Noblesse Oblige [Open.All Shinigami.Яevolution]

The kanji flashed on the bright screen behind him. Aizawa. Applause followed.

Jasper smiled. What else could he do? He pushed himself out of the chair, nodded, greeted his fellow representatives. These other people who called themselves nobles, resting on their own laurels, expecting to be awarded simply for having some philosophical code that they bound themselves to. Even the one who was not a noble, Aesernius, knew little of service--although in the girl's case, he could not blame her actions in this event on anything less than inexperience with a large helping of youthful arrogance. These people, who knew nothing of true sacrifice, and he had to smile at them. The formalities were quickly over, thankfully, as he went down the row of chairs paying his "respects", but that moment transitioned into a one replaced by a whole different experience.

The microphone, a few feet away from him, stood in sharp focus against the background of Shinigami behind it.

The energy he had spent on his anger was quickly turned toward calculated thought, his distaste transforming into enthusiasm coming from a wellspring deep in his mind. He looked behind him. Five or six sets of eyes, much more important than those in front of him, stared at him expectantly. He turned back. The applause was dying down. There truly could be no more waiting. The audience demanded their show. The lions craved their meat.

And they knew Jasper was going to have to give it to them.

He walked up to the microphone deliberately, with no more hesitation than due to manner's sake. He stopped a foot away from the microphone, smiling, looking across the crowd. There was something particularly clear about this moment. This experience, living in this moment, stood out against the constant steady blending of future into present into past it seemed to be. He felt the moment in its entirety. A sharp inhalation. The creasing of his robes as he bent in a respectful bow toward the audience. Two small steps that put his lips close to the black piece of metal that would make his voice resound to all that could here.

The first word came slowly from his lips: "Shinigami." It was followed by a short pause. Perhaps some men may have thought he did not know what to say.

But then the rest came gushing out his mouth.

"A word that defines all of us here, regardless of division, rank, status. We all became one as soon as we proved that we were fit to be the lowest of the low among them. We all took our oath, donned our uniforms, and by doing so swore to do something--serve. We swore to serve for a purpose much greater than ourselves, for an institution that will outlive us all. Our duty of maintaining the cosmic balance is the gravest ever known. Without us, everything would eventually cease to be."

"So we know who we are, then, and what it means to be that. But that isn't what I came here to talk about. I came here to answer a question that might have been nagging at some of your minds: what is a noble?"

"And that's an important question, and you shouldn't let anyone just assume you know what the nobility is. It's widely known how the Noble Families were commissioned by the Soul King, were instructed to keep their lineage strong and prideful, and to maintain a high standard of ethics. And its true that some of the most important parts of our identities are our traditions. But they're not all that we are. We were not given a mandate to rest upon our laurels, but to be examples for the rest of the Seireitei, for the rest of the Soul Society. Our directive is to be servant leaders. We're not supposed to be detached despots, supposedly superior because of our bloodline. No--we are to be a part of the whole, working together to reach our common goal of balance, striving to lead by example and doing what's right for the Seireitei, for we and the Seireitei are intrinsically linked."

By now, his hands were gesturing rapidly and emphatically, attempting to convey deep seated conviction. His voice was filled with passion, rising and falling dynamically as if he were singing a song.

"So now, and only now, can we begin discussing what we're here to individually tell you about today--our families. The Aizawa House has always known the meaning of servitude and sacrifice. Every able-bodied man and woman in my bloodline has served in the Gotei, up since our commissioning. Our filial goal, deeply ingrained in all our hearts, is to be stewards of the balance, to ensure the continued existence and the thriving of the Seireitei. This is not something we take lightly. Everyone in my family has sacrificed for the greater good. My father? Killed in action after saving the lives of an entire team of fellow soldiers. My mother? Wounded numerous times in defense of others, yet continues to save lives every day as Vice-Captain of the Third. My sisters? Both missing in action, without a trace. Me?"

Jasper opened the top of his shihakusho to show the left side of his chest, riddled with many scars, but one standing out in particular--large, concentric arc spiraling straight out of the flesh and bone covering Jasper's heart. "A Cero delivered straight to the chest by an Espada is just one of the things I've survived."

He straightened out his uniform once more. That, he felt, would be an acceptable climax--it was time to wrap things up.

"So when my family recites our motto, 'From This Day To Our Last', know that we mean it. Some of you still may be skeptical of the nobility, skeptical of our motives, but know this. You all should expect the highest from us, in word and in deed. I know that the men and women representing these families are of the highest caliber, and I know that we would never slander each other. It can only be by expecting the most out of us can we hope to gain anything from our existence, for truly,"

Jasper paused, looking across the crowd, before bringing his hand down in a forceful motion and clasping it into a fist, as if he were a conductor.

"our lives are service."

Jasper bowed once more, thanking the crowd, before turning around and heading to his seat. He could not sense any applause, feel the crowd like he had at the beginning of the speech. He was in a daze. He didn't understand. He had delivered that speech with such emotional force that it couldn't have come from his acting. He had to have at least experienced something like that before to draw upon it. What was going on?

Who the hell am I?

1150

Well, wasn't that a very touching speech?

Jasper of the Aizawa. He had certainly set the stage for the rest of the representatives set to make their own speeches.

Though upon further inspection, Keiji could see that the acting captain of the Fifth did not have the same confident aura about him as he did when he first stepped up behind the podium.

Despite how he looks, it seems as if the audience here took his speech well. I feel a bit iffy about my own speech now. I wonder if it's too late to just hand this paper over to someone else and have them do it for me.

Looking down at the sheet of paper that he used to write down his speech, the young noble tightened his grip on the page as he looked up at the podium. His eyes staring intently at the screen, watching as a list of the remaining families' kanji appeared on it.

For the love of all that is holy, do NOT let the me be up next.

He glanced over his shoulders, looking to his left and looking to his right, taking a good look at those around him. Those of nobility and those of peasantry alike had no idea of the true goal of these 'Noble Games'. Keiji couldn't help but wonder if his new ally, the mysterious Kirishi, would make an appearance at some point during these speeches. Or even the sister that she had told him about during their meeting. Well, whether she did or not, he was sure that the plan that had been set into motion would go off without a hitch.

Why was he so sure though?

Was it because his future depended on it?

The Amai gain back their rank among nobles and reattain their assets. But what happens then? What does Keiji do AFTER the Amai are restored back to their proper place in the Soul Society? He would still be bound to the rules and regulations that govern the world he lives in. This place of justice and order. He really did admire all those before him who threw the Soul Society into a state of turmoil and chaos for a while.

Oh he just could not wait for his name to be among those same people. Was it bad that he longed for the smell of the Seireitei and Rukongai set ablaze? Well to others it might seem that way.

All of these foolish people. They all think that they know what freedom is. They believe that the Gotei is there to protect them.

No.

There is no freedom. Especially for those of the Rukongai. They have two choices: Stay in their district and remain being poor and hungry or attempt to join the ranks of the Shinigami within the Gotei. Event those born more priveleged have limited choices. Be a snobby upperclass Soul Society citizen or be a snobby Shinigami.

Then there was the illusion that the Gotei protects the citizens of the Soul Society. That was completely laughable. They don't protect them. The Gotei rules over the Soul Society.

Keiji started to come back from his thoughts, turning his attention back to the screen and as he did he saw the one thing that he hadn't wanted to see this early into the speeches.

                            甘い

There it was.

