Shora let a hint of a smirk slip across her face, slowly shaking her head. "Now, taicho, if I have to keep helping you with every little thing, how are you ever going to learn for yourself? Suppose that something were to happen to me, and you were left to run things on your own?"

Looking him in the eye, her pretense at good humour vanished. "I shudder to think what the division would become if that happened."

Kilick turned his back to her, feigning dismissal. "but, i guess if you don't know, that's okay. Maybe someone else does."

Fuming, Shora slammed her door as she stalked after him. "You know as well as I do that Akihiko-sotaicho wants us partnered with Eisaku-taicho to fight against the Adjuchas. He was just here, why the heck weren't you paying attention?!"

Honestly, her taicho could be so . . . so . . . infuriating! Scowling, Shora wondered if she'd perhaps committed some crime in another life to deserve a situation like this. If it weren't for the fact that he was (unfortunately) her superior, she wasn't sure that she wouldn't have ground him into a pulp by now . . . .

Appearing next to Ichiro as he beheaded four Gillian, he smirked slightly and vanished again as he traveled with Ichiro towards Chinmoku’s location. As he moved the same blue vortex flared out around his blade as it returned to its sealed state and its sheath at his hip.

Gen whispered softly as he bounded over a few obstacles, “Good work Kamikaze,” a simple thank you to his sword for performing to his expectations again.

Not long after they were arriving at the location where Chinmoku had been fighting. Even as he entered the area he felt the spiritual pressure push down on his shoulders for a brief second before his scaled to compensate for it. Landing atop one of the still remaining trees, he looked at Ichiro and spoke as if they were about to go play a simple game of chess or something.

“I’ll distract him Ichi. You just do your thing,” with that he vanished, though he knew that Ichiro would be able to notice him releasing his zanpakuto again and for good reason.

((My apologies if this isn’t what you were going to do but its just to move the story along a little))

Appearing directly in front of Chinmoku as he blindly swung down, the two blades connected in a shower of spiritual energy that ripped trees and boulders alike. Gen had blocked one of the young captain’s blind swings of his blade so that it wouldn’t have launched one of those destructive energy blades at where Shirai was treating Sora at.

“Chinmoku is it? Well nice to meet you!” his tone was that of someone taking a walk on a cool spring day, “How about we go…” never getting to finish the sentence as Chinmoku tried to slash at him again, though this time he blocked it on the side of his body, “Good swing!”

"Ich, the release happened right after Sora's spirit pressure weakened severely..." said Koganei as he prepared to clam Zane down after Gen had left the area and wouldnt be around to see what happened next. Right after they left the area Koganei put on his mask, Zane's shikai then reverted to sealed as he calmed down, then not even a second after putting it on he removed it.

Zane and Koganei then race after the other two to stop the crazed Captain.

Chinmoku howled and leaped high into the air, spinning around. He stopped in midair, and howled at those on the forest floor. Something began to whisper over his howl, "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" A large ball of red energy appeared in front of his eyes, then released it, launching it towards the ground below.

He didn't watch what happened to the energy, istead, he howled once more, and above that howl came another whisper, "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens." Blue energy erupted from his mouth, and upon releasing it, it struck out, cutting a line into the forest below. An explosion occured soon afterwords, of which he didn't care. "Sora," he whispered above his howl, "SORA!" He howled, which then turned into a Hollow's howl.

Black energy then began to encircle him, just as he curled up into a ball. "Sora," he whispered, closing his eyes, and allowing the energy to cover him completely. He felt the energy lash out at the forest below, uncaring as to what it did, so long as he was left alone. "I miss you," he whispered once more, "Only you can keep me sane, but without you, the world is nothing to me." The black energy soon became a sphere of darkness, with his energy shining in it's center. An large hourglass soon appeared over the black sphere, its bottom full of sand. It then began its slow journey to turn over and release it's sand in the other chamber.

"Oh Crap! Zane go into Bankai now!" yelled Koganei aimed at Zane as he was probably one of the few who could handle this.

