Three months had passed since the battle against the Arrancar had taken place just above the Seireitei., three months since most of the Soul Society had been devastated. While the buildings in the west Rukongai where starting to be rebuilt the majority of the Seireitei was still in shambles. The main barracks had been rebuild for each squad, and the Academy had thankfully been spared attack though with many of the students there were already getting drafted by the squads with their numbers so depleted. Just outside the 11th Squad Barracks a man in a white suit and captains Haori walked calmly through the corridors of the Seireitei.

“What a mess.” The man commented as he walked about, passing each of the barracks in turn on his way to the heart of soul societ. Along the way he stopped to speak kindly with the various Shinigami that flooded the area, often to their surprise. He was extremely young looking for someone who had lived in the Soul Society for almost 1200 years, and had an air of confidence about him.

This man was the new Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, being one of the more veteran Captains from before the battle. It had taken Central 46 less than a day to vote him into the position and three months had passed since. In truth the past three months had been uneventful other than the various Captain Exams he had to administer and the few meeting he had conducted between one or two captains. “I suppose I’ll have to call a full Captain’s Meeting soon.” He mused to himself.

A couple of nearby foot soldiers looked about from their construction site to see who had said something and found it to be him. “G-Good morning Captain Akihiko sir, were you speaking to us?” the foreman of the group asked with a bow of respect.

“Hmm, oh no no sorry about that, I was just having a mental conversation that I suppose became a little to vocal.” He said with a chuckle to the man, “That aside you all seem to be doing good work here, what mortar are you using?” he asked as he stepped closer to the scaffolding and the wall to see what had been done.

“Very good thank you sir, we’re using a new composite developed by Squad 12, its very useful and comes in a tube but we can’t seem to get that last set of blocks up. The winch broke when we lifted the last pallet you see.” The foreman said with a gesture down to the Captain Commander who looked to his side and saw the pallet. The ropes that were tied to it went up to a pulley near the workers on the wall and then came back down to dangle just in front of the Commander. “We can’t continue the work until we get it fixed.”

“Hmm, I think I can help with that.” He said with a smile and grasp the rope that dangled above his head, pulling down to raise the heavy pallet slowly up to the men. They were initially stunned by this show of strength but it was in truth nothing to an Officer. His physical Strength was much lower then some of the other captains in the Gotei 13 and after he had made sure the men had the pallet secured he nodded to them and said good bye.

Walking away he was almost to the steps to the1st Squad barracks when a sound of bells caught his attention. Looking up he saw a black hell butterfly moving gently through the wind towards him. It was odd that he would receive a message directly, normally they were sent to lieutenants who conveyed them to the captains. Ashe raised his hand to let the creature land he heard the message and his face fell. In a flash he was gone, leaving only a faint afterimage as he flash stepped away. He had crossed all of Seireitei on foot that morning and now he suddenly used that technique to move, the message was not something good.

((EDITED: my character was changed from 11th to 9th Captain))

"So, this is Squad 9's barracks. I know I've lived in this place for a while already, but still, now that I'm the captain..." Tatsuya says, adjusting his haori, still not used to the thing. "I wasn't even used to being the vice-captain, and now I'm the real thing. I had always hoped to move up in rank, but not so quickly...or for these reasons."

He and the late captain had become good friends in the time he had been around him. His death and struck a blow to Tatsuya that he hadn't fully recovered from yet. Of course, the death of everyone who had been lost that day affected someone. In his years of being a shinigami he had come to know most of the men and women who had lost their lives quite well, and they would all be missed very much. But it seemed there was no time to dwell on such things. Seireitai was still being rebuilt, as well as most of Soul Society, and he was among the workers. While, to be honest, he wasn't doing as much as some.

Most of the work on all the barracks had been complete, but just to be sure Tatsuya was walking from one to the other, looking things other. He had an eye for detail some would miss easily. There had been a crack in one of the new walls, and if he hadn't spotted it the wall might have fallen on someone later on. It was the little things like that, things no one thought much about, that he would point out, but of course he was pulling his weight around as well. His squad was both in charge of security and keeping everyone informed, after all. Such things tended to lead structure and organization to a person after a while. For the moment, he was alone, but up ahead he could see the new Captain Commander, Akihiko, helping out.

