Compulsions

[Nakajima Kimiko]

When the dropship made its presence known to the world not long before its landing in front of the facility, Kimiko maintained her gaze onto it. Her eyes were glued onto the vehicle, focused and alert as they awaited some kind of sign from it. For all intents and purposes, she had to agree with Fuuko's words on that one. This was indeed "sci-fi bullshit", as she put it. It was one thing to witness an underground laboratory filled with monsters and all sorts of scientific things that she could not understand, and the holographic technology that it contained was already bad enough... but it was another thing to quite literally witness an aircraft that could not only fly so well, but also use some kind of camouflage system that prevented it from being seen. That was not the kind of technology that one could easily find in the Living World. In fact, quite frankly, that level of machinery was quite simply impossible, unless there was some kind of progressive boom since she found herself in the Soul Society. Then again... those thrusters...

In any case, there were more pressing things to think about, and that was the aforementioned bleeding that came from the sky. The Captain wasn't really sure of what Fuuko meant by that, as she herself could not sense blood the same way she could. In fact, the only blood she could smell right now was the quantity that she had released from Shukketsubuki, and that was only really because it had been left in the open so plainly. However, when she saw that woman accompanied by that strange man, and when she witnessed their attempt to communicate with them... she had a feeling that the bleeding came from her. But how? She wasn't bleeding at a glance. Hell, she didn't even look like she was in pain or even remotely aggressive towards their regards. In normal circumstances, Kimiko would have simply chalked this up to a mistake from Fuuko's part, but she trusted her student's capabilities enough to know not to, especially not now.

Regardless, she remained silent as she looked down below towards the strangers. She did not provide any answer to Fuuko's suggestions for the time being, and she did not stop the medical team from proceeding into the facility. She also did not bother to warn them of what was down there. If they were able to come here in such a professional fashion, then she was going to suppose that they had come prepared. Besides, they had brought him. That man... Something about him felt incredibly wrong. He didn't appear to be a Shinigami, a Quincy or even a Fullbringer. Quite frankly, he just looked like your stereotypical Human, with the only difference being the presence of metal on his body. Yet, in spite of that, there was a spiritual signature to him that was undoubtedly distinct. She wasn't particularly an expert when it came to the detection of such energies, but she could tell that the man was powerful. Even Fuuko would be able to understand this. How was he able to acquire such power? Was this the result of interference from Yumiya?

As she continued her quiet observation, Yū would himself also remain quiet following his answer to her question. It was evident that he was not feeling very well now, though this was not because of his stitches. Rather, it was because he now felt as though he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knew that he could trust the Shinigami that had accompanied him thus far, even if he did not quite understand who or even what they really were. They had helped him save - or, at the very least, perhaps avenge - the people that he had failed to bring back on his own during the downfall of Jodanapur, and they themselves had saved him countless times during their traversing of the facility. However, he worked for the Yumiya Aid & Healthcare Foundation. Moreover, he worked for the red-haired woman down below. If he does decide to leave them, where is he going to go? What is he going to do? He still needs to support his family. He can't just run away.

Just like Kimiko, Fuuko wanted the best for him. That much was obvious. He would stare at her as she approached him and tried to explain to him what was going to happen from this point on. Obviously, the possible outcomes that she described to him were quite grim. There was indeed a chance that he could find himself somehow forced to forget everything that had happened to him over the course of the last few days, or worse, become a part of his company's experiments. Still, it didn't feel right for him to run away. It didn't feel like it was the thing that he needed to do, not when he needed to support his family as much as he possibly could with his current salary. He didn't want to leave them behind solely because he had seen monsters and a kind of dirty work that he wasn't supposed to see. If anything, the more he listened to Fuuko speak to him and try her best to convince him to come with her... the more he felt like he had to stay.

His eyes set upon his fellow medic's as she tried to call extraction. They were heavy, mostly because of the blood loss, but resolute. Eventually, he would slowly stand up from where he was currently sitting and carefully put his hand on Fuuko's wrist. "Fuuko, I... I can't go with you. I just can't. Maybe if I was alone, I would've, b-but... I'm not." His tone was final. It was clear that he was not going to budge on this decision, no matter how hard the blonde would attempt to do so in the moment. His eyes quickly turned towards the dropship, then towards the woman and her bodyguard down below. Then, they closed before returning to the Shinigami with a fervor she has not witnessed from him thus far. "Listen to me. I won't let them erase my memory. Chiba Chimon... If that's what he does to people, then I need to do something about him! Everyone need to do something about him! So, I will! I'll... I'll try to c-change something! Anything! If I can't do that, then it's... it's my problem, okay? It's not yours..."  

