Rendre [Closed/Jian]

Jian didn't leave Karakura often for a number of reasons. He'd done it once, a long time ago but now he had responsibilities, and duties, he'd convinced himself that he was needed and found himself more often than not rooted and tangled up, trapped wasn't the right word but it was close enough to be worrisome. It was foolish, of course, while he always had more to do in Karakura there was more people than him who considered the city their responsibility and while he was one person who kept it safe he wasn't the only one. So, he trusted his little flock of lost sheep to another for a time because while he had duties to Karakura he knew that he held duties elsewhere too.

Karakura may be home to many of the spiritually aware, and capital of the lost and confused but it wasn't the only place they dwelt. Cities the world over had people just stumbling into their own powers, lost and scared and he made a point of wanting to reach out to them.

There was tension at first, a worry and fear that some horrid event would happen while he was abroad. Silly, probably, he was starting to come to terms with the arrival of Takua, former Primera Espada and Sekai, the first human to wield the powers of the Shinigami and what that meant. His brief moment in the spotlight, and the weight that came with it was fading. He'd shrugged off the bittersweet feelings that came with it, an ego built upon a purpose that was being shared instead of thrusted solely upon him was entirely a good thing and he would be ashamed at any thoughts otherwise, if he'd bothered to acknowledge them.

There was a whole wild world out there for him to help.

It was his third stop of the day, having left late in the night from Karakura, and he was trying to decide whether or not he was ready for coffee or a short nap somewhere. The cities name escaped him, something...something, it wasn't terribly important, it was the people inside he was curious about. Like any other location he drifted through the sky, basking in the warmth of the sunlight in spite of the season and cast his senses towards the people below. It wasn't terribly likely to find a spiritualist anywhere but Karakura. Often one per city that held any glimmer of spirituality and of them even less would even hold something Jian would consider a notable gift of some kind. Here was no different but there was something...off.

Not necessarily suspicious, such threads of reiatsu were all too commonplace often caused the presence of a Shinigami having performed its burial duties on a wandering soul or some other spiritual activity so he paid it no mind. Still, even if it didn't seem like he was going to find much of note here he could at least grab a bite to eat or something. He began to descend in free fall towards the city when he heard it, a distant cry.

Ahah, the loose thread to tie up no doubt. Jian changed course, a burst of air and sent himself on an intercept course for the poor beast. It wasn't terribly uncommon, as Jian found out during his world travels, for a Hollow to 'haunt' certain locations picking off the spirits that found themselves lost. The clever ones escaped notice of Shinigami for years.

Was this one dumb? Or just unlucky?

Jian fell like a comet, or perhaps an avenging angel. He landed crouched on the pavement which bent unnaturally to support his impact leaving it entirely undamaged as it reformed.

There was no great battle here, as predictable as any encounter. Jian's power flowed out, restrained enough to avoid any harm to locals caught in the proximately, and he extended a hand to the creature. A flash of his power arced through the Hollow's body at a touch dissolved its form. The spirit, lost within the corruption, found itself free and vanished into the air off to, Jian presumed, the Soul Society. With that, Jian turned his attention to his surroundings as he pulled his power back into control. There had to be a good deli around here somewhere.

He began to make his way before stopping. No, that wasn't right. That thread was still loose, somewhere.

Was there something he missed?

739/14/14 GP Total

"Ahah, there's my little loose thread." Jian muttered as he straightened up and turned towards the sudden presence nearby. A shinigami, no great surprise there but then that outfit was incredibly alarming. This man was dressed incredibly formally, seemed almost like a captain of the Seireitei, but not one of the ones Jian had heard of. Jian stayed silent for a moment and looked him over seriously, eyes appraising for any chance of danger but relaxed. Ah whatever, if the dude wanted a fight, Jian would oblige. Jian smiled easily at the man and performed a short bow. "My apologies Shinigami, you did such a good job concealing yourself that I had no idea you were present, I would have happily allowed you to continue, and thusly apologize for interfering with your duty."

He followed up with a conspiratorial wink, "If you wish to take credit, I will not say a word," he dragged a hand in front of his mouth miming closing a zipper followed by a quick turn of an invisible key which was hastily tossed over his shoulder.

