All Hail The King [PG13, NDE, Social]

[Sozen Kuchiki]

A time of change.

The Shihoin Leadership passed down, at last, to a successor who, after much training, is powerful enough to take not only a Captaincy, but Head of her family.

A younger sister who, after the disappearance of her elder, is now the Head of her family.

A young woman who, after the death of her mentor, has sought to take his place and tighten his once mighty iron grip.

And before them all, a Head who has stood for years now, and whose success is legendary, whose power is beyond story telling, and about whom the truth could not be more sinister. The Crimson King.

The Heads of the Four Great Noble Families at last meet. In a conference room within the Kuchiki Manor, they have gathered, in order to discuss the terms of their ongoing alliances with one another. The Kawadas possess formerly Shihoin land, and both the Shihoin and Kasumi'Oji live on land loaned to them by the Kuchikis during their times of duress, which have come to an end. And, other grievances, like the genocide of the Shiba, are to be discussed, as well as another new variable--The suddenly active nature of another powerful family.

This is a social between the Heads, wherein terms will be discussed, and tensions eased or made far more dire.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Walking through the massive manor of the Kuchiki family the walls decorated in extravagant pieces of art and décor to the point that Kimiko felt a sensation of nausea. "The pinnacle of nobility . . such a lie." She was wearing her captain's haori and actually found a grand deal of pride with it on her. It was basically the same as a normal one but had black fur around the collar and the Shihoin symbol on the back above the symbol of her squad. Squad seven . . . her squad. Kimiko now the Captain of the Police division such thing she would have only thought of a far away dream yet it had only taken her a short amount of time to rise up and claim her potential.

That wasn't even the entirety of her recent accomplishments. Not only had she obtained the title of Captain something that was unheard of for a Shinigami of her age, but she had obviously obtained bankai to match. It had ben a hard rode even if it only took a short amount of time. Kimiko absent mindedly thought through the intense training that she had put herself through only to flinch for a moment. She had suddenly seen the sight of Haunzu rushed her with his mouth wide open and his fangs coming right towards her face. Memories of training that hardened her and allowed her to obtain her potential would never leave her.

She had been able to fulfill her ultimate goal however at the same time. It was all like a dream that Kimiko hoped was still reality. The new Head of the Shihoin family. Okami of course was still being kept close to his cousin for advisement and guidance. Although powerful Kimiko knew that strength alone wasn't enough to lead her family successfully through the future and replace the Kuchiki as the dominant noble family. It had been worked out by the both of them that while Kimiko was the Head of the family now she would make sure to listen to Okami's input and judgment in order to better her own decisions and conclusions on matters.

It took her awhile longer until she reached the meeting chambers, but when she actually did Kimiko opened the door and walked in. Seeing the table in the center of the room Kimiko walked over and sat down in one of the seats crossing her arms over her chest right below her breasts which now looked like they were resting on her forearms. She let out a sigh as she thought through what was actually going to happen right now. Sozen Kuchiki one of the strongest captains in Soul Society. She had to reach a agreement with him to get land or else she would have to do something far worse to a family that had claimed what was rightfully that of the Shihoin family. "They all better get their asses here fast I have work to do."

[Ōkami Shihoin]

”Why don’t you get it all back.” a voice spoke.

Ōkami Shihoin looked up, and his eyes fell upon a figure that he had never seen before. He had heard stories of the man, but he had yet to meet the one who was the Esteemed Head of the Kuchiki Family. His skin was soft, smooth, and warm. His features were calm in that moment, as he gazed down upon the Shihoin former Captain. His teeth, which were visible as he smiled confidently, were white and perfect. His eyes were narrow, and exuded a calm from them that made Ōkami feel as if everything would be okay. The man stepped forward once more before repeating what he had said.

”Get it all back.” he repeated calmly. Okami could only stare at the man. He wondered why a man like him was here. Why had he come so far? Was it to see Okami? Had he heard of his return? Why now, so many months later? Okami’s mind raced to find a reply to the man’s statement, but he could find none. He tried to find a response, and his mouth opened to speak, but he couldn’t find the words to speak. ”Don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world, and I’m sure it will all be okay.” the man said confidently. Somehow, Okami was no longer feeling sad or tired from his grieving and depression. He was growing calmer in the presence of this man.

”Wh-what should I do?” the Shihoin finally managed to ask. He had finally found his voice. He wanted to know this man’s solution on his next steps to move ahead. The man’s smile grew wider, showing more of his perfect white teeth. ”It’s possible for you to get it all back.” the man repeated. He offered a hand very suddenly for Okami to shake. The Shihoin took the man’s hand and shook it. ”We’ve never met in person, but I’m Sozen Kuchiki, Squad 6 Captain and Esteemed Head of the Noble Kuchiki Family, 29th to hold both titles.” Sozen said, calmly introducing himself. He let go of Okami’s hand and stepped back. His gaze moved around the courtyard Okami sat within and then it returned to the man seated before him. ”I’m sure they wouldn’t want you here like this. Your father especially. He was one Hell of a Shinigami. You shouldn’t ruin the memory they left this world with of you. Get it all back.” Sozen said firmly, continuing to smile.

Okami’s eyes opened wide in shock. He was shocked as to how this man knew of his parents. He wondered whether he had known them before they had died. The way he had spoken of Okami’s father, Jiro, suggested this. ”Why are you here?” Okami asked very sternly. The man had yet to reveal his true reason behind coming. Okami could read him and he could tell that Sozen had one. Yet, despite his sudden abrasiveness, Sozen still smiled. ”There are some things I’d like to discuss with the Head of your family. Possibly work with him on. Would that be you?” Sozen asked, playing dumb. ”No.” Okami said ashamedly. With that, Sozen turned on his heels very suddenly and began walking away. As he walked, he waved a hand as if to say goodbye. ”Then get it all back.” he repeated. He let these last words echo within Okami’s mind as he walked away.

End Flashback


"Get it all back"

Those were the words that had motivated him once again. It was because of those words that he had set out on this path once again. Those words by Sozen Kuchiki had been the catalyst that drove him to once again regain his family's status among the Four Noble Families. During his time as Head, he had also once again achieved his rank of Captain; however, it was not amongst the squad he had once led. A new Division had been created by the Captain Commander, with approval from the Central 46. The Onmitsukido, the Black Ops Division, had been allowed to separate from Squad Two and become its own Division with Okami leading it. After many years, the Shihoin had once again regained leadership over the Onmitsukido division, a division that they had headed since their family had first taken leadership over it many many centuries ago.

The golden maize eyes of the former Shihoin Head glanced from wall to wall. He marveled at the scale of elegance of the Kuchiki mansion. Sozen had quite outdone himself. Some day, the Shihoin would also have a mansion such as this. Not in a similar style, but with similar elegance. He had already been working on something with Azumi before she had left. She had promised him that she would make their new home the epitome of technological advancement. He had been excited to work with her on the features and sketches of what the new mansion would look like. Soon, it would be finished. Soon, the Shihoin too would have an elegant home just as the Kuchiki did.

The Shihoin walked proudly through the halls of the Kuchiki manor, following closely behind his younger cousin. He hadn't thought he would ever see this day. When he had taken up the mantle of Head, he had assumed he would hold onto the title for many years, maybe even until he died. However, that had not been the case. The Elders had requested that he yield the title to someone younger in the clan, someone who understood the times they lived in better, someone who had the level of power to lead their family to greatness. Okami saw the strategy behind such a move and agreed, but it took him time to develop his cousin's power. It took him time to harness her potential. And now finally, the fruits of his work and her training had paid off. Kimiko was now the new Head and a Captain herself. The Captain of Squad 7. Okami, meanwhile had relinquished himself to be her Advisor and mentor during her time as Head. He felt that he was best suited for such a position in order to prepare her fully for the position of Head of the Shihoin Family.

