mission 1C: scorching sun

[Dizzy]

The rumors of a killer loose in Seireitei has traveled like wildfire, spreading to all corners of the Gotei 13 within a single day. Currently branded the “Clone Case” by the shinigami public, as it has somehow become common knowledge that the killer is capable of creating clones of his or her victims, the affair has set Soul Society ablaze.

Rather than fear or alarm, the masses appear to have been excited by the attacks – practically everybody and their dogs are trying to mount an independent investigation of the killer. In retrospect, this is exactly the sort of thing that should’ve been classified information, or at the very least, announced in a public broadcast rather than distorted through the rumor mill.

A second barrier has been found hidden in the walls of 12th division meeting hall, and explosives have been detected in the walls of both it and the 12th division morgue. Due to the nature and location of these traps, it is very likely that the killer has strong ties to the division. As such, the meeting hall, main building, morgue, and the armory and supplies building have all been put under lockdown and are currently under investigation. At the very least, the killer will be prevented from acquiring his or her materials. Until further notice, a signed pass from Otowari-taicho will be the only thing that merits entrance.

Despite a thorough search of 4th and 6th division, no traps of the sort have yet been discovered. However, this does not mean that other traps don’t exist, or that they have not been set up in other divisions. Caution is heavily advised.

In addition, since the attack on 12th division, two individual sightings of clones have come up. As before, they appear to be physically perfect replicas of the originals, though it is not yet known what their mental state is like. If anybody is found to be acting strangely or suspiciously, they should be reported to a captain or vice-captain. However, it is imperative that nobody tries to confront a suspect on their own.

On the positive side of things, a breakthrough may be achieved soon – Fujiwara Shinn, the 4th seat of 11th division, fought and captured his immediate subordinate, 5th seat Ryuzawa Ken, upon the accusation of being a clone. In addition, the vice-captain of the 12th, Himura Rayne, has also fought a clone confirmed to have been Oto Daichi.

All three are to be questioned at three o’clock today, once they have been collected. Captains and vice-captains are welcome to assist, whether in the actual interrogations or to aid in securing the area from any potential attacks.

[Hiraeth]

Ren strode into the headquarters of Second Division, for once having remembered her zanpaktou, her captain's haori as well as her medical kit. The latter she'd grabbed after remembering the day before when she'd gone visiting at Twelfth Division, she couldn't forget that nowhere in Seireitei was actually safe.

She was unsurprised to be intercepted by some of the special forces and directed towards the interrogation rooms. After all, who knew what she'd find if she was simply allowed to wander, especially in this division.

She arrived at a door that looked pretty similar to the ones that she'd passed on her way in. One of her two escorts slipped inside to advise the people within of her presence. Ren waited.

[Dizzy]

The door opened once again, this time with Umeshita in the threshold, looking a slight bit bemused. "Huh," he said, "didn't actually expect you to come. Well, s'long as you're here, may as well come on in."

He held the door open and beckoned Takada in, stepping to the side to allow her passage.

The room was circular, about 20 feet in diameter and about as tall as it was wide, and made of reinforced, corrugated steel. The effect of reiatsu suppressors could be felt, even through the walls. On each compass point was an ebony black door; three apart from the entrance. None of these doors appeared to have any way to open them - instead, next to each one, a retinal scanner was mounted.

This circular room appeared to be like a lobby of sorts, or perhaps even a waiting room. In the center, a card table stood, with numerous folding chairs scattered around it. Around the perimeter of the room, a few benches were also available. Nestled into its own space was a large hunk of machinery, with a few flashing lights, multicolored buttons, and gauges.

Cres Aurea sat hunched over in a chair by the card table, while Leif Keszumel, captain of the 7th, lounged in a bench, an uninterested sneer sitting upon his face. A few Keigun members were off to the side, quietly inconspicuous, yet standing at attention like soldiers at war.

"The questionings will take place in three separate rooms," he explained for Takada's benefit, "with messengers relaying information between the questioners, though only the clone's will actually be treated like an interrogation.

He's in the middle room - " he thumbed the door opposite to the one Takada had just walked in through, " - and it turns out he's Ryuzawa Ken, 5th seat of 11th. Right underneath Fujiwara."

Now, he pointed to Cres. "Aurea here says that Otowari's bringing Himura over shortly, not sure why he needs to but as long as she gets here, and I have word that Fujiwara received my hell butterfly and is coming here as well."

Gesturing to the empty chairs in the room, he said, "Guess you can just take a seat for now while we wait for company."

[shinikage]

Shinn finally arrived at 2nd division. Using shunpo, he rushed toward the gate. The wind followed him, blowing the things around him. He stopped using shunpo and talked to the nearest officer he could find.

"Shinn Fujiwara, 4th seat of 11th division. I'm invited by the taicho."

Not bothering to say anything else, he simply waited there.

[Hiraeth]

Ren listened to what he had to say, then, when he finished, shrugged "Sure." And plonked herself down ungracefully in one of the empty chairs. It wasn't unexpected that he was a little surprised to see her, most of the women shinigami would shy away from watching any kind of interrogation, especially those in Fourth Division. Ren on the other hand had discovered long ago that seeing people getting hurt didn't actually upset her, unless they were in her division or someone she felt obliged to care about, and then she just got mad.

She glanced over the two other people in the room, and decided that it was too much effort to initiate conversation with them. She sat back, arms folded over her chest and a slight scowl colouring her features, looking as unwelcoming as possible.

[Dizzy]

The Keigun member perked up as Fujiwara suddenly arrived. "Ah, you've been expected. Please follow me."

The man directed him into a cold, gray building, through a multitude of corridors, pausing on occasion to use the retinal scanning devices to open up the doors. At long last, they reached the main room where the captains sat and waited.

He opened the door and invited Fujiwara in.

[OOC: For anyone else who's coming, just go ahead and say you were escorted in, don't bother waiting for me to show up.]

[Mystic Serenade]

Keiji arrived at the 2nd Division Headquarters along with his vice captain Rayne. Not so long after a member of the keigun had arrived. "I need to be escorted to the interrogation rooms please."

The man nearly nodded and lead Keiji and Rayne to their intended destination. Once there, he was surprised to see that Takada and Cres were also there, as well as the who he believed to the be 7th Division captain. Strange, wonder what they're doing here...

[Final Boss]

Shinji stopped at the entrance to the 2nd Division Headquarters, greeted by a member of the Keigun.

"Yo, I need ta get ta tha interrogation room."

The Keigun member merely nodded before leading Shinji down numerous corridors and after a while they finally arrived at the main quarters where the interrogation would begin. Shinji sauntered into the chamber and identified Ren along with three other captains. The sight of the 4th seat of the 11th put Shinji at ease, at least he wouldn't be the lowest rank present, not that he really cared.

He gave Ren a smile before slouching into the chair besides her. He tried to get into the most comfortable position possible, being in here sure beat standing outside in the blazing sun.

[shinikage]

((Since Keiji didn't see Shinn, he got in after Keiji))


Shinn entered the room. It was a circular room with chairs in it. As he stepped in, he felt that his body felt weird. The flow of his reiatsu was altered. It got depressed to the level that didn't allow him to fight. 'As expected from the 2nd squad', he thought.
In the room, there were already five people, four captains and a girl with vice captain badge. The 4th division captain was also there.
He started looking for a seat without saying anything to anyone. The more isolated seat the better. He sat at the seat with no one in it's surrounding seats.
Soon, another guy with vice captain badge came in. It seemed that Shinn was the lowest seat there.

[rayne_himura]

Rayne followed from behind her captain, a worried look creeping onto her normally pallid face. Here goes nothing, The part where she was going to have to pay up for her actions wether she like it or not.

"Oh shit, time for Rayne to get her ass kicked once again," She whispered to herself sarcastically, craning her head around to look at Ren.

[Hiraeth]

Ren let her face relax as she nodded at Shinji. She was about to say something to him when the last person she expected to see had turned up. Her face hardened as she saw Himura-fukutaichou appear. The girl still had to answer for attacking Ren's people, she'd left it to Otowari to take care of, but here she was, looking distinctly unpunished. Ren forced herself to remain calm, if it turned out that Otowari had decided to let the girl's actions go unquestioned then Ren would simply take matters into her own hands. Blood for blood after all.

She remembered that she'd been about to talk to Shinji, but decided against it in the end. The room was oppressive and seemed to be sapping everyone's morale as well as their reiatsu. It didn't seem like the place to have a casual chat.

[Dizzy]

Cres looked up from his boredom, noting that everyone had arrived for now. It was also nearing 3, a good enough time as any to begin. He looked questioningly at Umeshita, who, catching his drift, nodded. The captain of the 2nd mulled over what the procedure would be, stood up, and started talking.

"Alright. Fujiwara and Himura will need to be kept in separate rooms - " he pointed towards both of the side rooms " - to ensure the veracity of their answers. Lie detectors are available in both rooms, my Keigun officers can hook them up for you."

He looked at the shinigami available to him, noting that Takada and Keszumel would probably be most effective, due to the intimidation factor. He also noticed that the former was staring at Himura with a frigid expression. Hadn't she also made some ominous threats to Fujiwara before as well? She'd probably be interested in taking revenge and doubly scary because of it.

Pursing his lips, he decided that he ought to make the offer of everybody in the room. "Any of you want to assist in the questionings?"

