Soul Society.

[BG Music: TSFH United We Stand, Divided We Fall]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O6Q1OiF ... re=related

The Whispers of War have long since past the scent of sulfer and blood waft through the smoke-filled air. The sound of Hollows echo in the distance with mass like a chorus of ill-fortune to accompany the sound of civil strife over blood stained earth. Houses adorned in colors of gold and violet adorned with finely crafted armor and slowly growing badges of honor. A war where there is no place to put your back against... where your only possible allies are enemies. A broken Soul Soceity can have no chance... no hope against a united Hollowdom and one knows that no mercy shall be delivered.

The Rukongai inhabited by the masses and the Noble Houses surrounds the Seritei a half finished palace to the late Soul King now a battle ground for Shinigami to fight until their problems are washed away in blood. A battle ground for the disgruntled and a war zone for the Great Houses to settle their disputes with out damaging their homes nor inturrupting their posh and lavish life style. The only hope for victory is for the Great Houses to come to terms through words or blood... or raise your own army to rally the shattered lands. Even a peaceful unification of the Soul Soceity... there will be blood. The Hollow Menace will not be slighted... their cause far to great to be defeated by palor tricks and meaningless words. War has long since started... the only question is when will the predator stop toying with it's meal?

Kona laid down on one of the pieces of ruble that had been in front of her. she was a distance away from the Hollows, or atleast she could hear that they were away from her. Being blind is such an inconvenience. She thought before a sigh escaped her lips. No one had been worried about her, nor did she want them to. "A burden on the Society as it is now is no good." She sat up slightly, propping herself on her elbows. "What an interesting day, isn't it Doragon no Ongaku." A soft musical note could be heard coming from her zanpakto, sounding a little like a chuckle. "Glad you agree~" She sung out loud, tilting her head to face the endless sky and blinking a few times before she stretched out her whole body and yawned then curled into a ball on her side.

Click. Woke Kona only a few minutes later. Probably some troublemaker throwing stones. She gripped her zanpakto and stood up suddenly, just standing there.

From within the courtyard of the massive palace like structure that towered over the 43rd district of the Rukon came the distinct melody of a flute playing old songs from forgotten eras and weaving through the air to the world beyond. This place was a Dojo, a place of learning and mastering, a massive complex where the greatest fighters in the Rukongai gathered and trained to protect the shinigami world from the amassing threat of the Arrancar. The structure was home to many great masters and was often the place of refuge were citizens of the surrounding Rukon would flock for safety during hollow raids. Without a truly defined military of any size the Soul Society had been a much more savage place. It was only made worse by the death of the Soul King and now this fort stood as the first line of defence for the vast majority of the unaligned masses. To that end the Grand Master of this place was like their general, their protector, their regent. One Ichiro Akihiko, the most ancient of the masters in the Dojo, took threat honour though he would never do so openly. He would stand at the defence of the people, to his dying breath.

That man sat calmly playing his flute in meditation on the stone at the center of his prayer garden. The fortress around him was abuzz with activity as the students moved about trying to accomplish various goals. The town below was the most normal of the Rukon as it was were the people were safe from the Hollow that plagued the rest of the world. At the rear of the fort a platoon of Shinigami moved into a large Senkaimon to continue their duty to the living. Their teacher had said that if they abandoned the world and their duty then the Hollow would have already won. To that end the fortress had managed to retain a sense of normalcy to that day. A few minor skirmishes had taken place a distance away in the mountains but only once had the school been attacked. That Hollow was still on the grounds, a Vasto Lodre whose silhouette was burned into the back wall, the remains of a foolish demon of hubris that had stood before the Grand Master and his pupils thinking he alone could topple them.

At the top of the central tower a young man stepped into the garden and came to rest before the middle aged gentlemen on the stone in the lake, “Master Akihiko, there was another group of refugees who have arrived today., however there are no more beds in the city below.” He reported.

The master ceased his playing and sighed as he opened his eyes and looked to the youth, “I see, a persistent problem, has there been any response from the Nobles in the Seireitei ?” he asked the youth.

“Unfortunately they have refused to open the gates at all, Master, despite our pleading. They say it would weaken their defences to their rivals and the gate guards refuse to allow us in to speak directly to the lords…” the youth bowed his head as though he was at fault.

“Sit up, Kujo, you have done nothing wrong… it was my fault, I should have known they wouldn’t listen to a messenger. The Nobles are usually reasonable enough but their guards are power mad and foolish…” he thought for a moment and then stood, coughing a bit as he did, making the youth stand to try and aid him. But Akihiko waved him off. “I’m fine, send word to the Nobles that I request their presence for a meeting here… if they ask why tell them that I request such due to my poor health. If their guards try to stop you burn the words into their gate. We MUST be heard.”