"It seems everyone is adjusting well. That's good. I wonder when Akihiko will call a meeting of the Gotei 13Court though? Seeing as how many new captains and vice-captains we have, it should be soon enough." Tatsuya wonders, talking to himself, as he moves on in the same direction as the commander. Looking up, though, he sees a hell butterly comeing towards the man. The message is relayed, and then he is gone in a flash. "Flash stepping so suddenly...whatever that message was, it must have been important..."

Shaking his head a little, he turns back towards his own barracks and makes his way inside, where his people are hard at work on the news magazine.

Kilick awoke with a snort. He was having one of the most delightful dreams when his body decided it was time to wake up. He stretched out, yawning and cracking his joints as he went. Smacking his lips, he looked around at his dimly lit captain's quarters. The previous captain was a man after his own heart: not too active and someone who enjoyed a good nap from time to time. The bed was very comfy and had tons of pillows. In fact, just about anywhere in the room could be used as a suitable bed if the need arose.
Kilick blinked as he tried to organize his thoughts. "Hmmmmm. There was something I was suppose to do. Gah, it's too early for this type of thinking. Captains have it rough." Three months had passed since the previous captain had fallen in battle and he took up the mantle. He still wasn't use to the tough regime and giving out orders. If it wasn't for his lieutenet, Shora, he would be totally lost.
At the thought of his lieutenet, his brain awoke. "Crap! If I'm not up and moving soon, she's gonna be pissed!" He leaped from his bed, pillows and sheets flying as he scrambled to get himself together. His haori. Where had he put it?! He was almost in a panic when he remembered. Kilick looked back at the bed, and sure enough, there it was, bundled up at the head of the bed, where his own head had been minutes ago. A puddle of drool glistened off the embossed number eight on it.
"Darn you for making such a good pillow." He grabbed it and slung it on, ignoring the damp sensation on his back. The sleeves reached down to just past his wrists, making it almost look like he had no hands. He turned to leave, grabbing his zanpakuto, Kaitoukage, on the way out the door. It always comforted him to have the cane-sword in his hand at all times.
Kilick slid the door back from his quarters and stepped into the hall. In all the scrambling, he still hadn't figured out what he was to do. Better ask the lieutenet. He padded down the hall, having forgotten his sandals, and knocked on his lieutenet's door. 'Oi, Shora-chan, you awake in there? I need to ask you something."

She was waiting. Waiting for the knock to come on her door, waiting for movement to sound in the room next to her . . . waiting for her Captain to get up off his lazy -

Aha! There it was!

Shora didn't rise from her place at her desk, her fingers laced together under her chin as she listened to the hurried scuffling coming from Harouken-taicho's room. She smirked as she calmly turned a page of her book. Let the fool suffer.

At last, the knock came. "Oi, Shora-chan, you awake in there? I need to ask you something."

Closing her book, Shora rose and crossed to the door. Opening it, she smiled sweetly at her captain, adjusting her glasses. "Of course I'm awake, Taicho. Have you ever known me to still be asleep this late in the day? I'm surprised you weren't up yourself; the birds were making quite a racket just a short while ago."

She paused for just a heartbeat. "Ah, but you said you had a question?"

He was in her sights now . . . . All she had to do was play the waiting game and stack the cards against him, then take him down in a blaze of righteous anger. He'd ignore it, but it'd sure make her feel better!

Throughout the courtyard of the fourth division you could hear the melody of the song of life. The soothing music realy feels like a blessing to all who hear it, but many unfamiliar with the person behind it want to believe thats it played by scraping metal over metal. Though today it was hard to deny this, as this person is standing on the barracks watching the gate as he plays his sword like it were a violin. His white haori waved in the wind, exposing the unusual clothing underneath. The man in question is the captain of the fourth division, the gaurdian of the wounded, none other than Kalas Redwater.

The melody paused for a moment as he saw three wounded men getting carried through the gates, one bleeding from the head, another obviously had fought and had various cuts over the body and the last one has an arm that had been cut wide open showing the bone underneath. "What happened?" He yelled at the men carrying the wounded. One of the men that wasn't carrying stopped, lloked right into the eyes of Kalas and spoke. "The one with the bleeding head has had an accident at the building site, I heared it was a falling piece of wood. The other two have been in a bar fight." The man walked after the group and Kalas resumed his melody.