"Remember Kimiko, the Shihoin need to work together with the other families. The Kuchiki and Kasumi'Oji, especially. Sozen and I are great friends and I was once friends with the former Kasumi'Oji head; thus, it is imperative that we maintain relations with those two at least." the former Shihoin Head advised his younger cousin. Maintaining relations with Sozen and the new Kasumi'Oji head were top priority. Developing relations with the Kawada was second. That one would take more time for the Shihoin to do. Hopefully, Kimiko wasn't so stubborn that she would turn down any offers of alliance from them. Either way, he would work from the shadows as her advisor to do what he could to establish an alliance between the two families. That was his job as advisor and mentor, after all. With that, the Shihoin walked into the large meeting room after his cousin and sat down, waiting on their esteemed host to begin their meeting. A meeting of the Four Heads.

I remember when you were this young and brash hehehehe..

I've grown since those days. I just hope that she'll mature the same way I did...

Don't worry so much, will ya? She'll be fine with you at her side.

[Taihō Kasumi’Oji]

As she made her way toward the imposing Kuchiki Manner, Taihō Kasumi’Oji, the current head of the Kasumi’Oji family, couldn’t help but scoff at the outlandishness of the building. Her own home, the Kasumi'Oji Manner, wasn’t far away, but was utterly eclipsed in both size and grandeur by this blatant display of excess. In fact, her home was fairly bland in appearance, being relatively small, for a mansion, and lacking much of the elaborate decoration that the Kuchiki abode flaunted. The Kasumi’Oji family had suffered a recent and near total collapse, and the mansion had been left largely to rot. It wasn’t until Azumi, and then her half-sister, Taihō, took over as Head of the Family that repair had begun, but neither sibling had focused on beautification. The technological marvels installed by Azumi were decades, even centuries ahead of what the Kuchikis could boast, and the defenses of the manner, as well as the dungeons and interrogation rooms, had been revamped and made nearly impregnable under Taihō’s guidance.

Typical…leave it to Sozen to create something like that. In stark contrast, Sozen seemed to have placed his focus on maximizing the visual appeal of his family’s home. Many might have thought it to be vain, or even foolish, but Taihō saw through the ruse. It was confidence, arrogance. It was a statement, like nearly everything else concerning the nobility was. Sozen was well understood to be one of, if not the strongest Captain of the Gotei Thirteen. Only the Captain Commander could hope to easily best him in combat. His family controlled three Squads, and included some of the most powerful individuals in Soul Society’s history. He didn’t need to take precautions, or modernize his home. It stood on raw strength, and that was all it really needed. All of the glamour was just for show. It said “Go ahead and try. You’ll never beat us.”

Well, Taihō felt like she was going to have to disagree with Sozen on that regard. Her family was on the rise, and growing fast. The criminal empire built by Azumi, and now maintained by Taihō herself, provided wealth beyond measure, enough to stimulate the families energetic revival, and proved to be a powerful lure to draw distant Kasumi’Oji relatives and sympathizers out of the woodworks. And then, there was Taihō herself, quite possibly an equal to Sozen in terms of raw power. It wasn’t a perfect system, of course. Taihō was less than mentally stable, and the pressure on her was enormous, almost crushing. But, she was learning to cope, and was starting to settle into the role. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

Taihō reached the door and was admitted inside without fuss, and was lead through the mansion, eventually being lead to a conference room of sorts. She saw at once that she wasn't the first to have arrived, as Kimiko Shihoin, head of the Shihoin family and newly appointed Captain of Squad 7, sat at the conference table, with her cousin, Okami by her side, no doubt to act as her advisory. Taiho felt a cold knot of hatred twist in her stomach, but outwardly made no sign of discomfort as she stepped into the room, silent as a ghosts' shadow, taking a seat a few spots down the table from the two. She despised the Shihoin family, largely because her sister, Azumi had been close to them. After the things her younger sister had done to her, Taiho had no love for the former Head of the Kasumi'Oji family, and the Shihoin shared her ire simply by association.

However, this wasn't the place to let such petty things cloud ones judgement, and so Taiho maintained the icy wall of calm that surrounded her like a fortress. Once seated, she turned her head slightly, giving the two cousins an oblique glance, and said softly, just a touch quieter than what might be considered a conversational tone, "Greetings, Kimiko Shihoin, and Okami Shihoin. I hear congratulations are in order for you both, for your promotions. I look forward to working with you both." With her face obscured by the high collar of her over-sized black trench coat, and her eyes kept devoid of emotion thanks to the shell of psychosis wrapped around her heart and her mind, it would be all but impossible for either of them to tell she was lying.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

Music

The Kuchiki family owned the most enormous plot of privately owned land in the Soul Society. Stretching countless acres, it was home to dozens of Rukon Districts, functioning effectively as its own economic power. Nearly every district under the Kuchikis was affluent, with money to spare, and a surplus of anything that they needed, with only the highest quality goods coming from this place. That wasn't just by virtue of the current Kuchiki Head. It was by virtue of his predecessors. Onuya Kuchiki, the 28th. Ginrei Kuchiki, the 26th. Seijuro Kuchiki, the 14th. Those who had helped to make this family great, and make it something that was almost mythical.

And if that wasn't enough, the current Kuchiki Head had done even more. A family which as of recently controlled Squads 5, 6, and 10, and even the Kido Corps. A family which, through an indirect thread, might even be said to control Squad 13, which once had been the Kawada division. Their reach extended all the way into Las Noches, and their power throughout the human world too. If Captains and Lieutenants weren't enough either, then one only had to look to the Zero Division's intermediary faction, the liaison between Seireitei and the Royal Guard--There was a Kuchiki there too. And, even then, that was not all the cards the Kuchiki had to play. There was still the matter of the Head's wife, Aoi. The Kuchikis were easily the most powerful single force in the history of the Soul Society.

That was why it came as no surprise, especially to Taiho, or Okami, who had been spoonfed the name Kuchiki from birth, that their mansion was so grand. An enormous chateau, the manor sat upon an estate of around a hundred acres, which admittedly was a tiny portion of the Kuchiki's own land. It had dozens of servants. Beautiful gardens. Animals such as lions roaming about. It was the most grand, and gaudy looking of all the Noble manors. And of course. That wealth had been achieved over thousands of years of the Kuchikis dominating the noble game. It was as Taiho suspected. The Kuchiki Manor stood not as a secure fortress by virtue of technology, but by virtue of name alone. By reputation.

For Sozen Kuchiki was the most powerful Captain in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and had gone toe to toe with adversaries that none of the others had even been able to touch. It had been Sozen who brought down the Segunda Espada, Kuroi Naito. It had been Sozen who engaged in combat with the Primera, Adalo De-Mona. And even then, that was not the end of it. Responsible for the death of the Septima, the defeat of Stern Ritters C, The Cardinal, Caesar and B, The Boss, Baal, and known for his integral role in the War of Angels, Sozen Kuchiki had already proven himself time, and time again. And that was why the Kuchiki manor, by reputation alone, could stand as it did. Indeed, the message was clear.