Kujo nodded and left, leaving Akihiko looking out over the balcony at the distant storm clouds where the Hollows had begun to gather. A young woman brought him some tea before bowing out and he took a large gulp, breathing in relief at the warming effect it had on his weakened lungs. “The storm is gathering… and so must we…” he thought out loud, “I wonder what you’re up to now…” his eyes sharpened to points that pierced the horizon, “Varick Roux…”

Another Click was audible "What are you doing out here all by yourself?" A soft voice was heard from behind Kona. It was youthful and feminine and had a certain sense of innocence to it. However one could swear they felt the soul presence of a Hollow or Arrancar nearby... which would mean the speaker was probably trouble... or would soon be in a great deal of it.


With the Messengers sent out two messengers were barred from delivering their messages. Those whom were allowed within the palaces of the great Houses would soon learn that Gakusha Aoki was away battling a Hollow vanguard force that had made camp short distance of the southern Rukongai and would not be returning for several days... instead his Lieutenant would stand in for his absent master. The last messenger received a very promising message that the ever busy Musha Niwa would make time to attend in person.

Of the two confirmed to arrive was Niwa adorned in a yellow dress with her black hair braided in gold chains. She was composed and held an air of majesty and mystery that gave her soft but fierce expression one of beauty and attraction. The Second to arrive was the unconfirmed Roiyaru Inagaki as smug and arrogant as ever. Though a man those of high moral standards would find distasteful he was at the very least a charismatic man who could make many an enemy into a friend.

The Last to arrive was Aoki's Lieutenant and half-brother Gakusha Koi a proud warrior who would sooner die then let his House fall to shame. He seemed to be more of a follower then a leader but gave every respect to the noble lords and Ichiro.

"To what we call a meeting for elder Ichiro?" Niwa spoke with a voice that felt like silk against one's ears. "I am sorry to rush things but I have a shortage of time dealing with a few groups of bandits who are harassing my outer districts."

(Koi)

“Ah, Niwa, it’s good to see you are still in good health. You still owe me that drink later…” he flirted slightly, but his eyes did not tip his hand, it was said that of the many in the Soul Society who one might meet Niwa and Ichiro were the worst to face in dice. “And I assume Master Aoki is on the front then? No matter, you are more than a capable leader Gakusha, I am glad you’ve come. and Lord Inagaki, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting.” He had a few teas brought for his guests and drank from his own before he began. “I understand your concerns, Niwa, truly I do, however I have one of my own… the matter of the souls here in the Rukon that are being forced to flee their homes from the onslaught of the Hollow.”

He gestured for them to look out at the slum below. It had grown, greatly so, into a mecca of sorts in the shadow of protection the Dojo cast. The lowest house was a four story at the end of a long street. “This slum has grown from a simple street to this in only a few months… but there is no more space here. Even as more and more of the refugees arrive to find safety and work to build the Seireitei we have fewer and fewer beds for them… I know the situation with the idiotic youthful lords who seek power and glory however I must ask of you your aid in this… we’ve no more space for the people and while the lords squabble over the Seireitei the people suffer and die at its walls… I ask that you let the city serve its function that the Late King envisioned and protect the people within its walls.” He said bluntly. He knew it was a long shot at best. There would have to be a new king before anything could be done. But he had them here, and he would try to speak with them on these matters.

Kona turned around to face the speaker. "Um.... Who are are you and where are you standing?" Her eyes stared straight ahead. Then she felt the presence of a Hollow. "Also, are you a Arrancar or something else?" She was just a little tired and she was having trouble identifying the voice if the girl was on her side. She wasn't sure of her exact location and who the person was, but nevertheless, Kona still gripped her zanpakto, ready to draw it if she had to fight for her life. A gentle breeze blew softly, causing her hair to ripple to the side of her and look like a small with lake.

((Sorry, writers block))

Inagaki pressed his fingers together his cold eyes surveying those in attendance. "The Seireitei is not furnished... there are no beds with in it. Not to mention the walls are far from complete... combined with the fact that no one has even an eighth of the Seireitei mapped. Would end in it being nothing more then a butcher's cutting board. It would be suicide to withdraw into an area in which we don't have the advantage of knowledge. Refugees are free to make residence in other districts and find protection of the Noble houses."

Niwa grinned "I do believe it was you who owed me the drink if my memory serves correct and the Seireitei is far to dangerous to open up to the public. We are already spread thin and having to keep order in an even greater area would prove our down fall."




"Yes... I am an Arrancar.. and I'm standing right here. I was just wondering why one is resting so close to our rally points. With all the Hollows thirsting for souls I would imagine most would remain with the safety of numbers."

Kona looked forward again. "Well, I wouldn't expect you to know that I'm blind." She sighed silently. "As for your question, I'm not one to stay in large numbers. I was just enjoying the space. I don't really care where it is. It could've been I few yards away from your leader for all I care." She sat down again, this time facing the girl. "Besides, I don't fight a lot because I end up hurting myself." She flashed a smile to the girl. "Even though we're are probably supposed to fighting each other, could I ask your name? Your the first Arrancar to just talk to me instead of attacking immediately." She chuckled and patted a flat rock next to her, welcoming the girl to come and sit next to her. "Sorry about my excessive talking." She paused a moment. "And before you say anything, I know Hollow are more tan likely coming soon.