Zane drew his sword, "Execute them! My soul demands it, Bankai! Tenrai Tenma Keiri (Divine Demon Executioner)!" His zanpakuto then took the form of a giant blade that looked like a giant katana. Zane wen after Chinmoku and attacked with an onslaught of slashes.

Koganei, Zane, while Gensui distracts him I need you to put up a barrier!” Ichiro called as he spun his sword above him slowly. “And most importantly, brace yourselves!” he called as he brought the blade down to stab into the ground.

“Sing a requiem for the cowards of gold, Howatio Utahime.” He said in full, normally he only released his sword halfway through Shikai, not wanting to use the full power. The blade itself didn’t change much beyond growing into two longer blades, now nearly 3 feet long each. The handle grew and two long ribbons fell from the guard, bells attached to the end and a larger ring of iron with three small rings that chimed formed as a counter weight. The last change was a chain linked to the larger chain formed from smoke. The chain links each had a single bell merged with them.

The whole sword made a harmonic ring that was enchanting, and disturbing. The most disturbing part was the Reiatsu that it emitted. It was not stronger, nor heavier, but rather it was gone, as if he were dead. “Whatever you do, don’t drop your Reiatsu.” He instructed to each person within the barrier.

“Mannifest and break the chains of despair, the world turns and day turns, with a hand as a sword and a feet as a stone ye are seated on the throne of the earth. Bakudō # 99, “he paused and breathed in as he pressed his blade deeper into the ground, “Shiroyamaseki (White Mountain Gate).”

The blade’s ribbons shot forth, and began encircling the two fighters, the chain smashing into the ground. The harmonic ringing never stopped as this spell was cast, the once missing Reiatsu of the Captain Commander returning. All that could be said of that force was that it has clear why the Central 46 had selected him. Without being in Bankai his spirit energy was easily equal to three lieutenants combined (1.5 captains if you want the math). The Spell itself was something that was most likely beyond the knowledge of most there. After all, level 99 Kidō were few in number and this one was not in the books, after all it was one he had developed himself.

The Ribbons shot forth and wrapped around the forearms of the Bankai enabled Chinmoku. The Chain bursting from the ground behind him as the ribbons pulled him lower; the chain would pierce his chest. The chain would pass through his chest without damaging him yet the act is a catalyst to seal off his Bankai’s energy, trying to change the scythe back into a katana. To do so Ichiro’s Reiatsu would have to be higher than Chinmoku’s, and currently he wasn’t sure if that was the case with his power at half since he gave an infusion to Koganei.

"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens. Hado, number 73, Soren Sokatsui." Blue lightning flashed out, striking at Zane. Chinmoku's scythe appeared in front of the sphere, along with a shadow form replica of Chinmoku's Death Aspect, which held the scythe. A line of black energy conected the shadow form to the sphere.

It didn't howl, but instead, pointed the scythe at Zane, just as an incantation whispered from it. "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle. Hado, number 63, Raikoho." A massive streak of yellow energy erupted from the scythe, lashing out at him. Just after the yellow energy leapt out of the scythe, the shadow form attacked him, swinging the scythe clumsily, but fast.

The hourglass turned until it was horizontal above the sphere.

Zane took the attack head on especially since the spirit pressure he was currently emitting was enough to bring Lieutenants to their knees and even some Captains, "Keishi (Execution)!" cried Zane as a wave of energy that could easily match in power the act of Kepachi Zaraki using Kendo with both hands in a downward strike, as he swung the blade a crimson red energy blasted out like a blade right at Chinmoku.

Shirai grumbled under his breath as he worked on healing Sora's injuries. The battle raging above was too loud for him to be able to concentrate on his work fully, even if he was just outside the barrier that had been thrown up. And every time Chinmoku attacked the others he braced himself to have to deal with some new wound or another.

He had just finished binding the worst of Sora's wounds with a bit of cloth torn from his uniform sleeve when Zane delivered some flashy red attack.

“Just bind him and be done with it!” He growled above the din. “I can't get anything done with that noise!”

Shirai jabbed Bakuhatsu at them as he spoke. Not in a threatening manner, though. More like a mother waving a ladle at her misbehaving children. Had he thought about it he probably wouldn't have said anything, but the racket had caused both his logic and self control to fly out of his body.

