guess. Though the men didn't seem to have any amazing abilities, they were all healthy and quite fit. This meant they probably wouldn't be challenging to take out, but a clamp cracking against a jaw or collarbone would still be painful for the Shinigami present.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats of Men}
Strength: 70
Speed: 50
Reiatsu Strength: 00
Spiritual Pressure: 00
Instinct: 50
Senses: 50
Energy Sensory: 00
Healing Expertise: 00

Satoshi Fuuko Benjiro Hiroto

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Just be careful." Fuuko muttered. She knew as docile as Iroka was, Fuuko also knew her to be stubborn. She just wasn't obnoxious about it like the blonde. Iroka would just do it and then apologize later or not at all if things worked in her favor. Fuuko wouldn't be able to stop her short of physically restraining her. Even then, depending on how important this tech was, Iroka might protest. Fuuko tucked away the little bits of information Iroka gave away. As close as they were, Fuuko still didn't know much about Iroka. It was fine, especially at first. Fuuko didn't want people getting too close to her and vice-versa, but her and Iroka were well past that point. They'd need to have a heart-to-heart at some point, just to see how firm the foundation of their relationship was. Now was not the time, though. 

Iroka's comment about the wind, and giving up her shihakushou, however, made Fuuko heat up. "Sis! You can't do that!" She barked and reached to pull on the sides of Iroka's kimono to cover up her gigantic boobs, only for it to do little to hide the orangette's impressive cleavage. "Tch." She leaned in close. "Not with the pervert here!" Fuuko sighed and walked away from Iroka. "I can handle the c-cold just fine!" She said and crossed her arms, her teeth chattering. She looked at Benjiro trying his best and narrowed her eyes. "Perverts can be nice, Iroka-chan!" Fuuko explained. 

"Huh? Ya did?" Fuuko found herself clenching a fist at the thought of anyone rejecting Iroka. She was a self proclaimed weirdo, though. Didn't they like weirdos in the Juunibantai? But Iroka's words made Fuuko blush. "Yeah! It's their loss, Sis! I would be so pissed if I didn't get ta meetcha!" She said, puffing out her chest as though she would have known if Iroka had been selected. A  gust of wind blew and caused her to shiver and shrivel again. 

Thankfully, Benjiro spotted some people, though that in and of itself was quite odd. There shouldn't be anyone out here except the Shinigami that needed rescued. Even more than that, they spotted the three shinigami. They... shouldn't be able to do that... Fuuko pursed her lips and tilted her head as the men approached. Then, they spoke and Fuuko grinned widely. 

"Heh..." She clenched her fists. "Yeah, boys! Rough me up!" She shouted back. She didn't even look at her zanpakutou and charged at two of them. With her speed, she didn't even need to shunpo. She might have to hold her punch back, though. she pulled back both fists and then stopped in front of two of them and gave each of them a big, fat knuckle sandwich. 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro stood on the top of the mountain in Scandinavia, shivering in the biting cold air. As he looked around him, he could see nothing but snow and ice, and his breath came out in white puffs. He had grown up in Kyoto, where the winters were cold but never like this. The Soul Society, where he had lived for seven decades, was a different kind of cold altogether. This was a raw, bone-chilling cold that seemed to seep into his very core.

Despite the cold, Benjiro had a job to do. Munemasa-san and Satoshi-san were talking to him, but their words were lost in the frigid air. He knew he needed to focus, to clear his mind of the distractions of his shivering body. He closed his eyes and began to meditate, repeating a mantra over and over in his mind. He focused on his breath, drawing in the freezing air and exhaling slowly, trying to calm his racing heart. In this moment, he had allowed his bodily senses to vanish, giving his soul perches into the thin reiatsu surging around them.

The minutes passed slowly, but Benjiro was determined to overcome the cold. He could feel the warmth returning to his body, and his mind began to clear. He opened his eyes and looked around him, taking in the stark beauty of the snowy landscape. Munemasa-san and Satoshi-san were still there, their faces obscured by the heavy fall of snow. The cold was still there, but he was no longer numb to the world around it. He had overcome its intensity with his sheer force of will, at least for the time being.

It was just enough for him to hear and respond to Munemasa-san's musings about examining his eyes, correcting Satoshi-san's statement about his eyes being taken from him for the betterment of the Soul Society. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling the weight of agreeing to a debilitating sacrifice disappear slowly. "I must admit, that is a relief." He smiled softly before feeling the presence of six other sources of spiritual energy. He immediately stiffened up and warned the two of his Senior Shinigami, and before long, the six were upon them.