It was common that there were fights, armed drunk men tend to get agressive and shinigami were no difrent. But lately they seemed to occur more frequent and more deadly. In the beginning he had passed it of as an effect of the current state of chaos that Soul Society was in, but now he started to worry, Which on itself was something strange, maybe because of his responcibilities as a captain.

Kalas looked over the courtyard, it had chance quite a bit after his asssignment as a captain. The dirt and sand was replaced by marble, which was easier to clean and keep sterile. The training field had been improved so Kalas could give proper combat training, although it wasn't something most of the fourth squad liked about his 'regime'. He liked the way it was chanced and that was all that mattered in the end.

A few hours passed since the Captain Commander had vanished from sight, and from his duties, to go and respond to a Hell Butterfly. Luckily the Lieutenant of 1st squad was able to take up the slack, the Captain being someone who may have to disappear for some time do to his new duties.

Thankfully his task was done and he flash stepped right to the Barrack this time, having only been at the scene of the summons for a few minutes it took him several hours to ensure that the item of the summons was in a good and safe location. Landing nimbly on the Rock that sat at the centre of the Pond in his garden Ichiro looked about and noted that no one was there.

Taking out his flute he sat and began to play, his nerves a bit frayed after the past few hours excretions. He knew he had to get out and meet the Captains individually but he wanted to rest for a moment and think over what he had just learned. He wouldn’t be surprised if soon his fellow “Veteran Captain” showed up to take a nap under the Pear tree in the Garden.. He continued to play wondering what he should do from that point, the recent news is both comical in one way and dire in another.

He Stood suddenly realizing that something else was off, his hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he focused on the feeling, the moment he recognized it he smiled. “There you are.”

He flashed stepped to the 9th barracks and entered, th etime had come to end this incident.

"No," Chinmoku whispered, clutching his head with his hands. He watched as his companions dropped like flies to the Hollows that surrounded them. "NO!" He cried out, his energy soaring even higher. "BANKAI!" He howled, feeling the energy wrap itself about him. Darkness enveloped him then, wrapping him in its gentle embrace. His Zanpakuto became heavy in his hands, and when he stared down at it, he saw the pole become taller than himself, and the blade stretch to half the pole's length. He felt something smother his face, wrapping it tightly, but didn't fight it.

Once completed, and the energy receded into his body, Chinmoku stood, a flowing black robe hugged about his body. When he reached up to touch his face, his hands met nothing, but open air. Eyes widened, he stared about himself, not know what was going on. Shortly after looking about himself, he heard a Hollow's howl, and turned towards it. He brought up his Zanpakuto quickly, and slashed the Hollow in half. Hearing a scream, he turned to see Sora, a friend since the academy, desperately hurt, and bleeding from many cuts across her body, as half a dozen Hollows advanced on her. "Stay away from her!" His voice boomed, and charged the Hollows, slashing them all in half. "Sora," he whispered, reaching out to her, only to see her eyes widen in fear.

"Chinmoku," a voice was heard, "Hey, Chinmoku. Wake up silly." Chinmoku's eyes opened slowly, and found a pair of violet eyes staring down at him. Smiling slightly, he reached up and patted Sora's right cheek gently, one of the rare moments he has shown affection towards her. "Attack hugs," she cried out, hugging into his chest, making him grunt. His arms then lifted around her, hugging her closer to his chest for a brief moment, then pushing her off.

Sitting up slowly, and blinking several times, he turned his head to look at her, who was sitting a few feet from him, smiling happily. Tilting his head slightly, his eyes drifted to the light outside, and raised an eyebrow. "Its mid-day right now, Chinmoku," came her reply, "and you need to get up and address our squad. Or rather, we will." She clapped her hands together, and beamed a smile before leaving the small room.

Once Sora left, Chinmoku stood up and stretched, a small smile played on his lips, as he retrieved his new black garments. A flowing robe, which reminded him of his Bankai, but a soft velvet instead of the linen which hugged his body those many nights ago. He shivered at the thought, but placed the robe above his head, and slipped it on. He then tied a velvet sash around his waist, where he secured his Zanpakuto, a shoto called Shi no Tenshi, the Angel of Death. Smirking at the irony, he stepped into his boots, and stepped out into the light.