As he walked to the fourth divisions barracks he noticed the surge in spiritual pressure, it couldn't have been him since he had learned to drop it as much as possible when not fighting. He reacted by placing the dagger directly aimed at the fight.( a reflex that in bankai could be a lifesaver) He looked at the gate of the fourth divisions barracks which wa only a meter away. He shook his head and with a grin he thought: "It seems that I won't be keeping a low profile." He looked around to see if there wasn't anyone watching, luckily nobody was. "Nothing will stop us, Akki Sangai."

As he ran towards the fight he held the dagger in front of him as a shield for the reiatsu and to increase his reiryoku. About halfway to the fight he began to experience trouble to supress his reiatsu, it was angering him that he was forced to let his reiatsu raise. It angered him to a point where he decided to flash step to the scene.

Upon arriving he saw powers like nothing before, he may just have decided to take more than he can handle. Although he kept his distance and his dagger was blocking a considerable amount the reiatsu released was to say the least impressive, it even scared Kalas for a second. Seeing that the captain commander was one of combatants gave him the impression that this was the top class and he probably wasn't needed. Though for safety reasons it would be best to get as far away as possible, he decided to stay and learn from this battle what he can.

Chinmoku was too distracted by Zane and Gensui to notice the chain and spirit fabric close in, however looking up at Zane charging a massive attack and Chinmoku using a full incantation Hadō 63. The combined explosion would cause a massive amount of damage in the area and may even break the Barrier, in which case their combined Reiatsu would kill thousands of souls in the Rukongai. He couldn’t allow that.

As he took his hand off the hilt of his blade the Chain and ribbons contracted instantly, their master now yards away as he used Flash Step to come between the two Captains. With two captains in Bankai and his power drained he wasn’t sure if he could stop them without releasing his own Bankai, something that would most definitely kill those under captain rank within the area. He had left his Zanpakutō in the ground as he moved yet a chain still followed him as he moved, wrapped around his right wrist.

Moments before their two attacks collided Ichiro materialized between the two crazed warriors. Arms outstretched in either direction. His hands closed, right hand breathed in red energy as he gripped the blade of Zane and held it fast, left had closed around a bolt of now dissipating yellow lighting. “Enough of this.” His voice was flat as he focused; using all the power he had left. Two bursts of pure Reiatsu exited his hands, each one meant to disrupt the two Captain’s Bankai frequency and disable them momentarily.

Grasping the chain he pulled and his blade came to him, trailed behind the ringing bells of the chain. He caught and gripped the blade in a reverse style before turning to Chinmoku. He lunged and dove under his strike zone; his blade stabbed so that the two blades locked against the surface of the
Scythe’s edge and pushed it away as his left hand was placed gently on the man’s chest. “Bakudō #98, Konguokuin (Soul Seal).” He demanded as the ringing peaked and altogether stopped. The seal that would appear would be a blue summoning circle that as it began to glow burned away the black robe of his Bankai and attached itself to his skin.

(This is not an auto connect, I have written the effects so that you can reply knowing what will happen should you let it connect.)

Zane seeing what would happen reduced his zanpakuto to its sealed state as he was merely serving as a distractionfor the others to have a chance to takeout Chinmoku. Zane then began to leave the area and head back to the squad 6 barracks, his squad barracks, to his room.

Koganei went back to his barracks as well.

Taking the scythe in both of it's hands, the shadow form tossed it high, and vanished completely, just as the hourglass turned to a 45 degree angle. The scythe turned end over end, until it struck the sphere, where a whisper could be heard. "Open the heavens, for I am come. The time is now, oh Life without Death, my End is here. Release these chains that binds me to this mortal flesh, I beg of thee. I sing to thee, for my heart is dead, I ask of thee, for my eyes have seen the Sorrow of my Soul. Relinquish the key, and release my soul. Shi no Tenshi," the whisper then howled, "Fainarusutoraiku (Final Strike)!"