Silence came from that point onward. Down below, where the two living anomalies stood, one remained stoic. However, the other, Hirabayashi, still looked as taken aback as ever by what was currently happening to Yū. No matter how many times Kimiko would analyze her, attempt to find something suspicious on her in that moment aside from the results of Fuuko's own analysis, she would find nothing. There did not seem to be any intent to conceal a weapon or a strategy to take them down. There did not seem to be an ability at play or about to be played. There was just a woman. A suspicious woman standing not far from a strange man and an even stranger airship, but a woman nonetheless, and an innocent-looking one at that. It was entirely possible that this was all an act, but... if it really was, Kimiko felt as though she could have sensed its fake honesty by now. Damn it all. Why can't their enemies always be stereotypical villains? That always simplifies things.

At a certain point, the Captain felt the office worker's presence near her, and eventually, her gaze met his. No words were exchanged between them in that moment, but she could tell that he wanted to say something to her. She wasn't exactly sure of what that message was, but... in a way, a part of her did understand the basis of it. He wanted protection from one of the possible futures that awaited him, and he wanted that protection to be from the Shinigami. She would consider this matter for a moment, analyze what it could mean for her, for Fuuko and for him so as to deduce the rights and the wrongs from such a decision. However, before she could fully do so, she would hear that woman again as she awkwardly came forward near the building. "P-Please, listen to me! We don't want any trouble! Look! I'm unarmed!" She tried to make the Shinigami focus on her raised hands. Fuuko would still be able to sense the overwhelming bleeding scent from her. "All I want is to heal the people here, and bring our personnel back to Japan! That's all I want! J-Just... Just please, at least let me look at h-" 

"Shut it."

Without any warning, Kimiko had appeared in front of Hirabayashi with her black sword drawn and pointed towards her neck. The entire process was almost instantaneous, with no sound produced or even so much as a hint of movement, and as to be expected, it caused the woman to immediately grow completely quiet with her eyes opened wide in shock as she tried to understand what happened. Not even Yū understood what happened, as for a brief moment, he still felt as though he had been beside Kimiko on the rooftop all this time. However, it was all but an afterimage. This... was the work of Utsusemi... and only Fuuko, the sole Shinigami who remained in the area beside the Captain, could possibly recognize that technique. The others could only stand there in watch in horror and awe. Even the monotonous man by Hirabayashi's side had found himself breaking through his cold gaze after he realized what happened, though it was quite clear that he decided not to move for the safety of the head medic.

The air became cold between the officer and the doctor as the blade remained near the latter's neck. One's breathing was more labored, quiet as she considered her options. The other was more frantic, scared. Either way, after the silence had successfully remained for an agonizing amount of time, the swordswoman's voice would be finally heard. "I'm gonna be honest with you. Right now, the only thing that prevents me from killing you, your weird friend over here and the entirety of your team is because you seem like a sensible person to me. So, I'll give you the privilege of only listening to me instead," she threatened with a hard gaze. There was a clear hatred in her voice. It stemmed from the creature Fuuko slew, the Hollow she slew, Rider, and now, perhaps even Walker too. "We're gonna give him back to you. He's safe. We haven't harmed him, and he hasn't been infected by the creature that was in your facility. However, understand this: if you so much as even consider transforming him into something like that, I will make sure to kill you first. Are we clear?"

It appeared that Hirabayashi was stunned after she heard Kimiko's threat. She visibly could not believe what she had just heard, so much so that it left her completely quiet. That was, until she stared at Kimiko and gave her a serious gaze. "I am a doctor. So long as I know that somebody is in pain, I will always see that their pain comes to an end, no matter what." A quietness would then briefly resume after her words before, suddenly, she took a step forward and pushed the tip of Kimiko's sword against her neck. "That creature was Chimon's work. The moment I heard what was happening here, I did everything I could to come here as quickly as possible. If you don't believe me, and if you think I would turn Yū-san into some... monster... kill me now."