It had been three months since the battle with the Arrancar had ended and Shirai had made captain, and he still wasn't used to the position. That was normal, he supposed, especially considering the length of time he had spent as lieutenant. Not that such a thing being normal changed the fact that he felt distinctly uncomfortable. Like he was wearing a stiff, scratchy suit two sizes two big.

Perhaps, he thought, what he found most disconcerting about the whole situation was the sudden lack of orders to follow. Sure, he still had to do what the Captain of 1st squad said and go where he was ordered, but it was different than before, somehow. Life was just easier when he had been able to act with the surety that what he did was sanctioned by a higher power.

Then again...Shirai shook his head a little, a wry grin on his face. Pontificating on the subject wouldn't do him any good. Nor would bothering with the paperwork at the moment.

Instead he would head down to one of the districts in Rukongai he often frequented and see about getting a drink with some of the people down there. He hadn't had a drop of alcohol since the battle, after all, so it wouldn't hurt to take a bit of time off. With that decision made, Shirai stood from the desk.

He didn't bother to pick up the captain's cloak from where it lay folded in a perfect square on the desk, squad insignia up. After all, he was effectively setting aside the responsibilities of Captain for the time being, and to Shirai that meant leaving the cloak as well. Besides, it wouldn't serve any purpose in a bar.

Shirai began to count out what he would need to cover his tab as well as a little extra to pick up something sweet for some of the younger kids there as he always did.

Kilick stepped back a little, surprised at how quickly Shora answered the door. The smile on her face surprised him. Hmmmm, she's never that kind in the morning. Something is up. Steady as she goes, Kilick. He slapped his most innocent smile on his face.

"I must have missed that clamour. Lack of windows in my room prevent much sound from outside. You shoul know this by now, Shora-chan. how many times have you yelled at from out there?" He stepped back, anticipating a strike at his head.

With the same smile on his face, his picked up Kaitoukage, resting it on hsi shoulder as he leaned forward. "Shora-chan, I need your help. Mymmeory is failing me again today. I know there is something important going on, but I can't recall what." Here he stuck out his lower lip in his best pout as he could. 'could help remind me what it was? My mins is still muddled with sleep and all these new duties as captain."

Kilick had only known Shora three months, but in that time, he began to understand why she was made lieutenent, he business-like manner, and her way to cut to the point (usually in the most painful way, physically and mentally). In fact, Kilick believed that she would be in his position now, if it were not for achieving Bankai and not her.

Kilick turned his back to her, feigning dismissal. "but, i guess if you don't know, that's okay. Maybe someone else does." He threw a wave over his shoulder as he slowly walked back down the wall, waiting for her reply.

"Captain Commander Akihiko, is that you?" Tatsuya asks, stepping out into the main room as he feels someone entering the barracks. "You're doing well I hope?"

Although it couldn't be seen by anyone, he offered the man a small smile as he made a motion with his left arm, welcomeing him into the Division 9 barracks, his home in a manner. He made the motion with his left hand because, more instinct than anything, his right hand was resting on the hilt of his zanpakuto, which he wore on his right side as apposed to his left. Very little was traditional about him, though, and few even knew he was right handed to begin with, so it made no difference, save for in battle.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" He asks, walking over to a small table against one wall, on top of which rests a bottle of saki and two neat stacks of glasses. "Can I offer you anything during your stay? Saki, tea, something to snack on?" Opening the bottle, he pours one cup and turns, holding it out in a friendly gesture to his supperior.

In the back of his mind he can't help but wonder if this has something to do with the Hell Butterfly from earlier. At this point there is no telling why Ichiro has come to the 9th barracks, and so he doesn't ask. For all he knows he was simply walking by and decided to pop in for a visit. But, the sudden presence of his spiritual pressure suggests he had flash stepped to this location, and so it was not by choice. Unless he had no sense of direction.

Stepping out from behind the pear tree that sat in the middle of the Captain-Commander’s personal sanctuary; the hidden garden atop 1st Division barracks. He’d felt Ichiro return from whatever meeting he’d went off to, but had left his good friend to his thoughts. Normally he’d have been lounging under the very pear tree he now stood behind and enjoying a nice conversation with Ichiro, but that hadn’t been the case of late. After the battle that had robbed them of many of their ranks, far to many for his own liking, his friend had changed.