Just as the Hourglass made its journey to a 90 degree angle, Chinmoku felt something he didn't understand. A spiritual pressure he thought lost to his world. Within the sphere itself, he stirred, and looked onto the ground below. "Sora," he whispered, his hands reaching out to her stilled form being held by a man he thought he knew. "Shi no Tenshi, halt thy progress," he whispered softly, which halted the hourglass at an 85 degree angle. Shadow-like hands extended themselves towards Sora.

***

Sora's eyes opened slowly, blinking rappidly as she groaned softly. "Anyone get the number of the wagon that hit me?" She tried to say, but only a gurgle could be heard, making a thin line of spittle exit her mouth, and dripped onto her ear. "Chinmoku?" She whispered, or tried to anyways, before colapsing back into Shirai's arms.

Ichiro was breathing heavy, and he knew that even with this amount of power used Sensei would have been fine still, but he had to get Chinmoku back out of Bankai. Aiming his blade at the sphere he drew the sheath and tapped it against the blades. A flash of white light and several small seals formed on the outside of the Sphere, pulling it apart to create a small opening to Chinmoku. He fired a fifth seal at the Captain to seal at the Captain to land on his chest and force him to power down.

This was a forbidden spell that was for use by the Captain Commander to discipline Captains who were out of line or control, the purpose was to seal all their remaining power into the centre of their body and force their extremities and swords back into their sealed forms. “Captain Chinmoku, Seal you sword at once!” His Reiatsu was still barely sensible, but this time it wasn’t because he was suppressing it, it was because in truth he had nothing left. “And someone get 20th seat Sora on her feet.” He demanded to the now appearing Soul Reapers who were passing through the now lowered barriers, this was no time for them to be disobedient. “If you had bothered to scan for her instead of flying off the handle, Captain Chinmoku, you would have known she was fine. As for the moment you are suspended and your Lieutenant is promoted to Acting Captain, pending an official inquiry.” He breathed out heavily glancing to Gensui.

He lowered to the ground and sheathed his blade, “I don’t know about you Gen,” he took a moment to catch his breath, “but I could really use some tea.” He said, not giving Chinmoku a second glance as he walked toward the Seireitei, he didn’t have the energy to flash step anymore. Addressing an officer near the outer edge of the barrier ring he said, “Send word to all officers, Wartime orders are suspended and combat has ceased, tell them to rest while they can.”

Shadow-like hands pierced Shirai's barrier easily, and wrapped themselves around Sora's limp form. "I have you now," came Chinmoku's whisper. His shadow hands then pulled her slowly into the sphere, where he held her in his real arms, crying openly. The hourglass above the sphere drifted away like smoke on the wind, and the sphere slowly colapsed in on itself. The sphere vanished with a small explosive "Boom", and Chinmoku, holding Sora's form, gently drifted to the forest floor.

Lifting her to his chest, he stood up, and gripped his scythe. Feeling the Commander's eyes upon him, he held up his scythe, and watched as it reverted back to a shoto. Holding it up in front of him, he contemplated on throwing it as far from him as possible, and todding it into a volcano. Unfortunately, he merely sighed, and sheathed it behind his back. "Commander, I apologize for not thinking clearly. My only excuse is that I was in the heat of the moment, and acted on impulse. I thought her dead, so I chose death myself." His lips then sealed shut, and refused to talk further.

"Wheres my blanky?" Sora whispered, her hands searching for something. He held her closer to his chest, and kissed her forehead, which made her smile and snuggle into his chest, "Found it," she whispered happily, slinging one arm over his shoulders. Briefly glaring up at the Commander, he left the forest on a limp, towards his barracks, and their bed.

(Note that time has advanced by one week... and start!)
The events of the Hollow uprising are over and after extensive searching and repairs Seireitei has returned to a state of normalcy. Ichiro Akihiko, Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 was playing his flute on the rock in the middle of the Garden atop the Squad one barracks, trying to collect his thoughts. This was the first Captains Meeting that was to take place sicne he had become the Captain Commander. Lifting his finger he summoned thirteen Hell butterflies to carry a message to each captain, “A Reminder to all Captains, the First Captains Meeting will commence in one Hour. All Lieutenants are to accompany their Captains.” The message was simple and as he sent it out he stood and walked back into the Barracks, heading to the meeting room where he would await the arrival of the others.