We have stood since the dawn of Soul Society, and are absolute. You want to challenge us? Come and try...

That was what it meant to be a Kuchiki. And that was why, with his candid smile, smooth, white skin, warm to the touch, and his scarlet eyes, the Kuchiki Head would be the one presiding over the meeting of these nobles, within the gaudy halls of the Kuchiki Manor, filled with royal red decor. Even the meeting room had a red carpet, and red walls, and was lined with paintings of past Kuchiki Heads, and a sort of deep red table. Even with recent gains for all the families, it had been with the aid of the Kuchikis that it happened. And the Kuchikis even owned the land upon which most of the other families currently resided. Land loaned to them for their times of need.

That was why it would be Sozen Kuchiki who controlled the meeting. Why it was in his manor. If anything, the meeting of nobility was for these comers to ask him for assistance in reclaiming what was theirs. The Shihoin needed land back from the Kawadas. The Kawadas needed guarantees of continued alliance. The Kasumi'Oji needed to know that the slate was clean, and past criminal activities that they had been persecuted for would be overlooked. The politics of the nobility was so deeply entrenched in these individuals that even the Seireitei itself came secondary. But, despite all of this, Sozen Kuchiki would be the last to arrive before this meeting.

And, when he did arrive, his proud gaze would look upon his fellow nobles. Guarding the exit, as if some sort of sentry, was a young man with eyes not unlike the Crimson King's... And a younger gaze. Sharper. Colder. Ominous in its own right. Sozen's Heir, whom Sozen had, to be fair, said in advance would attend their meeting, if not for the opportunity to learn about these politics, then for the opportunity to create early connections. So, that was their guard. But, in the meantime, at the head of their meeting table, with all others on the side, there was Sozen Kuchiki, who greeted them all, with a smile, and some form of cordial hello.

"It's a pleasure to see all of you," Sozen said. "Kimiko. Okami. Taiho. Katrina." He went with a first name basis for all of them. "It looks as if we can begin now. Would any of you, by chance, like something to drink?"

[Deleted]

The drapes are horrendous.

Katrina took a small pleasure in this; Sozen wasn't infallible, it turns out, judging by his taste in curtains. Dark red, and such a disgusting material! What is that, burlap? She had to fight to hide the smirk that grew on her face. It sounds like something out of Soul Food, Sozen decorating his house with dyed potato sacks. The thought was ludicrous enough to warrant a smile, though that was quickly crushed as she took in the meeting room. Already the three captains had arrived, taking their places among the table.

Katrina almost didn't come; the relations with the Kuchiki have been strained for ages, and Katrina had no great love of the family. Even now she blamed them for the death of Kochikochi and the ultimate fall of the Kawada. A younger Katrina once deemed the Kuchiki inferior, trash to be disposed of. It was taken far enough for her to dismiss out of hand anyone who bore that surname. Certainly a year ago she would never have even considered sitting here at the foot of the lavishly decorated table, waiting for a man she once held on the same level as an Espada.

Of course, she wasn't the only one. Her gaze roamed from Okami, to Kimiko and sliding past Taiho in distaste. She had met this woman once, several months ago, and was afraid she made a complete fool of herself. But what were remembered from the night did not endear her to the young captain. Cold and seemingly too amused by other people's misfortune, the Kasumi'oji head would never be liked by Katrina. "You don't need to like her to work with her. Besides, she's hot. Bet you she's kinky."

A small sigh escaped her lips. Her Zanpakutou spirit was ancient, wise, and at times even managed to say something intelligent, and she respected and occasionally welcomed his advice and input, but he lost any points he may have gained by being such a humongous pervert! And it's only become worse since she became captain, Iguru keeping a constant monologue in her ear. Which, needless to say really made working a pain in the ass and contributed to the foul mood she found herself in almost constantly. Which was a shame, in her opinion; in her attempt to be a more open, caring person, she tried to bond with her squad members, but most either fled at her approach or tried to get into her pants.

'I wonder if they had to go through anything similar ...'

Her eyes again fell on Kimiko, the head of the Shihoin clan. She most definitely had. Though lacking the traditional beauty one would expect from a noble, she had strength, and grace, and a particular attitude to her that appealed to some people. Brown skin and eyes that shone with all the ferocity of a wolf only added to this beauty. Oh yes, she has experienced it, Katrina would put money on it. The whispers as she passed, the not so subtle attempts to catch sight of her naked, the idiots constantly hitting on her, running their fingers through her hair before they find out who she is ...

It was only when Katrina realized that she staring did she look away, fixing her gaze on Taiho instead. Her body was covered, only bright blue eyes and the tips of blond hair visible. To this Katrina had no thoughts. She preferred keeping herself unfettered; as soon as battle starts, off came the haori. The loose material would provide a distinct advantage for her enemies, something her armor didn't. It's why she keeps her hair tied back in a ponytail; some enemies were not above schoolyard antics.

But Katrina had left that behind today. She was a woman who believed in appearances, and she was not going to a squander this opportunity to make a great first one. Gone was the hair tie, gone was the leather and metal. Her hair flowed down her back, each lock perfectly sculpted to shine like a river of darkness. A silk dress clung to her curves, cut moderately at both the legs and bust. Her lips were painted a deep red, though otherwise no makeup was applied. The only concessions she took to ensure her safety was her retainer, Alexander King, currently waiting in the foyer, and the golden belt that hugged her hips, weighed down by swords, daggers, and various miscellaneous weaponry.

And then Sozen entered the room, followed by a man who could only be his son, and instantly Katrina was riveted. She had never seen the man before. No picture could capture the subtlety of his smile, or the way light reflected off his eyes, nor the confidence he portrays. She found herself hooked, a smile playing about the corner of her lips. Her younger self would be furious but Katrina found herself enamored of this man, almost indicated by his presence. Though Katrina hid it, some would escape by the turn of her lips or the burning of her eyes.

"No, thank you. I do not drink. Just a water. Filtered, of course, and cold."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: I think it's safe to say we don't need a "posting order" so much as just some organizational rules. So for now, imo, anyone who wants to post can, except Katrina, who posted last.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

The input of her cousin Okami was wise and welcomed yet at the same time Kimiko couldn't help herself from starring at him right when Taiho was walking in. She had heard hi words and advice and while she respected his input and wisdom the expression across her face was one of boredom and annoyance. It seemed even when the two of them were rather close now he would continue to press buttons that he knew she wouldn't handle well. Having to work alongside both the Kuchiki and the Kasumi'Oji y put a ton of stress on Kimiko's patience and self control.

The Kuchiki were those that Kimiko south to dethrone from dominance especially Sozen who of course she would have to be speaking too within a few minutes for an undetermined amount of time. The other was the Kasumi'Oji family which was a . . . smug on the Shihoin history and a disgrace to Soul Society. Kimiko knew of the failed revolt against Soul Society that her family had attempted alongside the Kasumi'Oji. She had also heard about how that so called noble family ruled over an illegal underground within Soul Society. Kimiko hadn't gotten the best impression of Taiho the first time they met and along with everything she knew of that family she wasn't going to enjoy even being in the same room.

That was hen Taiho entered the room and greeted both Okami and Kimiko to which the new Head turned her attention to the side sensing Sozen's reiatsu getting closer. Kimiko knew that Okami wouldn't be happy with how she reacted since really all she did was raise her right hand up and move it from side to side as if it was comparable to a shrug at how Taiho greeted them both. "Working alongside her yeah right. Criminal scum." Kimiko's expression was more annoyance now then anything as both Katrina and Sozen entered the room. Kimiko nodded slightly in greeting towards Katrina who she had fought against while the both of them had been unseated members of division two.