The black sword remained immobile for a time, unflinching as Kimiko considered her options. Her scarlet eyes stared deep into the yellow of Hirabayashi's, as if trying to find any lies in them. Eventually, with her blade still drawn, she would turn her attention towards Fuuko on the rooftop, all the while she maintained an eye on the robotic man. "Fuuko! Bring him here!" She called loudly. So far, so good... Hopefully, this was going to end well-enough, and they could go back home thereafter.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu: 1750/7000}
Technique Name: Way of Omnitsu: Utsusemi (Cicada)

Class: 2

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: Spiritual Technique

Technique Description and Effects:

It allows for a movement at great speed, leaving an afterimage behind. The afterimage may even appear to have taken damage. Uses 500 Reiatsu per step. This one is referred to as a Class 2 technique, and must be trained. It is used as a 25x increase for one step, but requires the user to have at least a 3 in Hohō or Hakuda. Can only be used once per post.

How to use technique:

Focus Reishi around the feet area and launch off into a single blurring step. It is not unlike teleportation in appearance, but it is simply extremely fast movement. Often used to gain an edge in a single moment of combat or to dodge incoming attacks.

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Heh." Fuuko smiled. "It's a bad idea, but I would have picked it too." Fuuko said with a smile. "We can protect them too, you know. And, for the record." Fuuko said, motioning to the city. "It is our problem. If it wasn't, we never would have shown up in the first place. So, don't think you can get rid of me that easily." She said with an even wider grin. "Cold hearted bastard." She teased and held up the Soul Phone. "One Captain, one Third Seat. That's it. Send the Senkaimon in Five Minutes." She barked into her phone, then hung up. 

Fuuko then turned and looked at the woman who had been speaking. She narrowed her eyes. "There ain't no personnel ta bring back. There ain't no..." She paused when Kimiko decided she had had enough. Fuuko watched as Kimiko put a sword tot he woman's neck and immediately looked towards the man to see if he might try something. She watched Kimiko threaten the woman and narrowed her eyes. "What're ya sayin?!" Fuuko barked at Hirabayashi. "We've been tryin ta keep this whole facility as alive  as possible includin Yuu!" She said motioning back to the main. "And," Fuuko glanced back at Yuu one more time. "Compared to a regular human, he might already be  monstrous." 

Fuuko fully turned and looked at Yuu with sorrowful eyes. "What I mean is... now you have knowledge that almost no one has and, even though I know yer a good man, it's gonna be hard to keep people from seein that change and they ain't gonna know what it is or why it is and, if you told them the truth, it would only make it worse and I think you understand that much already." Fuuko closed her eyes. "And that's half  the reason I wish you woulda said yes." 

Fuuko then stepped forward and pushed a hand against his chest. She leaned forward and pressed a cheek against his. "I'm so fuckin sorry, Yuu." She said sincerely. She then discreetly took her Soul Phone and dropped it into his pocket as she grabbed him and pulled him into her arms and hopped off the building and landed down next to Kimiko with Yuu in her arms in one, big leap. 

Fuuko set Yuu down and then stepped forward. Her nose twitched and she grabbed Hirabayashi's collar, enough that Kimiko's blade might nick the woman ever so slightly, like a shaving nick. She leaned in and began sniffing at the woman like she was a dog. Loud, long inhales through her nostrils, short, quick ones. Her nose practically brushing up against the woman's neck and cheek as she sniffed. Once she was finished, she let go and brushed a hand down the part of Hirabayashi's coat she grabbed and took a step back. 

"I just wanna know..." She said finally. "Who the fuck is Chiba Chimon and how the fuck do I beat his ass!?" 

______________________________________


Reiatsu: 675/3400 - Blood Bank: 000 - | Sealed Tachi


Blood Collection -

SPOILER: Click to show

Stats:



Reiatsu: 3400



[[Strength - 400 Points (600) +50%

Speed - 300 Points

Spiritual Pressure - 272 Points (340) +25%

Reiatsu Strength - 45 Points (31) -30%

Light Aura - 95 Points

Dark Aura - 05 Points

Instinct- 75 Points

Senses- 68 Points (51) -25%

Energy sensory - 40 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points



Total: 1200/1200 SP]



Current Skills 15/15

• [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}

• Blood Scent {2}

[Nakajima Kimiko]

A split-second. That was all it took for a situation that was already on the verge of becoming much more tense at any given moment to escalate. Yū understood why it had to be escalated, especially after everything that's happened, but he hadn't expected that Kimiko would go that far to turn it all upside-down. It was one thing to be bloodthirsty while fighting strange Humans, weird undead monsters and... whatever that fleshy creature was supposed to be down in that horrible pit, but it was anything thing entirely to appear as such in front of someone who hadn't even showed any kind of hostility whatsoever, especially someone like Hirabayashi! And there was that man too... Ugh. Upon realizing that this could potentially lead to something drastic, he would near the edge of the rooftop he stood on and look down with eyes wide with worry. However, before he could say anything to Kimiko or Hirabayashi, Fuuko would catch his attention once again.

