In Memorium (Social Adventure)

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

Thread Title:[/b] [In Memorium]

Starting # of Participants:[/b] [No set #]

OPEN/CLOSED?:[/b] [OPEN]

Brief summary of circumstances:[/b]

Initial Goal of Thread:[/b] [Pay respects to a fallen comrade in arms.]

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

The rain... it was discouraging. Of all the days of the year, it was the most fitting day for rain, for it was a day of grief and of sadness. A lone man stands next to a stone grave, carved by hand rather than Kidou. In rough letters the words "Hibiki Kuchiki, friend and brother, healer to all in need" can be seen. Salty tears mingle with the fresh rain, falling to the ground. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Hibiki was strong, he stood up to Lucifer the King of Hell himself and had escaped with his life, even having earned the praise of the Dark Lord for his courage in working to save his comrade, Hokori. Two knees sunk into the quickly forming mud, even more tears starting to flow. Why him? Why the strongest of them all, the one who had understood that strength came in protecting others, especially the innocents.

Kyomei Kuchiki, friend and fellow adopted brother to Hibiki, simply shouted at the skies, not knowing how to express such grief. Standing up, he dug his nails into his palms, drawing blood.
"An eye for an eye, A tooth for a tooth.
Evil to fight evil, Fire to fight fire.
Hath withstood pain to create many flames of vengeance.
And yet, those ephemeral works of art will never be remembered.
I hearby offer my blood in an indestructible contract with the flame of atonement."
With the incantation spoken, his hands caught on fire, the blue fire of the Eternal Flame, Soukahou. Hundreds of blasts of Sokkatsui came out of Kyomei's hands, pointed upwards, simply going wild and unchecked. After a few moments of that, another technique allowed Kyomei to adust some of those blasts, spelling Hibiki's name in the sky, as a call to share in the memorial service. Before he was too burned, the Shinigami ended the Kidou. Who would come and pay respects as well?

SPOILER: Click to show

Red = Completed
Blue = Newly added

Give Honor to Hibiki's memory
Bring others to pay respect as well

[Kyousei Kitso]

SPOILER: Click to show

I could have done more. I could had reacted quicker. I was too slow, I was too weak.[/color] "I COULD'VE SAVED HIM!" Kyousei screamedd as he rammed his fist onto the wall, pretty much breaking his knuckles. He was dressed in his shinigami uniform, he heard it was Hibiki's memorial that day. He had tried to push the memory out of his mind. He had been a fraction too late, he had fired the kido too late. He had failed to save a fellow Vice-Captain. An unseated officer came and wrapped his hand in bandages.

He walked out the squad 5 barracks and went on his way to the site. It was strange. He had barely known this guy. His eyes looked to him for help before he died and Kyousei was going to his funeral. Kyousei didn't know how he would explain to the Kuchiki house why he was there. "Yea I kinda failed to save him from the creatures. Sorry about that!" That would be too strange to say. Maybe they would've read his name on the mission report he had been forced to type out after the mission.

Kyousei sighed as he made it to the memorial. The rain instantly drenched his hair wet, making it a deeper shade of red. Ever since that day Kyousei had been less stable, he tried to push the memory back but he couldn't. It had been his fault in a way. The memory still flashed through his head. The memory would stay with him for ever. Kyousei made it to the tomb stone, he could already see another person there, maybe it was a family member? Kyousei had never seen him in his entire life.

Kyousei simply stayed a bit behind him, mourning silently. He clenched his one good fist and gave off a deep sigh. It was truly a depressing day. Maybe if he went to the memorial he could get rid of his guilty thoughts. Maybe he could finally put the memory out his mind. Paying his respects was the least he could do after him before.

SPOILER: Click to show

Incomplete goals
Pay respects to Hibiki

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

Cold rain pattered across the ground, driving many inside their homes or barracks to avoid the onslaught of the heavens, and yet despite that a lone figure walked through the streets, ignoring the stinging drops that soaked him to the bone and poured off of his frame. Zeich Yajuu, the Seventh Seat of Squad Seven, strode through Seireitei with a single direction in his mind, a single focus. The condensation beading in his long black hair and trailing down the stern lines of his face weren’t even an irritation, worthy of notice. Instead, the Shinigami made his way along the street, ignoring the environment around him. Some detached portion of his mind still was wary, surveying the area coolly in a means of paranoid self-defense, but the rest of him, his consciousness, was locked onto one point.