It was then that all of the heads were together and at the meeting table. Kimiko kept her arms crossed, but her expression was now total business and no longer annoyance. Kimiko waited until after Katrina had answered about rather having a glass of water then anything with alcohol. "Let's get things moving Sozen I doubt I'm the only one in this room that has more work to do then attending this meeting. I'd like to address the main issue as of late. Are you going to kill Takashi Kuchiki for his acts of treason?" Kimiko starred intently over at Sozen. It was her job as the captain of the police to keep order and law in Soul Society and Takashi had killed the entire Shiba family. His life no matter what must end there was no alternative.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: I figure since a question was directly sent toward Sozen, I should post now. As I said before, posting order can be super loose. TECHNICALLY, now it's Okami's post, and I'm sort of acting like a social DM now I guess. So, technically, Okami should post, BUT... I'd say anyone (except me, who just posted) can post right now. And I'd encourage Kimiko obviously not to post right now, until at least another person has posted. So Okami, Katrina, or Taiho should post. Likely, I suspect it should be Okami.

Play this now ;D

When all of the nobles had gathered and their various refreshments had been ordered, business could begin. Sozen took a quick note of each of them as he observed. Taiho Kasumi'Oji. Besides himself, she was the strongest in the room. Likely, the other three put together were still weaker than Taiho was. She had even been stronger than her sister, Azumi, who had been Sozen's partner in making mischief for the enemies of Soul Society and the Seireitei. Next came Okami Shihoin. The rightful head of the Shihoin by blood, and a mighty warrior. He was calm, reserved, and well respected. Okami had no dangerously negative qualities. And he led Omnitsukido as of Kenryoku Kawada's unfortunate demise. His only negative was the power struggle with Kimiko. Only time would tell which would emerge victorious as the true head.

Kimiko Shihoin. The new Captain of Squad 7. It was almost a relief, truth be told. No matter her ambitions or how terse and even difficult her personality was to work with, her goals were right now just that. Goals. She was no match for Sozen, a fact of which he was certain she was perfectly aware. This very fact was relieving, given how powerful the previous Squad 7 Captain had been. Enma had been above even Sozen, and with his absence, Sozen was now unchallenged as mightiest Captain. Without Enma around, Sozen could act more freely, for only Enma could have actually stopped and defeated the Kuchiki Head. And Kimiko was nowhere near Enma's level. None of the new Captains were. It would be generations before they once again saw one of Enma's like in the Seireitei.

Katrina Kawada. More balanced than her mentor, Kenryoku. Less balanced than Kenryoku's predecessor, Shade. Ruled more than the previous two by emotion which was frowned upon in the Kawada family, she did not have the full approval of the Kawadas, but she was easier to work with than her brothers exactly because of that emotion moderating her. Sozen had suspected it would be Katrina who succeeded Kenryoku. And it had been this which partially drove Sozen to encourage her succession to his allies in the Kawada family. She would be someone that would help them stay afloat, he had said. Time would tell if that was true or not.

Then, of course, came Kimiko's question. Directed at Sozen, she wanted to know if he was going to deal with Takashi. It was a subtle jab at him, calling that the main issue. It was a family issue, and it was something which could be blamed on Sozen. She was challenging him to do his duty. Of course, the response from a less seasoned Head might be to say something like, "The Kuchiki family always deals with traitors from the nobility," with a curled smile, and the subtle sub text which was that when the Shihoin had rebelled, it had been the Kuchikis that destroyed their main rebelling forces.

Kimiko might well expect a retort jab, which would justify further dissuasion from a good atmosphere. But... Oh how little she knew about the question she had asked... And, instead, Sozen would present to her a different subtext. But, something more along the lines of, I know what you're doing. I am above playing your games. Rather, you will submit to mine. Scarlet eyes flashed between all of those gathered, and Sozen smiled, very coldly, as he spoke. "We the Kuchikis will take care of Takashi," Sozen said. "And also of Sonken Kouhai. I recently ran an operation to gauge the defenses of Las Noches, during which I encountered the Primera Espada. Their defenses are weaker than ever, and they will not be able to hold me at bay."

The servants with the drinks arrived then, placing expensive glasses in front of everyone. Each glass was red, distorting the liquid within to appear red. Or, perhaps the liquid really was red, even the water. Who knew? Sozen just seemed to love the color all too much. And why shouldn't he? They didn't call him the Crimson King for no reason. "Thank you," Sozen said to the servant who left him his own glass. And, as the servant departed, Sozen resumed speaking. "I would be happy to cue any of you in on the details of my sting, or of the coming operation should you desire a part in it, once we have addressed more personal issues, which is the purpose of this council."

The meeting of the Heads wasn't to discuss squad duties. It was to discuss duties between the noble families. Sozen, looking around at everyone, continued to speak. "I believe the main issue is not, in fact, Takashi Kuchiki, at least to most of you. What is most relevant to each of you is what is due to each of your families. It is unlikely that you all enjoy living on my land. I suspect that you would each rather your families possessed your own." And there was the problem, of course. For the Kasumi'Oji, it was no problem. The Kuchikis had seized their lands as a result of a deal between the heads at the time following the failed rebellion.

Now that things were clearing up, the power of the Kasumi'Oji family would be preserved by the efforts of the Kuchikis, who would return their land to them. Taiho's issue was minor. Kimiko, Okami, and Katrina however... Less so. At the end of the Shihoin rebellion, not only had Omnitsukido been ceded to the Kawada family, but so had all of the Shihoin land. The Kawadas had conquered the Shihoin, not just beaten them. The Shihoin had been evicted, and only by grace of the Kuchiki land they had been placed on had the family continued to exist. Though Sozen had negotiated the return of Omnitsukido to the Shihoin, now there remained this issue.

The Shihoin needed their rightful land back. They weren't getting a single millimeter of land from the Kuchikis, as the Shihoin grounds were owned by the Kawadas. The return of said lands, now covered by facilities crafted by Shade and Kenryoku Kawada, had to be negotiated. Those lands played a strategic role for the Kawadas, who might not want to part with such a huge advantage with no compensation. And, speaking of land, and of Takashi Kuchiki, there was the other issue. What Sozen and Kenryoku had negotiated after the destruction of the Shiba family. As a token of good faith for another deal made, Sozen had ceded the Shiba land, which was to be divided up, entirely to the Kawadas.

Therefore, the Kawadas possessed not only the Shihoin family's land, but the Shiba family's land. Given that there was in fact no Shiba family left to speak of, that latter bit might not pose an issue, except for morality's sake. That was something the Shihoin and Kawadas had to work out. And then, meanwhile... There was one more interest group present in the room, who was not sitting at the table. Sozen's own son, who may be guarding them, but who also represented an interest other than the Kuchiki family... A group whose authority might even be well beyond that of any of the nobilities.

Sozen took a brief sip of his red drink.