[Hiraeth]

Ren made a split second decision. True she'd only intended to watch what occurred, but this was an opportunity that she couldn't pass up. She raised her hand "Pick me Umeshita-taichou! Pick me!" She ignored the looks people gave her.

"I have unfinished business with both of the persons who are to be interrogated, however I suddenly feel a strong desire to reminisce with Himura-fukutaichou about the events yesterday. There are still a few minor details that I'd like her to clear up for me."

EDIT: Sorry Diz, got the taichous in the room a little confused there.

[Dizzy]

Umm, that's a bit more ... enthusiastic than I expected. Excellent though, works with me perfectly.

Umeshita cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, that works. Try to keep her in one piece though, alright?"

He turned to Keszumel and the newcomer, a vice-captain by the looks like it. "Either of you want to help? We could use the help."

The former immediately assumed an extremely bored expression and gave him the thumbs down. Oh well, it was worth a try. He turned to the vice-captain and waited for an answer; he'd probably end up going with Takada, seeing as he had decided to sit right next to a woman who - to be completely honest, even kind of scared him a little bit.

He tilted his head quizzically at the man; he hadn't seen him before, but while his scarf was an indication of nobility, his slouch and mannerisms looked far from the role. Intriguing.

[rayne_himura]

Rayne let out a sigh of displeasure at being jerked around yet again, it seemed as if this Takada wasn't content to let her move anywhere at all under her own power. When she thought about it though, the incident at the 4th Division brought a smile to her face. Especially in association with.. ah! those bunch of weaklings Takada calls her subordinates! Suddenly the whole situation took on a new level of interest.

She stopped cowering behind her captain and said, "Hey! It's been a while old woman," Rayne tried to hide it but was ruined by the grin plastered on her face.

The girl twisted her head around and caught a glance from Keiji, "What? It's just a joke."

[shinikage]

Soon after Umeshita-taicho pointed toward the interrogation room, Shinn got up. He was ready to answer the questions. He didn't wait for anyone who might interrogate him. He just walked toward the room and got in.

[Mystic Serenade]

Though Takada was quite enthusiastic about questioning Rayne, he was a little worried how the two would actually react with one another during the interrogation. After his vice captain's comment he felt the need to scold her, "You know nows not the time for jokes yea."

[Hiraeth]

Ren blinked at Rayne's reaction, especially since she was probably only a couple of decades older than the girl. She found that her mouth had somehow formed into a smile.

"Leave her alone Otowari-san, she's got guts, and I can respect that."

She glanced at Umeshita "I hope you don't mind if I interpret your last comment as 'do whatever the hell you want but make sure she's alive when she leaves the room'."

[Dizzy]

Okay, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. This woman's seriously freaking me out now, and she's supposed to be the captain of the 4th?

He placed a hand on his forehead. "Alive, and in one piece. Actually, how about we don't get into physical harm as long as she cooperates, after all she did come of her own accord.

... I think."

He looked at the pair from the 12th Division, waiting for confirmation.

---

On the other side of the room, a Keigun member briskly walked over to the door that Fujiwara was heading to and activated the retinal scanner, leaning over to scan his eye.

With a small beep, the ebony-black door opened upwards, sliding into the ceiling until it disappeared, only to reveal another chrome-shaded set of double doors, which went into the walls. Finally, another black door slid up and out of sight to reveal the room within.

It was shaped like a cube, and lined with the same metallic substance that the middle door had been made from. In the middle of the room was a study-looking desk with a polygraph machine sitting on it, with a steel chair sitting on both sides. The one behind the desk, presumably for whoever was going to be questioned, had cuffs for the prisoner's wrists and ankles, though they wouldn't be used for Fujiwara.

However, the first thing he was likely to notice was that his reiatsu levels were severely inhibited just by entering the room; a special type of suppressor had been developed for these types of situations, where only wearing a certain type of bracelet would remove the effect for a person.

The Keigun member beckoned him in, waiting to follow.

[Final Boss]

Shinji shrugged nonchalantly, asking a couple of questions didn't seem too troubling.

"Sure, I'll go an' help out with tha questionin'."

Shinji slowly rose from his seated position stretching out his back and arms. He looked at both Rayne and the other Shinigami. He honestly didn't care which one he would be questioning but seeing as how he had no idea who the male was he was leaning more towards questioning Rayne. There was also another bonus to questioning Rayne, the mere fact that Ren would be there. He knew that she would have some unfinished business with her and maybe she would do all the work.

"So I guess I'll help out with questionin' Rayne over here."

[Dizzy]

Predictable enough. Now is his presence enough to keep Takada from brutalizing Himura or should I send Otowari in too?

"Alright, works for me," said Umeshita. "I'll have one of my officers assist with the technical aspects and to work as the messenger."

At this, one of the Keigun members hurriedly strode over to the retinal scanner on the east side and opened all three layers of doors in the exact same fashion as the other one had been done. Past the threshold was an identical room to Fujiwara's. The man stood at attention beside it, waiting for the others to enter.

"Otowari," he said, "would you like to assist as well? We've yet to assign anybody to question Fujiwara, though if you'd prefer to go be your vice-captain, that would be understandable."

[Mystic Serenade]

"Leave her alone Otowari-san, she's got guts, and I can respect that."

"Yes, but still, theres a proper way to behave in these situations, don't you think?

He looked towards Umeshita, "Hmm if it's necessary I'll assist in the interrogation of Fujiwara, but if my vice captain requests my presence I will oblige with that." After hearing Takada, he wasn't entirely to sure if she'd go about questioning Rayne the right way to get the information necessary.

[Hiraeth]

Ren snorted at his comment "I think she's gone well beyond acting in any way that resembles proper."

She glanced at Shinji, knowing full well that he was planning to just sit back and let her take the reigns, he knew this was her personal vendetta. He was also incorrigibly lazy. Her gaze then swung back to Rayne.

"What do you say kid, you need your taichou to babysit you or will you be questioned on your own like a big girl?"

[rayne_himura]

Rayne sneered back at Keiji, "Take a chill pill will you?"

Her usually rebellious personality was fairly quelled by the excessively unfamiliar surroundings and people, although it would certainly return in the instant she got her bearings again. It was already hard enough to contain herself from getting into trouble, the girl wondered how long she would last before getting herself killed.

"I don't need anyone, especially not him Takada Taichou." Rayne grumbled under her breath.

Just for now, I'll stay. But if it gets much weirder ima run for it, she told herself, nodding silently.

[Mystic Serenade]

"You learn to take some situations seriously," he quickly began to think her whole situation was rather hopeless.

"I'll sit in on the interrogation with Fujiwara then."

[Dizzy]

"Excellent," said Umeshita, "and Aurea and I will handle Ryuzawa, with Keszumel observing, I suppose."

His gaze shifted to the captain of the 7th, who gave him a lazy nod of assent before letting his own gaze drift back up towards the ceiling. Umeshita sighed and turned back to the others.

This guy is so troublesome ... but I suppose it works for me. Fujiwara seems likely to cooperate, so even Otowari, who isn't exactly forceful, should get the answers we need. Takada is a wild card, but hopefully her friend will be enough to keep her from committing murder. And I don't have any doubts about my own interrogation abilities. All in all, we should be set.

"There are reiatsu inhibitors inside the interrogation rooms," he explained, "but wearing these bracelets will remove the effect."

At this, he whipped a number of small, silver chains, with a clasp at one end to connect them and form a bracelet, out of his sleeve. "So Takada, Aurea, Otowari, Keszumel, and ... vice-captain I don't know should each take one. My officers have already opened the doors for you and they'll help with anything you ask them to, so go ahead and start."

[shinikage]

Shinn had picked the chair with cuffs and sat on it. Obviously that was the chair for the interrogated one. The room seemed to have a stronger reiatsu suppressor than the one in the previous room. He waited inside when the captains were having discussion outside.

[Hiraeth]

Ren caught the bracelet that had been tossed at her and snapped it over her wrist "Thanks, I was wondering if you were going to make us get our hands dirty or not."

She pulled her door open, then turned to Rayne and made an exaggerated bow "After you, Madam."

[rayne_himura]

"Please," Rayne's neck craned slightly to look at Takada, without budging an inch. "Weren't you paying attention? I said I don't need any help, especially yours." Her pale cheeks gleamed as she sauntered inside the room.

Inwardly she didn't think it was so much funny as it was annoying, that she would have to be confined inside a room with the 4th Division's captain rather than one of the fearsome looking toughs who filled the place.

[Hiraeth]

As Rayne passed her Ren dropped her smile completely "Don't worry I won't offer it again."

She sat down opposite the girl "So how are we going to do this? All I really want to know is why you beat up my ducklings, if you tell me honestly what's going on with you then I'll play nice. Perhaps we can even come to an agreement about what to do with you."

"Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to help you in any way. I'd just rather you told me up front and saved me the cleanup that will inevitably be required if you screw with me."

[rayne_himura]

The girl rolled her eyes, "You're not scaring me Taichou. But to answer your question, those losers got in my way. That's all there is to it." Smirking with a superior air, she waved her hand nonchalantly, "You better train them, it wouldn't look so good if your subordinates are all weaklings."

"Or maybe it's because their captain is one," Rayne sneered back and made a peace sign to show she's only joking. Well half joking. And covered her mouth with her hand to keep herself from laughing out loud.

I still can't make a run for it yet... Not until I finish this interrogation crap. Oh well, I'll just beat her down with the blunt end of my sword, I doubt it'll take more than that. The girl assured herself as she waited for the captain to respond.