The kanji for "Amai" there for all to see. Now it was his turn. He stood up, walking up to the stage and taking his place behind the podium. Taking a deep breath, he took a long look at the audience in front of him. All eyes were on him. This is something that he had longed for. Just not in this particular situation.

"I would like to start off by giving everyone a brief history on the Amai. The Amai are one of the four original 'noble' families. My great-great grandfather, Enlil Amai, was the progenitor of our humble family. For centuries, our family held the core values of any family. Honor. Justice. Grace. With their noble values being power and status."

"We were regarded as one of the most distinguished and honored families. But ONE domestic civil war changed all of that. It may have lasted only a decade but those ten years were enough to change the way everyone saw the Amai. We went from being seen as heroes and officers to being quietly marked as monsters and devils of the Soul Society. Cruel. Temperamental. Vicious. Those words now described the Amai. We wore those words as badges of shame for centuries. We wore those words as members of our family rose above to prove that we were not the monsters that people told their children stories about at night."

Was this how Jasper felt during his speech? This feeling that he needed to get everything off his chest while pleading his family's case?

"Three of my family members in particular have proved this themselves time and time again. My cousin Jemukatashi and his younger siblings Noaruji and Cho-Ah. Both of my male cousins have been Captains. Jemukatashi as Captain of the Sixth and Noaruji as Captain of the Second and later Captain of the Sixth. Their sister Cho-Ah was a distinguished member of the Fourth under the Captaincy of Mitsutaka Karahashi. If nothing else, the three of them proved that the Amai are here for the Soul Society and we are here as heroes that you and your children can count on and look up to."

What he was saying wasn't a lie. No, his cousins were definitely the type of Shinigami that the Soul Society deserved and needed. Himself on the other hand, that was a different story.

He had held a deep resentment for the Gotei and the Soul Society since his childhood. The illusion that his mother had set up had been shattered in one single moment. The illusion that if he was part of the Gotei that he would be making a difference. His reasons for joining the Gotei had nothing to do with making the kind of difference his mother had in mind.

"I'm standing here, telling you that my family deserves our spot as a noble family back because while in the past we may have let it get to our heads, the current generation has proved that we are level-headed enough to take this ball and run with it. The previous Captain-Commander, Kyousuke Tsukimiya, saw fit to strip us of our titles and our assets which included our home. But even that didn't lessen our resolve or dedication to all of you."

"Would winning these games and being nobles again mean alot to my family? Of course. Why wouldn't it? But that's not what we have our sights on. We have our sights on protecting the integrity and the inhabitants of the Soul Society. To serve you all the best that we can and then some."

Keiji took another deep breath before stepping out from behind the podium and taking a bow before everyone. As he had his head held down in a bow, he couldn't help but to have a devious grin across his face. He did so well that he almost convinced himself that he was be earnest with his words.

Quickly getting rid of his grin, Keiji stood back up straight as he started waving to the audience and started walking off the stage and back to his seat.

Now all he had to do was wait. Wait for the rest of the representatives to give their speeches and for the real winners of this contest to be decided.

Oh, there were so many delicious things that were to come to light during these next few hours.

Mutiny was afoot. The Soul Society was just too naive to know it.



Word Count || 1302
Total GP Claim || 26GP

Among the people who sat on the stage, Lyvalaea felt smallest, not only because she didn't belong, but because she felt the weight of this speech on her shoulders. Each word spoken by those who preceded her brimmed with such fervor that she couldn't even begin to imagine how she would ever hope to match it. It was a political battle of those who knew how to play their cards... and she just somehow wandered here without knowing anything.They hold centuries-long grudges of war and loss, but she-- the only thing she held onto was the recent events in their estate. 
 
Even while Keiji delivered his speech, Lyvalaea already started calming herself with a soothing placebo, to help calm her nerves in the otherwise rattling situation. The last thing she'd want to do is to fuck up in front of all these people, to fail her responsibilities in the most embarrassing manner. She was entrusted to do well in this occasion, and she will try her best not to break that trust. 
 
When the Tanaka's kanji appeared on the massive screen, she found herself dwarfed with fear. Her heart thumped louder than she could control, and the words seemed to slip by her. 

田中

Yet, she stood. She decided that today will not be the day she'd fail anyone. With slow and measured steps, she felt their eyes bear down on her. They probably silently scrutinized her from head to foot, and making little assumptions for later rumors to fly around. Even her short walk to the microphone felt like a long trudge, and though her legs felt shaky, she managed. Yes, she'll manage this today. 
 
Unlike the others before her, Lyvalaea stood not with confidence, but with humility. Her silver gaze was soft as it regarded the general masses, and her posture indicative of more respect she has for the audience than what they have for her. 


"As we gather here today, people from the higher echelons of our society are surely going to assure you of what an commendable job we are doing, about how we are all doing the right thing, about how our people are going towards the right direction, and how, under the exemplary leadership of the captain commander, we are ready for the next threat that comes to our way. That is, because even the most noble among us are just shinigami, and that is what we do,” she began to speak, her eyes meeting the eager stares of the people within the crowd. Lyvalaea paused for a long while, allowing the words to sink in the audience. There were proud nods, confused stares, and indifferent faces. It was all an incomprehensible blur, as the hearts of the masses remained scattered. Far from unified.

"However, I am here today to pitch in the idea that may be less than pleasant to hear, something that these nobles before you, or anyone among our ranks, would be less than willing to admit: it is the reality that, in fact, we are performing dismally at best." The crowd stirred, an action made by those who had been quick enough to catch on what she had just said. An open insult to the general populace, under the watchful eyes of the most esteemed men and women in Seireitei? Who is this wench, to simply trash talk without anything supporting her credentials? She was a nobody. Yet she dared.
 
"At this very moment, we are merely disillusioned into thinking that our little successes suffice, that in the grander scheme of things, we exceed expectations and are bound to survive merely on repeating what we have been doing these past decades. We choose to look at ourselves on a favorable light, when the reality is far from such an assumption. It is to say that we might have whittled into mere derelicts." Even from the podium, Lyvalaea could feel the anger bubbling in the guts of those gathered in the space, feeling their sharp eyes stab through their very soul. Had she been on the audience's shoes, she would have felt a hint of anger, as well. But she already started it. There was simply no turning back. 

"We are here today to give a retrospect about the true concept of nobility, something that has been up in the air for the last fifty years, as cultural changes began to shift the world we live in. We are here to speak about what makes a noble, and what contributions our families can give in order to be instrumental to our society."

"And what does the Tanaka have for you today? Something we can consider as a wake up call, if you may."
 
A long pause ensued, her eyes pleading for a bit of consideration. She tried her best to keep herself up, to keep her own voice from breaking. It was a struggle far lesser than her predecessors would've gone through. It was to not succumb to the people's judgments before she could finish. Even as a mere representative, they will still hold her culpable to the words she speak today. The placebo still held its reins on her, and while her nerves could keep her level headed, she couldn't seem to ignore the harshly judgmental stares seeing right through her that very moment. 

"As we gather here today, hollows continue to corrupt and feast upon human souls. Quincy, despite their dwindling number, still continue to fight among themselves to establish dominance. Even our knowledge of the current Espada remains scant at best, and will prove to be of little worth should they threaten the safety of Soul Society once again."

"So why, in the midst of all the chaos, the threats, the fears--" she spoke, with each word spoken louder than the last, "--are we shirking our actual duties and obligations as the keepers of the balance and simply paying new-age politicians?"
 