[Ōkami Shihoin]

The former Shihoin head nodded towards the Kasumi’Oji Head as she entered the meeting room. His golden maize eyes glanced upon her figure, noting the large oversized coat she wore. He had heard a few things about her from Azumi. He and the former Kasumi’Oji head had been very good friends after all. Okami had helped Azumi in managing her criminal underworld. He helped to dispatch any criminals that posed too much of a threat to Azumi and her operations. Criminals who also posed a threat to Soul Society as well. It was killing two birds with one stone. No one knew of his assistance in Azumi’s criminal underworld. Maybe Taiho knew, but she had yet to approach him about it. ”Thank you for your congratulations, Taiho-san. It is a pleasure to receive such congratulations from a fellow Captain such as yourself.” Okami responded, praising Taiho’s strength. Whatever ill feelings Taiho held towards his family, despite not knowing about these feelings she held, he was hoping that by recognizing her strength she would be more willingly to work with him and his family.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed the look on his cousin’s face after he spoke to her. She’s going to mess this up… He was worried that he had allowed his younger cousin to be Head too soon. She wasn’t yet experienced with these kinds of meetings. She didn’t know yet how to handle herself in these kinds of meetings. She hadn’t shadowed him during these meetings as Sozen’s son was doing now. She had no experience with matters of nobility. In his mind, Okami was wondering whether he should be the one to represent the Shihoin rather than Kimiko. With his Onmitsukido training, he was more able to hide his emotions than Kimiko was. He could easily hide his annoyance or dislike of anyone within the room without alerting them as easily as Kimiko was currently.

Next, the Kawada Head made her appearance as well. Katrina Kawada. He had heard little about her, despite their being in the same squad. She had been much lower seated than he had been in their squad and between Kenryoku sending him on so many missions and his duties as Head, he hadn’t had much time to get to know a lot of the newer members of Squad Two. He would have to work on that. He needed to know more people within the Soul Society. It didn’t necessarily mean he had to befriend them all, just get to know them enough that he could determine who he could work with in the future. After this meeting was over, he would work on getting to know Taiho and Katrina better.

Finally, the organizer of this meeting of the Heads arrived shortly after the Kawada Head, that familiar smile of his present on his face. This was the man that had brought him out of despair. This was the man that had pulled him from his darkness. Sozen Kuchiki was the reason why he had been able to stand up after his parents’ death and rise to take leadership of his family and the Onmitsukido. He owed Sozen Kuchiki a lot. As the Kuchiki Head made his entrance, and acknowledged the members of his meeting, Okami nodded in response to his own name being called. ”Water is fine for me.” the former Shihoin Head responded. He wasn’t much of a drinker, except for sake, but he only indulged in the drink when he was relaxing or after missions. Here, he needed his head to be clear.

The younger Shihoin suddenly spoke up before anyone else could, her words filled with annoyance and utter disrespect for the Kuchiki Head. He wasn’t sure what grudge Kimiko held against everyone in the room, especially the Kuchiki Head. Whatever grudge it was, he would stifle it now. Kimiko would not get away with such disrespect in front of him. He would die before he saw her ruin the Shihoin family with her lack of ability to hide her emotions. It was necessary to retain relations with the other noble families. Their family didn’t currently have the strength to wage a war against any other nobilities, especially the Kuchikis. Even if they did, a war with the other nobility was senseless. It would lead to senseless deaths among the Shihoin that he wanted to avoid. There was no need for the Shihoin to be the supreme noble family in Soul Society. Sozen and his Kuchikis could have that title if they wanted it so badly. His main goal was the protection of his family and if that meant removing them from the limelight and keeping their true strength hidden, then he was fine with that. He would make Kimiko understand this in time.

Without gazing upon his younger cousin, Kimiko would feel a sudden aura emanating from Okami. The aura he was emitting was palpable in the air around her. It was an aura that she had never felt before from her cousin. And of course, it was one that she should never have to feel. It was a killing aura that Okami exuded whenever he was greatly upset. There were even faint sparks of energy forming around him as that aura exuded from him, bearing down on her with all its weight. She’d find herself frightful the hands of such an aura emitted by the former Head, a man who had killed many during his time in the Onmitsukido. And then, just as suddenly as the aura crushed down on her, it disappeared and everything would be normal once again. That had been her warning.

He lifted the red cup before him and calmly took a sip of the liquid within as if nothing had happened. Then, he looked up from his drink, and a glare appeared across his goggles so that only one eye became hidden behind them. ”Sozen-san, forgive my younger cousin.” he began. ”I believe what she meant to say was that she would like to join your operation. I’m sure you understand that as Captain of the Police Division, she would like some kind of role in bringing justice to the Shiba Family.” He lifted the cup again and took another sip as a pause before he continued speaking. ”I would also like a part in your operation, if my assistance is needed, of course. I can understand how much the Head of a Family would like to deal with family matters on his own. It’s just, and I don’t mean any offense by my words…when these matters spill out into Soul Society, others want to get involved. This was the same when my uncle, Hiroshi Shihoin, attempted a coup d’etat during my absence, was it not? It was the Kawada who stepped in to bring the traitors to justice.” His only visible golden maize eye stared into the crimson eyes of the Kuchiki Head as he spoke. He truly didn’t mean any disrespect by his words, but he wanted to get a point across. He was attempting to get Kimiko’s point across in a less disrespectful way.

As for the matter of the Shihoin family’s land, he wanted to make a statement about this too, before Kimiko decided to step in and make her own statement. He understood that she was the Head, but he wanted to diffuse any hostility that she could stir up before she had a chance to. He would do this by addressing the situation himself. ”I also understand from what I was informed about the coup d’etat that our land was taken by the Kawada after they defeated the traitors. In my time as Head, I made sure to stamp out any semblance of further attempts at a coup d’etat. I understand that taking our land was a way to dissuade any future attempts at a coup d’etat by removing our strength and ability to grow, but now there are no longer any Shihoin that sympathize with Hiroshi Shihoin’s ideals. So, where do we go from here?” Basically, what he was saying was “We want our land back.” He was just saying it in a more cordial and indirect way. How Katrina and even Sozen would respond to his statement was yet to be seen. He hoped that they could be civil about it, and come to some type of deal without the need for threats or even violence. Sozen Kuchiki was not a man he wanted to get on the wrong side of. The red cups. The way the meeting room was set up. From what he had read about the man’s ability, Sozen could take them all out with just a thought if any hostility arose.

[Taihō Kasumi’Oji]

Interesting… Taihō thought to herself, as Okami, and only Okami, responded to her greeting and congratulations. Although she hadn’t exactly expected a warm and friendly response from Kimiko, she had expected a response. Instead, the new Head of the Shihoin family simply looked away, as if Taihō were beneath her attention. She clearly had a lot to learn. Not that it concerned Taihō, how the Shihoin Head behaved. She was perfectly content letting the newly minted Captain make a fool of herself, and further tarnish he family name.

Shortly after taking her seat, Taihō heard the door behind them open again, and Katrina Kawada entered the room. There was no need for Taihō to turn and look to confirm this; she had sensed her Reiatsu once before, at that accursed party some time ago, and she recognized it now. A small smile flashes across Taihō’s lips, hidden by her high collar, as she recalled the spectacle Katrina had made of herself while intoxicated, but no sign of amusement appeared in Taihō’s eyes. They remained blank, as she glanced over at the Kawada Head.

”Greetings, Katrina Kawada. I hope you have been well since last we met, and that you have avoided further consumption of alcohol since then.” It was a sincere sounding, if obviously barbed statement, not at all unusual among the nobles. It was, of course, a lie. Although Taiho displayed no outward emotion, she had actually been hoping, and continued to hope, that Katrina would do everyone a favor and spontaneously combust. Taihō liked the Kawadas even less than she did the Shihoin, considering them to be slightly worse than parasites and carrion birds. It was a fitting analogy, Taihō thought, considering the way the Kawadas devoured what was left of the Shihoin and Shiba lands following both families’ respective collapses.