Soon the area came up before him, and Zeich paused as Sokkyokko Hill before him loomed like a specter in the darkened storm. He didn’t need to see the people in front of him to know that this was the place, to sense the feelings of pain and agony that dwelt within. Without a word, the Shinigami walked towards the gathering, towards the individuals that suffered together in sorrow. Zeich’s face was still impassive, calm despite the fact that he was attending the grave of another Shinigami that he had come to know and respect, one who had fallen honorably in combat as he attempted to do his duty in the human world. No trace of emotion marred the exterior mask that Zeich presented to the world.

Beneath that, however, there was much more than anyone could ever see. The front that Zeich provided hid the grief he felt, despite the fact that he rarely felt strong emotions. General irritation, light pleasure at success, or small amounts of concern were all fine and well, but the Shinigami was unused to the aching pain in his stomach, like a dagger stabbed into him and being twisted repeatedly every time he reminded himself that Hibiki was dead. He wasn’t even sure why he was upset; Zeich had only spoken with Hibiki Kamikawa—no, Hibiki Kuchiki, he had been adopted into the noble family at some point—a handful of times, and sparred with him once. Yet in their brief battle, something about his actions, his demeanor, who Hibiki had shown himself to be, had all shown Zeich something more profound. The Shinigami had been forced to question what it meant to truly be strong, and though he now grappled with that question, one of the keys to answering it was now gone.

It’s not healthy to hide your sorrow, master. Ventus was the more outspoken of the two Zanpaktou spirits that Zeich possessed, and as a result it was no surprise that he was the one to communicate with his master. Pain is a natural part of life. Swallowing it is just going to cause you hurt.

Zeich closed his eyes with a soft sigh, keeping his composure in check, the emptiness of his mask intact. I’m fine. I am simply here to pay my respects to a fellow Shinigami who made a meaningful impact in my life. I am not here to mourn, to suffer, to hurt. I am here simply to honor Hibiki’s memory.

There’s nothing wrong with being human, master…

Zeich ignored the last comment and made his way over to the gravestone that had been set into the ground in honor of Hibiki Kuchiki. The inscription was simple, a memorial to the medic that had fallen in doing his duty. At its base knelt another young man, a Shinigami that the Seventh Seat didn’t recognize, and behind him stood one of the Vice Captains, judging by the badge on his arm. The two individuals were likely close to Hibiki, and Zeich quietly approached while maintaining his distance, aware of his own weak connection with the former Vice Captain whom he had only known for a short time. Standing at the side, the Seventh Seat raised his right arm diagonally across his chest in a salute for the medic, and then bowed his head in silent tribute to the man.

Unusually, Zeich was dressed in his Shinigami uniform today in honor of Hibiki’s memorial. Dressed in full military garb, the Seventh Seat only conceded to his normal outfit by bearing the rust-colored scarf around his neck that hid the rope scar at his throat. Standing there solemnly, head bowed in respect to the departed, with both of his Zanpaktou and his formal robes, Zeich cut the image of a perfect soldier giving a proper send-off to a fallen comrade. He said nothing in consolation to the others present, offered no words of comfort. There was nothing to be said, when all present felt the same way.

SPOILER: Click to show

Incomplete Goals
1. Pay respects to Hibiki

Complete Goals
None

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sozen arrived later than everyone else. By the time he arrived, most had left, and not many people remained at the tombstone. Those that did, he didn't speak to. He had come only to honor his family member that had been lost. Someone Sozen had personally known and trusted. Someone Sozen had adopted himself into the Kuchiki family. Someone Sozen had personally trained with and grown more powerful with. Someone he had healed next to. This person had been taken from the world. Sozen did not shed tears, but instead felt a lump in his chest. There was something in his heart that had not been there before.

"It was short, but it was good knowing you." Sozen said to the unresponsive tombstone. "Given that when a Shinigami dies his particles become one with the Seireitei and he is reset as a brand new human life, you won't hear this. Scientifically, I know you won't. But I'd like to think that somewhere, part of you will. I'd like to know I'm not just speaking to a corpse buried under a rock. I'd like to think that in one way or another you can hear me, and that this isn't all pointless. Because there's news that I want you to hear. There's news that you would have desperately wanted to be kept in the loop on when you were alive."

Sozen silenced himself for a moment. He took in the scenery around. The sky was cloudy, with rain coming down. Sozen hated how cliche the rain was. Why would it rain on a day such as this? A day when it seemed as if the sky was crying? Why did it have to rain on the day when Sozen wore his finest black suit and tie? When he had to step in puddles with his finest black shoes? When his hair was plastered to his face, drenched by the rain? Why, Sozen asked himself, did God have any tears to shed over one single being, one individual so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, even if relevant to all of those gathered.