Lyvalaea was more careful now than ever. She might have poked and prodded on those higher than her a few times by now, and if she wouldn't be vigilant of her surroundings, she might as well be dead here and now. For a while, she looked above people's heads, and over the horizon. The last thing she wanted to be accused of at that moment, was subtly poking someone specific for that statement. It could have been the nobles beside her. Or any officer. Anyone. One wrong look and it could turn the intent of the entire speech upside down. 
 
"My master sends a word, not as a noble, but as a vice captain of the research and development institute. Whenever you take something apart and put it back together, there is always something that gets left behind. And that, ladies and gentlemen, alludes to the most recent event in the Tanaka household. Two days ago, the entirety of the Tanaka estate was decimated by a woman named Kirishi, and yet there was little interest in offering a helping hand with hopes to lift us from the quandary we were in. And such was the damage Lord Tanaka suffered that he could not even stand here today, to bring forth this speech for all of you to hear."

"Would you like to know what makes a man worthy of being dubbed as ‘noble’?"
 
She allowed the words to hung in the air. They've heard it from Jasper. They've heard it from Keiji. They have their own opinions. Honestly, the differing views of nobility in regards to nobility was different, each embodying the very essence of the speaker's house. Yet, each word varies with every speaker and receiver there is in the entire arena. She allowed their thoughts to fester, before quelling it with her own.

"Virtue. Decency. Bravery." There was a moment of silence in the arena. It wasn't unheard of, and probably not too different from other houses' virtues, but each word was spoken with truth in them. Truth, in relation to the virtues Tanaka holds on to.
 
"Despite being the head of the family, he braved through the threat of burning and being collapsed upon by the house's embers in order to save the men and women who render service to the household. Despite his own life in jeopardy, he held on to virtue and acted in accordance to his social responsibility. He did not weigh priorities on how little we were, on how unimportant our lives were, as mere servants in a prestigious house." It hung in the air. Her admittance. A mere house servant, speaking to them as though she was any better. 
 
"To him, to the Tanaka family, each face has a name. Each role has an obligation. Each life holds an inherent worth. From a master to his subjects, to a noble for the masses, to a leader to his subordinates, and a guardian to those souls we are sworn to protect. A noble’s true responsibility grows, not just to serve as mere symbols of a society that desires something to look up to, but to serve as pillars of strength to support the greater good of the society they live in. To propagate a unified responsibility and strength through leading by example. Because this is what the Tanaka does. They serve as guardians, and will continue to do so in the next generations to come, not just towards their kin, or their servants, but to the society it belongs to." 

"Everyone gathered here today are men and women who had sworn to dedicate their lives to service, to throw away the very notion of comfort and safety for the sake of those whose lives hang in the balance. And while we do, should it not be just right that our nobles be the ones to lead and inspire others through living by the very word that everyone had pledged to follow to their last breath?"
 
Lyvalaea allowed the question to hung in the air as her eyes stared back at the spectators, calmly, so it may seem. The worst had come to pass, and though she spoke with the same humble tone, she felt pride in knowing that she wouldn't regret it, even if she was held accountable for her words. In the silence among the audience and the loudness of her own mind and heart, she couldn't even tell whether she successfully quelled the stir she made earlier, but she remained hopeful for the best.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we shinigami seem to be forgetting the true nature of our responsibilities. In a crucial time of chaos and crisis, we lose sight of that which are truly important. We are too caught up in the issues of politics that we seem to be severely lacking in concern and action towards the crumbling peace here, and in the human world. Lacking in concern towards the well-being of our own people, not just inside of this court, but also those outside it."
 
"But together, by tapping back into the essence of what a true shinigami is, what a shinigami should be, we can take the first step towards betterment. To be better in preserving the balance of worlds. To improve the lives of souls by adhering to the oaths we swore. To take a unified effort to quell those that threaten the peace we so desire."

"And an important step, is for us to have an exemplary group of people to lead us towards the the better future, and inspire others into action. Families that embody the ideals we seek to pursue and lead to fruition." 

And with a last look at the audience, she finally spoke, "Thank you for the time and consideration. That is all I have to say."
 
With a smile, the strawberry-blonde shinigami took a slight bow and turned on her heel, walking back the same way she came. She was never too confident of how the speech went, or how it satisfied the judges, or how it changed the masses. However, she was at least make sure that she'd left even the littlest bit of impact on the men and women gathered here today. 
 
 

_______________________

2000 words

40 post gp

40 total gp

Nobles. Nagisa knew little about them and until now had not cared to learn anything either. Of course she knew that besides the ruling Gotei these families held a lot of influence and took great pride in a variety of values and believes. However, to someone like Nagi, who grew up desperate and poor amongst the nomads of the Rukongai, they were little more than children on a playground, claiming to have the prettiest toys or demanding that others give them theirs. Despite that ingrained dislike for people who saw it as their god given right to be better than others, she still found herself amidst a score of other Shinigami at one of the training grounds where a giant screen was displaying the men and women on the podium before it. In her mind the Chinda knew she ought to be focused on who exactly was attending, but the fact that it was possible to make moving pictures of people in real time…it baffled her, even after years in Seireitei.

Finally the something moved on the stage and in bolt letters the name Aizawa was displayed, and a polite applause accompanied the speaker as he made his way to the microphone. Captain Lightbringer! Nagisa wanted to cheer, yet just as she had sucked in the air the applause died down, and thus the woman bit her tongue before she stood out too much. ”We serve.” She had heard him say that before, within the confinement of his office. Truly Captain Jasper must be a man of duty and honor, the young woman reflected: Each time I see him, he is busy with these values.

”Traditions.” Now that was a word that the Chinda could not deal with easily. She knew as much as anyone how important it was to value the past, to learn from it and show respect to those who taught the lessons needed for a bright future…yet at the same time tradition often became an excuse for stagnation. Her own people had been nomads, it had almost been their tradition, but had lived a desperate and unfulfilling life. Only once they had abandoned that, had cast aside the bonds and shackles of the past and embraced new ideas, progress, had they found a hint of what prosperity might look like. Unconsciously Nagi gnawed on her lip. Tradition was a dangerous thing to her.Times change, she reflected: And even if Captain Jasper is from a noble family…perhaps their time has ended? However, the moment that thought had crossed her mind she dismissed it. Shinigami were mostly timeless beings, change came slow, and something as monumental as this would not happen in millennia. Yet…yet as she listened to the words the Aizawa spoke, it gave her a glimmer of hope that perhaps it wasn’t bad that nobles existed, as long as they were men and women like him. As long as they brought light to the people.

Our lives are service.

Nagisa clapped and whistled, feeling as if there was honesty and truth in the man’s words, and through all her cheering she thought: Yes, this is a man I can follow.

Amai, written with the Kanji for ‘sweet’. Even while Nagi was still tilting her head curiously to the side the Farseer spoke: Now you can ask yourself, my sweet, if the action of the few reflect upon the attitude of the many. As the young man above pleaded his case Taldeer would not be silenced. The entire family fell into disgrace, and yet several of their members managed to distinguish themselves with their services…but how many of them are there? Are those three proofs that the Amai are truly there for the greater good, or are they merely an exception? The young Shinigami crossed her arms and furrowed her brows in contemplation. So?

I don’t know…but I am not sure the sins of their forefathers should be carried by the new generations…I guess what I think is, that if they want to be nobles again they should earn it. If the Captain Commander took it, perhaps it is him they ought to convince to bestow it once more. Uncertain Nagisa shrugged and focused her eyes on the next one in line, House Tanaka.