However, since it wasn’t Kasumi’Oji land that the Kawadas had taken, it really wasn’t any of Taihō’s concern. Her concern was the return of land which had once belonged to her own family, which Sozen now owned. In that regard, there was little for her to do. As Azumi explained it to her, the Kuchiki’s had seized the land belonging to the Kasumi’Oji clan during the failed revolution that had occurred some time ago. As opposed to claiming said land, however, it had been taken as part of a deal, to preserve the strength and integrity of the Kasumi’Oji land. Now that the family was once again on the rise, Sozen would be honor bound to return Taihō’s land to her. She suspected Sozen would try to use it as leverage against her at some later point, and her family would be indebted to his for generations, but those were both small prices to pay in Taihō’s mind.

Not long after Katrina made her entrance, the man himself, Sozen Kuchiki, arrived, accompanied by someone who could only be his son and heir, Souza Kuchiki. Souza looked very much like his father had when he was that age. Taihō knew, because she remembered. Among those gathered in the room, only Taihō and Okami were old enough to have known Sozen in his childhood. Only they would see the shadow of the past in Souza, and what he would become in Sozen. It was almost chilling, to see the two of them together.

”No thank you. I’m not thirsty” Taihō responded to Sozen’s offer of drinks. One of the difficulties of her attire was that it made eating and drinking functionally impossible, and she had learned long ago that it was simply easier to do without food and drink than to try and partake while she wore her massively oversized coat. Of course, many would ask “Why not simply remove the coat”? However, for Taihō, this was no simple thing. To her fragile mind, the coat was more than just a coat; it was a shell, a wall that kept the world out. Wearing it helped calm psychosis, making it easier for her to interact with those around her. Without it, she didn’t think she could handle a casual conversation, let alone a meeting such as this one. The coat was vital. Drinks were not.

Listening to Kimiko’s kamikaze style opening remarks, and Okami’s resultant attempts to cover for his cousin, caused another faint smile to spread across Taihō’s lips. In fact, she almost chuckled. Almost. However, she remained stoic, even as Okami flexed his Reiatsu, as a way to warn Kimiko to keep her mouth shut. Although it was meant for Kimiko, it was easy for Taihō to sense, with her above average energy sensory abilities. Okami’s Reiatsu was just over half as potent as Taihō’s, and yet it dwarfed Kimiko’s pitiful Reiatsu. Even Katrina possessed more potent Reiatsu, and Taihō and Sozen both could likely incinerate the young Shihoin head with even a simple Kido, well before she could close on them and bring her vaunted strength to bear against them. She would do well to remember that she sat amongst giants, and that she was currently the smallest person in the room.

Returning her attention to the conversation at hand, Taihō waited to hear Sozen’s response. It would set the tone for the only thing that mattered to Taihō at the moment: securing the return of her family’s land. She wasn’t overly concerned about it; after all, based on the deal between their two families, Sozen was supposed to return the Kasumi’Oji land to them. Although Sozen was known to be treacherous at times, he wasn’t the kind of man who would sully his family’s name by breaking a promise like this one. However, Taihō was nothing if not paranoid, and there were strings of doubt tugging at her, making her wonder if Sozen would honor the agreement. If he was amiable to Okami, then it was likely that he would return Taihō’s land without fuss; if not, then Taihō would likely have to do some negotiating, something she admitted to not being skilled at. Her idea of negotiating was putting a sword to someone’s throat and forcing them to concede to her demands, and Taihō wasn’t keen on trying that with Sozen just yet. So for the moment, she remained silent, waiting to see what would happen next.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: Nomad said that he has no idea when he can get back to us, so in the interest of keeping the thread going, let's say that Katrina, before answering Okami, suddenly got an urgent call by butterfly about some Kawada matters, and she had to excuse herself from the room to contact family members. She'll be back in the room shortly.

IC:

Play this music

As the doors opened up momentarily, both to permit Katrina to leave for her call, and to allow entry to some servants who were bringing further refreshments, some of those outside could be heard, gossiping. Katrina, on her way out, would also hear some of the gossip. Taiho, Kimiko, and Okami would most certainly find audible what the servants were whispering to one another behind closed doors. "Did you hear about Lord Souza's fight with the Squad 2 Captain?" went one. "You mean Captain Harle?" another asked. "Yeah... I heard that not only did they fight on the same level, but he dominated most of the fight..."

There was a loud gasp. "But he's just a Lieutenant?!" The second speaker replied. "That's the scary part... A Lieutenant already well above ordinary Captain level... A monster that most Soul Reapers will never attain the same level as... They say he's even stronger than Lord Sozen was at that age. The type of prodigy that only shows up once in a million generations." Then the doors were shut again, and the conversation was drowned out. Souza Kuchiki must surely have overheard as well, having also been in the room, as a sort of security guard, but if he heard, he made no indication of it, and kept a straight, uninterested face.

Sozen too did not acknowledge what the servants had just said. He chose not to, and would let it sink in for those in the room. That was something rather terrifying to think about, however, especially if one had grown up at the same time as Sozen, as Taiho and Okami had. Along with Azumi, Sozen at that age had been one of two called "Blood Bonded," and had been powerful enough just as a first year student to defeat all of his instructors in the academy. He had been called "the demon" because of his combat style, and was one of the most successful of Squad 7's Lieutenants. For Souza to be beyond even that... It meant that the Kuchiki Family's future was well secured.

An Heir who would surpass his father in combat ability, and who whilst being the Heir was enough to significantly bolster the Kuchiki forces. It wasn't enough to have just Kyomei, Hotaru, and Hokori on his side. Sozen also had Iro Kuchiki in the Zero Division Intermediaries, and was married to Aoi, a lady of the Zero Division as well. Rumors had it, in fact, that she had recently ascended in rank. And, if that wasn't enough, Sozen had other allies and powerful family members too. So to top it off with Souza... That was scary. The Kuchikis really were unrivaled in power. Kimiko, especially, might be made to take note of Souza, given he was in her age range physically. In the future, he would probably be a rival Head during her reign.

"Well..." Sozen said. "Given that Katrina was unable to answer Okami's question on account of urgent business, I believe that we should table this topic for the moment. To the Shihion Family, you have my assurance that I will do everything in my power to aid in the return of your land. If the Kawadas require any sort of bargaining chip, we too will pool resources to bargain." They had no reason to doubt Sozen. He knew that. Because he fully intended on getting back their land, and had already delivered on his promise of returning Omnitsukido. It had taken a while to do it, but he had successfully gotten the Kawadas to concede. Without Kenryoku, there was no reason to keep Omnitsukido. He had been the only one in the Kawadas that the Omnitsukido had responded to and accepted as leader.

"As for the Kasumi'Oji," Sozen said. "It goes without saying that the Kuchikis will return their land. My grandfather intended them, once purged of corruption, to reclaim their resources one day. Azumi and I had worked out that in exchange, the Kuchikis will have full access to the science, testing, and training facilities run by the Kasumi'Oji operations. I believe this to be the a given as well, unless Taiho would like to throw in any further stipulations." That was true. It was a deal that Sozen and Azumi had worked out, as upon her return, they had begun working together again, this time in order to deal a devastating blow to Las Noches. It was unfortunate what had happened with that Stern Ritter back during the invasion...