He’d listened to his friend play his flute, though the tune reflected Ichiro’s own mood and feelings, and what a sad melody had streamed from that instrument. Watching the new Captain-Commander as he departed in a quick flash step, though Gensui didn’t know where he might be heading off to as he fully revealed himself from behind the pear tree. Remaining in the shade, he sat down on one of the many small rocks and sighed allowed. A crystal blue shimmer appeared behind his left shoulder, before a female hand came to rest on his shoulder and in a voice as soft as the wind spoke only to Gensui himself.

“Your right Kamikaze, we’ve known them both for a long time haven’t we,” standing as he spoke to his Zanpakuto’s spirit and vanished in what could only have been called an expertly executed mutli-step-flash.

He appeared a few seconds later standing atop 7th Division barracks, his own division’s barracks and looked down at the squads that were in the middle of their daily training exercises and he smiled as he saw his vice-captain among the ranks training to improve her own swordsmanship.

“Ichiro, I do hope your alright old friend,” he murmured to himself as he went to join his division in some good sword training with a smile on his lips.

He nodded in greeting and once inside and alone accepted the drink of Sake, “Thank you very much Odasuka, and please, no need to stand on ceremony with me, after all I’m not the Old man from before.” He said accepting the drink and downing it with a sigh of relief, he had needed that.

“I’d love to be able to chat even more with you,” he said with a chuckle, “but,” his face became stern, “I can’t, not right now. Right now I have something important I need you to do for me please.”

He set the cup down and looked out the nearby window, “You should be aware that several Adjuchas that have been hiding in Soul Society since the battle.” He let that sink in and watched his reaction, “It seems that they have decided the coast is clear enough for them to attempt to reach the precipice world and escape to Hueco Mundo. Yet after what they’re masters did to the Gotei 31 we cannot allow that.”

He stood and headed to the door after bowing in thanks, knowing he didn’t have any time to waste, “I’d like you to please go to the Squad 11 barracks and link up with the new Kenpachi, then head over to the West Rukongai forest and eliminate the three of them there. Take only officers, I don’t want any of the lower ranks being lost to these creatures.” He said as he walked outside.

“I am sorry that I have to be so demanding, but there are more of them and I must depart to inform the other Captains, I trust you can handle this Captain Tatsuya.” He said before flash stepping away.

Heading to the source of the 13th Squad Captains rietsu; he was on the move and seemed to be heading into the Rukongai. He flashed stepped to come to a halt a few hundred yards ahead of the man and then walked briskly toward him. “Captain Kumori, a moment of you time please.” He said with a smile.

“Sir.” Shirai responded with a nod of his head in greeting. It had been a while since he had seen his old captain, now captain commander, but the habit of addressing him as he had back when he served as lieutenant under the man remained.

“Of course. But please, it's just Shirai.” He said with a small motion of his hand and a smile in his eyes. “I haven't quite gotten used to being called 'captain' yet, especially by you.” Besides, he wasn't the sort of guy who stood much on ceremony and had always preferred his title to be left out.

“Something important?”

It wasn't a question so much as a statement of an observation. After all, a captain commander didn't hunt him down all the way at the edges of seretai if it wasn't important.

“Sorry about this Shirai, but I need to interrupt your plans.” He said gesturing for them to start walking the other way.

Recently I’ve been following the trails and reiatsu of several Adjuchas that fled after the battle. They’ve been in hiding for some time now in the forests just beyond the Rukongai ever since.” He explained freely finding it much easier to talk with his former Lieutenant then with the other captains, except perhaps Shotaro, and he had a higher confidence in his abilities as he had seen him in action for some time. “These creatures have finally begun to move and I believe they intend to try and escape,” he stopped and turned to him with a stern but friendly face, “We can’t let that happen, not after what they did.”

“To the point then, eh,” he said as he turned and walked again, “I need you to head over to the 2nd squad barracks and inform the new captain there of these matters and these orders. Take any officer or higher rank you see fit and head to the East Rukongai Forest, there you will find a small group of Adjuchas, eliminate them.” He said to Shirai, it was much easier giving an order to him than to the other captains, knowing him as a subordinate for some time. “I’m sorry that you have to fight so soon after the last battle, but if we hesitate they may escape, and don’t take anyone lower than being a seated officer, these Hollow can’t be underestimated.”