[Hiraeth]

Ren nodded "Very well. We'll play it your way."

She reached to her zanpaktou, tucked into her obi. She pulled it out then slid the blade from its sheath.

"Rise and shine Oboroduki."

The blade curved into a crescent, the same time as Ren's reiatsu expanded, thanks to the bracelet she was now wearing she could still use her abilities.

She swung her arm forward and placed the tip of her released sword into Rayne's neck. "Since I like you, I'll give you one last chance to give me a straight answer."

EDIT: Rayne are we good, or do you want her to do something else?

[rayne_himura]

Wait.. what? It took Rayne a moment to process what had happened as the tip of Takada's sword connected to her neck.

"What the fuck?! I just answered your question." The girl shouted back at Takada, "You feel very powerful now eh? Do what you want, if it makes you happy."

The sensation was immediate as her fingers connected with the wood and the cloth of the hilt. You still haven't seen me fight dirty bitch.

OOC: I don't think I wanna engage Rayne in a battle with Ren, inside a small cramped room

[Hiraeth]

[OOC: Uh, if she uses her zanpaktou then the last thing it will be is a battle...]

"My people do not expect to be attacked by someone they have just healed. I must say I do not share their trust of patients. So tell me what it was that made you attack them."

She pressed the tip of her blade into the girl's neck so it drew blood.

"Did you think that they would hurt you for some reason? Was it that you felt powerless? Did you need to prove something to them? Did you feel like you needed to escape?"

She pressed the blade a little harder "Tell me."

EDIT [OOC: Just realized that this particular issue is particularly close to Ren's heart. Should have worked it out earlier really]

[rayne_himura]

Finally finding the nerve to pull the blade from its sheath. Even without thinking, her hands and muscles moved to raise the blade and tried to deflect the oncoming attack. The girl's eyes were squeezed half shut as she struggled to deal with the onslaught both mentally and physically.

"I was trying to escape and they suddenly showed up at my door and stopped me." She knew it wasn't the captain or anything as corporeal as that which struck her with fear, more like something internalized. Being confined inside the tank took a toll on her.

"Stop it. Stop it!" She repeated, her voice gaining volume as her grasp on the sword loosened.

[Hiraeth]

Ren didn't flinch as the girl pointed a blade at her. The idea that this person could harm her didn't even enter her mind.

"Girl, put your blade away, you aren't anywhere near strong enough to even cut me. I will break you and your sword if you try."

Her own sword had shrunk since she'd raised it to Rayne's neck, and now she removed it from the girl's throat and placed it down on the table in front of herself.

"Tell me what's going on."

EDIT: Gotta sleep, I'll get back to this tomorrow.

[Gol D. Roger]

"I'm quite sorry, Itō-Taichō, but you're a bit late, after all, and I think they may have already started the questioning..."

"Ara ara," Itō muttered to himself, shrugging at the Keigun member, who was escorting him down the hallway towards the interrogation rooms.

He'd scarcely had a chance to rest all day yesterday, and even his slumber last night had been spent philosophizing with his reptilian 4th Seat. So, after lunch today, he had, quite frankly, dozed off.

They reached the end of the corridor, and Itō's escort moved to hold the door open for him. "After you, Itō-Taichō."

Itō inclined his head in thanks, then proceeded into the larger antechamber, a waiting room, as it were, that led into the individual interrogation cells.

((OOC: Sorry for the absence, been busy and didn't realize another plot thread started.))

[Final Boss]

Shinji caught the bracelet, fumbling it a few times before firmly grasping it and attaching it to his thin wrist. Before heading into the interrogation room he took a brief moment to introduce himself.

"Oh, tha name's Shinji."

With that he walked into the room only to see that Ren had already begun her interrogation. Swords were drawn and Shinji was utterly confused as to what had occurred earlier. Luckily for Rayne, Ren's sword lay on the table, rather than in Ren's hand ready to strike.

"Already got the party started eh?"

Shinji lazily walked in and leaned against the wall. Out of boredom he began to fidget with the strange bracelet that protected him from the draining effects of this special interrogation room.

[Hiraeth]

Ren glanced at Shinji and grinned "Don't you know it."

"I was just asking Himura-chan to tell me what's going on with her. She seems to have become agitated, which I must admit, may have been because Oboroduki was pressing into her throat earlier. Did you want to ask her anything?"

[Final Boss]

What ta ask, what ta ask? I've kinda been wondering where she learned ta draw but now is not tha time...

"Hmmm..."

Shinji placed his hand at his chin and looked up at the ceiling as if it had a question for him to ask. He didn't get to see the event but he was informed that Rayne attacked 4th Division members including the vice captain. He was a bit curious as to why Rayne would trouble herself with a fight with healers instead of taking the east route and just asking if she could leave. Maybe she just wasn't as lazy as him?

"Nope, ya can continue on with your intense interrogation methods."

He wasn't about to take the time to jump into the line of fire, anyways he was confident that Ren could handle it alone. Something also told him that she preferred it that way, Rayne did harm Ren's "ducklings" and he knew that she would have a score to settle with her because of it.

[Hiraeth]

Ren's grin turned into a genuine smile "Thanks Shinji, I knew you'd understand." She turned back to Rayne "So, tell us what's wrong and I promise not to make your fingers explode."

She raised a hand "Cross my heart."

[Mystic Serenade]

Keiji slipped on a bracelet and followed Fujiwara into the interrogation room and took a seat. "So from what I hear you took on one of the clones in combat, mind describing that for me?"

[shinikage]

"Well, first of all, I've never said that he was a clone. I just said that he might be involved. I just said that he might be involved. I think there's a possibility that the culprit might have some of his clones replacing the original members of gotei 13 if he or she could hide or dispose the body. This guy popped out of nowhere, and he attacked me after I told him that, although I don't even know him. So, I think he might be involved with this case. And to add the weirdness of the story, he said that he was under control."
He waited for the captain's next question. 'Today will be a tiring day', he thought.

[rayne_himura]

The girl was dwarfed in every way possible. Mists oozing from her sword were crawling on her in a frenzy, seeking out contact with the spiritual power that had given its form, and the sensation made her want to throw up.

She can hear other voices other than Takada's but she couldn't explain why she catched a glimpse of a forest, a dark growth of pines and deep needles underfoot, all of it rushing out of her peripheral vision.

"Haaaaaa..." She breathed out. "I'm getting this weird feeling."

[Hiraeth]

Hearing that comment Ren looked more closely at the girl. Her eyes seemed kind of glazed, and she was covered in mist. It wasn't a normal mist though, it seemed somehow sickly and unnatural.

Ren's eyes narrowed, whatever was happening here wasn't good. She leant forward and grabbed the girl's head between her hands, allowing the pressure of her reiatsu to increase, in the hope that it would force the mist off.

"Look at me Himura Rayne, or if you can't look at me just focus on my voice."

[Mystic Serenade]

"Oh my apologies, so you don't know much more than that?" It sounded pretty suspicious but so far, all that information didn't really tell him anything that he already didn't know. Or was he supposed to suspect that this man was involved in a dark plot as well?

[Gol D. Roger]

The interrogation antechamber was empty. Itō glanced back at the Keigun operative, who simply shrugged. "Like I said, you're a little late, sir."

Itō sighed, pacing back and forth. He didn't know whether he ought to simply join one of the interrogations, or wait for someone else to escort him. He had never done an interrogation before, and so he couldn't help but feel that bursting in in the middle of questioning might... disrupt the gravity of the situation.

He closed his eyes, reaching out tendrils of reiatsu to sense the current situation. Immediately, he noticed that there were energy dampeners in the area, but he was still able to recognize the spiritual pressures of those most familiar to him.

Yes, he could sense Ren in one of the rooms with Himura Rayne, and a quite excited Ren at that. He might've worried, had he not also sensed Shinji present with them. He trusted that his Fukutaichō, with his cool demeanor, would keep things from getting out of hand.

In the second room, he could feel the calm waves of Otowari's reiatsu, and from the third, the strong flow of Taichō Cres Aurea. He'd only met the man a couple of times; initially during Itō's appointment ceremony, and then later during an official meeting of the Gotei 13.

However, Itō had survived many years in the wilderness by learning to maintain an awareness of reiatsu around him, and a mental catalog of individual spiritual pressures. He'd be hard pressed to forget the reiatsu of a fellow Taichō.

But ultimately, it wasn't Aurea-Taichō's energy that drew him to the third interrogation chamber. It was the slightly sinister, malefic tint of the other reiatsu in that room which held his attention. It was hard to discern at first, something he wouldn't have noticed, had he not battled an entirely different enemy yesterday, Miyazaki Kusa, who had that very same dark aspect embedded in the ripples of his spiritual pressure.

It had to be Ryuzawa Ken, the captured clone he had heard about. Briefly, he wondered if he had been lax by simply destroying the Miyazaki clone the day before, but it seemed things had worked out for the best anyway.

Out of all three, it was Ken's interrogation that interested him the most. He resolved to wait by the door for a bit, on the chance that someone might appear to escort him in. If not, well, he might just have to walk in uninvited.

[Final Boss]

Shinji watched as the strange mist enveloped Rayne. Normally he would throw out some sarcastic remark but he could see that it would only serve as a distraction for Rayne, right now she needed to concentrate on Ren a distraction would not help. His posture and expression would suggest otherwise but Shinji was fully alert and prepared to help Ren should she need it.