What Sozen also did not tell them was that Azumi had promised him an Espada. She had promised to deliver to Sozen a living, breathing, captured Espada for him to extract information out of. But, of course, he had already begun plans to secure this on his own after learning that Azumi would not be returning from their mission to attack the Vandenreich. He no longer needed it specifically from the Kasumi'Oji family, and would not achieve anything by bringing it up. So, he didn't even table it. The idea just dissipated. This, of course, left whatever else was going to happen at this meeting.

Scarlet eyes found their way to each of the seated table members. Okami, Kimiko, and Taiho. And scarlet eyes glanced back at Souza, to ensure the Heir's mindful presence. It was strange, Sozen thought, that Souza had as of yet said nothing. Though in the interest of running the Kuchiki family in future, Souza shadowed Sozen, he also had an agenda beyond the Kuchikis, courtesy of Aoi's bloodline, and that Souza had brought up nothing here to further it was disconcerting. Sozen had long since lost the ability to read his own son, but that was something which happened to all parents. He had utmost faith in Souza Kuchiki

"Are there any objections to current arrangements before we move on?" Sozen said. "I believe that this is all fairly self fulfilling, and that now we should address lingering concerns between all of us. Loose ends, perhaps. Do any of you have something to say? Afterward, we can address Las Noches." That was how Sozen ended speaking for the moment. He had said his piece. The return of land to all the great families would make sense. Though it returned to them lost strength, it had another effect as well. By getting the other noble families their land, the Kuchikis too became more powerful. Though, as to why, they'd have to wait and see.

[Taihō Kasumi’Oji]

Although it would be impossible to notice, an impressively large and sinister smile spread across Taiho’s face as Katrina was rather abruptly called away from the meeting. Although she doubted it was anything terribly serious (as wonderful as that news would be), the head of the Kasumi’Oji Clan found it delightful to see Katrina squirm, to see her have to scramble off to deal with whatever was going on. Despite her joy, however, Taiho’s elation didn’t spread to her eyes, which were still largely blank and devoid of emotion. Even her smile was short lived, as words and whispers filtered in from outside the conference room. Sozen may have been a indomitable warrior and a legendary leader, but his choice in staff was clearly suspect, if they were routinely as chatty as they were at moment; in the few moments the door was open, a veritable gold mine of information passed into the still air between the assembled heads.

So…his son is powerful. As I expected. I wouldn’t expect anything less than a monster from a man like Sozen. And if it’s true, what they said about Souza being stronger than his father when he was at that age… She let her thoughts trail off for a moment, as her gaze shifted to Kimiko, the young Head of the Shihoin Clan. Another smile almost spread across Taiho’s face, but she resisted the urge. …Kimiko will likely have a great deal of trouble on her hands when Sozen relinquishes his title. Of course, it was risky to place a great deal of trust in the gossip of commoners, but Taiho found it unlikely they would spread false rumors about the heir to the family, and doubted even Sozen would be vain enough to orchestrate the event just to stroke his ego a bit. It was likely that what Taiho and the others had overheard was accurate, or at least grounded in reality, but Taiho made a mental note to research the event in question, just to determine how powerful Souza may really be. To that end, she realized, some personal testing might be in order. Taiho found it unlikely that Sozen would let Taiho have her way with his son, but considering he hadn’t seemed to mind her impaling another of his relations, Hotaru, she considered the question worth bringing up at a later point in time.

For now, however, there were more pressing issues to deal with. At the mention of the Kasumi’Oji land, Taiho focused back on the meeting, and when Sozen paused, leaving an unspoken but quite obvious question hanging in the air, Taiho was ready to respond with missing a beat. ”The arrangements made between you and my…sister…are acceptable, Sozen. “ Taiho had to struggle not to spit the word ‘sister’ like a curse, considering what Azumi had done to her in years past. It was hardly noticeable, but it revealed something about Taiho’s personality, a sore spot, which an attentive listener may notice, and take note of. ”I only ask that you, and your family, notify us prior to the use of our facilities, so we can properly prepare the equipment. I would hate to see any of your endeavors fail due to an improperly prepared testing environment.” It was a reasonable request, one which Sozen had no reason to refuse. Simply put, it meant ‘Tell us what you want so we can help you get it.’ It was Taiho’s way of offering her cooperation with whatever it was Sozen wanted to do with her labs and equipment. However, it was a lie. In truth, Taiho was annoyed by the conditions of the exchange. Sozen and his family had essentially unlimited access to Kasumi’Oji research and technologies, and while Azumi may have believed in sharing such things, Taiho was a much less generous individual. She would rather see Soul Society rot in squalor than share her family's secrets with a man like Sozen, however, she had been convinced by the family elders to agree to the terms, for the good of the family. And, it wasn’t as if Sozen had gotten everything. There were still secrets buried in the darkest depths of the Kasumi’Oji manner, secrets which Sozen knew nothing about.

”I am ready to move on, Sozen". Taiho responded, in regards to Sozen’s last question. Although she wasn’t necessarily happy about it, she had seen to the major concern that had brought her to this meeting: Her land. Now that that was out of the way, she was ready to get this meeting over with. She was uninterested in these ‘loose ends’ Sozen had mentioned, and wasn’t keen to get involved in what was likely to devolve into a shouting match. After all, the four families represented in this room (If you counted Katrina) had never been known to get along particular well, and the individuals representing them weren’t much better. Taiho didn’t see how a conversation on tying up loose ends between them could not end badly, and while Taiho had never been one to avoid confrontation or run from a fight, she was also fairly convinced there were better things she could be doing at the moment. Like dunking innocent people into tubs full of half-starved lampreys to test their survival instincts…or…something…

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Kimiko sat in her seat as Sozen answered her question on the matter of Takashi. The way that he spoke was littered with smugness that Kimiko would have gladly torn off if this wasn't something she had to do on behalf of her family. For the moment she would have to deal with Sozen and all of his pride. It seemed that he planned on taking care of Takashi and then the rogue Sonken who was controlling Hueco Mundo. Sozen spoke of encountering the believed strongest of the Espada and then stated that there defenses were weaker then ever and they wouldn't be able to stop him. When he said that Kimiko just happened to grin. "Obviously they already have stopped him or else he wouldn't be here planning another attack."

What followed was more of Sozen speaking in his prideful smug way that resulted in Kimiko feeling disrespected. The Kuchiki for the time being were the strongest of the noble families and held the most influence however the strong should never speak down to those below them as Sozen obviously made a habit of. It was the responsibility of the strong to empower and protect the weak so that everyone may survive and grow in strength something that it seemed very few of the nobles acknowledged or believed in. Kimiko had to make sure that this was at least going to be fine on behalf of her family so for the moment she closed her eyes and concentrated. She thought back to when she was learning the methods of being a Shinigami and how being trained as a Onmitsukido had allowed her at the beginning to enact assassinations on random individuals. It was that memory that allowed Kimiko for the time being to seal off her aggression and annoyance towards Sozen. Her facial expression seemed to change from boredom to apathy showing hardly any expression at all for now.

What Kimiko felt next was an powerful weight of reiatsu that was meant to instill fear in her. Kimiko sensed who was flexing their reiatsu and pressuring her and turned her head towards Okami slightly. She eyed him for a moment the normal gaze that would have been filled with outraged emotion and fury was not present. Her gaze was absent and cold the look of someone who didn't care of life and death. Normally Kimiko would have challenged his pressure of reiatsu with her brute strength by flexing her arm and allowing the sound of her muscles crushing together along with the appearance that her arm would in fact have gotten bigger due to the amount of muscle in there that many would never assume. Yet her training even now after not needing it was keeping her at bay and she stayed still as if nothing had happened with her hands out on the table together still like ice.