"The Medical Hana were completed. It's too bad that you didn't live to see it. We're not sure who's supposed to be the Kuchiki to lead Squad 4 in the direction that you wanted now, but we'll figure that out. I promise you that there will be an adequate replacement. I promise you that we will achieve what you dreamed of." Sozen clenched his fists. His Zanpakuto was sheathed at his side, and he felt it bump against his elbow as he shifted his arm to clench his fists dutifully at his side and look down on the tomb stone. His body shook. His head lowered as the rain beat down on him mercilessly, whipping him with cold droplets that made his skin feel numb and clammy.

"Why...did you die?" Sozen murmured. It was softly spoken. It was quiet. No one but Sozen could have heard those words. No one but Sozen and the spirit of Hibiki Kuchiki. "You were the one who was supposed to lead the monsters of the Medical Hana...You were supposed to show the Hollows, and the Quincy, and all of the other monsters who the real demons were. So why did you die? You had no right to die. To come into our family. To begin us on a new road. And then to abandon us and die. You had no right...none at all...Just as they had no right to take you yet...Just as they had no right to kill you..."

SPOILER: Click to show

"No...How dare a mere Hollow take from us...from me... a family member. No Hollow has that right. No one has that right." Sozen's reiatsu started to emit from his body. It was red like blood. The rain that approached his body began to turn into crimson red droplets that resembled blood. His reiatsu became a darker and darker deep red that flowed off of his body in a steam. It looked gaseous. Sozen's eyes closed and his body continued to shake. A column of red reiatsu exploded up from his body into the sky. The true and terrible might of the Sixth Division Captain's spiritual pressure would be felt that day.

For miles all around, Shinigami of lesser power than Sozen would feel suffocated. Suddenly, red sparks were all over the environment, and the atmosphere had grown ten to a hundred times stronger, if not more. The air felt dense and the rain fell more slowly. The Captain who was known as one of the strongest living Shinigami was angry. His feral rage had become a catalyst for even more to appear, and it manifested itself in his reiatsu. In Sozen's body, there was a fire that would burn even the Segunda Etapa's soul away. Sozen's Zanpakuto shook. It rattled in its sheathe, showing that Sozen wanted desperately to kill.

"I can no longer tolerate Hollows..." Sozen admitted. "And there is no reason that I even should. In your memory, I will destroy them. All of them. Every single last Hollow down to the smallest and most insignificant beings even lower than the Gillian. I will hunt and exterminate all forms of Hollow, be it Vizard, lowly, or Arrancar, or even stronger than that. By the end of my life, not a single Hollow will remain. Las Noches I will see in ruin, and the Espada I will see dead. All of them." Sozen stopped shaking, and as he looked up the rain stopped. The clouds had been parted by his column of reiatsu. As the clouds parted to reveal the setting sun, blended into the sky to form the perfect crimson sunset, Sozen opened his eyes. They were solid red, glowing with red light. "I'll show them my true power."

[Deleted]

Today wasn't a day for humor. It wasn't a day for immaturity. It was a day of mourning, a day of remembrance, a day of respect. Kinda funny how Ray was late despite he and Hibiki having such a close relationship. But Ray was late for a reason aside from being lazy. It was the way Ray was dressed. He did not wear the Shinigami attire. No, not one bit. He wore something else. Something that Hibiki would have liked. Ray wore a suite. A black suit with a pocket over the left breast. He wore a collared white undershirt plus a red tie underneath the suite. Rays pants came with a buckle along with black dress shoes. Hibiki was a man who loved good fashion and good clothes and Ray believed the best way to honor him was to respect his taste. Ray had no idea if what he wore was the right fabric or the correct stitch but it was the best damn suite he could find and force the Science Division to spiritualize for him. Ray and the Science Division where getting to become good friends.