She feels nervous, the Chinda and was filled with empathy. I know how hard it is to stand before an audience and do your best. A hand formed into a fist as she tried to send positive energy from one woman to another. Fight on, you can do it!  Performing dismal at best. Her previous words had been much of a blabla, just like that of the other speakers that tried to capture the audience with eloquent phrases, but the brutal change of pace of her words made Nagisa blink. Nani? Immediately the Chinda could feel how anger and discontent welled up in many of the other Shinigami. The young woman before them was, after all, dismissing all of their hard work and achievements, belittling them so to speak. I feel that she has a point though, Nagi told her Spirit. What happened in Karakura…older soldiers said that the Hollows seem more active than ever…Despite all the successes I always hear, it seems that it’s just not enough. The woman leaned her head to the side.Maybe she is right?

Her words about the tragedy that had transpired at the Tanaka estate struck true and caused many men and women to direct their gaze towards their feet, but Nagisa could not, her eyes were pinned on the thin woman with fair skin. So much courage, she thought enviously. I wish I was a bit like that.

Virtue. Decency. Bravery.

As much as those words caused her heart to pound, what followed after left a bitter taste in her mouth. Why is it then, that we need nobles at all? If it is merely so we have people to look up to…then anyone who distinguishes themselves will do. Onee-san for example, she came from nothing and now has everything, built it up with the strength of her own two hands. In the beginning Nagisa had felt as if the young woman and she had something in common, as if she could relate to the Tanaka’s suffering and mission, but now she felt just as false as the man of the Amai. Perhaps it is a skill, the Chinda reflected. To deliver words of such truth in a manner that feels equally right and plain wrong… Nagi shook her head. Aizawa, Amai, Tanaka…I- I am not sure I like any of them. Her eyes wandered towards the orators. Captain Jasper is able to bring light into the life of people, and the Tanaka is courageous enough to speak the truth, but so far none of them have told me, no, convinced me why I should acknowledge them as my better purely because of their birth or their last name. The Chinda brushed a strand of silken black hair out of her face. After all, it’s not like we can choose any of these things.

1178/50=23

皆本

She'd sat there trying to calm her inner tempest. Trying to reach the collected inner center she felt she'd need to deliver what she was going to. Thankfully she'd not had to go first or anytime soon after. The speaker who'd just gone had sort of attacked everyone on stage. Verbally of course but she didn't feel insulted as she was neither a noble or anything else she just was. He'd dropped the mic too which had, to her ears, made a terrible sound. So she rubbed her delicate canine ears for a moment while she watched this man saunter off through the crowds. That caused a frown on her face for a moment. This society was so disorganized that even when they had to address the soldiers they weren't in formation with rows between them. Things were in worse shape than she'd feared. 

Standing up she takes several steps towards the mic before bending at the knee to pick up the small thing. The crowd was a murmur as she stood again and replaced the mic into its holder on the podium. Smoothing her shirt she readies herself. She was the last name on that list. She'd requested to go last. She wanted these words she was about to deliver to ring hard in the minds of those that would hear them. And she waited quietly as the murmurs and eyes were slowly brought back towards the stage. Her address wasn't one of history. It wasn't one of a promise or an explanation. Her's was of another kind. Determination. Vengeance.

"Brothers! Sisters!" her voice carried over the public address system with the speed of a lightning bolt. "For many centuries we were a prideful nation. All who stood before us knew our power and those who dared to challenge it were dealt swift and unrelenting blows. We held not only our own world safely within our hands but protected the human world from the incursions of hollows."

She grew quiet for a moment before moving slightly closer to the mic, "That time is now gone." Her voice was soft and comforting like a Mother's trying to calm a scared child. "In the past decade we've been wracked by civil war and repeatedly brutalized by our enemies. We've been driven back countless times and have now been displaced from a town we've protected for centuries which now is held by a family of spiritual humans."

"We can no longer claim to be the dominant spiritual force in these realms," her voice was deep for her, "That fact has been made very very clear to us in the past. And we have no one to blame but ourselves. We grew complacent and lazy. We allowed madmen and liars to lead us into this state of affairs. We turned our weapons against each other and killed our own. How many thousand have died due to the idleness of our hands?

We were yoked to the task and we did not challenge where we were lead. We killed our brothers and sisters without question. Peace came each time but at a high price. And now as I stand here looking out over you my siblings I cannot help but wonder how strong we might be had we not allowed ourselves to be lead down the path that we've walked to this point."

She went silent for a moment allowing the words that the address system had echoed to the ears of her fellows. The crowd shifted uncomfortably as they looked back at her unsure of what to do. Was she accusing everyone for the failures of their society? She had hadn't she?

"It is," she said her voice sending a ripple through the persons gathered before her, "not a thing we cannot come back from. We have survived this long as a society not by luck alone. Our ancestors were surely fewer in number than we at one time and they built this nation and bent the land to their will. They created, fought, struggled, died and succeeded. We are no different than they were. It is far from too late for us regain control of our destinies and bring ourselves back from the edge. 

It is time that we as a people roll up our sleeves and get dirty. We are all responsible for the failures of the past and must now set about making things right for the future. Our lives are not as short as those of the humans. We have the time to bring about a change in our society.

I ask you all for that time. Time to make these changes happen. Your time in helping with these changes. And your time in awaiting the changes. I alone, no one person can make these changes and begin the tasks ahead of us alone. Today is the first day of many to come in the rebuilding of our nation. We must make ready for the trials ahead and I ask you to help shoulder the tasks ahead."

"Our enemies," her tone changed to that of a general addressing her troops, "would have us believe that they cannot be beaten. That they are an unending never ceasing force that simply cannot be broken. This is untrue. They, like we and the humans, can be killed. They are not immune blade and spell. They are very much capable of being brought down. Their espada while powerful are not gods. They are spiritual beings that have reached a pinnacle of power within their race. That does not mean they cannot be killed. 

The humans would have us believe that they can do a better job of controlling their worlds spirits and protect themselves solely on their own. They chase our forces off. They go after single man patrols. They harass and attack us. They are cowardly creatures who dare to not openly face us while boldly claiming they are better at our job than we are. They have grown cocky and should be taught a lesson. A lesson in what happens when one raises their voice to the guardians that have protected them for centuries. 

Both races come and go from our world without serious challenge. They enter our realm and do not meet a swift end. This cannot be allowed to continue. Anyone foolish enough to trespass upon our land should be met with deadly force. There can be no dialogue with these enemies. There can be no understanding without bloodshed. They do not wish to reach peaceful accord with us and so they seek the destroy us. Brother and Sisters we shall meet them with unspeakable fury and drive them back into their worlds. Peace will never be an option between us. They only understand violence and war as a common language between us. They will come for us," As she spoke she had begun motioning with her hands above her till finally."and as they come to face us we will stamp them back down!" Her fist had hit the podium with each word as she had called for her comrades to stamp their enemies back down.

Returning to her seat besides her captain she nods at the crowd before blushing bright red and staring at her lap. She'd gotten a tad too into it she felt. Oh well, nothing she could do now. Looking back up she shakes over sand blonde locks from her face. Time to face the mob.

WC: 1242
GP: 24
TGP:24
 

She felt more at peace than she had in decades, tucked away in the back of a café she'd patronized in centuries past. The proprietor knew her still, somehow, and it made her feel special even though he probably knew everyone, probably lied and kept smiling whenever he forgot a face. Her drink wasn't made quite the same way she used to take it, but it was close.

He didn't treat her like a monster. She looked like one. Everyone else looked at her like one, doubly so those that recognized her face, but he just kept smiling away.