In a cosmic sort of way, the officer worker found the woman's way of describing him as "monstrous" somewhat amusing. His latest escapade has indeed been the kind that a normal Human couldn't possibly endure, neither physically or mentally. It was not normal for a Human to go through what may as well be a small-scaled zombie apocalypse, and it was also not normal for him to even see people like Kimiko and Fuuko. Hell, right now, he didn't even know why Hirabayashi and that man could see them either. In other words, he was quite simply already an anomaly among his Human brethren, no matter how many times he may try to deny it. At first, he wasn't quite sure that he enjoyed realizing this fact in the moment, as although he had accepted that he had wanted to know more about the worlds he had no knowledge of prior to meeting the Shinigami, he now began to feel like that knowledge was a curse. However, perhaps ironically, it was Fuuko's explanation that made him accept it all the more.

The man would find himself turning his gaze towards the blonde medic in that moment, his eyes stuck in-between a frown and a wince as he watched the woman clearly appear to be hurt by his decision. He hadn't expected her to become so attached to him, but he could say the same for how he felt about her. It reminded her of another woman - one that he had loved a time ago - whose attitude was just as fiery while also being just as soft. However, for as painful as his decision was starting to become, he knew that he had to carry it onward. People will not believe him, and that's okay. People will not take him seriously, and that's okay too. So long as he can move onward towards Chimon with the help of a few who trusted him, all the while protecting his family, then that was enough. Fuuko, of course, will be among those people. It was why, when she dropped the Soul Phone in his pocket, he pressed his hand against hers while it remained within it. "Don't be," he would tell her quietly, with a softer tone to his voice. "If anything happens to me, I'll... make sure you'll be the first one to know."  

It was a simple promise, all things considered, one that would not be difficult for him to properly respect in hindsight. All he needed to do was to text Fuuko every now and then with this special phone he just gave her, and from there on out, they would be able to learn more about whatever is happening within Yumiya. But truthfully, there were many risks to this plan. In fact, he wasn't even really sure if it was going to work in the first place. He could get caught by his boss Hirabayashi or the man that was accompanying her down there. He could also get caught by someone else entirely within his company, such as a coworker or another one of his superiors. Chiba Chimon may even be informed by his use of the phone too, and if that happens... Well, let's just say that the plan comes to an end right then and there. Still, he wanted to try, if only to make sure that the blonde would not worry about him so much. It was the only thing he could really do to repay her for the kindness she has shared with him thus far.

Once this matter was settled, Kimiko called to them from below, and with that, Fuuko transported Yū off the rooftop. Hirabayashi's eyes seemed to soften in relief at the sight of the man appearing unharmed by the frustrated blood-bender, but she wisely decided to remain immobile before Kimiko's sword so as to not worsen her current situation. The Captain, meanwhile, kept an eye on her student as she steadily approached her position. At that moment, she believed that things could end smoothly enough. The show of speed that she had showcased to the doctor and her bodyguard was successful in acting as a threat to their safety, and in so doing, they could proceed with this rather-impromptu exchange of pseudo-hostages. Yū, in spite of being shaken by everything that was happening, was also calm and steady as he remained with Fuuko, and so there was no reason for the metallic man to decide to assault them both. But then, just as things were about to be settled, Fuuko decided to something unprecedented again. 

When the swordswoman felt her instincts jump up, she immediately attempted to move her sword away from Hirabayashi's neck so as to prevent any kind of accident. However, while she was able to prevent any sort of heavy damage to her throat, the very edge of Taishokukane was able to leave a very small cut when, with no warning whatsoever, Fuuko grabbed Hirabayashi and started to sniff her. Kimiko's eyes widened instantly at the sight of such a brazen move, and so did the doctor's. Even Yū found himself staring at the blonde in stunned disbelief. Every one would remain completely immobile for a moment as the Shinigami finished her work, with even the metallic man seeming to be taken aback by the scene to such a degree that he found himself unable to move. But then, just as Fuuko began to speak, a movement would be felt from him. No. Not a movement per say, for that was too simple of a term to describe what happened. Instead, it was more so... a blast that exploded from the man's back.