“Now, I’ll leave it in your very capable hands Shirai, I know I can count on you.” He added with a smile and a gesture of respect before he flash stepped away, heading to the 8th squad barracks.

Stepping from his room, Chinmoku braced himself for the inevitable attack hug that was soon to come. "Attack hugs," Sora cried out, latching herself onto his left side. He pat her head softly, then pried her from him as gently as possible. His eyes held nothing, but love and content for her, and rarely showed such feelings in public. Watching her skip around him as he walked, he had to smile slightly, knowing that he needed her around him to stay sane. Pausing for a moment, he reached out to pat her head, gaining her attention as he normally did. He waved a hand at his outfit, then raised an eyebrow at her.

Skipping happily around him, Sora poked and prodded his outfit, making an adjustment every now and again, before proclaiming, "Perfection." He was about to move on, before she cried out, "Wait Chinmoku, you forgot your cloak," which made him sigh as she draped it over his shoulders, then appeared in front of him, where she tied it to his robe. She giggled softly as his eyes proclaimed his thoughts, which were, "Are you done yet?" She beamed another smile at him, then said, "All done."

"Oh look," she said, pointing happily at the whole of Squad 11 showing off their skills. "Shall we go?" She begged him, her eyes becoming like that of a pup's. Sighing, Chinmoku nodded and unsheathed his shoto. Oblivious to Sora's happy dance, he whispered, "Silence is Golden," and watched as his shoto became a kusarigama. The chain grew, and wrapped around his left arm, while the kusari was gripped in his right. Leaping over the railing, he spun his kusarigama high above his head, slowing the decent of his drop. Once he landed, he launched the weight up to Sora, watching it tie itself around the banister beneath her feet. He turned back to his squad, and watched as they watched her slide down the chain's length, and landing next to him. With an expert tug, the weight untied itself, and snapped back to him. "Lets get this party started," he whispered, grinning evilly as he swung his weapon high above his head.

Out in the Rukongai districts, Byockery hides in the shadows, watching as a group of hollows pass by. In the front of the group is an adjuchas, the one leading them.

"Well now, this can't be good." Byockery said to himself. "But it can't hurt to try." He said, smiling. He quietly unsheathes his blade and whispers, "Slice and lash, Kasuizairu!"

Just then a bladed rope flies out of the shadows and smacks into the five hollows following the adjuchas. They go flying into a nearby building. Byockery then jumps up, and brings his rope down on the adjuchas. The adjuchas dodges and appears behind, Byockery, kicking him to the ground. Byockery lands on his feet, his rope already flying back at the adjuchas. It dodges the rope, and flies towards, Byockery. Byockery swings the rope to the side, cutting into the side of the adjuchas. Byockery then pulls back on the rope, slicing the side of the adjuchas.

"Bakudo 61: Six Rods Prison of Light!" Byockery says, trapping the injured adjuchas.

A little while later he arrives at the 2nd squad underground prison facility with the unconscious adjuchas. He locks him up, then leaves to go find his captain.

Shirai shrugged away the apology, nodded at the assignment, and sighed when Ichiro took off before he had managed to voice a question. He would have liked to have known exactly how many there were to hunt down and...dispose of. But it was too late to bother worrying about numbers, so he made his was to the 2nd squad barracks where he hoped to find the captain, using flash step to speed his way. He didn't bother to remember to go back and grab his cloak.

He didn't hold the same sort of need to get rid of the Adjuchas as Ichiro seemed to, and if it wasn't for the fact that not dealing with them now meant doing so later he probably would have contested the mission. Even if it was an order from the captain commander. Shirai didn't like death in generally, and he disliked the idea of killing others even more so. Something about it just left a sour taste in his mouth.

Shortly after he had set out for the barracks he arrived at the 2nd squad's captain's quarters. He rapped his knuckles once on the wood of the doorway.

“Captain?”

Tatsuya smiled again as Ichiro took the offered cup of saki. As he listened to his old friend he poured another for himself, nodding here and there to show he was still listening before he turned back. When Ichiro spoke of something important that must be done, he had to admit he was a suprised. Only a captain for three months and already something big was going on?