Little things like that were what made it so damn difficult to focus. She could sit here forever, she thought, here and other familiar places, just being grateful for them. Did it even matter, the other things? The fate of the world? She was here for a reason, not for herself. Her own wants paled. She had a duty.

That no one knew about.

An impossible task or a life of luxury, with only her conscience knowing which she chose. No shame there, no disappointment. The people around her, her family, her admirers--because she'd never really had friends--would never have to know she could have saved them. Only she would.

Five more minutes.

Sitting here, cupping her mug in both bare hands to feel its warmth and savor the taste, she could afford to wait. Her enemies wouldn't begrudge her that, would they? To sit here and listen a while longer? Hearing the voices of people she knew would be around, who wouldn't die mayfly-quick and casual deaths just to spite her, it was as if she was finally real. What she did mattered again. It would be remembered.

Two minutes.

There were patterns to the whispers. The city, like any other, had a pulse and her finger was far from it. She didn't know how it had changed, which differences were natural and which were deliberate attacks by invisible adversaries, what things were meant to be and what had weakened them.

Seireitei was a tapestry. She could only see the threads.

Nobles was a word that she kept picking up over the low ambient music, designed to keep conversations eavesdropper-free more than anything, but she was good at her craft. Speeches. Trials. A man loudly proclaimed to the establishment at large that he didn't give the slightest shit what any royal cunt with a stick up his ass had to say to the world and was unpolitely shushed, hurried whispers from a friend prefacing a terrified look in her direction.

The smile that spread across her face showed teeth. He was lucky she was feeling merciful today.

"What are you talking about?" She'd gotten up quickly, the room quieting in response. She was a figure strange enough to inspire caution even in those who hadn't heard of her return, seen her at the challenge. Her dyed ragged hair and mortal clothes were far from typical. "Why would you have to?"

From fear, his eyes quickly slipped to confusion. Not wise, perhaps. Just an ordinary man, not even a Shinigami anything, might lack the skills to understand the threat he faced. He couldn't judge her spiritual pressure, whatever twisted forces came from her soul, just what he saw in her eyes.

"But everyone knows about it." Polite pointed incomprehension cued him to continue. "It's..." he gestured aimlessly. "Everywhere. Right from the Captain Commander himself. All the noble families have to... I don't know... prove themselves or some shit? It's going down in half an hour." His eyes turned cruel. "I hope those useless fucks get what they deserve."

There were many ways she could have shown her appreciation for those words. In the old days, she would have opted to break bones, slit flesh, watch the red bubble up and laugh, laugh at the screams. Not for any real reason. It was something to do, to pass the time. It wasn't like mortal lives mattered.

These weren't mortal lives, though. She kept forgetting.

Tight-lipped, mask of politeness firmly in place, she asked for directions and moved on.

--

She was struck by the blueness of the sky. Tokyo's heights were often building-crowded, Karakura's tainted by the destructive forces that brought it down. It would be months yet before the ruins' skies cleared, became as picturesque as this. People drifted in from all directions, singly or in groups, and ignored the others there. They didn't ask her questions. They ignored the existence of everyone but themselves.

Soon the seats were filled. Soon the screen flickered to life.

It was, she thought, just as pointless and useless as the loudmouth had feared it would be. She barely spared a thought for each speaker...

Oh, the stuffed shirt again. --Aizawa

Who even is this pathetic asshole? --Amai

...until her family's sigil flashed onscreen and someone other than her brother came along. It wasn't anyone she recognized. She thought there'd been a mistake until well after the girl's mouth had opened, and even then, Reima's absence was hard to accept.

She'd always been content to leave the politics to him, in part so she could stay as far away from him as possible. They existed in different spheres, rather than being rivals or companions, but she--as bad as the word felt in her mouth when it came to him, as much as it tasted like ash--had trusted him to handle these kinds of things. That he wasn't here, that he'd let his responsibilities fall? She'd never even thought it could happen.

She'd always assumed the family name would be close enough to 'safe' in his despicable hands.

Whoever the girl was, though, she made so much sense that Maya didn't leap up to speak in her place. Even if she'd had words prepared, were inclined to take place in this spectacle regardless of that lack of preparation, her hypothetical speech wouldn't have been much different.

It put a smile on her face. Maybe she wasn't as alone as she thought.

What occupied her mind, though, as others talked...

Did some spoiled prince steal his toys as a child? --Minamoto

Does anyone know who this bitch is? --Victoria

...wasn't the words, wasn't the speakers, but the structure itself. The farce of this. Nobility wasn't something that could be given or taken away, no proof would be forthcoming. No one day, no matter how fairly or unfairly judged, could undo what the Soul King decreed at what might as well have been the dawn of time. It didn't work that way, but someone thought it did.

There was a tapestry here, but she only saw the threads. Who stood to gain?

Ah.

There he was, the hated one. Mouth opening, words pouring, poisonous voice roiling over the crowd. He asked impossible things, nonsense-words, tried to grab for power that couldn't and wouldn't be his. Did he think it would work? Did he think no one would stand against him, that he'd just walk out as sole Seireitei dictator based on this ridiculous wordplay?

She was already moving, already ignoring sharp complaints from people she stepped on, hopped over, pushed through, was already shouting loud enough for her voice to be heard by some if not all. Some fawning aide dredged up unusual initiative and shoved a microphone in her hand before she'd gotten far.

Introductions were probably in order.

"If you don't know me," she sketched a casual bow, red ragged hair falling to cover her eyes, "if you missed the epic beatdown I gave our Aizawa friend here earlier in the week, don't worry." She took a breath, looked up, eyes bright. "I've got a right to be here, too." For now, they seemed reluctant to approach. Her smile often had that effect.

"Maya Tanaka, at your service. I apologize for my absence at the podium, but my brother and I have been... somewhat estranged, shall we say, for most of our lives. I assumed he had the matter well in hand." She grinned. "My mistake."

"We'll talk later, alright?" She looked at the strange girl, trying to be as encouraging as she could. "You did a good job."

"The point, though," she turned back, sweeping her gaze across the crowd. "The actual reason I'm interrupting your wonderfully pathetic debate club," her eyes were boring holes into Kenshou's soul, "is that this is not how it works."

"Nobility isn't something you can give or take away or earn on some kind of point card. It's how you live. It's who you are. It's the standards you set for yourself, that everyone else sets for you and you have to exceed to be anything more than a disappointment."

"How many of you know me? How many of you have I fought alongside? Taught? Saved? Do you think I'm riding on the reputation of my name?" A moment of pensive silence. "Many of you don't, I suppose. I have been gone a while."

"I have always..." She took a deep breath, tried to center herself--marvelled, briefly, at how she'd got here. She'd always gotten far by acting on impulse, but this was ridiculous. "I've tried to stand apart from it. I think my name--my name, not the family's, not the parts that belong to somebody else--means something. I stand for Duty. I stand for Valor. I cannot sacrifice that. You cannot take that away from me even if you try."

Her breath was coming fast now, she had to fight to keep her words from slurring together. "What would it be for, anyway? You? Why should any of us sacrifice anything without knowing what it earns us?" She took a step closer to him, hand casually resting on the hilt of the sword at her side.

"Do not think that I would hesitate to throw my life away, if the price was right. If enough lives hang in the balance, what use is mine? But." She held up her hand, one finger extended. "But. If I throw my life away too soon, what of those I could have saved in the future? Am I not negligent then? Are we not all obligated to live?" Her face turned suddenly fierce.

"My sacrifice is life."