In an instant, his fist appeared in front of Fuuko's face at a Speed comparable to the kinds reached by Kimiko's Shunpo. From such a close distance, she would be able to notice that the fist in question appeared Human, but not organic due to the coldness of the skin as well as the presence of several bolts on the skin. She would also be able to notice that the man had not punched her in spite of the intense glare that he was now giving her, and the only reason why that was the case was because Hirabayashi's voice had reached him just in time before he could do the deed. "TANI-SAN, NO!" She had shouted immediately after she had heard the blast in order to prevent any kind of physical confrontation, and evidently, it had been enough to do just that. Even so, she would make sure to make the man understand "I don't want this! I don't want a fight! Please stand down! I refuse to see any more people get hurt today, and that includes them!" 

While the man understood this, his attention had now turned from Kimiko to Fuuko. There was something about his glare that was undoubtedly personal, as though the blonde had somehow struck a cord in him by mentioning the mere idea of beating up Chiba Chimon. This would cause the Captain to stare at him with an equally-cold glare and for Yū to quickly step away from the man in caution... but eventually, he would take a deep breath and stare at the Yumiya guard dog. "Stop! Stop this, all of you! This is pointless!" He called with his eyes quickly looking towards Fuuko. While he tried his best to appear strong, it was clear that he was trying to tell her something, and that this something was a simple message. He knew that she could not beat this man, whatever he was, and neither could Kimiko. "Right now... Right now, I just want to see my family again! That's all I want! I don't want to see more monsters or more fighting! So please, just... stop." 

Kimiko stared at the office worker for a moment with her sword remaining drawn towards Hirabayashi's neck. It did not take long for her to understand what he was doing, and quite frankly, she believed that it would be best to follow his directions here. They needed an out. This could not go on, especially not after this "Tani" just proved that he was on par with her. So, with a deep breath, she slowly lowered her black blade, then turned her gaze towards her current subordinate. "Fuuko, enough. We already know who that guy is... I'll request a full investigation from Kyūbantai into him and his whereabouts once we're back home." Once she was understood, she would then turn her head back towards Hirabayashi and gesture towards the dropship. "Keep Yū in that thing until you and your team are done here, and keep your dog on a leash until you're back in Japan. Again, if anything happens to him, I'll make sure that you die first. Are. We. Clear?" 

"... Yes."

"Good. Now, go."

The doctor would remain quiet for a moment, visibly unsure of what she was supposed to do, before she would slowly begin to walk towards the facility. Tani, in the meantime, remained quiet with his fist remaining in front of Fuuko; however, he too would eventually began to move, following closely behind Hirabayashi. Yū, him, simply stood there, taken aback by everything that's just happened as his more-serious image crumbled apart into one long sigh. "Argh... I... Okay... enough..." He would press his hand on his forehead to wipe off the sweat of stress that had been steadily accumulating onto it, then head towards the dropship. "My heart can't handle this anymore..."

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko didn't flinch when Tani suddenly appeared apparently ready to punch her head right off. The blonde's heart raced, but even her breathing slowed. She didn't have a lot  of energy left, and this guy could probably handle her if it came to blows, but nothing about that scenario scared Fuuko, that was for sure. If anything, it cleared away the fatigue for a moment. If Tani wanted to whoop their asses, Fuuko was sure she had enough  tricks to make sure it was a Pyrrhic victory, at best. She had gotten what she wanted out of the doctor, so, after a moment, her stoic face turned into a grin. 

"You people need to get fuckin laid." She quipped, regarding the tension. She shrugged it off as Hirabayashi and Tani began to disperse once Kimiko made herself clear about how things were going down. 

Fuuko glanced at Kimiko and then at Yuu and trotted over to him. "Just remember, you made the choice." She said. "Get in the pod and rest." She said, looking Yuu over with a smile. She took a hand and brushed down his chest. "Don't worry about this shit for now. You did good, Yuu." She said with a smile. "Just keep living for now. Remember what you have waitin at home..."A demure look came over Fuuko, her cheeks reddening and her cheeks flushing. 

Fuuko then reached up and grabbed Yuu's chin and pushed her lips against his for a brief, smack of a kiss. "I know I couldn't compete, so I gotta cheat a little, huh?" She breathed, laughing. As she did, the senkaimon appeared in the sky and she glanced up at it. "Tell her... she can come kick my ass anytime she likes." Fuu said and slapped Yuu's arm. 