"Ah, too right. I'm glad I've run into someone so pragmatic and realistic. We are, after all, allies of a kind are we not? Common purpose and all that, enemy of my enemy." He gestured simply and nodded. "And as you said, it is now gone and if I am not mistaken that leaves you otherwise unpressed for the moment?" Jian tilted his head curiously.

"Oh I'm being rude. My name, of course. I am Jian Oreachi, self appointed chief member of the unofficial Karakura Welcome Committee." And pretty much the only one.

Jian wasn't an idiot, this guy looked like he was a stiff breeze from going fight or flight all over him, but it wasn't a desire on the man's behalf, he was pretty sure anyway why else would he be watching Jian so closely? Why would he have exposed himself by alerting Jian to his presence instead of just going for the opening strike? So, that meant either honorable opponent or someone who had no intent on being his opponent in the first place. Both were okay with him and neither changed his course. Jian was going to establish positive relationship with the Shinigami whether they wanted it or not! His eyes glanced towards the man's blades and wished desperately that he'd move his hands away. He'd never met any Shinigami with two before, and would hate to be on the other end of that demonstration.

"It's a ward near Tokyo, not too far from here. I like to take it upon myself to meet and greet any spiritual individuals, such as yourself. If you're busy I'd hate to keep you but if you have a moment, perhaps you'd spare some time to talk?"

There was something different about this one Jian decided. What it was he couldn't really place but it was something. He wasn't one of the rank and file that much was certain, someone important. Not just the dress suggested that, the seriousness of the expression, the presence that suggested some kind of weight to it. Jian's power had been in display and this guy had come out, ready for a fight if it would come. Not many Shinigami would be so prepared.

Hopefully it was just prelude to a new friend.

559/11/25 GP Total

"Ah, excellent I'll be sure to cash that in, gracious Shinigami-san," he grinned playfully having been mostly joking about the whole credit affair anyway. What was he going to do, turn it in for a bounty from the Shinigami?...actually. Could he? Ah, man, no more discount ramen for Jian. Karakura caught some kind of response that Jian couldn't place but then that wasn't entirely shocking. Anyone who was anyone knew that Karakura was the center of chaos for all things spiritual, the proverbial hellmouth of all that was chaotic and dangerous. Good or bad.

"Kenshin Tsuyosa," Jian repeated finally. A hesitation in giving the name meant nothing to Jian, most Shinigami were pretty standoffish when dealing with mortals and when giving a name could be seen as fraternization and fraternization carried serious punishments it wasn't a big surprise. The next comment, however, stuck with Jian and began to line up some of the facts for him in an obvious way. The shift in his expression was telling too but Jian wasn't quite sure of what. Jian made no hostile moves or actions, still smiling in a jovial way.

"Ah," Jian nodded once. A serious air had surrounded them, one Jian respected well enough not to make fun of. What he said was right, the defenseless innocent manner of the people in the city made them morally clear targets to protect. It seemed pretty obvious to Jian but he could help but smile at the praise. "You're very kind, but, I'll be honest I can't help but feel obligated to do so. It's the duty of the strong to protect those who can't protect themselves, and to nurture those who may be able to do the same someday. I cannot see a greater use for one's strength than that." Jian scratched his head and shrugged. Nothing more to it than that.

Losing that clarity was probably his greatest fear.

Jian chuckled as all of the pieces slid into place. "Ah, yes. That too is a duty isn't it? And no worries, I'm starting to." Jian said with a slide nod of his head. No sense in stating what was the obvious, he had the feeling they both knew the situation. He decided to let it move on.

"It's coming together, sort of an informal thing. I give people my contact, if they need help they reach out and get them what they need, knowledge, training to control their powers, security from whatever threats. Those who want to help out, whether patrolling or teaching or whatever I do my best to organize those efforts. We've had organizations in te past but, truthfully I've found cutting down on all the pomp and circumstance has helped a lot. Informally the thing as its whole is the Karakura Spiritual Network, which, ah, as you can see by my presence here is a bit of a misnomer, I simply represent its Welcome Committee which is pretty much the heart and soul of the thing. It's more than just mortals, I welcome any of all races, talked to a few Shinigami even." He smiled, lets leave out the Arrancar for now.

"What about you? What occupies your time these days Kenshin Tsuyosa?" Since Jian was certain that answering to the Seireitei was probably not on that list.

551/11/36 GP Total