A moment is needed to pull herself back in, to prevent the shed of tears. She has been speaking too close to the heart.

"What about you, though?" Her voice is different now, serpentine, wheedling. "I will serve and continue to serve. I will continue to be respected as long as I am worthy of it. My children will share in the glory of my name or the shame of it. There's nothing you can do about it. But what of you?" Were she less scared, full of less hate, she'd close the distance and run her finger down his cheek. She didn't, though. Didn't ever want to touch him, flesh to flesh.

"The position of Captain Commander can be easily given or taken away. I've served under many, as have you. If renouncing power is, as you say, for the good of the Gotei, why not you?"

She'd gone too far, perhaps, in the momentum of the moment.

"I say this, Ine-soutaicho."

Carried away in the roar of the crowd.

"You first."

From the screen above, it was clear the overworked Fourth Division engineer operating it had finally caught up with events.

The Tanaka symbol was on display.
 

田中

1904/38

Jasper looked at the fellow nobles among him. Obviously, no one had expected this. Kirishi had promised something like this wouldn't have happened. Ine was supposed to be in her pocket. The wily whore. Had this all been a ruse? Had she been colluding with Ine unto this end? The political trap that had been set for them was formidable. If they made a single false move here, they would die. But they could survive this. For all Ine's strengths, he had a few weaknesses. He had always vehemently refused to be a political operator. His roots in the Fifth, it now seemed, had made him more keen to solving problems with his sword instead of words. But Jasper's upbringing had put an emphasis on the latter more than anything else. He had been taught to act with grace and elegance in all things. And even while he might have largely turned away from that as a silly ideal, he knew it was what the people expected right now.
 
Did Jasper care for the ultimate fate of the nobility? No. But he sure as hell did care that he, and subsequently everyone else here, made it out of here without losing their titles.
 
With a subtle gesture and a quick look at the rest of the nobles, Jasper believed he had communicated his point quite clearly: don't do anything. He began to slowly rise up before he saw Maya Tanaka saunter her way over onto the stage. He sat back down. He knew that whatever she was about to say would be brash, probably quite rude, and perhaps even unbecoming of a noble, but it would get to the point. Jasper had seen her direct personality exemplified completely in their fight. Jasper would put an elegant spin on things if he had to, but he was almost sure that the Tanaka knew what she was doing. The benefit of having someone who did not speak challenge him greatly bolstered their chances.
 
And deliver she did. With a few, succinct sentences, she had said what the nobles had feared to say for years due to threat of complete and utter retribution: you have no idea what you're talking about. Jasper's expression remained neutral, however. He wasn't ready to commit just yet. Perhaps if he waited another moment, scanned the crowd a little bit more. He couldn't make his move just yet, all of the calculations he had made had just been thrown out of whack, he needed more time-
 
His thoughts were silenced by the quiet of a little girl resonating throughout his mind. Kirishi, he thought bitterly. Somehow, likely due to her strange powers, she had been able to force her message into her own mind. But he didn't want to hear it. You did this. Shut up, you damned girl.
 
But her words came anyway.

Having fun, Jasper-kun? Wonderful performance up there. But it looks like our little prick of a commander has just put you in a pickle. Then again, I'm wondering if your not more interested now in just going ahead with that little plan I caught you and my pet in earlier.

Who do you suppose the Gotei would side with at this point? The traitor at the podium, or the nobles who just rallied them into high spirits? Look, even that Tanaka girl seems to hate him as much as you do.

At this point the only supporters Kenshou has are as fake as his decrees. Look at the girl on the other side of the stage and let me ask you: why have you never seen her before? Heard of her? Why doesn't she even appear in any records accessible by anyone but the Soutaichou himself? And why is it that she is so loyal to him in the first place?

Nobilesse Obligue, Jasper-kun.
 

Noblesse obligue. The obligation of nobility. The responsibility of those privileged few destined to lead fulfilled lives to do good, especially towards the less privileged. That was why Jasper had been doing this, right? For the greater good? Had his actions not all been undertaken so that the Seireitei would become a better place? In earnest, he did not remember vaguely what his original vision of the Soul Society looked like. All he knew was that Kenshou Ine had to leave, and that he had to take power for himself. It was his duty to the people to rid the universe of Kenshou Ine. And Kirishi had just given him the tools to do that. By attacking Suiren, he could seal Kenshou's fate. Kirishi's words implied that she was a fake, perhaps some invention of Kenshou created to give him some validity? He didn't care for her. That insolent girl, or thing, deserved whatever fate would befall her.

No more equivocation. He was done with that. Destiny was staring him dead in the eyes, and wouldn't wait for any more of his trembling calculations. He had to be ready.

He stood up, and approached Maya, nodding in agreement with her words.

"Indeed, Ine-soutaichou. To imply that our nobility stems from anything other than our actions is silly. We have all come to be who we are based on our own merits. Our actions and achievements define our family, not the other way around."

"Why do you demand this of us? We have no power over the military, but you seem to fear us, sir. It seems as if you have gone back on your word f promising to help define nobility for a new generation of Shinigami and bring to the light those who exemplify nobility and what it means to be a Shinigami. We have done nothing for the Seireitei but sacrifice ourselves for it."

"So why do you go back on the letter you signed and sent to the entirety of the Seireitei, sir? Those statements are affected by law. And more importantly, why do you install a judge nobody knows anything about? Who is this Suiren? Where is she from? How come none of us had ever heard of her until right before you announced these proceedings? Why does she not appear in any records except those accessible by you, Soutaichou?"

"Sir, I do not know what your plan is in these proceedings, but it seems as if you have manipulated us in an attempt to destroy us using one of your biased subordinates. If this is truly the case, sir, then I have but one question for you."

Jasper paused, his eyes now inflamed with passion staring deep into Kenshou's.

"Who do you think we are?"

1100

"Are you delusional?" Her voice cut across the distance between them, asking the question without malice. She saw no other explanation for the facts of today. "Asking the same thing after all that? Do I need to use simpler words?" In disbelief, she looked to the man at her side--opponent one day, ally the next--but his face revealed nothing. She did not know if this was Kenshou's regular mental state.

The curse of a lack of knowledge.

"You are like the commander asking his army to chop off their arms and expecting them to obey without question. This is not sacrifice, it's stupidity. Anyone who obeys might as well be put to the sword." She looked across the crowd, urging them to remember that they are not spectators but soldiers, that right minds win more battles than sharp blades. "If you give up things like without reason, how do I know you will not just walk into death if someone asks nicely enough? How do I trust you?"

"I confess to my absence." Her lips twitched; it would be hard not to, impossible to claim she'd been here the whole time after all. "However, I'm not at liberty to give the reason for it. Take it up with the Captain of the Nibantai, if you're so curious."

"Tova, Tova..." She paced, gesturing for the knowledge that went with the word. "I know that name, but--" Fingers snapped in a moment of realization. "Oh yes. The King of Monsters. I certainly didn't see you there." Gasps from the crowd. "Oh, did he attack here as well? I was talking about his little jaunt to Earth. You knew about that, didn't you? A Japanese city wiped right off the map? Where were you?" Her voice was harsher than it should be, reliving that tragedy. "I was there. I was fulfilling my duty. I stood strong against the Primera Espada as he and others tried to slaughter the souls we're meant to protect."

"I can forgive you for mistaking self-defense with sacrifice, but that's far from what it is. Try again. Our duty isn't to stay alive, it's to police the balance of souls." By that metric she had set aside her duty long ago, but the fiction was useful here. "You mention that your position was handed down. By who? Your predecessor? Was he particularly adept at measuring worth?"