Ray was a few meters behind Sozen so he had gotten to hear most of the things he said. Ray had arrived around when Sozen promised to kill every Hollow. The third seat was silent before he closed his eyes and approached. He walked right by Sozen and stopped in front of the grave. Ray knew how the Soul Cycle worked. It was a endless river. Souls might stray from the stream but eventually rejoin the current. It's inevitable. Ray knew the grave was empty, he knew Hibiki moved on. But he wished somehow in someway Hibiki knew Ray was here. Ray got down on one knee and placed a hand on the grave. His bangs covered his eyes as Ray just started laughing. It wasn't a jolly laugh, rather pained. "It's funny how things work out isn't it Hibiki? I thought it was gonna be me moving on before it was you. Lets face it bud that was how it was supposed to be." Ray grinned, trying to hold back a few tears. "I hope what I am wearing is something you would have liked. You and your fabric man. While I was off goofing you would be looking at magazines. Hey, remember when you tried to suffocate me in your sleeve cus I joked about your clothes? Man you sure loved clothes. Speaking of clothes I really am sorry about the whole sock thing ya know." Ray hadn't cried when he heard of his friends death, no the shock caused him to stop. His pain was there, but not the tears. "I'm sure you helped everyone here same as you helped me and maybe even more. But...I want to thank you Hibiki. You taught me a lot of things showed me that even in death we can still....I don't know...still be human in some way." Ray said as his fingers tightened into a fist.

"I wanted to fight you again...when the playing field was even you know. Both Bankai...both at our strongest...well I got Bankai Hibiki but I wont accept it that I beat you. Fate likes to screw with all of us don't it? The biggest what-if in my life is gonna be who would have won? It would have probably have been you again but I would have put up a fierce fight this time. Not gonna just Kamehameha this time. " A few tears fell from Rays face. "You....you were a great guy Hibiki. I-I was so ha-happy to have met you man. Wherever you e-end up H-Hibiki just t-try not to forget about all the people who you cared for you and cared for you..." Ray got to his feet. Tears streamed from his eyes as his emotions finally let loose. "I'm gonna get better Hibiki. I p-promise. All the training we did..." Ray then smiled despite crying. "S-see ya next time brother..." Ray said his goodbye and turned his back to the grave and walked away.

SPOILER: Click to show

Incomplete Goals
Pay respect and bid farewell

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

A large group of Shinigami stopped by the funeral, most of them silently paying their respects a moment before moving on with their busy lives. Hibiki was a much loved member of the Gotei 13, a cheerful and friendly face that would be greatly missed. Sozen himself, the head of the Kuchiki, made an emotional appearance that shook the Seireitei with the force of his rage and passion, but he too moved along. After a bit of time, four Shinigami remained. Kyomei, the cousin to Hibiki who felt as though they were kindred spirits. They had passed through the tribulations of Hell together, and now the Soul Reaper would have to do so alone. Hokori was too stoic, wouldn't bear any emotions, so Kyo alone bore the responsibility to shoulder the pain and the regret of Hell and the meeting with the King of Sheol.

Kyousei Kitso the Vice Captain remained, a man with a haunted past. He had been present when Hibiki had been killed, and had been powerless to stop it. He blamed himself for the loss of the loved Kuchiki, and rightfully so as a mere Hollow removed the medic's flawless head. He tried to stay back from the group, but at so small a gathering he was quickly brought closer into the fold, where he would be found out by Kyomei who had poured over the reports. Zeich Yajuu and Raygin Kawada stood slightly off to the side, having known Hibiki for his valor in battle and friendly demeanor. The adopted Kawada had felt as though the adopted Kuchiki was his only true friend in life, and could have been a bridge between the two families had not one side of the bridge collapsed into ruin. As the rain continued to fall, the fourth seat who had created the memorial spoke up to the remaining other three Shinigami.

"Thank you all for coming. I would think that those who stay with a wounded soul like me would feel deep wounds themselves. Tell me your stories of the fallen man, and I will tell you my own. Why don't we first allow the Shinigami who allowed the death of this great Medic to go first?" As he spoke, he noticed that Zeich and Raygin didn't even hear what he had said, as they both left before he finished, considering their respects paid. The words were not laced with poison, not spat out, merely let off the tongue in defeat. There was no reason for anger at the moment, no emotion left in the hollow husk that was Kyomei Kuchiki. He immediately had recognized the Vice Captain of Squad 5, and hoped to put him in the spotlight to redeem himself, or not. And so, with the rain and the grass listening, and Kyomei ready for explanation, Kyousei would be pressured into speaking, with more force if necessary.