[Dizzy]

The Keigun officer accompanying Haruki moved over to the retinal scanner and opened the door, before darting quickly into the room. Sounds of muted conversation could be heard from within, and then he stepped out with Umeshita in tow.

"Ito-taicho, huh?" Umeshita said, rubbing at his temple. "Pleasure to meet you. I assume you're interested in the interrogation here?"

[Gol D. Roger]

"A pleasure to meet you as well. And yes, I'm quite interested to hear what this captive has to say."

Absently, he scratched at the hair on the back of his neck, an embarrassed sort of gesture. "I do apologize for my lateness... I'm not usually one for napping, but things around here have been so... lively, and I suppose I didn't get enough sleep..."

[Dizzy]

Umeshita nodded. This man seemed like he had some potential - respectful, proper, almost nothing like Takada, though like the other new captain, he was definitely a strong person.

"No worries," he said dismissively, "you're just in time. We haven't started yet, seeing as Ryuzawa hasn't bothered to wake up. Fujiwara must've done a real number on him. Gonna try some electroshock therapy on him if it doesn't happen soon."

Umeshita pulled another of the chains out from his sleeve and handed it to the other man. "Put this on your wrist, it allows you to bypass the effect of the reiatsu inhibitors."

He beckoned Ito inside the room and closed the door, the metallic halves sliding together with a loud clunk. Inside, Aurea waved hello at him, while Keszumel watched him with veiled interest. The Keigun officer who'd accompanied Ito had come in as well, and now stood at attention in a corner of the room.

On the other side of the room, Ryuzawa sat unconscious, heading lolling to the side, upon a large concrete chair. His wrists and ankles were cuffed to it with a neon-blue substance that effectively sealed off all of his reiatsu flow, and he was also bound with leather straps. Operatives were busy connecting the man to a lie detector.

[shinikage]

"No, I don't," he replied. "From the info, I tried to find whoever can dispose of body or hide it. But Takada-taicho said that there were many kidos to do so, and many officers were capable of doing so. So it also met a dead end."
Keiji-taicho looked not to completely believe his story. Noticing that, Shinn said, "Knowing 2nd division's reputation in interrogation, I think there should be some kind of lie detector around here. It won't work only if the interrogated one believes completely about the lie he said. Although it's possible if I can manipulate my own mind," he said.
He didn't try to gain Keiji's trust. Instead, his words could actually be interpretated as, "Don't hesitate to suspect me."

[rayne_himura]

”Don’t play stupid with me,” Kumo roared.

Mist continued to flow off from her sword that lit up Rayne’s green eyes. There was resolution in them but also vulnerability.

“Don’t pretend to be stupid.” The voice said again, “Don’t pretend I am stupid.”

"I'm not," the girl hissed back at him with an equal force of anger.

As Ren grabbed her head, the girl stared hard back but couldn't understand anything meaningful there, only feeling that same electric jolt.

[Hiraeth]

"Shit" There was something seriously wrong with this girl. Ren could only assume that she was having some kind of hallucination, perhaps a vision of her zanpaktou, but for that to happen while she was conscious was almost unheard of. Usually to communicate with their sword a shinigami had to lose consciousness in some way, for it to happen while a person was conscious usually meant that they had only a tenuous grip on reality. If that was the case with Rayne, then the chance of getting any real answers out of her was slim to none. Ren resisted the urge to roll her eyes, at the realisation that the one person with enough guts to stand up to her was most likely unhinged. Although once she thought about it, that did make a bizarre kind of sense.

She wanted mostly to release the girl and see what this fit would reveal, but the healer in her won out. With a sigh she released healing and soothing energy into the girl's mind. The part of her released sword that was now swimming in the girl's bloodstream, she used to try and calm her breathing and organs.

[rayne_himura]

The girl's eyes widening in confusion as the captain seemed to vanish from her sight, leaving her alone. A crawling mist continued to enveloped her, binding her in place while Kumo's shattered image twisted out of sight, retreating to the blade in her hand.

Look at you, you're pathetic...

Voices were coming from all directions, she only half understood what they were saying. The girl shook her head in confusion. "Something's happening to me, you better get me out of here. I gave you answers, that's what you wanted right?" Her voice shook and she clutched hard the hilt of her zanpakutou, nails digging deep in her palm.

She didn't know if she was afraid of feeling anything, she had thought she wasn't capable of doing it properly. Her life would replay over the same path, unless she could uncover the means to change it.

[Gol D. Roger]

"Good afternoon, Aurea-san. So nice to see you again," Itō said with a polite smile, and a bow of his head. And to Keszumel: "And I don't believe we've been introduced. I am Itō, Rokubantai-Taichō."

After finishing with proper greetings, he turned to regard the unconscious Ryuzawa, his face stone-serious. He watched as the jailers attached electrode monitors to the clone's fingertips and vital points. They were nothing if not thorough.

Idly, Itō tapped his foot, waiting for their captive to awaken.

[Dizzy]

2nd Division

Keszumel gave Ito a noncommittal grunt and returned his gaze to Ryuzawa, who was still sleeping soundly, blissfully unaware of his current situation.

Umeshita gave the unconscious man a look of disdain, folding his arms and harrumphing loudly. “Let’s get him up before he starts drooling, yeah? Get him hooked up to the wires, I’ll grab the generator.”

The captain directed his officers with flawless efficiency, and they had the generator hooked up to Ryuzawa’s chair in practically no time at all. When activated, it would send a low-level current into his body and deliver a mild shock that would hopefully zap his brain into a more active state.

He pressed down on the lever to turn it on, and felt it warm up and vibrate beneath his hand. His other hand moved to a dial on the generator’s side and turn it two notches from its zero position.

With a start, Ryuzawa burst up from his sleeping position, though hampered by his restraints, and convulsed violently for a second before lapsing into shivering as Umeshita turned the dial back to its original position.

Wide-eyed, the suspect glanced back and forth across the room, sweating visibly as he took in the presence of four captain’s haoris. “Why am I here? Wh – what do you want with me?”


http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6079/ryuzawafe4.png
(isn't he perfectly hideous? :D)

---

12th Division

Sabara squinted at the two enormous, dinosaur-like hollows suspended in the tanks of her underground laboratory. Tests had gone well – she’d finally isolated the acid properties most adept at dissolving hollow masks, and both of them were still kept alive, the tank’s reiatsu nutrients enough to sustain them, even regenerate their wounds over time. Definitely a good capture; for once, she was glad that she’d gone out to catch them herself.

She was shuffling her notes across her desk again, reading through the data graphs for the third time to verify her information, when suddenly, the door creaked quietly open, letting a sliver of light into the room.

Who the hell is that? People aren’t supposed to come in without an appointment, and I’m pretty damned sure my schedule’s clear. Thought my wrath had already been suitably demonstrated, but I guess not. Maybe I’ll make an example of this one.

The dark room was tinted blue from the liquid in the enormous tanks to the side – though the lab had lights, Sabara would often forget to turn them on, instead using a desk lamp when reading was required.

She prepared a glare to use on the incoming figure as it shut the door behind itself and walked hesitantly down the stairs.

[Mystic Serenade]

Keiji raised an eyebrow in confusion at the man before him, "Do you want me to suspect you or something?" He leaned lazily against the wall, "As far as I can judge, there's nothing you really know that I can use."

He looked over to the lie detector, "And frankly, I don't really believe nor need such a thing. So for now, I guess we just wait for the other's to finish up or something."

[shinikage]

'He trusted me already?' Shinn had never expected that. Obviously, he couldn't decide that Shinn was a criminal from such a simple interview. And Shinn had thought that they might ask the detail of the events to find out whether he was innocent or guilty. Stopping the process might mean that he thought proving Shinn's innocence was no longer necessary.
Since it went to his favor, he didn't question it.
"OK. I'm fine with that," he said.

[Hiraeth]

Ren kept her grip on the girl's head "Sorry kid, but while you're like this you're not going anywhere, since I can't trust your actions."

Having tried everything she could think of to calm the girl, all she could do now was to hold on. "You need to take control of this energy. Clamp down on it, force it to obey you, or it will kill you."

[rayne_himura]

The mist discontinued to advance, but Rayne still regardless, fixated on the hilt of her zanpakutou. She stood up and stepped ahead nervously now, wondering if she completely lost it. It was an uncanny feeling to her, when in normal situations she could always orient herself without even thinking about it.

"I'm trying taichou but you gotta get me out of here. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore."

A moment before she had made up her mind to stay and to continue the interrogation, a white mist began to creep from the hilt of her zanpakutou, swirling upwards from a source somewhere in front of her.

"Shit!" the girl said with alarm as she looked at Ren, "Do something!"

[Hiraeth]

Ren shook her head in disgust and dropped her hands from the girl's face "If that's how you want it. Just remember there won't always be someone around who can stop you, one day you're going to have to learn how to take control."

She snapped her fingers and Oboroduki obeyed instantly, triggering a function in the girl's brain that sent her straight into unconsciousness. Rayne's eyes rolled up into her head and she sank down to the table.

Ren picked up Oboroduki and held the tip of it out to Rayne's neck. She absorbed all but a tiny bit of the blade back into the whole sword, that tiny part would enable her to keep an eye on Rayne and hopefully allow her to pre-empt any future attacks.

[Final Boss]

"Aaand she's out like a light."