It was strange. Benjiro had gotten fairly adept at sensing the strengths and spirits of others, no doubt a lesson he needed to learn after his meeting with the Okami Butsu and the Vandenreich Lucien. He had been acutely aware of what the normal amount of spiritual output was required for any human to be able to see spirits and spiritual beings, like the Shinigami that they were. There was also something strange with their boldness, choosing to fight before anything else. Munemasa-san seemed to have the right idea, asking to take them alive since something was off with them.

Benjiro was even more confused as he could still feel the odd spiritual energy that all six of them had shared, as if under the influence of something, like the strings of a puppet. He had yet to meet any spirit, human, hollow, or Shinigami, that had shared the exact same spiritual signature as another, and all six of them had it. There was something wrong here, but they didn't have time to figure it out. The men had already begun their approach, with Satoshi-san living up to her role and delivering two devastating attacks at breakneck speed.

The gentle giant abhorred combat, especially knowing that these individuals were still living, breathing humans. Still, he had a job to do, and he knew how to do it without causing too much harm. He pointed a finger at the largest of the men, uttering a single word as a geyser of orange energy burst forth. "Horin." The familiar Bakudo, quickly becoming Benjiro's signature spell, had traveled far more quickly than the man could react, wrapping and constricting around his body before snapping into place, like that of the roots of a great tree.

Benjiro was not finished however, using his own considerable strength and spiritual energy to heave against the Horin, guiding his captive into his own allies. Benjiro had hoped that he would have caused one or two others to tumble and fall, like pins against this bowling ball of a man. "Satoshi-san, Munemasa-san, keep an eye out for someone else. It feels as if their actions are not their own! We need to set them free!" The gentle giant was concerned about the safety of these men far more than of himself and his fellow Shinigami. After all, at the rate these men approached, he was certain they were of no real threat.

Reiatsu: 975/1000
-25 Horin
RS is 180

Munemasa Iroka Satoshi Fuuko

[Munemasa Iroka]

The two men struck by Fuuko went down like sacks of beans. They were still alive, but it would be a bit before they woke up, and even though they would probably have some troublesome headaches, and bruises from where they'd been hit, that would be the worst they would have to deal with. Benjiro took a gentler path, choosing to restrain the man approaching him with a bakudou, before wheeling him around at his mates. Another got struck, and was summarily entangled, while the last two, who were closest to Iroka, barely managed to get out of the way. Almost playfully, Iroka pushed one of them back, causing him to stumble against the incapacitated duo and adding to their ranks.

The second fellow lifted the spanner in his hand to strike, but the orange-haired Shinigami suddenly wheeled round and launched her open palm upwards as she steeped close to him. The rising strike met his jaw, snapping his head back and knocking him out due to the concussion of the sudden whiplash. As his body crumpled to the snow-covered ground, Iroka turned to face Benjiro, nodding approvingly. "I agree that there is something off about these poor fellows," she replied, ignoring the three bound ones who were cussing out the Shinigami in surprisingly colorful terms.

Kneeling down beside the fellow she had knocked out, she drew his hair aside, revealing a network of weirdly discolored veins on his neck. "I thought I'd seen something strange on them," she continued, tracing the veins until she came to the base of his skull at the back of his head. His long hair and high collar would have kept the strange polyp-like object stuck there from casual observation. It was small and light grey, with purple veins across its surface that snaked onto the man's skin and radiated from there. "Hmmm... the discolored veins look superficial, and they seem to belong to this creature..." Iroka mused aloud, as she observed it carefully, her impressive knowledge of human systems serving her well.

Having finished her observation, Iroka drew her zanpakutou, and for all intents and purposes looked as though she wanted to deliver a coup de grace to the unconscious fellow. But then she inserted the tip of her sword into the polyp-like thing, taking care that her blade did not sink deep enough to touch the man. The veins turned black, and slowly receded, as the polyp shuddered and fell off his body. Iroka observed it for a moment, then turned to Fuuko and Benjiro. "Benji-kun is smart. Somehow these guys are affected by these jellyfish-things." It became obvious that everyone of the men had such on the base of their necks.

"I think the best way to get them off is to deliver careful trauma to them," Iroka explained, pulling over one of the guys that had been socked by Fuuko, and pointing at the veins on his neck. "It seems these things are used to highjack the brains of these fellows by connecting to their brainstems. Ripping them off might be dangerous to these fellows, as there might be trauma to their brain stems. It really would have been amazing though, if I could take an undamaged sample and investigate how it works. It seems to be constructed of...." She stopped abruptly, realizing that she had been rambling. "Sorry. Let's get these things off them, and look around."