Zev Zero arrived to the meeting quite swiftly and on time to stand with his Captain, the Head Captain, "I am here and ready for the meeting..." he said calmly.

Zane got the message about the meeting from the hell butterfly and immediately headed for the meeting, arriving not too long later by himself.

After getting the hell butterfly message Koganei made his way to the meeting as well, arriving quite qickly because of him using Flash Step.

"Hurry up," Sora whined, pounding on Chinmoku's door, "We're needed at the Commander's." She pouted at the door, then brought up her foot, and kicked the door in. Glaring up at her, Chinmoku finished tying on the last strap of his ninja outfit, and retrieved his shoto. Dancing happily, and clapping her hands, she took his white cape, and draped it over his shoulders.

Beaming a smile at him, she watched as he placed his mask over his nose and mouth, so that only his eyes and forehead were visible. "I don't see why you need to wear that, Chinmoku, but whatever. Come on," she pulled him outside, then towards the Commander's barraks. Looking down at her, he noticed that she was wearing the exact same skin tight outfit he was wearing, except that where his was black, hers was a deep purple. The corners of his lips turned in a small smile, as his eyes drifted over her body, until she turned back and smacked him upside the head. "Chinmoku, not in public remember?" She smiled as she blushed.

Standing in front of their Commanders' barraks' door, Sora turned to Chinmoku and asked, "Think they forgot?" She was asking about the incident one week prior to this day. He gave her a blank look, but his eyes replied with, "I don't think so." She sighed heavily, and opened the door.

"So, it's time for the first captains meeting. And all of the vice-captains are to attend as well, so, are you sure you won't let me promote you Mari?" Tatsuya asks as the blonde puts a fresh bandage on his right arm. During the fighting a week ago, he had let his guard down and nearly lost the arm, but thanks to his healing skills, as well as Mari's attention, he was healing nicely.

"I'm sure. I'll go along with you if you like, but I am not taking the promotion." Mari says bluntly, tying the bandages off and wiping her brow. "You're lucky to still be alive, you know that? You could have been killed in that battle. Why didn't you use something besides your zanpakutos sealed form and kido anyway?"

Mari has been asking him constantly about this since the battle. Thankfully, however, no one else knew how bad he has been hurt. After the battle he fled quickly with his 3rd Seat to the barracks, where he healed himself as best he could and rested. Although he has gone along with his duties as normal, not letting the wound be known, he has been wondering the same things as Mari. However, today was not a day for such thoughts. Getting to his feet he gives her a smile and a nod, and before she can say anything, he flash steps out of the barracks and onto the meeting place.

On the way he slips into his long coat, and then places his captain's haori over that. The coat had been ruined, and so this was a new one, but his haori had been repaired, and so only the sleeve of it was knew, and there were still a few stains that wouldn't come out. But, that aside, he arrives at the meeting place just a few moments late.

The hell butterfly found Shirai at his usual watering hole in Rukongai. He eyed it distastefully as it gave him the message, then threw the hand of cards he had been holding on the table. The message had come right in the middle of his card game and he hadn't yet been able to win back what he had lost.

If it had been something other than the first captain's meeting (and if he had been sure his lieutenant wouldn't kill him for it) he would have just skipped the thing. But this time he paid out his loss to the other card players and settled his tab at the bar, paying for an extra skin of sake to go.

Though he hadn't rushed to get there, he arrived while a few of the other captains were still waiting. He hadn't seen any of them since finishing of the adjuchas. In fact, he hadn't seen much of anybody since then as he had mostly been down in the rukon districts visiting friends.

“Guess it's time to get down to business.” Shirai said to the other captains there. With the addition of a little alcohol to his system, as well as being on semi-comfortable ground again, he was a bit more relaxed in his speech.

He’d arrived only a few minutes after the Captain-Commander had arrived at the meeting room, being the second captain to arrive he took up his position in the spot reserved for the Captain of the 7th Division. Turning to Ichiro he smiled and gave his old friend a curt nod, before speaking in a relax and comfortable tone with a man who had saved his life many times.

