The First Scene: Triple K Murder [Solo, Closed]

[Jonas Zaraki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play this}

A sun rose slowly upon Soul Society. Morning was not chilly however, rather, it was hot, ordinary thing for mid-summer morning of this spiritual world. Seemingly, nothing was out of the ordinary. People out in Rukongai were already on their feet, an entire megalopolis of people bustling with activity, one that never slept, no matter how it seemed. From above, people were running around and going about their business like ants, never stopping, and rarely pausing. There was nothing out of the ordinary. And why there should be? The peace of Rukongai was protected. And thus far, in this new day, undisturbed.

In the middle of Rukongai, separated by a huge white wall, lay a perfect circle, and another city within - Seireitei. Unlike Rukongai, it was more serene, and more quiet at night. This city slept at night, and it slept soundly. Most of the shops were still closed, and they wouldn't open for two or three hours more. However, there was already activity here, if one knew where to look. Scattered in barracks in thirteen different locations, Squads of Gotei 13, an entire army, were already up on their feet. Barracks were already bustling with activity, buzzing like beehives, as night patrols reported in, day patrols went out, and as everyone was getting up and starting with their duties.

And elsewhere, in households of the wealthy and the powerful, the nobility, another army was already on the move. Army of servants, retainers, guards, and all kinds of other people in service of those families were doing their jobs, preparing everything needed to cater to their masters' needs, and to maintain the required levels of, well, luxury. Everything seemed just like another day, just like it always would be. Indeed, this day was neither beginning nor the end, for time had none of those. But today was a special day. It was a beginning of something.

Stop the music.

In Squad 7 barracks, one of the newest recruits got on his feet and dressed. Jonas Zaraki was a handsome man, and he did not hide the fact. His gray hair and purple eyes were complimenting his face, and his exposed six pack is something that attracted ladies. However, he barely noticed any of that, as usual, because he was readying himself for duty. A fresh member of Squad 7, he joined less than four months ago, and thus far, he has seen little action. Most of that four months went into additional training and education. Even though he came out of academy with good grades, he was merely a rookie, and he had to improve. So, on daily basis, he practiced combat with his Squad mates for at least eight hours.

Aside from that, he was educated and trained in another field. Squad 7 was the policing Squad of Gotei 13, and their duties were including criminal investigations and corruption checkups, something that Shino Academy education gave little knowledge about. But, Squad 7 gave field training and seminars for their new members, and Jonas had to learn how to secure a crime scene, how to look for evidence and do basic analysis of it, and how to take statements and perform basic interrogation.

All in all, Jonas was looking at his schedule for today. Well, metaphorically speaking, as he kept it in his head. Today, it was a day without any special duties assigned, he finished all additional training and seminaries last week, and was on 16 hours combat training regime for the past two days. However, he had nothing scheduled for today, which meant he needed to get himself moving and find his commanding officer to get his daily assignment.

That meant he had to go on a hunt through the barracks for the man. However, it was a short one, for he found the man in his office, looking at documents on his desk. Ninth Seat of Squad 7, Shi Nikima, was a strong, stern man with a face that was just beaming discipline. Looking like he was in his late forties, gray hairs were already appearing among pitch black ones that were still majority of his hair. The man in front of Jonas was not to be trifled with. He served for the past sixty years as the Ninth Seat, and during that time, he solved innumerable crimes, from petty thievery to mass murders, and was one of most respected investigators of Squad 7.

Also, he was Jonas's commanding officer. As Jonas went into the office because the doors were opened, Shi spoke to him, without lifting his eyes from the paper. "Zaraki. Knock, for heaven's sake, knock even if the doors are open!" Jonas understood, for Shi was temperamental, and quickly bowed and started to speak apologies. However, Shi interrupted. "Straighten yourself up, boy. You have your Zanpakuto with you, yes?" He did not wait for the answer, he looked up at Jonas and noticed the fact. "Good. Your timing is also good. We have a scene, murder took place tonight. I already sent people to secure the scene, and for support teams from Four and Twelve. Come, it's time you did a true work on the field."

[Jonas Zaraki]

Walk to the crime scene took some time, due to the fact that Shi was not in a rush and also the fact that murder took place in rather remote part of the Seireitei, near the wall, exactly in mid-way between West and South Gates. Using Shunpo, Jonas and his superior arrived at the scene within half an hour. They could have been there faster, but, again, Shi was not quite in a rush. Jonas remembered from before that Shi said there is no need to rush for the dead, only for the living. As soon as they arrived at the scene, they could see it was busy. A team from Squad 7 was already there, as well as support teams from Squads 4 and 12. Every Shinigami was busy, and was doing something, there was no idle bystanders. People were busily attending to matters and crime scene examination, and Jonas took a hard look at the scene. It was between the wall and a fenced-off corn-field. Essentially, what they were standing on and where the scene was located was Outer Route, the circular tiled road that went all around the Seireitei, hugging the inner side of the Wall. As Jonas and Shi arrived, Shi headed straigth for the crowd in the middle. That crowd was standing next to the body, four Shinigami operating some sophisticated instruments in their hands, one holding a camera, and one taking notes. Final Shinigami in that crowd was just overseeing others, and he was the one that greeted Shi. "Another one, Shi. It seems we will never see the end to this, old friend." Shi shook the man's hand, responding: "As long as there is something to be gained by killing, people will be doing this over and over again. But let me introduce you. Ryu, this is Jonas Zaraki, our newest addition. Jonas, this is Ryu Kenida, 11th Seat of Squad 4, and my old friend." As Jonas bowed to Ryu, observing proper formality, Ryu noted: "Nice to meet you." However, both his and Shi's attention shifted towards the body on the ground, that was laying some two meters away.