Shinji moved away from the wall stretching his arms as he moved. He gazed down at her unconscious face and looked back up at Ren, "So she's havin' problems with her zanpakutou huh? You'd think she'd have that kinda stuff under control if she's a vice capt'n."

He scratched the back of his head, "Well we didn't get much information outta her, 'cept that she don't wanna hurt nobody again."

[Hiraeth]

Ren sat back "Yeah you'd think so, then again you remember me as a vice-captain? I wasn't even interested in Oboroduki until Hayashi practically forced me to train with it."

She frowned "I wonder if Otowari even realises there's a problem. I'll have to talk to him about it later, because if he just lets this go he's endangering more than just this one girl."

[Final Boss]

Shinji nodded his head a few times in agreement, "Yeah, ya were preeetty hopeless at tha time." Shinji smirked at his little joke, "But now ya got yer stuff under control. I mean look atcha, big shot capt'n commandin' a whole squad o' Shinigami."

Shinji shrugged nonchalantly, "Normally I wouldn't trouble myself with other's decisions but yer right here, this girl's got issues. I mean treatin' my face as a drawin' board, beatin' down Shinigami from other squads? If it were up to me I would jus' lock her up in tha Maggot's Nest an' that'd be the end, be less work fer me that way as well."

[rayne_himura]

"You're here, aren't you?" The girl called out softly to her zanpakutou. A beautiful woman in a kimono appeared behind her and strips of bandages covered most of her body to keep her together.

Himura, Rayne

She turned around to face the woman, but it was hard to look at her. It had to speak a lot about her, if this thing was a part of her own soul.

"If you can only hear what those people call you behind your back. Insane. Himura. But you're here because you're scared, aren't you? You already know it.' Her voice rattled and strained, as if it were a great effort just to draw in a breath and let it out again.

"Am I? I just want to do the right thing now. You're the one who's stopping me," she accused the woman, still without looking. When she tried to say it's name, it was frightening too. She wasn't sure if she wanted it.

'Ahhhhh... pick up your sword and let it consume you. Can't you see? You're an embarassment to Soul Society. Kill.. that's where you're good at Rayne.'

She couldn't help thinking Kumo sounded kind of sad, but it was hard to tell for sure. The spirit didn't have any expression, just a blank mask for a face.

[Gol D. Roger]

“Why am I here? Wh – what do you want with me?”

Itō glanced first to Umeshita, then to Keszumel. Neither man seemed inclined to answer the prisoner, instead appraising him with quiet intensity. For lack of a better solution, Itō decided to lay down the first blow.

"The reason you're here, well, I'd think that should be exceedingly obvious. As for what we want..." He glanced back at the other Taichōs. "...Well, the best way to appease our curiosity is to tell us what you, or rather, your master, wants with us."

Ryuzawa let slip a frightened look as sweat beaded on his forehead. "I dunno what yer talkin' about." He jerked against his restraints. "This don't make no sense! Wha...? What did I do wrong?"

"It would be in your best interests to tell us what you know," Itō responded with deadly calm.

Ryuzawa looked up at him fearfully. Then, suddenly, the man's expression changed to one of haughty defiance. It was as if he'd transformed into a totally different person. "Hah! Somebody like you... You ain't got no damn clue what's in my best interests, exile-boy."

From behind Itō, Umeshita waved his hand dismissively. Immediately, one of the interrogation officers flipped a dial, and Ryuzawa's body jerked spasmodically as electric currents blazed through him. "Arrrrgggghh!"

"Please, Umeshita-san, it's quite alright," Itō said.

Umeshita shrugged and gestured to his officers again. They switched off the machine, and Ryuzawa collapsed into a doubled-over position in his chair, breathing heavily. "Hah... hah... hah..."

"Well?" Itō said.

"Well... what?" Ryuzawa said through his panting. "Shock me all ya want... Not like... it'll change nothin'... 'Cept maybe you'll just... put me outta my misery, huh?"

Keszumel chortled at this, and Umeshita started to raise his hand again to reinitiate the electrocution.

"Wait, Umeshita-san. I'd like to try something... a little more painful."

Umeshita tilted his head and gestured at Itō as if to say, Be my guest.

"Bahahaha! You? Yer gonna hurt me? I got news for ya, I'm 11th Division, Taichō. Yer tricks can't do nothin' to me, pain is gain, I'll take whatever you can dish out."

Itō smiled chillingly at Ryuzawa.

"I know about you," the prisoner said. "I know your abilities."

"Then you should also know exactly what's in store for you." There was a metallic schng as Itō cleared his zanpakutō from its sheath. "Sasu, Akebonohtori."

With a flash, his shikai was released, its point leveled directly at Ryuzawa's head. Keszumel raised an eyebrow and grinned, glancing at Umeshita.

"You ain't gonna kill me. You can't," Ryuzawa said with a grin.

"No, I'm going to do a whole lot worse." With that, Itō stepped towards Ryuzawa and grasped his wrist, turning his hand upwards. "The skin on the underside of the hand is very sensitive, you see. Especially here," he said, pressing the tip of Akebonohtori into the center of Ryuzawa's palm.

Instantly, a spout of flame burst from the point of contact. Ryuzawa's face contorted in pain as the man gritted his teeth. "I had no idea... that this... could hurt so damn much!"

"I'm sure you didn't." Itō grasped Ryuzawa's wrist tighter still, and though the larger man struggled, he couldn't prevent the Taichō from slicing each and every one of his fingers, upon the flesh of each and every joint. Soon, it looked like the captive's whole hand was ablaze, though in truth the flames came from singular, isolated points.

Itō released Ryuzawa then, and immediately the man hunched over, the veins on his neck bulging, his face flushing redder and redder as copious volumes of sweat burst from his pores.

"How are you feeling, Ken-kun?" Itō asked him with mock cheer. "If it's not enough for you, I can start on the back of your hand next. And then the other hand, and then your feet... Oh, I know. What say we try your tongue?"

Ryuzawa continued his panting, head hanging towards the ground. "I didn't think... you were such a violent guy... Itō-san... You'd be real good... in 11th Division... after all..."

((OOC: If I've taken too many liberties here, just let me know, and I'll edit however you need me too. Wanted to move the interrogation forward rather than just putting all the work in your lap, Diz. ;) ))

[Dizzy]

[OOC: I was gonna have him fake innocence a bit longer, but I guess this works too.]

With Haruki's quick start to the interrogation, all eyes were now on him. Aurea looked shocked and just a bit appalled that they were going to resort to violence this quickly, but Umeshita and Keszumel both seemed impressed, watching the new captain with grins across their faces.

"Jeez, Haruki," laughed Umeshita, probably not quite appreciating the gravity of the situation, "what a fearful guy. Screw 11th, now I want to steal you for 2nd."

Ryuzawa slumped heavily forward, gasping for air, his burnt, raw hand convulsing in a futile attempt to stem the pain. His eyes were narrowed in concentration at the floor, watching as sweat dripped down his face and splattered itself at his feet.

"Now," said Umeshita, "seeing as Haruki's shown you what we're willing to do, what say we start questioning you? If you answer our questions, then you won't get hurt any worse than you already have been. If not, well ... what Haruki just did is only the beginning of what we're capable of."

Ryuzawa's eyes bulged with the strain of focusing on something other than the pain, his undamaged hand clenching itself into a fist so hard that his fingers were biting into his palm.

"We've got some old-fashioned water torture, the rack, sulfuric acid treatment, red-hot thumbscrews, spiked coffins," Umeshita listed, counting them off on his fingers, "and that's not even counting what we can do that involves the slow and excruciatingly painful removal of body parts, capisce?"

Ryuzawa thrashed in his seat for another half minute, face contorted into a mask of pain. Finally he spoke again, in a throaty rasp that was considerably different from how he had been speaking before. "I'll talk," he managed to say through his clenched teeth. "I dunno much, but I'll talk."

"A wise decision," said Umeshita. "Why don't you go first, Haruki? Think you earned it with that display. Your call as to whether you put out the fire, too."

---

Sabara watched as the figure climbing down the stairs hesitated nervously, and then moved down quicker as if wanting to get it over with. As it approached the bottom of the stairs, the gloomy, blue-tinted light was finally enough for her to see who it was.

"Hello, Sabara-san!" Asaki Miko hurriedly bowed to her superior officer, though not even coming close to dispelling her annoyance. "I was assigned to be your new assistant. I hope that I will not disappoint you."

Sabara groaned inwardly. It was true that she had asked for a lackey, she had been hoping for somebody halfway competent to perform secretarial duties and to talk as little as possible. The clumsy airhead in front of her was definitely not what she'd been hoping for.

"Ugh, alright," she muttered resignedly. "Let's see your papers so I can stamp them."

"Oh," said Asaki, somehow surprised by this everyday bureaucracy, "right! Papers ... papers ... where are you?"

The other woman rummaged in her pockets for a moment, as Sabara placed a hand on her forehead in exasperation.

[BioBomber]

Hibiki walked silently through the grounds of 12th division, his mind wandering slightly faster than his feet. Once more his thoughts were drawn back to the garganta...the portal to Hueco Mundo. He understood the function of them in theory, and knew something of the method to open one, but he had never attempted the feat himself. Probably.