It wouldn't take long for the group to get the weird polyps off the men's necks, with the process knocking out even the vituperating fellows who had been restrained by Benjiro's spell. By the time they finished, the wind had dropped considerably, and without snow flying about, visibility was a bit more reasonable, though it didn't help that this was night time. Anyone who looked in the direction of the way the men had come would see the silhouette of a large building in the distance, most likely the power plant which had been abandoned. "I don't think we should leave these guys out here in the snow," Iroka said. "Perhaps we could move them over there, and explore the place. It does seem like where they came from, after all."

However the group proceeded, there would be no sign of anyone else around, and the strange reiatsu which had been shared by the men was gone, with the polyps being destroyed. In any case, the most promising option would be to check the building in the distance, as there seemed to be nothing else out in the snow which seemed to be worth anybody's while. As the group approached, they would notice that the building was much larger than it had initially appeared, and there was a large, open steel door, from which tracks could be seen in the snow beyond, leading away from the building and in the direction from which they were coming.

As soon as they caught sight of the door, there was a whirring sound, and the door began to rapidly close. Although the Shinigami could probably find their way in if the door was shut, it seemed they might take a bit of work to do so, as the building looked surprisingly fortified for a nuclear plant. As such, getting through that door would be the most convenient means of access. The door itself was very sturdy-looking and looked like it could take a level 3 hadou before falling apart, but chances were that someone with a strength of 400 would be able to hold it open, if they could reach it in time. As things went, it would take a speed of 300 to just reach it before it shut.

Satoshi Fuuko Benjiro Hiroto

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko was just happy to be punching things. The fact that they had been controlled by something or other only made her feel a little bad. These burly men could take some hits and she did hold back, so it wasn't that big of a deal. She watched Iroka poke at the jellyfish looking polyp and frowned. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that it was some Hollow bastard that did this. Let's just hope the ability is only useful on humans. I ain't holdin back if either of you two get controlled. I expect the same courtesy if it happens ta me too." Fuuko nodded to Iroka as she explained how to best deal with any future polyps they might come across. 

Fuuko shook her head. "Why can't anyone ever just fight face ta face!" She growled. She leered at the looming building. "Cowards!" She shouted. She glanced at the bodies. "Fine. Grab em." She said and hefted two of them up rather easily. She trudged off towards the building, expecting everyone else to be able to do what she did with no real trouble. As she marched towards the ruined power plant, Fuuko had a thought. "You don't think that could have been caused by some Squad Twelve bullshit, do ya?" She asked Iroka. Fuuko sure hoped not, but with those freaks, the possibility of self inflicted problems "in the name of science" was always on the table. 

Thankfully, Fuuko had more things to consider as they approached. A gigantic iron door was starting to close. That seemed to indicate that whoever was inside had expected the welcoming committee to do more than they did. Once again, a smile washed over Fuuko's face and she heaved the two men she was carrying into a nearby snowdrift. They had coats on. They would be fine. Right? 

"Oi!" Fuuko barked. "Thought ya wanted ta rough us up! Now yer runnin away?!" Fuuko charged at the closing gate. She had enough speed to get to it in time and she definitely knew she could hold it open, but ever since she had grown, she had been itching to test her limits. As the door closed, instead of trying to hold it open, Fuuko reeled back her fist and skiided to a stop right in front of the door and unleashed a full power punch against the closing metal door. She knew if she was strong enough to stop it, that she might just be strong enough to dent it, or worse, but definitely strong enough to pop it, or more likely, blow it off its track. 

"Oraaaaaaaa!" 

Fuuko stood clenching and unclenching her smoking fist as she grinned at Iroka and Benjiro. She glanced back at the hole where the door had toppled over and then back tot he duo. She bowed to Iroka. "After you, mlady." She said with a chuckle. She was feeling good, even though if they were trying to sneak in, they had probably just blew that into smithereens. 

Reiatsu: 5000/5000 - Blood Bank: 000 - Unreleased Katana

SPOILER: Click to show

{abilities}Strength - 400 Points (600) +50%
Speed - 300 Points
Spiritual Pressure - 400 Points (500) +25%
Reiatsu Strength - 45 Points (31) -30%
Light Aura - 95 Points
Dark Aura - 05 Points
Instinct- 75 Points
Senses- 100 Points (75) -25%
Energy sensory - 40 Points
Healing Expertise - 0 Points


• [Battle Focus] {1}
• [Pain Tolerance] {2}
• [Lack of Fear] {2}
• [Zanjutsu] {1}
• [Strength of Will] {2}
• [Damage Recovery] {2}
• [Bleeding Tolerance] {2}
• [Anti-Stealth] {1}
• [Stealing] {1}
• [Interrogation] {1}

Munemasa Iroka