"My position was given to me--to Tanaka, to Amai, to Aizawa--by the Soul King himself. Is your predecessor more adept at measuring worth than he?" She looked him in the eye, not even thinking of backing down. "Do you think you are? Do you think you know better than the Soul King?"

She let the the rest of that accusation lie unspoken.

"In simple words, soutaicho, I will do nothing unless you tell me why."

Not quite rebellion in her eyes, simply common sense.

"And neither should anyone else."
 
501/10 (48)

Just like that events suddenly sped up, overtook themselves and what had started like a simple moment for nobles to plead their case quickly turned into a radical discussions about the foundation-stone of the Gotei. But one thing after the other.

Nagisa was quick to recognize the worn out woman in mortal fashion who made her way to the podium. After all, she was the one who had recently tried her hand against Captain Jasper, and by the way she walked it seemed as if Maya Tanaka was not done throwing herself into the fray. She is very audacious. the younger Chinda reflected not without a hint of admiration. Indeed, Maya possessed many admirable characteristics, the young woman found, not least of them the ability to stand her ground and appeal to the masses. Truth be told, Nagi found herself agreeing with her more than she would like to admit. After all, many people could hold an eloquent speech, but actions would always speak louder than words do, and by the way Tanaka spoke it became obvious that she had always favored the former over the latter. That was a quality that Nagisa could identify with; if you wanted something you had to earn it – exactly like she was doing every day in order to win Onee-san’s love once more.

However, when Maya moved to question the Captain Commander himself the younger Chinda held her breath. Was this not the man who reigned with the mandate of the Soul King himself? Was he not a symbol of their very civilization and a figure of history that spanned millennia? How could she demand of him things so easily?

Apparently her Captain shared many of Tanaka’s sentiments though, for Jasper too thought it a good moment to question the entire occasion. At the repeated mentioning of the young Shinigami that sat apart from the group of nobles Nagisa turned her head to inspect her closer. The girl seemed…inconspicuous. Nondescript even..yet the more Nagi focused on her the impression that the girl grew increasingly nervous found her way into Chinda’s head. Then again, why wouldn’t she? After all, she is the one upon whose shoulders much rests today – But there was something else too. Something that made the fine hairs on Nagisa’s neck stand up and caused her to shift, chest filled with nervous anxiety, as if a storm was about to break lose. It was reminiscent of the time Yuudai and her had fought the duo of Arrancar…

Shaking her head Nagisa’s attention was quickly occupied by the Captain Commander’s reply. Naturally she knew how much Ine had sacrificed during his time with the Gotei – it was taught in the academy after all. And about Tsukimiya Nagi knew as well, more than people would expect of her even perhaps, due to her sister’s apparent infatuation with him. The motivation behind seeking knowledge about that man had been simple: by understanding him, even becoming like him, she was sure to gain prestige in Kiriko’s eyes…Focus! Blinking wildly the younger Chinda tried to stay present and in the moment in order to not miss the history that was in the making.

I-I am not sure what to believe at this point, Nagisa admitted to her Spirit. I…the Gotei… Confused the woman turned to her sword’s manifestation. I don’t have any experience with this.

Just watch, the Farseer with the golden hourglass eyes replied: I have the feeling that this is far from over.

And indeed. Despite Kenshou’s explanation, his nonchalant and lackadaisical attitude turned many against him, and perhaps even served as fuel for the fire that burned in Maya’s eyes. What followed was Tanaka’s side of the story, and whilst both of them claimed to have faced Tova Diablo in their way, to Nagisa this meant very little as she had never experienced who that foe had been. What she did understand though was that Ine had demanded the nobles gave up what had been bestowed upon them by the Soul King, whilst holding on to his own mandate with iron grip. All of this began to make Nagi’s head spin. She was a simple girl, what did she know about all of this? All she wanted was to be loved by her sister, like in the days of yore.

Speak of the devil. From one moment to the other Kiriko appeared at the side of the Captain Commander and seemingly began to support his flag. Nagisa knew better though, it was not the current leader she supported, but rather the actions of the former she defended. Vividly the younger Chinda felt the sting of jealously in her heart. However, there was something else that was odd and off about her sister. Tilting her head to the side Nagi brushed hair out of her eyes and tried to pin point it.

“Ah!” with a gasp came the realization. Kiriko was enjoying herself, like back in the days when they had played games. Or during the times when she had known a secret that only few others had shared. Though why are you laughing, Onee-san? the woman wondered. Again the anxiety that warned her from an impending storm swapped over Nagisa, causing her hand to subconsciously wander towards the hilt of her sword.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Me too, child, me too.

901/50=18; 41

Well, shit certainly hit the fan quickly.

What started off as a cleverly orchestrated ruse has turned into so much more. This was truly a delicious little development.

Keiji was hoping that it would take a tad more coercing to turn speech giving into a war of words. But with the things being said and the touchy subjects being brought up, this could turn into a war of a different kind.

A war of a physical kind.

Oh, just the thought of it sent his imagination on a whirlwind of delight. This is really something that he could sink his teeth into.

Kenshou rustled the jimmies of Jasper and the Tanaka girl. Oh yes, their jimmies were very much rustled. Then there was Second Division Captain Kiriko Chinda, siding with Kenshou and defending him against the verbal assault from Aizawa and Tanaka. 

Just what was Keiji to do in this situation? Side with the Pro-Neo Noble side and stand tall with the Captain Commander, the man who was the Captain of the division that he was a member? or with the Anti-Neo Noble side with the other Noble families and noble hopefuls? So many things could come from either choice.

While it's true that Keiji wanted nothing more than to bring his family back to prominence, he never intended for nobility to be the only means to his end. There were other ways to make the Amai name memorable once again. Either with Fear through respect or respect through fear. The side he chose would only be another pawn in this very elaborate game of chess that was being played behind everyone's backs.

Keiji suddenly felt a chill run down his back. What was this eerie feeling that was overtaking him? And almost as soon as that question had popped into his head, he heard a soft giggle. A familiar giggle.

Kirishi.

"So is that it? You're just going to let the whims of the commander determine how high up that glass ceiling goes? At this point I'm shocked that any of you let him push you around the way you do. After all, what's the point of being picked out by the Soul King if some half-blood traitor like Kenshou can just play with you like that? Oh, did I let that slip?

Do you want power, Keiji-kun? Real power? Then take it for yourself. Do what has to be done. And prove that your nobility is yours and yours alone.

Nobilesse Obligue, Keiji-kun."

And with that, the voice of that mysterious girl disappeared.

Well, that was certainly an experience. Keiji had never had someone speak to him through his mind before. It was a truly...unique experience.

"Well, that girl certainly has a way with words, doesn't she?" The white tiger within the young shinigami's soul roared.

"As much as I hate it, I have to agree with her. If you want to prove a point, you have to do it now. Think about it. How did the nobles become noble in the first place? They took it. At the edge of their zanpakuto and bringing themselves to the attention to the Soul King."

Keiji couldn't really argue with Kirishi or Byakko. They were both correct with their respective statements. While what they both said is true, was it really in his best interest to stand out? 

Were Kenshou and nobles really his only choices? Perhaps he could set out a third choice for himself. In his eyes there were really only two people who he felt that he should side with : Kirishi and himself.

He didn't trust Kirishi as far as he could throw her, but he knew power when it approached him. He may not have been able to sense her spiritual pressure or see what she could do in battle, but there was no doubt that there was more than meets the eye when it came to her.