Okami continued to speak towards Sozen the two being childhood friends he believed that he had more leeway then the others while dealing with the smug man. It seemed that he also felt that he needed to clean up a mess that must have occurred from Kimiko's question when that was simply puzzling. The nobility if they believed that her question had been disrespectful was only seeing it as a statement from one family to another and not as her duty to uphold the law of Soul Society. The only Captain that in truth had more reason to go after Takashi was the Captain Commander. Not Sozen even though he may be Head it was beyond his responsibilities now due to him failing to keep a member in check. Takashi had eradicated an entire noble family and had been able to escape. That was the disrespect to the Kuchiki and Soul Society not the words of the police Chief.

Even after feeling that everything was in need of cleaning up Okami continued to speak and Kimiko stayed silent for the time being the training that was allowing her to stay apathetic had been broken by her personality and believes on more then one occasion so for right now just waiting and being as patient as possible was the best course of action. The faster that this actually got done the sooner Kimiko could start to enforce laws that were being ignored throughout Soul Society and actually start fixing the many problems with the Rukongai Districts.

Prior to Sozen answering however Kimiko heard a familiar name in fact the name of a friend of hers. It seemed that whoever was outside of the meeting room was gossiping about Harle doing battle against Sozen's son. They continued to speak and it seemed that Harle had been bested by the boy. While it was rather annoying to have such a thing thrown at the other nobility and a sign of further disrespect in Kimiko's preference she stayed silent. It was obvious that Sozen was a man that loved to be smug and show off all his toys and achievements while looking down on others. Kimiko couldn't change people just uphold the law and for the time being Sozen wasn't breaking any of those. The news that Harle had been struggling with a Vice Captain though wasn't surprising to Kimiko. Although she was a friend of hers Harle wasn't the strongest of Shinigami and prior to both of them being appointed Captains Kimiko had bested her in combat as an unranked member of squad two when Harle had been the Vice Captain.

After that Sozen spoke towards the two remaining noble families left in the meeting on the topic of the lands. Kimiko wasn't surprised by what was spoken and only when Taiho had asked that the Kuchiki tell them when they are going to use their facilities did Kimiko struggle behind the cloaked expression to remain apathetic. In her head she could only think of how Taiho was using such places to continue illegal actions that would need to be stopped at some point in the future when everything was settled and more secured. Kimiko had her elbows just off the edge of the table with her hands up now interlocked by her fingers and pressed to her mouth as she thought over everything. This meeting would need to be wrapped up soon she had to go over some things with her Vice Captain in a few hours and didn't want to rush through everything. "I believe everything has been addressed for now."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: Gonna add a new element to our thread! Spice up our story.

IC:

Music

"I have a proposition now," a new voice said. And Sozen too turned in surprise at the speaker. His son, who had been guarding the door, had decided now to stare down the table, and with eyes scarlet as Sozen's, yet colder than either Taiho's or Kimiko's. They called Souza Kuchiki the Omnipotent Emperor. It was a much more grand, flashy nickname than what Sozen had gotten. "The Crimson King." To be crimson as opposed to being omnipotent. Who came up with these names, anyway? Sozen seemed to enjoy his, but Souza had always detested it, saying that his own, actual name bore far more impressive energy than some cheesy title.

Sozen was about to speak, and then decided not to. Instead, a smile played upon his lips, and he sank back into his chair, amused. Normally, a Head might attempt to suppress his son, but Sozen Kuchiki was curious as to the form of Souza's outburst. If this Heir was to be the Head one day, then what he did now mattered very much, especially if he did something which might potentially lead to Sozen disciplining him, as the Kuchiki Head had been known to do, very brutally, in the past whenever Souza had done something truly reckless. What had happened to Jagger Kawada had resulted in a severe sparring session which had been extremely taxing to the young Heir at the time.

"I have been watching all of you," The Omnipotent Emperor said. "And I am quite honestly disheartened by what I am seeing." Souza gazed around the room, at all of those there, even his own father. Something about the Kuchiki Heir was disturbing... Powerful. He was strong. Incredibly strong. Just from that terrifying aura that came off of him, everyone in the room would know... With the exception of his father, Souza was at least as strong as anyone in that room, if not even more powerful. Indeed, the Kuchiki Heir's abilities and prowess were likely more than able to match Captains. Even as Lieutenant, he had come this far.

"You have all disgracefully forgotten the job given to the Soul Reapers by the Spirit King himself. To protect. You have all become caught up in bitter bickering and petty competition... In lack of trust. You have forgotten what it means to function as a team. As a unit." Souza had very powerful words for all of them. His rampage of words was something as well which amused Sozen greatly. Sozen, who had been about to go into great detail as to the plans of his invasion, and discuss with them the abilities of Adalo De-Mona, found himself feeling quite content with the situation at hand. His son showing what kind of Head he may later become.

"Kimiko, with your contempt of my father and your obsession with your squad and its job of persecution. Have you not realized that you are the weakest in this room? You have no place trying to measure yourself up to Taiho, or to my father. You should be trying to support the duty of a Soul Reaper, and not your emotions or your morals." How did Souza know what Kimiko had been feeling? Sozen surmised that it had been Souza's acute energy sensory, a trait which even the Crimson King did not possess. It wasn't impossible that Souza had been evaluating all of them this entire time. In fact, it was more likely.

"Okami. Have you not realized that Kimiko is nowhere near ready to take the reins? To even allow her into proximity of being Head of your family is beyond unquestionable as a bad decision. You should be furthering the Shihoin family more for yourself, not having a child do half the work for you." Ironic, since Souza and Kimiko were not all that far apart in age. Yet, to be fair, Souza had already experienced tremendous success, far beyond the abilities of a regular Lieutenant. And, his greatest accomplishment, his discussion with the Royal Family, was not even known by anyone other than Sozen.

Souza's eyes then fell upon Sozen and Taiho at once. "...And the two of you... Plotting and manipulation is pointless. We have enemies to combat in Las Noches. We have even stronger ones on the horizon, still. There is no purpose in getting ahead at the expense of one another. Enough of these rivalries." Souza Kuchiki's eyes settled upon everyone in the room at once, as if his stare could ensnare them all. Somehow, it might just feel... scary. As if Souza was looking at all of them naked in a snowstorm. As if every fear they had ever had was coming to light. It was paranoia too. Terrors. Not unlike sleep terrors, this sensation. Somehow... Souza's gaze was discomforting.

"To say the least, your performance as Heads is disgraceful," Souza urged. "And if we remedy it, you may just have a chance at defeating the likes of Sonken Kouhai. We'll begin by sharing secrets we do not want to share. Each of you has a secret regarding one another. Share those. From now on, you should be a unit. A team. Not squabbling like insects over a piece of shit." Souza was being hard, and harsh. He was basically telling them he found their leadership despicable, and that he wanted them to settle their differences. Work together. Sozen, then, asked Souza a question with a smile. As if testing his son. "So, then, what do you suggest?" And eyes fell then on the table once more, terrifying to behold.

"Cool your heads and start working together like a real team."

And Sozen recognized a warning in there that the others, with limited knowledge of Souza besides that his reiatsu was somehow inherently "different," might not notice.

The Royal Family commands it of you all.