SPOILER: Click to show

PP: 1

Red = Completed
Blue = Newly Added

Bring others to pay respect as well

Give Honor to Hibiki's memory
Listen without interrupting to Kyousei's Story

[Kyousei Kitso]

(OOC: Changing my speech color so me and Raygin don't get confused)

SPOILER: Click to show

IC: A few things happened during the funeral. Raygin Kawada coming and paying his respects to his friend. Sozen Kuchiki coming out and declaring he would avenge his cousin. Kyousei was the only one who really knew what happened. Kyousei didn't even know if those things were hollows, those things that had killed the great healer. It just wasn't fair, he had been a great Shinigami, he hadn't deserved such a fate. The amount of times he had saved others but Kyousei couldn't do that one thing to save him, it just wasn't fair, not fair at all. Kyousei felt like he deserved a painful death for failing to save a comrade who was desperately in need. "Do not despair boy. The life of a Shinigami is not long or glamorous, it is usually short and bloody. This is... a normal occurrence" One of the Tsuin Tsuname twins said. Kyousei simply ignored her comment.

Finally the person who had supposedly organised the memorial who was Kyomei Kuchiki stepped forward. Kyousei simply tried to stay back, he tried to avoid his gaze, he didn't want a scene, Kyousei was just there to come to terms with his failure. He was just there to apologize it seemed, but if he was called out then it might cause a scene, if it caused a scene then that was bad and disrespectful. Kyousei sighed as he took a few steps away from the crowd. "Thank you all for coming. I would think that those who stay with a wounded soul like me would feel deep wounds themselves. Tell me your stories of the fallen man, and I will tell you my own. Why don't we first allow the Shinigami who allowed the death of this great Medic to go first?"

"OOHHHH YOU GOT IT NOW!" Both of the Tsuin Tsuname twins said in unison as they both laughed. SHUT THE FUCK UP THE BOTH OF YOU" Kyousei thought to his zanpakuto spirits. Kyousei sighed as he took a few step forwards. Sometimes it seemed life had a way of trying to screw with him constantly screwing with him. Kyousei glared at Kyomei, he had probably read the mission report. Kyousei didn't look at anyone else but he could... feel the stares coming from them.

"Hibiki was a one of a kind healer. I take full responsibility for allowing his death to go on without intervention. I admit it, I fucked up. Although, it happens to everyone but it makes me feel bad thinking about how I was powerless to stop it, he did all the saving but when it was time for him to be saved I couldn't deliver. For that I am sorry. Kyousei clenched his fist in his one good hand as he began the rest of his explanation.

Memories of the scene ran through Kyousei's head as he explained more about what happened."I had only just arrived at the scene. I noticed Hibiki was surrounded in the dark forest. He had severel of those things clung onto him. I tried to do some quick thinking and got ready to prepare a kidou but I was too late. The had already started cutting him, they cut into his organs, it was too late to save him, when he tried to come closer to me for help I backed away. I should have done more...I tried but I didn't try hard enough." Kyousei said as he finished his explanation. He looked at everyone who was there, he wondered what their reaction would be.

SPOILER: Click to show

Completed goals
1.Explain to everyone Kyousei's failure
Incomplete goals
1.Pay respects to Hibiki

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

Kyomei listened to every word that Kyousei said, just sitting there in disgust. "You were too weak. How can you call yourself a Shinigami, a Shepherd of Souls, if you back away when one needs your help? I'm finished listening to you now. The rest of the funeral party left anyways. I'll be... contacting you in the future about your particular weakness. Don't be late when I summon you." With his rant over, Kyomei turned from his makeshift gravestone and just walked off. He had met with the one responsible for Hibiki's death and would soon fix the weaknesses of the man. That was his way of paying respects to his friend, the best way that Hibiki would be put to rest. With a voice barely louder than a whisper, Kyomei spoke one last phrase to the gravestone, which he knew that he would never visit again. "Goodbye, friend. Goodbye, brother."

PP: 3

Completed Tasks:

Bring others to pay respect as well
Give Honor to Hibiki's memory
Listen without interrupting to Kyousei's Story

[Kyousei Kitso]

Well Kyousei had pissed him off. Well he wasn’t surprised, it was only natural for a family to grieve over the dead of a loved one. Especially if the person who could’ve helped didn’t help. Well there was nothing that could be said no, nothing that could change the past, what was done was done and that was it. If he could change the past he would, it was never fine to have a perfectly good shinigami die. From stories of him he had apparently been a very good healer and shinigami. Such a shame he had died. Chances were that would happen to most shinigami one day or another, it was only a matter of when. Kyousei did not look forward to the day it happened it him.

Kyousei simply sighed when he was the only one left. “I can’t say I knew you but I know I could’ve done more to save you. Good bye Hibiki Kuchiki. I just hope you never forgive me...”

SPOILER: Click to show

Explain to everyone Kyousei's failure.
Pay respects.