Walking the White Streets

Sansai Amatsu, Captain of the First Division, and Sotaicho of the Gotei 13 walked the white streets of seireitei in his usual way. He was headed back to his division, having just returned from overseeing a mission personally. It was not something he often did, but the situation warranted extreme caution. Recently, he had recieved information on the whereabouts of a certain rouge shinigami from his past. One that the entirety of Soul Society thought was dead. Amatsu's usually stoic expression did not change, but his eyes were ablaze with anger. How was it possible for someone to survive such a punishment? How could he possibly still live? There was something going on there that did not bode well for Soul Society. Amatsu sensed there were forces at work behind a veil, waiting for the right time to reveal themselves.

As Amatsu walked, he passed by an open courtyard in which two shinigami were having an altercation. Members of the eleventh divison, by the looks of them. Amatsu stopped his progression and simply looked at them. They seemed oblivious to everything else but their battle. Though Amatsu looked down upon it, he accepted the inevitability of infighting occurring within the ranks of the Gotei 13. He had only recently become Sotaicho, upon the ascension of the previous Captain Commander to the Zero Division, the Royal Guard. It was an honor that he himself wished to earn through devoted service. But that was a day far in the future.

Amatsu was about to move on when he sensed a flare of reiatsu from one of the combatants. Turning slightly, his golden eyes lighted upon the two fighting shinigami getting serious. One of them had his zanpakuto raised above his head, and was obviously building reiatsu to release his soul slayer. It was, of course, forbidden to release a soul slayer in the middle of seireitei in such an ungracefully and undignified fashion. Amatsu was about to stop the fight and reprimand both combatants when he felt the presence of another reiatsu approaching swiftly. It was the vice-captain of the Eleventh division. Seeing the situation being taken control of, Amatsu turned to go, without saying a word.

At times even Amatsu forgot that as Captain Commander, he should not involve himself in petty squabbles between division members. However his battle trained body was not as rational. Had that vice-captain been a half a second tardy in his arrival, Amatsu would have been the one to end that foolishness. Amatsu continued his walk, his mind turning again to the reconnaissance mission. They had not found anything...nothing to even suggest that the Traitor was still alive...so then why did Amatsu have such a foreboding feeling?

Another reaitsu flare occured around the area. And there he was, captain of the 8th division and the Soul Society's Tempest, Tenrai Raiden, arrived. He sensed that Amatsu had returned from his mission...there were just certain reaitsus a person would always recongize and the captain commanders was one of them. Tenrai before approaching the Sotaicho was mediating, talking to his Zanpakuto Spirit. He oftened talked with her to learn more about his zanpaktou as well as just for venting.

Tenrai approached the Sotaicho and immediately noticed something was on the man's mind. "Amatsu-sama?", he asked carefully as he approached the man. Tenrai was known to be a respectful man to his superiors or anyone who deserved it.

Amatsu stopped as Tenrai addressed him. Amatsu had noticed his presence, but it was not out of character for the Captain of the Eight Division to meditate atop the golden tiled rooftops of walls and buildings throught the Seireitei. Amatsu looked up to where Tenrai was located.

"Ah, Captain Tenrai. Predictable, as always. Meditating again, I presume?"

Asked Amatsu good naturedly, for him at least. Amatsu was a fairly serious person, after all. Tenrai was a fairly young Captain, and as such, Amatsu did not know him very well. His tone was formal, as always, and he spoke with the somewhat abrasive inflection associated with nobles. It was not intentional, it was simply how Amatsu behaved when around strangers. Amatsu was not acting in any official capacity as Captain Commander at the moment but still retained an air of formality. Amatsu noticed and appriciated Tenrai's respectful tone. Now if only certain other captains who DID know him well would follow suit...

Tenrai nodded at Amatsu's comment.

"Yes sir, mediatation is key to a calm mind and building a bond with ones Zanpaktou, but I'm sure, you already know all of that.", Tenrai said as if he were Amatsu's friend, yet in the same way still showing his respect. Tenrai was a unique person, he was extremely friendly when he needed to be and because of his tone he could pick of friends easily. But like a storm his personality could change according to the situation. However in this case, Tenrai's voice reflected as if he were friends or at least comfortable being around such an all powerful being like the Captain Commander.

Similar to Amatsu, Tenrai did not know the Sotaicho very well. He just knew this man was supposedily an extremely powerful shinigami, who was a captain around the time Tenrai became a captain. Tenrai studied Amatsu briefly and from his expression before he actually addressed the man, he noticed that something was on the Captain Commander's mind.