“Its good to be getting back to the normal business of the Gotei 13, don’t you think Captain-Commander,” there was a bit of a tease at the addressing Ichiro with the formal title, as they’d both joked that neither of them had what it took to be head of the Gotei 13.

His attention shifted for a brief moment as their was a flicker of movement behind and to the left of him and his vice-captain appeared without a sound to kneel respectfully to her captian and the captain-commander, “Reporting as orders Captain,” came the firm, yet respectably toned voice of Ine Shizuka, 7th Division Vice-Captain.

“Glad you made it Ine. I’d have felt lost without my vice-captain attending the first Captain’s meeting since the battle,” came Gen’s reply as he gave her a playful wink which she scowled at him for just like she normally did.

Even though there were no criticaly wounded inside the fourth divisions barracks Kalas was seen standing on the roof of the barracks playing the song of life. "So much power and it isn't even helping me, its not even supressable anymore. It isn't that surprising considdering how long the dagger was exposed to the massive reiatsu output, but it doesn't make it less annoying."

From the corner of his eye he noticed a hell buterfly, it directly reminded him about the captains meeting, which would start any minute now. He listened to the hell buterfly and smiled when he was asked to come with his lieutenent, which was impossible as nobody in the fourth division had proven capable to take that role. He jumped down from the roof and flash stepped to the meeting.

Almost everyone was there when Kalas arrived. It wouldn't be the first time he got late, but he always managed to get on time, no matter how little he had he was never too late. He looked at Ichiro Akihiko with a slight grin and spoke. "I have come without lieutenent, since as some of you know I have yet to find someone who I find capable enough to stand at my side."

Nosaka was quietly sitting in his captain's quarters, doing some writing. Lately he had been trying to make a new Kido spell, but all attempts have failed. His easy day was cut short when a hell butterfly came in. He listened to the message and stood up, "A captain's meeting? All vice-captains, too. I guess having one would be a requirement for that." Wondering what it would be about he flash stepped and disappeared.

He arrived and didn't say a word. These captain's sure are an odd enough bunch as it is, it's a wonder they're so powerful. Noticing there were some other captain's without lieutenants made it a bit less gut-wrenching for him.

Ryuuza walked into the Squad 5 barracks. "God this place is like a frigging maze." He had not yet gotten use to the layout of the place and the location of his new barracks. He had just been promoted to Captain a few days ago, and was had just moved into the Seireitei. "Here I am thinking i should save energy and walk here instead of Flash Stepping, and I get lost," He sighed, "I want to go to sleep." Thats when the Hell Butterfly flutered through the window and landed on his shoulder, relaying the message of the Captains meeting before flying off. "Great gotta move again, screw saving up." He says as he disappeared is a instant.

A few minutes later he arrived at the meeting, almost out of breath. Dang, got lost again, hope I'm not to late. He thought to himself. he soon saw that he wasn't the only one late as he entered right behind another captain. "Sorry for my lateness Captain-Commander," He said bowing, " I got lost on the way here."
He picked his head up and took his place in the line

Serika was in her lab studying the two adjuchas she had defeated only a few days ago. She kept them alive because she wanted prolong the testing as long as she could. She put on a black glove on her right hand and then placed it over the heart of the wolf looking adjuchas. Reiatsu began flowing out of, she then the adjuchas reiatsu and placed it in a jar. She then stared at it, the reiatsu was dark green and it was shaped like a flame.

As she was watching the reiatsu, a hell butterfly flew down and landed on the lid of the jar, she picked it up and listened to the message and then nodded to herself. She placed the jar down and then walked out of her lab into the squad twelve main research facility. From there she walked outside, Ataru came running up to her with her Haori draped over his shoulder. He handed it to her and She then made her way to the meeting. Instead of immediately using flash step she decided to take a little walk, she wanted to enjoy the view. As she made her way through the corridors of the seireitei, she found herself humming a little tune. It was odd for her to do such things, she was usually all business. After taking some time to walk Serika used her flash step and arrived at the meeting in only a few minutes.

She took her spot, then waited for the meeting to being.