Those two started to approach it, and Shi motioned for Jonas to follow him. As they approached it, Jonas's stomach was oddly calm, and Jonas was almost eerily calm himself. not something that he expected as a response to his first murder investigation in which he was to participate. As all three of them approached, Jonas could see a naked male body laying on the ground, face up, with arms and hands spread open, and legs as well. Body for the most part looked intact, but Jonas could see it was not. In the middle of a chest there was a gaping hole that certainly shouldn't have been there, and on the face, there were only holes where the eyes were supposed to be. On his forehead, and both of his palms, were cut in letters 'K'. And finally, what Jonas noticed, body was laying in a circle drawn in some sort of black paint, making everything eerily seem like a pentagram. Jonas was no longer feeling so calm. In fact, more he looked at the body, more he felt weak, and color was leaving his face quickly. However, Ryu noticed that, and grabbed Jonas's shoulder. "Focus, boy. Don't faint on us, we need you. Don't look at the body, and don't think about it. Rather, look at me, and focus on the conversation and take notes. Writing is a good distraction, and provides you with notes to easily reflect on things later." Shi just waved his head, however, his comment was not negative. "We were all greenhorns once. Now Ryu, what do we have here?" Ryu quickly barraged information so quickly that Jonas was having trouble to keep up and write it all down. "Victim was a man, I'd say some four centuries old. No signs of struggle, cause of death unknown. I have my bet on that hole in his chest, but might not necessarily be true. Time of death, some four hours ago. Lack of blood or any other trails indicates that body was merely dumped here, and that real murder scene is elsewhere. As for the circle and those letters, your guess is as good as mine."

Shi nodded to the information. He was standing for a moment silent in thought, before responding. "OK, Ryu, just let me take a look at something before you bag him up. Jonas, in the meantime, take the report from Squad 12 guys for me, and take the official statement from Janis. He is the one who called it in. Once you're done with it, come back here." Jonas nodded, and went to fulfill his task. Squad 12 technicians were not hard to find. Few Shinigami holding some measuring instruments in their hands, and loudly yelling to each other seeming random numbers- no mistake, those were Squad 12 guys. Jonas approached the nearest one. "Sorry to interrupt you, but Ninth Seat Shi wants a report." The guy didn't even look at Jonas, but spoke without moving his eyes away from the display in his hands. "No Reiatsu remains, no residual Reishi, no anything. No spiritual trail was left behind. Simply put, either the guy was killed without any struggle and any Reiatsu usage or he was killed elsewhere and just dumped here." Jonas nodded, as he managed to neatly write everything down. Now, his second task was to find Janis. Janis was a squad-mate, another member of Squad 7 and the team that was under Shi. Seventeen years in the Squad already, he was not so strong as a Shinigami, but was well known for his humor and sharp mind. Jonas was glad to know the man, but now he needed him for official business, not for their usual rounds of drinking.

He found him within a minute, the only person present that was not in Shinigami uniform. Janis was in a bright blue kimono, and he was sitting on a fence that was separating corn field from the Outer Route. HE nodded to Jonas as Jonas approached. Jonas nodded back to him, and started immediately. "OK, Janis, you were first at the scene and you called it in. Shi needs a report." Janis sighed first, and then spoke. "Well, as you know, I was off duty went to my fiancee. Her house is on the other side of this field. Everything was calm tonight, and we slept without any disturbance. In the morning we had a fight, and I went to take a walk around this field to clear my mind, when I stumbled upon the body. I immediately reported it in and secured the scene. However, there weren't any people here, nor there are often, so I was alone out here at scene before the team came in. Now, this corn field is owned by some restaurant, I don't know which, and as you see, on the other side of it are houses. Sixteen families live there, including my fiancee, so maybe somebody has seen something. As for me, I didn't see or hear anything. Sorry for not being helpful more Jonas, but that is all." Jonas neatly took all of it down, and responded: "It's okay Janis. Let me turn this in to Shi." Saying that, Jonas went back to Shi and Ryu. There was a single change,, as body was not there anymore, and Ryu was also preparing to leave. "... I'll send it as soon as I do it." Shi nodded to him, but when he saw Jonas he said: "Just wait a bit Ryu." Taking the reports from Jonas, he quickly went over them.

After a minute, he called for Greg, another Squad 7 Shinigami that was nearby. "Greg. Gather the boys and have them search this corn field for clues. And have somebody go door to door and ask if somebody seen or heard anything. There are people living in other side of the field. And while you're at it, message Squad 8 and check who exactly owns that field." Then he turned to Jonas. "Not bad." Ryu approached, and wanted to say something, when both his and Shi's communicators rang simultaneously. Both of them checked their messages. And both lost some color in their faces. Shi was the one to speak however. "ID is in. Jed Yasutora of Squad One. He was... a Shinigami." Even Jonas felt the impact of this. His bones chilled for a moment. Seireitei was at war almost constantly, and Shinigami died in line of duty every day, but this... it was different. To murder a Shinigami like this, in Seireitei. What was going on? That was the thought that was ringing within Jonas. Shi slowly said: "We need to find his Zanpakuto then, and his uniform." Ryu just silently left, nodding and not saying anything else. Jonas remained with Shi. A warm summer morning suddenly felt very cold.