'Again with the blanks...' he muttered. 'Damn it, I want to know whatever it is that I've forgotten...' He stopped walking and looked out at the sun continuing its slow rise from beyond the horizon. More memories stirred beneath his consciousness, brought on by both the combat he'd seen in Hueco Mundo, and the later vision of his inner world. It was perplexing and frustrating. The sun kept rising.

[Gol D. Roger]

"Thank you, Umeshita-san," Itō said. He raised his zanpakutō, and the ruby near its tip flared once. Instantly, most of the flames on Ryuzawa's hand died out, except for the one in the center of his palm.

After a few seconds, Ryuzawa's breathing grew easier. "Can't ya do somethin' about this last one?"

"It's a reminder," Itō said. "A reminder of what will happen should you forget your pledge to cooperate."

"Pledge? I ain't made no pledge, I'll talk, but that's it. I ain't liftin' a finger ta help you'se guys beyond that," the captive said. On hearing this, Keszumel snickered, and a smile crept across Umeshita's features.

"Go ahead, laugh," Ryuzawa continued. "In the long run, ain't nothin' you can do to me my boss can't do worse."

"Fine," Itō said, folding his arms. "Then tell us everything you know about this boss of yours."

[Dizzy]

Ryuzawa narrowed his eyes at Ito, and a wide grin broke across his simian face. He inhaled deeply through his nose, watching his questioner with an air of defiance.

"Who says I know nothin' 'bout my boss?" he asked pointedly. "I ain't nothin' but a fuckin' lackey, no more, no less. Only thing I know 'bout my boss is that the fucker's goddamned strong."

---

Without warning, a blunt object slammed into the side of Sabara's head and she fell off her chair with a clatter, landing painfully on the concrete floor. Her glasses flew off her face and skittered off into the darkness, and she groped urgently for them. Her head felt like it had been smashed open by a sledgehammer, and her mind felt hazy, still reeling and disoriented from the blow.

"I don't think so," drifted Asaki's voice. It seemed faraway, even dreamlike through the painful cacophony of sensations flowing through her skull. She felt delirious, as if she as under the effects of a drug. Numbly, she continued to grasp the floor for her glasses.

"Cripes, what a pain." Asaki again. Sabara whimpered in pain. Maybe Asaki would know how to make her head stop hurting? "Must've hit your head too hard. Totally ruined my dramatic entrance, too. Ah, well. Bakudou number 9, geki."

Sabara's sight - already foggy enough to make the world seem like a blur of blue and gold, suddenly flashed red. She tried to escape from this sudden redness, but her body wouldn't move. Asaki was speaking again, but the words were slurring in her head, and she couldn't tell them apart. Slowly, red faded into a warm, inviting black.

[Hiraeth]

"Damn I'm bored now."

Ren sat back and stretched, staring at the unconscious girl before her. "I'm going to take Sleeping Beauty for a little walk, maybe if she gets some clear air she'll wake up quicker and she can give me a decent explanation for what's going on." She grinned "Failing that, maybe she'll just attack me and I can beat some sense into her, you never know."

She got up, hoisted Rayne up onto her shoulders and left the interrogation room, ignoring the questions of the random second division members who accosted her. When she'd gotten out the front door she shunpo-ed to a nearby hill and sat down on top of it, dumping Rayne unceremoniously on the ground.

She wandered over to a tree further down the slope and rooted around in the branches until emerging triumphant with an unopened bottle of sake. She had stashes like this all over Seireitei for just this situation. Sitting down, she opened the bottle and took a large swig, waiting for the girl to wake up.

[OOC: Dizzy is something supposed to be happening over here?]

[rayne_himura]

Rayne's eyes opened and darted, seeking an avenue of escape, but all hope was gone when she sees Ren Takada on a nearby tree holding a bottle. With a sigh, she sat up and called out at Ren, "What are we doing out here Taichou? Did I passed out?" the girl asked innocently.

Pretending to be unconscious is not an easy task. Resisting the urge to scream when Ren dropped her on the ground made her eyes water, to think that some of her wounds aren't healed yet. Anxiously, Rayne's been waiting for the perfect chance to execute her plan the whole time. Maybe I should just give it a go and beat the snot out of that woman "Tch" She hadn't had even an ounce of a chance to inflict a wound on her with a sword before, what more now that her zanpakutou's nowhere in sight.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the girl stood up shakily and made her way towards the captain while muttering curses under her breath. Is she drunk?

Maybe I should make a run for it, Rayne said to herself, grinning.

[Gol D. Roger]

Itō frowned and leaned in towards Ryuzawa, his features hardening. "I don't know what sort of game you think you're playing..." He leaned in closer still, baring his teeth in a sort of violent gesture rarely expressed by him, and witnessed by few. "But you don't want to play it with me.

"I take the law and the safety of Soul Society very seriously. I will do whatever I must to ensure and maintain the peace, within the limits of my authority as Taichō. And torturing you is certainly within those limits."

Itō turned away, then, all eyes on him. When he looked back to Ryuzawa, his dark demeanor had been replaced with his usual calm confidence. "You said you would talk. So talk. Now. My patience is running out."

[Mystic Serenade]

It was quite boring at the moment, he wondered what was going on in the other interrogation rooms. His thoughts moved elsewhere as he sensed that Takada was leaving the premises along with lieutenant.

What in the world...why would she be taking her out of interrogation room so suddenly for.

He looked over to Shinn, "Excuse me, but there is something I must take after. I figure you're innocent of any sort of crime anyhow, but it would be best you don't do anything to stir anyone else's suspicions."

With that he had left the 2nd division headquarters and made for the location he felt the two he were looking for where at. He found his vice captain standing over what appeared to be a possibly drunk Takada. "What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now hmm?"

[rayne_himura]

Her grin faded when she heard a very familiar voice, "Looks like I was brought here unconscious by Takada Taichou, " the girl said back over her shoulder at Otowari Keiji.

With her back on him Rayne finally found the front gates, but here another quandary arose. She still don't know her way around, she often gets lost, and Seireitei was huge. She had no idea where she was heading, or how to get there. She wouldn't go back to her room at the 12th Division's HQ either.

If I could just flash step my way out of here...Shape the reiatsu, and step forward... In that single step, you can travel...

She would've shunpo'd her way out if not for her missing zanpakutou.

[Mystic Serenade]

"She was the one that carried you out here unconscious?" he gave his vice captain a quizzical look. "That seems a little hard to believe as from what I can see, you're the one that looks perfectly fine and she looks like she's drunk or something."

Thinking of the options he had before him, he figured it would be no good to ask Takada what occurred in the interrogation room. Besides, he didn't want to think about what her reaction would be if he disturbed her while she was in such a state.

Remembering that the lieutenant of 6th division was also present at the interrogation, he decided to give him a call. "Shinjiro? Are you still inside the interrogation room? I need to ask for you assistance with something."

[Final Boss]

Shinji was lounging lazily in the interrogation room when his mobile phone began to vibrate, he casually reached into his pocket and answered.

"Yeah I'm still in tha interrogation room, whatcha need?"

[shinikage]

Now it got even more boring. Nothing happened here, and that taicho guy had also gone out. Shinn started considering the option of escaping. He stopped that thought and stayed calm. But if he got even more bored, he might reconsider it later. He completely had nothing to do. He leaned on the chair and waited.

[Mystic Serenade]

"Yea, I'm outside right now with Takada and my lieutenant," he glanced over at the two again. "Takada seems to be out for the moment, but could you come over here? I need to know what went on in there."

[Final Boss]

"Uh sure I'll be right there."

He closed his cellphone and stepped out of the interrogation room. He tossed the special bracelet towards a nearby 2nd Division member before bursting into shunpo heading directly towards Keiji's reiatsu.

He arrived at a familiar location, one of the many stashes Ren hid her sake. He spotted Keiji near Rayne and Ren and steadily made his way towards them.

"So ya wanna know what happened in tha interrogation room eh?"

He paused to glance at Ren, so this is what he meant about Ren being out for the moment. He gave Ren a friendly, little wave before continuing on.

"Well, nothin' really happened 'n there. I guess tha only interestin' thing was Rayne over there strugglin' ta keep control over her zanpakuto, that's about it. If ya wanna know more then ya should prolly ask yer lieutenant."

[Hiraeth]

Ren glanced at the bottle in her hand. She'd barely gotten started on it, when everyone had appeared and started accusing her of being already drunk. It suited her fine, she found herself a little annoyed at Keiji for letting Rayne run around free when she was clearly a threat to others. The reason Ren had then taken the girl outside was that the only person she trusted to watch her and neutralise her if anything untoward happened, was Ren herself. Plus the clear air would probably do her good.

She leaned back against the tree and took a sip from the sake bottle, keeping one eye on Rayne who was looking hopefully around like she was trying to find an escape.

"Don't even think about it girl, even when I'm not watching you directly I still know where you are at all times." She held up the hand that wasn't holding her sake bottle, revealing Rayne's zanpaktou. "Besides, bet you won't want to leave this behind." She lay it back down on the branch and took another sip from the bottle before offering it to Rayne "Drink?"

[BioBomber]

-!!-

Hibiki's reverie was shattered abruptly by a beeping sound coming from the folds of his clothing. After his initial release from prison, in his paranoia he'd made himself a device for detecting any of the telltale signs of an attack around him, and it had picked up a Bakudou. It was far from precise, it served as an early warning system more than anything else; he still hadn't worked out how to refine it to detect malicious will toward him. He expected that would never be possible.