Shaking his head he downs his glass and turns to set it down on the table when the word Adjuchas, and he froze. Having witness not only his captain, but others he called friends fall during that battle was bad enough, but everytime he heard that word memories flashed through his mind, blidning him with rage for a few moments afterward. He knew he would never get over it, but the idea of killing more of that evil breed would sooth him, for now. With a cracking, then shattering noise, the cup turns to dust in his hand, and the air in the room begins to move around more.

"Squad 11, got it." Tatsuya says quietly, nodding as he watches the captain commander flash step away once more. "So, I was right. There was a good reason he came here, a very good one. Oh well, I'll get to see old Chinmoku again. It's been months since we last spoke, back when he only held a low seat position in his squad anyway..."

Adjusting his captains jacket once more, he walks outside and looks around, recalling where he sent his seated officers off to. As he remembers, he dissapears, leaving behind a blur, flash stepping from one place to another until he finds first one, then the other. Finaly he makes it to his 3rd seat officer, Mari, flirting with some of the construction workers. With a small smirk on his face he watches as she attempts to lift a pallet of material, acting very weak. The men move closer, offering to help her, among other things, and then Tatsuya walks over.

"Mari, stop teasing the poor men. They have enough work as it is, they shouldn't be made to deal with you as well." he says with a laugh.

"Who said that!" Mari asks, turning on Tatsuya quickly, the heavy pallet held in one hand as if she will throw it at him. "Oh, captain, it's you!" She smiles and tosses the pallet back, which lands with a crash, and rushes over to his side. "Do we finally get to do something? This place has been so boring! Nothing but rebuilding and security detail..."

"Yes, the captain commander gave us a job, come along." Then, with Mari and another seated member, Tatsuya heads to the Squad 11 barracks. They arrive just in time to see Chinmoku and Sora as the captain swings his zanpakuto over his head.

(Mari is an NPC, i'll have her in the OOC soon)

Ichiro knew that time was running short, and even as he entered the 8th Squad barracks he rushed with Flash-Step to the Captain’s side as he argued with his Lieutenant. “Captain Harouken,” he said with a slight bow of respect, “I am sorry to intrude but there is an urgent matter that must be attended to.” He said sternly.

He knew a hell butterfly would be better suited for this but for some reason he felt compelled to speak with them in person, perhaps since this was how you would do so as a captain and as the commander he was still green and not quite in the mind set.

“It seems that several Adjuchas that survived the battle are hiding in the North Rukongai forest and must be dealt with before they can escape, There are four of them I believe, and so I ask that you contact the 10th squad captain and you work together to exterminate this threat.” He finished, slightly short of breath before another bow without awaiting a reply and heading off to the 7th squad barracks.

He couldn’t waste anymore time not acting like a Captain Commander with this much on the line, his Kido net was still picking up the Adjuchas as they moved, they were trying to rendezvous at the two gates and he had to get the word to the 4th and 3rd Squad captains as soon as possible. He decided now was the best time to use a hell butterfly, instructing them to head to the South and deal with the Four there, sending a butterfly to each of them.

Finally he reached the 7th squad Barracks to find them in combat training. He flash stepped up to the roof of the main building and breathed for a moment as he looked for Shotaro, his old friend. Finally seeing him he smiled for the first time in sincerity since he had been summoned before making a distinct whistle that they used to get each other’s attention in a crowd, gesturing with a head nod for him to join him on the roof away from the squad.

Koganei was far from the 2nd Squad barracks at this time and was training in Yuroichi's training place under ground and completely sealed out spiritual energy and pressure from getting in or out, it was unknown to most except a select few, him being one of them, he had finally finished after training all day spiritual energy to complete exhaustion with only enough energy left to Flash Step back to his barracks, which he now did. After arriving at his barracks he seen Tatsuya, "What's up, Captain Tatsuya?" he asked in an exhausted voice.

"Pathetic," Chinmoku whispered as his kusarigama became a shoto once more. He watched as Sora hopped atop the 5th seat squad members' shoulders, and expertly knocked him out with a single twist of her legs. "I don't see why you wouldn't want to be my Lieutenant, Sora," he whispered softly, your a better member of my squad than any of these fools." He placed his hands on his hips, and tilted his head slightly at her.