Even though he hadn't come to a real choice yet, he stood up from his seat nonetheless.

He glanced over at Kenshou, then over to Jasper and the nobles and finally over to Kiriko before letting a grin rest on his face.

"Comrades. Please. Surely we can settle this in a more civilized manner. I mean, what are we, brutes? Are we savage beasts like the Hollows that we have sworn to push back?"

"Do we want this to escalate into something more?"

Well, Keiji did at least. This could be so very beautiful.

Two sides of supposed comrades fighting to determine who was the ruling party. To decide who was the one on the right side of this argument.

That was it! The answer was right in front of him the entire time.

Why not facilitate this inevitable battle?

Be the catalyst that sets forth a historic moment in Soul Society history.

A moment that was a war.

A civil war between Kenshou and undoubtedly the other Captains of the Gotei aside from Jasper going head-to-head with Jasper and his regime of nobles.

But could one man really be the factor that tips the scale from verbal to physical? Perhaps not but he could definitely give the scale a nudge in the right direction.

"However...perhaps the only way to solve this is to vent our frustrations. I mean that is certainly a great way to end this little conflict of words."

He turned his attention to Kenshou.

"I mean, are you really going to let insubordination slide? Are you going to stand idly by while there is a mutiny on his way against you? Sure, you could lock up all who oppose you in prison but if someone wants something bad enough, they get resourceful. Who's to say that they won't find a way out of the prison?"

Now, the looked over at the nobles, most notably at Jasper.

"And how about you? Are you really going to let a man who doesn't understand what nobility means to us try to take it away? A man who doesn't understand to us that it's not the titles that are important to us but the significance they hold to our traditions. The original four noble families were handpicked by the Soul King! If anyone outranks our dear Captain Commander, that would be the person..or thing."

"And you, Tanaka. You'll really let this man, who left you in Karakura to fend for yourself while it was being decimated by Tova's forces, take away something that our families earned?"

Keiji stood up on top of his folding chair, strecthing his arms out forward, pointing each arm in the direction of Kenshou and the nobles respectively.

"We can sit here and talk all we want but the fact of the matter is nothing would get solved. I'm sorry that I have to say that but it is the truth. We would only succeed in making each other angrier and angrier. We'd resort to sneaky tactics. Sabotage each other in various ways. We would get on each other's last nerve until we just couldn't take it anymore and someone just snapped."

"Why go through all of that trouble when we could just jump straight into the meat and potatoes of this conflict. Forget the exposition and the rising action! We go headfirst into the climax!"

Word Count || 1215

Total Word Count || 2517
Total GP Claim || 50GP

In this heat of this moment, she felt alive. Her nerves were on fire. Her breath came fast and her thoughts were flying. Later, she'd think about what she'd done. There might be time for regret, if she lived through this. Destinies were spun in moments like these. Regimes toppled.

Here she was, at the heart of it. Mattering for the first time in decades. Nothing had ever, would ever again, feel so sweet. She was wholely focused on her nemesis, her Captain Commander. She wondered if he suspected what she knew, if he was already daydreaming the way she did; his head on a spike, her sword through him. Thoughts that kept her going. Were they mirrored in him?

It wasn't him that began to speak, but the Amai she'd barely spared a thought for. She didn't think he'd speak again, expected to see him crushed under the more forceful personalities arrayed against him. He'd slink back off to whatever den of inquity he'd crawled out of and drown his sorrows in his poison of choice. Not one to worry about. No one of consequence. Just another noble child that failed to live up to the standards that history set.

She hadn't expected these words. She hadn't expected the sensation of horror that crawled up her spine as he kept speaking, weakness revealed as a lie. Insanity revealed as truth. He spoke of war. He spoke of the death of innocents. Over what?

A useless fucking name?

"Yes."

She was speaking again from the heart, throwing herself down the path she knew was right without thinking of what would follow. Did it matter? Did it even matter what happened to her if the alternative was war?

"Can you even hear yourself speak?"

Without quite planning or understanding, she turned to her Captain Commander. Her heart sped ahead of the rest of her.

"It seems I was wrong, Ine-soutaicho."

We both know I wasn't.

"My duty is to the stability of our realm, and as such--"

She teetered on a precipice. At this point, right here, she could still go back.

"As such, I relinquish my nobility to you. I will stand under my own name, as will the rest of the Tanaka."

I'll deal with you in my own time, but this first.

"I was not aware how far we had fallen. I hope you put this fool to the sword."

402/8 (56)

She was nothing if not a soldier. Her Captain, Jasper Aizawa, was arguing for his position as a noble and so was one bearing the name of the Amai. Names and titles were nothing to her. Her honor as a dog of the eightieth would come for the actions she made throughout her career. If the world forgot them then or if she was killed before she could do anything then it was no issue. Titles and honors were things. Things that could easily be forgotten or taken from you. How many unknown shinigami had given everything and saved many lives but were now forgotten? The number was not known. So to cling so tightly to something as a familial honor was pointless in her eyes.

She was drawn in two directions. On one side stood her captain Jasper. The other the Commander of all present Ine. At one time he'd commanded her. Their views held similar positions. What was in place now was insufficient. Larges parts didn't work and while some did they were archaic and lacking. She'd just stood at the podium and called for the help of everyone in the crowd to assist in the changes that needed to be made. And perhaps being rid of the ancient nobility was the first step. It would take the minds of many great persons in the coming days to devise the changes that needed making. And if someone was to stand in the way of those changes than perhaps they should be dealt with as a traitor.

For her, the Roman she was, glory was earned by duty. She lived by the creed of "Nothing worth having is free." For a person to stand and cling so fiercely to the old ways was beyond her. Her people had resisted centuries before her birth but had under the Roman rule, once they'd been cowed by it, prospered. Change brought about new things and was rewarding in its own right. Her green eyes darted back and forth between the persons before her as they spoke. The more they spoke the less she could agree with the nobles. 

Most were blood related to the family founder. None, that she was aware of and she assumed blood relation for all of them, were adopted. They had no idea what the world was like off their compounds in the farthest away districts. The violence and rampant poverty. They'd never known the thought that their only chance to get anywhere in the plane of existence was to become a soldier. They'd not known hunger or the fear that drove them to commit horrible deeds. Well, some of them might have as she didn't know their lives. Still, their formative years had likely been easier than even the first ten districts. This was beginning to feel less about a stripping of titles and more about the frantic defense of what few privileges these people had enjoyed to this point.

Family names could not be taken away. Neither could the history or deeds of their ancestors. The more she listened and the more she heard the more she began to see these people as selfish and petty. She had her answer now. It was time to make her decision clear.

She rose from her chair patting her thighs gently before she moved to stand beside yet slightly behind the captain commander. Looking her captain in the face she frowns a bit her canine ears laying back as she looked at him, "I'm sorry Captain but I simply do not agree with your stance on these issues. The Captain Commander's and mine own are similar enough for me to take his side. Please understand that in order for us to survive as a race changes must be made. It would be wise of you to follow the example of Tanaka and relinquish your nobility and not joerpadize your career as an officer any further."

It had been the first time she'd ever spoken in such a way to a superior. But the fact remained he was putting his command at risk. And as a senior member of the fifth she felt it was her obligation to advise him on his course. he could do as he pleased but as someone who'd seen multiple captains lead her division stability was something the division needed. Hopefully he'd be wise enough to see this was a pointless argument and surrender his nobility.


WC- 741
GP- 14(38)