Glancing down at the screen, a small flashing area gave him a spherical space that the Bakudou was performed in to look around at. Marshaling his thoughts, he mentally shook himself down and dashed off in the general direction of the disturbance.

[rayne_himura]

"I haven't done anything! She's the one who brought me out here and I was unconscious," she added with a huff, even though it wasn't true. "Really." While trying to explain her side on that subject it was cut off by the entrance of 2nd Division's Lieutenant Shinji.

A strange feeling sank in the pit of Rayne's stomach as Ren Takada suddenly spoke and revealed her lost zanpakutou, "I didn't know you have it, I want it back. And no, I don't drink, only dumb idiots drink sake. No offense Taichou."

Just thinking that Takada has her sword filled her with even more rage. I have to get away from here and make a run for it.

She looked back to the other officers and pointed a finger towards the sky, "Menos!" Without waiting for their reaction she rushed past from them, leaving them alone in the courtyard. She flash stepped past buildings and didn't stop until she reached the 12th Division HQ. The girl stepped again, and found herself inside her room. At least the sense of accomplishment improved her mood very slightly.

Sighing, Rayne sprawled down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling. When will I stop running away from them?... the vice captain sniffed, closing her eyes.

[Hiraeth]

Ren's eyes narrowed with barely suppressed rage "Now, what did I just say. Stupid girl."

She debated whether or not to follow the girl. She could sense that Rayne had returned to her quarters in Twelfth division, but to leave her zanpaktou behind, well that was just madness as far as Ren was concerned.

Ren slid her sake back into its hiding place and hopped down off the tree. With a sigh she waved at the other two in the area "Be right back. Off to visit your division Otowari-san."

She vanished in a burst of shunpo, appeared in the central courtyard of Twelfth, and began walking in the direction she could sense Rayne had gone. After spending some time wandering round the labyrinthine corridors of the building, she eventually found herself outside a nondescript door, that, her senses informed her, Rayne was behind.

The hilt of the girl's zanpaktou she used to knock on the door gently "Oi, Himura-fukutaichou, you forget something?"

[Mystic Serenade]

He let out a sigh, "Woman, always running away and never waiting to hear out what you have to say." He looked towards Shinji, "Sorry to leave you alone but duty calls."

With that, he sunk into the depths of his shadow. It was pretty obvious where he was planned on going. He appeared behind his vice captain, rising out of her shadow, "I would really appreciate it if you didn't try solve everything by running away."

[Final Boss]

Shinji dismissed everyone with a nonchalant wave of his hand, this was a nice, relaxing spot much more favorable then running around chasing after the 12th Division Lieutenant. He lazily positioned himself under the same tree Ren had been at a dug around until he found what he was looking for, sake. He sat down with his back leaned against the tree and began to drink happily.

[Dizzy]

[OOC: Ugh, sorry for the delay, you’ll just have to wait it out a little longer until I get back from the convention. Shinn and Rayne's interviews are officially over, and anybody who wishes to may answer the call in Operación: Haxing your systems.]

Ryuzawa shrugged, quite the feat considering his bulk and the small dimensions of the chair he was in. "Hmmpf," he said airily, "could be easier 'fyou let me talk without int’rruptin’ all th’ time.”

By now, the man hardly seemed to be noticing the fire still blazing on his hand, searing away at his flesh. “Said I’d talk,” he chortled, “din’t say I’d conjure shit I don’t even know outta thin air fer you guys.”

All of a sudden, two Keigun officers burst into the room, earning them a glare from Umeshita. Quickly, they sank into deep bows. Umeshita gave Ryuzawa another look, then turned to his men. “What is it?” he asked annoyedly.

“Fujiwara and Himura’s questionings have both ended, sir, Himura’s after passing out.” one of them reported. “Our stenographers have taken the transcripts of both, for further review.”

“Hmpf, fine,” muttered Umeshita, “tell them and their questioners that they’re free.”

The Keigun officers cringed where they stood, debating inwardly whether or not they should tell their captain that most of them had already left. They decided that they would rather live through the day, and darted back out of room to inform Fujiwara that he was free to go.

As the two left, several hell butterflies inconspicuously fluttered in through the door before it closed, each landing on a captain and beginning to transmit their message.

[OOC: If Ito wants to go kill things, I’m giving you the opportunity now, seeing as I’ll be away for awhile.]

[shinikage]

A Keigun member entered the room where Shinn was. Shinn stood up and walked slowly toward him, preparing to knock him out with a sudden attack. With this room's mechanism to block reiatsu, that was all he could do to escape. It had been too boring to tolerate and he had decided to escape at last.


"Shinn Fujiwara, you're now free to get out", he said, stopping Shinn from executing his plan.

Not intending to say a word, Shinn soon got out of the room and left the 2nd division's headquarter.

Getting his power back, he soon dashed and used shunpo. The wind moved toward him as he ran, and it gave him a better feeling. Not really knowing where to go, he continued using shunpo, until a hell butterfly came by.
((OOC: I think I'll leave this mission for now, since there won't be much things to do until Dizzy gets back))

[Hiraeth]

With that, he sunk into the depths of his shadow. It was pretty obvious where he was planned on going. He appeared behind his vice captain, rising out of her shadow, "I would really appreciate it if you didn't try solve everything by running away."

Ren sensed Keiji's reiatsu coalescing in the room and her rage found a new target. Not waiting to be let in she swiftly kicked down the door "PERVERT!"

She stood in the door frame, like some kind of classical war goddess, fury evident in every line of her stance, "What gives you the right to enter a girl's room uninvited, especially through her shadow?! What if she had been changing?! Unless it was in fact your intention to catch her naked, you filthy man!"

She strode forward to where Rayne was lying on the floor and handed the girl her zanpaktou "Here, take this back, you might need it to defend yourself against him." She then turned to regard Keiji with a look that had been known to freeze members of Eleventh Division in their tracks.

[OOC: Really Mystic, inappropriate tsk tsk, also I got bored, but that ability is really creepy.]

[Mystic Serenade]

Under normal circumstances, being called a pervert would have caused him to become quite flustered and send him through a routine where he would try to best explain that was not his intention. However in this case, the situation was too much of an annoyance for him to take that route.

He let out a sigh. "Well one," he spoke monotonously with raised one finger, "I teleported right when she arrived into her room, so unless its her habit to throw her clothing off right as she enters her room, which I find highly unlikely, I would have not found her in such a state. Two, considering everything else she's been involved in, her running around without me knowing what was said or done in that interrogation room is not really in my or my division's best interest. And three just to throw it out there, I could really care less what she looks like naked."

He crossed both arms and looked at them both, "So want to tell me if my lieutenant is insane or not?"

[Hiraeth]

Ren gave him a sour look "For someone with such interesting coloured hair, you really are boring. You weren't even going to argue with me a little bit?"

"Your lieutenant doesn't seem mad to me. Then again, perhaps I'm not the best yard stick to be using, after all my own actions are perceived by most people to be those of a madwoman, but I digress. From what I saw, at most times, Himura-fukutaichou seemed to be in perfect control of her mind, she simply hides behind her rudeness in the hope that people will not see how weak she actually is, and when they do get the advantage of her she flees, as she did minutes ago. When she can't flee, she fights, which I believe is the reason she harmed my division members, she was terrified that in allowing them to heal her she'd allowed them to see how weak she truly was."

She paused to consider the girl, still lying on the ground, "When she does choose to fight, it is then that whatever is wrong with her reveals itself, and while it may not be true insanity, it still poses a considerable threat to Himura-fukutaichou and those around her. When she drew her sword in the interrogation room, she changed remarkably, she was still rude, but her fear suddenly became palpable. She seemed to be having some kind of internal struggle, and rather than hardening her will and surviving it, she chose to ask me to knock her unconscious, saying she didn't want to hurt anyone else."

A moment passed as she allowed this information to sink in, then turning back to Keiji she continued "I think there is definitely a connectiong between the so-called madness, and Rayne using her zanpaktou. If she continues to do so, next time she fights an enemy, I predict she'll be fighting you afterward, or whomever else is nearby. You could try to forbid her from fighting, or separate her from her zanpaktou, but even in this division, a fukutaichou who cannot fight is simply a liability. Since she hasn't the strength of will to stand against these attacks, she will be a threat to your division and the rest of Soul Society as long as she is allowed to run free.

"I can't tell you how to run your division of course, but I'd suggest that, rather than waste your own time trying to help her, when she's made it abundantly clear that she doesn't want anyone's help, you simply send her to the Maggot's Nest, where she will either deal with the problem herself, in her own time, or at least be safe from harming other people."

[Gol D. Roger]

After receiving the message from the hell butterfly, Itō opened his eyes and stared again at Ryuzawa. He'd seriously underestimated the brutish prisoner's cunning. Despite claiming he would talk, the man had successfully danced around every question posed to him.

Certainly, his agreement to speak with them had been an honest reaction, and yet now he continued to say that he knew nothing. There could only be one conclusion: Ryuzawa was hiding something, and Itō had simply been asking the wrong questions. It was time for a different approach.

"I've decided... to forget about your master, for now," Itō said calmly. He gave Ryuzawa a brief smile, and for a moment thought he saw a hint of fear flicker across the captive's features. "Instead, I'd like to know something else."

The prisoner cackled his deep, throaty cackle. "Ask me anythin'," he said. "'Cept I can't guarantee I'll have an answer for ya, Taichō, old pal."