She stepped away from Yuu and looked at Kimiko. "You ready, sensei?" Fuuko said as she pulled out a cigarette, lit it and gave a deep drag on it. Fuuko hissed and a line of smoke shot from her lips. "I know I'm ready to fuck right off." She said as she looked up at the opened Senkaimon. 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

As Hirabayashi and her guard dog Tani left the area to go join their team back in the facility, a silence soon followed. Kimiko remained immobile with her eyes fixated on them both as they left, ready to strike at any given moment she they decide to return unannounced. Though she attempted to remain strong before the face of potential adversity - especially given that Fuuko and Yū were present, thus effectively making her the person with the highest prestige among them all - she was nevertheless slightly worried that they would come back. More specifically, she was worried that guard dog would come back and finish them off. His unusual nature as well as as the bold aggressiveness that he had showcased upon simply hearing a threat against Chiba Chimon's name made him an unpredictable opponent, and right now, her student was not at all prepared to face such a foe. Even if they tried to fight him together, she would probably be beaten down before Kimiko would have done any notable damage to him.

But fortunately, after all was said and done, neither the man nor his medical leader came back. There would be no more fighting today, no more bloodshed. All things considered, those particular facts disappointed Kimiko to a certain extent, as there was a part of her that did want to see what Tani could do. However, Fuuko simply took precedence over her fighting spirit. Again, she could not bring her into another fight, not after she used every bit of energy that was left in her body to take down that monstrosity down there in the facility. So, eventually, the disappointment was soon ridden from her mind, and soon after, simple relief took its place. "Ugh..." a tired noise left her lips as she analyzed the situation for a bit longer, before eventually, she finally dropped her guard down and returned Taishokukane to its scabbard. For a brief moment, she saw the glimpse of a darkened figure float above the facility, though she paid it no mind for the time being. She did not have time for that, and right now, she couldn't say that she cared much for it.

Her eyes would scout the area one last time before they would then turn towards Yū to see if he was still in one piece. From the looks of things, he was fine. Definitely shaken, but fine. At the very least, Fuuko was there to comfort him as he was recovered from all the stress he just experienced. The open reminder of his decision was already a good-enough reminder, though the way that the blonde spurred him up definitely seemed to have been enough to get him out of his traumatized stupor. "U-Uh..." he tried to say something with a bit of a blush, taken aback by how far the blonde wanted to bring this budding friendship of theirs all of a sudden. Although, once the kiss came to an end, it was somewhat clear that he couldn't help but feel a little bit regretful that he could not spend more time with the Shinigami, even if he did smile along with the bold warrior. "I don't think Hirabayashi-san would want to fight you... but after what you did, I... I'm not sure anymore."

Once this was said and done, the man then began to walk towards the dropship, of which its doors had been left still opened. He would find himself hoping inside to see if there was any seat he could sit onto, then find what he believed to be the closest one available near the pilot's cabin. At first, he wanted to sit on the seat right away. However, before he could do so, he walked back towards the opened doors of the dropship before giving a wave to the Shinigami. Or, well, the equivalent of a wave, at the very least. As much as he wanted to give them a proper and heartfelt gesture, he still needed to worry about his new stitches. "Thank you! For everything!" He called to the women with a smile on his face. While he wished they could have perhaps done more to save everyone in the facility, including the monsters they had slain, he nevertheless remained thankful. Then, he lowered his hand towards his pocket and stared at Fuuko. He didn't say anything more, but the smile he gave to her was perhaps enough.

Kimiko would give him a smile and a acknowledging nod. Even though she first believed the man to be suspicious solely because he worked for that Yumiya company, he had proven throughout this escapade of theirs that he was more than the sum of his parts. He was resourceful in spite of the limited resources that were at his disposal, brave in spite of his immense fear of the unknown, and willing to understand things that he was never fated to ever learn about. Perhaps one day, should he find himself in the Soul Society while she is still around, she will find him serving the Gotei 13 as a notable Shinigami officer. Hell, considering all that hidden bravado, she wouldn't even be surprised to see him in her ranks! However, right now, she believed that day to still be far away. Besides, now that they had taken care of him, they had more pressing things to do, with the first of them all to simply and hopefully leave this place behind for good.