Staring up at him with her large violet eyes, she said, "I don't like fighting," she sat down and began to scratch at the ground with a kunai she found, "I don't see the point of it, really." She looked up at him before jumping at him and pinning him to the ground. "I win," she crowed happily, bonking the top of his head gently with her fist. She then began to twirl and dance happily around everyone, as they began to grunt and groan into consciousness.

"Shes something else, eh Captain?" One of his squad members said softly, his eyes following Sora as she danced happily. "You wouldn't stand a chance," Chinmoku replied softly before closing his mouth permanently. Tossing a rock at Sora to get her attention, he motioned for her to come stand by his side. Once she stood next to him, he lifted her up, and leaped onto the banister in front of his room. Setting her down slowly, he pet her head slowly, and entered his small room. Once inside, he sat at his desk and began to pen his thoughts in a large leather-bound book.

Shirai didn't reply for a moment as he considered not relaying the information and just letting Koganei get some rest. Certainly the Captain didn't look up to going Ajuchas-hunting. But he decided to leave the decision on the shoulders of the 2nd squad captain.

“Evidentially there are some rouge hollows in the forest past Rukongai who have picked now to try and get back to Hueco Mundo. The Captain wanted us to grab whatever seated officers we felt were up to the task and,” He paused for just a split second before continuing. “Deal with them.”

His ears perked up instantly at the whistle, causing him to instantly slide his right foot back and turn his body so that his right shoulder faced the barracks of his division. The movement was so quick that the junior he had been sparring with hadn’t noticed and was still in an overhead slash with his sword but it was instantly stopped by Gensui’s own blade. Light blue eyes looked a the junior with a stern, commanding look but with a hint of friendship that set the younger man at ease.

“That will be all for today everyone,” his voice echoing around the training grounds, “Return to his rooms and be ready for a call from your leadership incase you are needed for anything. 7th Division,” his voice growing in strength and as he said division the entire training ground snapped to a quick attention and as one shouted allowed, “For the good of Soul Society,” with a smile curled upon his lips, “Dismissed”

With that order the squads of 7th division began to return to their rooms or to grab something to eat or other already appointed duties. Without waiting however, Gensui appeared in but a second of him vanishing from the training ground to appear next to Ichiro, his light blue eyes looked straight at his old friend and comrade, “Ichi how’s it going?” he said casually as if he wasn’t speaking to the new Captain-Commander at all.

"I would not worry about it because knowing my Lieutenant, he is already taking care of it, besides I can detect his spirit pressure..." said Koganei as he opened the door to his office/bedroom to rest for now, "By the way tell the Head Captain not to worry about the Menos...I have them taken care of..." he said before going in and closing the door.

“Nothing good Gen, nothing good.” He said solemnly as he caught his breath. The fact that he had Flash stepped all across soul society was nothing, but the earlier seals he had to create and the Kido web was another story. He slid down the roof slightly and landed on his back as he lay on the roof looking up at the sky. But I’ve lost the targets I came here to speak with you about so we have time to just talk.”

He glanced over to Gen before looking out at the sky again, “I was summoned to the Soul King’s Palace today.” He said abruptly. “It’s strange to think that a place I never imagined I’d see in my entire existence, is now the most sacred secret that I now hold.” He was of course referring to the Okin, which he now knew of and where it was stored.

“It seems that they discovered a mouse in the Royal Palace.” He said with a smile but eyes that were clearly anything but smiling.

“I laughed at first when the head of the guard told me that, then she said,” he closed his eyes and sighed, “then she told me that mice don’t exist in that dimension.”

He didn’t need to explain it, if a mouse was in that place without the knowledge of the Royal guard or family it meant that someone had found a way to move living creatures into that realm. It was not good.

“Then to top things off, the Adjuchas that survived the battle have resurfaced, it’s a bad day.” He said with a sigh before sitting up, having once again located his target.

“And it gets worse still old friend. I’ve sent the other Captains away so that they won’t get involved since most of them are so inexperienced but you and I have business at the old execution grounds Gen.” He said as he stood and looked to his friend, “There are two Vasto Lordes there, and I don’t want the less experienced captains to bite off more than they can chew.” He awaited his response.