"So how was the mission Sotaicho-sama? The details of it were extremely skecthy, but I'm sure if you were on it, it was important and rightfully taken care of", he said in the same tone as before, only a little more serious.

Amatsu was silent for a moment, contemplating. Tenrai was indeed a unique person in Amatsu's mind. There were not many shinigami, Captain or not, who would be so immediate and frank when addressing him. Amatsu found it oddly refreshing, as even he found the weight of his title at times to be overbearing.

"Indeed. However one can never fully know all the secrets of their zanpakuto, and wisdom has no limits."

Amatsu fell silent again as he contemplated Tenrai's question. He decided to be honest with Tenrai, and to share a few details of what he had learned. He would not go too in depth with it, as that was a conversation best saved for when he called the Captains to a meeting.

"The mission raised more questions than it answered questions. It was as if our target knew we were coming. It is either this, or he never existed in the first place. Both answers which I find disturbing for a number of reasons."

He said frankly. Amatsu has a very strong and distinctive voice, but it was lower than usual now. He did not want others to overhear. As he talked, he resumed walking.

"Our Target? What happened?", Tenrai asked. Since he wasnt informed of the mission naturally he was curious on what was going on. Who was this target that they were talking about and why was he or she so important that the Sotaicha had to go on this mission? He then noticed that Amatsu resumed walking, did he not want to talk, or was this issue so important that he couldnt talk here.

Tenrai followed Amatsu waiting for his response to his question.

Again Amatsu was silent for a moment. The only sound that was heard would be the sounds of their footsteps. Amatsu glanced up at Tenrai as he followed him, with just his eyes. They narrowed ever so slightly. Then he looked ahead once more. After a moment of silence Amatsu said in his usual strong voice,

"Tenrai Taichou, you ask questions whose answers are far too important to be discussed in such a place. You will be briefed on the full situations along with the other Captains at the appointed time."

Amatsu continued walking, his haori billowing around him as he did revealing the red sash of the Sansai clan, and his Zanpakuto Sougyou no Tenjin. He was not wearing his Haori through his sleeves as many captains do. His was more draped around his shoulders, and so a slight wind would cause a great disturbance.

Tenrai followed Amatsu. He noticed something was wrong with his question, it was obvious by the silent that occured soon after the question was asked. Tenrai kept his pace, being sure to stay close to Amatsu.

"Please accept my apologies Amatsu-sensei...I didnt know exactly how important the issue was", Tenrai said. Next to him a lady materialized only for him to see. She floated next to him and looed at him. "Well he seems a little rude", Enrai Arashi said to himself. Tenrai quickly glanced over at her and thought for her to hear,*We'll talk later*.

"So, whats on the agenda for today?", Tenrai asked, trying to change the conversation with the Sotaicho.

Amatsu noted that Tenrai was still following him. Amatsu had not actually reprimanded Tenrai, but did not think it important enough to correct him, and merely nodded, as if accepting his apology. It was simply Amatsu's way. Through the corner of his eye Amatsu noticed Tenrai turn his head, seemingly looking at something that was not there. Considering he had just come out of meditation, it seemed likely that his Zanpakuto had chosen that moment to materialize itself.

Then again, it was just as likely that something off to their right had caught Tenrai's attention. Amatsu listened as Tenrai next asked him a probably purposely meaningless and mundane question. Tenrai had wisely changed the topic of conversation to something not so...confidential.

"I shall return to the First Division, debrief my Vice-Captain, oversee the daily tasks of my office, supervise the daily training regime for my squad, and retire to my quarters. I shall soon summon the captains to the meeting chamber to discuss what occurred this day."

Tenrai's eyes flickered off into another direction quickly as he sensed someone within his barracks. "Amatsu-Sotaicho, I must leave. I will be sure to attend the captains meeting", he said as he turned towards his barracks and dashed off.

Amatsu merely nodded and continued on his way, greeting this or that officer as he went. He was still consumed in his dark thoughts. He had the distinct feeling that there was more going on here than it appeared. Golden eyes narrowed dangerously. He would find out what was going on. If the Traitor was alive, he would not be for long. If there was more going on than was apparent, he would find out what it was, and deal with it with extreme prejudice.

Amatsu eventually made it back to the entrace to the quarters of the First division where he was immediately and warmly greeted by his subordinates. Feeling out the area he headed towards his Vice-Captain's reiatsu signature. They had much to discuss...

((Thread closed))