Upon hearing the familiar sound of doors folding to the side up high above them, the Captain would look up towards the skies. The Senkaimon was now opened. It was time for them to leave. With a deep breath, she would stretch her body, chasing away the tension that had built up in her muscle and bone. Then, she would begin to head onward towards the floating doors in the sky, doing so in a way that made her seem as though she was climbing up a stairway towards the heavens. "Yeah. Let's go. The other squads will take it from here," she told Fuuko as she marched forward. Even though she was walking on air, the blonde would be able to tell that there were many things that bothered the Captain at this present time, in spite of the satisfaction she felt regarding the conclusion of this mission. Tani was on her mind, sure, but there was also the creature they slew and also the Hollow that came before them. Still, that didn't keep her from trying her best to shift her tone towards a more casual one as she gave a smirk to her student. "Alright, well, after I'm done contacting the other squads... I think I'll just go and get myself some pizza. You're free to come with me if you want to, unless you wanna keep dreaming about your new boyfriend all night."

And with that tone of lightheartedness, the swordswomen crossed the Senkaimon, leaving the Living World and its troubles behind for the day. The report Kimiko will have to submit to the First Division will need to be extensive... but at the very least, she and Fuuko can go back home safe and sound to live another day.

---

Morina had seen many things ever since she had been allowed to learn about the spiritual. She had witnessed what Kaito had witnessed before her, became capable of witnessing what many before had referred to as "ghosts", and eventually understood the color of the soul. Even to this day, after having learned so much about reishi and what it entailed, she still believed that everything that composed it and used it were beautiful in their own way, no matter what they were. But there were times during which she could not ignore the pain that it brought on to a few. The masked ones, the Hollows, were one of those beings, of course. They of eternal hunger are forced to suffer eternally should they refuse to acquire power through death, and in so doing, they eventually turn into the worst fiends imaginable. There were also the ones who found themselves in what lied far below every one of the worlds, the place that they called "Hell", where everyone suffers, no matter how powerful they are. And then... there were Chimon's creations, the ones she believed suffered the most of them all.

When she was first told about what had happened within Jodanapur, she immediately feared for the worst. She feared for those she had sent there to serve at the hospital, for those who worked at the facility under the city, and obviously, those who lived in the city altogether. She also feared for the life of the person who had become what it had became, if only because she knew that the pain that they had suffered then would be nothing short of terrifying. In spite of this, it was only once she stepped into the halls of Jodanapur's underground facility that she fully understood the horror that must have taken place. It was only once she saw the damage done to the first floors - all of which had been necessary for the Shinigami to do, even if it was against their will, to reach the lower floors and thus the source of this "infection" - and then the absolute pile of people screaming in utter agony that were stuck in that awful stairway that she fully realized that Chimon had cultivated an utter nightmare scenario that could have been avoided entirely.

She wasn't sure exactly of how long it took for her and her team to bring everyone of the stairway and that awful 18th floor. It must have taken hours. Even with the technology at their disposal as well the plethora of equipment that they used to bring them all to safety, they needed to fill almost every floor to the brim with patients. For hours, she heard their cries, their wails, their pain as her team tended to their wounds. It was awful. So utterly awful. So awful, in fact, that she had been compelled to take several breaks in-between the application of her skills just so that she wouldn't become too exhausted to listen to them. Never before had this happened in the entirety of her medical career, and never has she once believed that this would ever happen. And yet, just like that, it did... and it was not even because of their enemies. It was instead because of the work of a twisted man who couldn't take no for an answer, no matter how many times they have told him so.

By the time the situation had stabilized, it was near midnight. The doctor felt awful by then. She was tired, for one, but also ashamed, as she knew that Yū was still out there in the dropship. Of course, she wanted him to rest after all the horrors he had witnessed, but she didn't want him to just remain there and do nothing. It just... felt wrong, especially given their line of work. Even so, she did not budge, if only because she had promised that woman that she would leave him there out of kindness. Instead, she merely stared at the improvised hospital her team had created in the span of the evening and early night, then eventually sat on a chair that had been left in one of the labs on the 1st floor. She didn't care about whatever contaminants remained on it when she did so, nor did she care about the fact that practically everything that was not near her patients right now was just about as sterile as dirty kitchen utensils. All she cared about was her own self... her rest.

While she would take the time to digest everything that's happened, she would eventually the familiar thuds of Tani's footsteps as he returned to her. His white coat had been dirtied by rocks and specks of earth, and there also appeared to be blood on his person. Nevertheless, he remained just about as quietly stoic as he always has been prior to this moment. That is, until he reached her. "I have finished investigating the underground of the facility." His sentence was swift and to the point, and was soon followed by a familiar sound which beeped within Morina's head. From there on, she saw the ruins below being displayed in her vision, corpses and all, as she continued to listen to Tani. "The Organic Network Incident has been eliminated by the Shinigami. I was able to retrieve what remained of its original corpse for analysis. There were creatures guarding the body, but they were not a threat. They were eliminated without any problems."

"... Okay. I guess that's one problem out of the way," the doctor would sigh as she considered the state of the monsters that had been killed. She knew what these "creatures" were supposed to be: they were nothing more than reanimated dead left behind the wake of the O.N.I.'s rampage. Still, she had hoped they could have at least captured them instead. That way, they could have perhaps healed them and brought them back to life somehow with a sufficient application of several powerful amnestics. Unfortunately, she knew that such a decision would not have been approved by just about everyone who was related to this particular matter in one way or another. Such was how Yumiya treated these woeful experiments. Such was how she has to contend with them so long as Chimon remains as one of its notable leaders: with utmost secrecy and confidentiality, no matter how awful their breaches may possibly be in the grand scheme of things.

Her yellow eyes drifted then from the electronic display back towards Tani himself who continued to stand motionlessly before her. With his report over, she had expected him to leave. Quite frankly, she didn't want him here, especially not after what almost happened back then with the aforementioned Shinigami. That said, she knew why he remained. The man may not express himself well on many occasions, or any occasion for that matter, but there were times where it was obvious that he wanted to talk about something that bothered him. This was one of those times. So, after a time, she dismissed the display from her vision and found herself staring at the soldier. "Tani-san... we already talked about this several times now. I stopped you from attacking them because I knew that it would have only made things worse for every one of us," she explained clearly with serious tone in her voice. "I thought you, of all people, would understand that." 

A moment of silence followed these words as the man appeared to consider them. He seemed surprised that the conversation had suddenly gone towards this direction, but after a time, he eventually tackled it head-on once again with a retort that nevertheless remained as emotionless as one can imagine: "You and Hayasaka were their hostages. That blonde woman also assaulted you and threatened violence against one of the leaders of our company. If I had not done what I had done, they would have tried to kill you."  

"They didn't want to kill us. What those women did... All they wanted to do was to protect Yū from us. That's all they wanted to do." Morina would then be the one who would go quiet as she considered her own conclusion of the matter. Then, with a deep breath, she huffed and stood up from her seat as she glared at the metallic man. "I get what Chimon is doing, I really do, but these Organic Network Incidents... What we're doing to them needs to stop! I know why you kept Alma Williams here. You wanted to use her as a weapon, just like that man in Kyoto! It's obvious!" Her tone had risen almost into a shout in that moment, and her closed fists shook as they remained clenched against one another. Eventually, though, she would realize what was happening and calm down. "When I heard of those things, I agreed to do research on a cure, or at the very least something that could allow us to mend their pain. If Chimon can't respect that, then I want him to know that I will make sure Nakajima-san learns about this!" 

"Nakajima-san has told us that he believed their use to be necessary for the benefit of the company."

"Not in this way! Never in this way!"

Another shout came, and another moment of silence came as continued to glare at Tani. It was becoming clearer and clearer to her that the tension was rising between them. However, considering the man's overall lack of emotion regarding such things, it was also becoming clearer that it only rose from one end rather than the other. In so doing, Morina would calm down once again and shake her head. "We promised them that they could become something greater with the Argent Serum... They don't deserve to end up like that," she made one final declaration before, eventually, she let out another sigh and began walking towards where her patients remain. "Go guard the area outside. If you see anyone that is not a Hollow or one of those Vandenreich officers, call me. I'll be with you as soon as possible." 

And with that, this conversation came to an end, and the night continued onward. Such will this matter be settled.

With utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

[ E N D ]

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

35 posts x 50 TP per post default = 1,750 TP
Kimiko extra paragraphs: 8+9+5+7+5+7+9+4+10+10+5+4+3+6+8+5+6+12 = 123 x 5 TP = 615 TP
Fuuko extra paragraphs: 3+1+1+2+2 = 9 x 5 TP = 45 TP

1,750 + 615 + 45 = 2,410 TP total awarded to both participants



Since the thread started on December 25, you had until June 25 to complete it, so you guys ACTUALLY get 4,820 TP total and this is the last time I'm going to edit this.