"I can. Because I'd like to ask you about the one thing I'm certain you have a fair bit of knowledge about."

"Oh, yeah? Well don't just keep me in the dark, I'm dyin' ta know what ya got in mind."

"I want to know about you. I want to know how you died. Where you died. Where you woke up when you came back. And if I kill you now, whether you'll come back to bother us again."

[Mystic Serenade]

"Right now, I'd rather not have to argue about something so unnecessary."

He pondered on what the other captain said for a moment, "Thanks for the update, but if you don't mind I'd like to talk to my lieutenant in private now."

[Hiraeth]

Ren shrugged "Yeah whatever, it's Twelfth Division business I guess. That said, I guess should warn you, I've got a kind of... tracker, yeah a tracker, in her, so I can keep an eye on her at all times. You won't be able to find it, so don't even try, I'll remove it only when I deem her to no longer be a threat."

She offered a little bow and exited the room with a bounce in her step. That was until she felt a huge flare of hollow reiatsu somewhere in the Rukongai. She felt her face contort into a snarl. Hollows? Here?! She was gone in less than a second.

[Moving over to kill some hollow scum in the Haxing Your Systems thread]

[Dizzy]

"Hmmpf, scoffed Ryuzawa, "think yer so clever, ain'tcha. Ain't no way I can dodge this 'un, huh?"

His head sank, and a resigned yet smug grin formed on his face. In mock congratulations, he raised his hands as far as his cuffs would allow. "Fair 'nough," said the man, grey eyes glinting, "I'll tell ya 's much. Dunno where 'n how Ryuzawa died, but 'en I first came to, I was in my quarters, like I'd just woken up from a nap. 'N 'less there's been more clones made o' this guy, I'd say I'd be gone fer good."

Umeshita glared at Ryuzawa, and his hand moved - seemingly by reflex - closer to the dial for electroshock therapy. "I don't trust you one bit," he spat derisively. "You'd better quit avoiding the questions, for your own pitiful sake."

The questionee smirked. "Maybe y' should word yer questions better then. Ain't gonna tell ya any more than what I've been asked. 'Sides, y' get the same measure o' distrust in any interrogation. An esteemed captain like yerself should know that by now."

The captain twisted the dial, and a strong current suddenly drove itself into Ryuzawa's body, fraying his nerves and sending him into convulsions. The distinct smell of burning flesh began to permeate the room. Despite this, Ryuzawa still managed to grin like a madman; although it was constantly interrupted by the electricity stimulating the ends of his nerves, he seemed to be in no way feeling the pain.

He tried to open his mouth and formulate mocking words, but his body betrayed him, refusing to move as his mind directed. Umeshita turned the dial further, and Ryuzawa all but had an epileptic seizure, shaking like an earthquake, a volcano on the verge of erupting. His lopsided grin, however, remained, even as the captain readjusted the dial to zero and his body’s involuntary shuddering stopped.

“Was jus’ shittin’ ya before,” he said placidly, despite still twitching sporadically and giving off smoke. “Pain don’t mean nothin’ ta me. Now, I said we’d talk, but I’m thinkin’ I wanna do it on my own terms. Took the liberty o’ preparin’ a bomb inside my body, fer convincin’ purposes. Doubt it’d take out a captain, but yer subordinates could become corpses jus’ like that. Think yer willin’ ta listen yet?”

[Gol D. Roger]

Itō gave a most unexpected reaction: he smiled.

"I've been prepared to listen from the very beginning. So if you have something to say, go ahead and say it." Then, as an after thought: "And don't expect me to be scared by your little threats. You're addressing three Taichōs; we're prepared for anything you have in store for us."

[Dizzy]

"Hehehe," chuckled Ryuzawa, "yer smarter than ya look, I'll give ya 's much. But then again, yer not the one with 'is subordinates on th' line, are ya?"

He snorted, and looked up at Ito. "Might as well level with ya folks 'en. 'M only gunna tell ya what I wantcha ta know, but I'm thinkin' you'll like th' infermation, anyways.

I've suffered at bit o' dis-illusionment with my boss, y'see? 'En I was goin' after Fujiwara, th' fucker took control o' my body, an' tried ta fight fer me. Ain't gonna let nobody get away with that. Not only that, boss lost th' fight too. Got no respect fer that kinda person."

He gave them a moment's pause to digest the information, the glint in his eyes still present.

---

The killer chuckled softly to herself. Sabara was now incarcerated and would know nothing but horrible pain for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, the rest of her plan was falling into place; with the captains' pathetic attempt at interrogation now under her control, her part of the bargain would be complete.

Carefully, she rearranged the evidence that she'd planted, making the scene look completely natural. With one last appraising glance, she vaulted up the stairs and left the room, dark as it had been when she'd first arrived.

[Gol D. Roger]

Itō glanced back at Umeshita and Keszumel, who shrugged for him to proceed. He returned his attention to Ryuzawa. "I wouldn't say I, 'like,' your information," Itō mused, "so much as I find it very interesting."

Ryuzawa chuckled, somewhat gleefully. "I 'ad a feelin' you'd enjoy it, one way or another."

"Well, I'd certainly like you to continue," Itō said. He touched his chin lightly with his hand, considering something. His eyes were serious, anything but pleased with what he'd heard. "But before you do, there's something you should know..."

"Oh yeah? An' what's that?"

"I don't believe a word that's come out of your mouth so far. But by all means..." Itō smiled that dark smile again. "Go on."

[Dizzy]

Ryuzawa shrugged once more, the same smirk still plastered across his face. "Well that's yer pre-rogative, ain't it?" he laughed, drumming his fingers across the arms of the chair. "'F ya b'lieve what I been sayin', then ya’d be the most gullible saps ever. Ain’t faultin ya there. But then again, ‘s what you folks ‘ave got witnesses fer, huh?”

Umeshita nodded his assent, and motioned for one of his aides to hand him the transcript of Fujiwara’s questioning. He leafed through the pages, brow furrowed, and starting to look incredibly annoyed. “What the fuck is this?” he spat irately. “Otowari was supposed to push the guy for information about Ryuzawa, not ask him two questions and leave. Getting his testimony was the only fucking reason we even summoned Fujiwara!”

Had Fujiwara assumed he’d been a suspect as well? It fit with his responses, at least. And then Otowari had just decided to stop caring in the middle because he hadn’t thought there was anything else worth saying? Wasn’t that man supposed to be a genius or something? Now he just had to hope Takada had managed to be useful and that she hadn’t killed Himura.

Chances weren’t too great on that either.

Suppressing his overwhelming urge to vent his annoyance by punching a hole through Ryuzawa’s skull, he focused on the important part. “According to Fujiwara’s story, you ‘said you were under control’,” said Umeshita, teeth grating against each other. “Granted, I’m pretty sure the shit that came outta his mouth was almost all useless, but I don’t think that’s exactly a vote of confidence for you.”

“Choose whatever ya want then,” drawled Ryuzawa, clearly amused at the captain’s reaction to Otowari’s shoddy interview technique. “No matter what I say, yer gonna hafta do some investigatin’ based on it, and ya can find out how truthful I am then.”

[Gol D. Roger]

((OOC: Thread necromancy, hoooo!))

Itō frowned, running a hand through his dark hair. "I don't know that we'll need too much investigating, considering most of what you've said is false, even at first glance."

"Ya must be pretty damn smart ta know that right off, huh?" Ryuzawa smiled.

"Not particularly. You're just too stupid to lie well, that's all."

"Ouch, that hurts, Taichō. Can't ya tell me what ya mean?"

Itō smiled back at him, and raised his arms in an expansive gesture. "First, you tell us how strong your boss is, then you claim that they lost to... Fujiwara. You won't betray your boss, but you, 'got no respect fer that kinda person.' Your body was being, 'controlled,' and yet, despite that, you were able to inform Fujiwara of this fact, even while your body was not your own... Need I go on?

"Every facet of your testimony is rife with falsehoods and obvious contradictions." Itō leveled his zanpakutō at Ryuzawa, yet again. "Give us something worth investigating, or else stop wasting our time. We're happy to bind you, and put you in a cell to starve to death if you're of no further use to us."

[Dizzy]

"Hehehe, well ain't you the clever one," Ryuzawa smirked. "Simple explanation was that m' boss overlooked that Fujiwara could pull binding kidou an' lost that way. An' when it's my body fighting, 's my strength too. Ain't nothin' that reflects how fuckin' ter-rifyin' boss is.

Two, I never said nothin' about betrayin' boss. Go 'head an' check yer transcript if ya like. An' finally, I didn't tell Fujiwara nothin' either. Maybe shoulda had a better interrogator, cos e's clearly been takin' liberties with th' story."

Umeshita grated his teeth loudly in the background. To his further annoyance, the lie detector hooked up to Ryuzawa was still giving off regular readings. But then again, lie detectors could be fooled ...

"Anyways," Ryuzawa spoke up again, "betcher all tired o' hearin' 'bout me. I'll tell ya 's much as I know then. Boss likes ta attack folks with clones somewhat related ta th' target. Me fer th' seat right higher 'en me's an example an' all. Can tell ya two more likewise situations 'at might save a few. I was set ta go in a trio o' three attacks. Me on Fujiwara, this Kusa Kabe guy on 'is brother, an' some Lexi 'Unter chick on 'er seat below. Then again, might already be too late ..."

[Gol D. Roger]

Itō frowned. "Lexi Hunter...? You may have finally given us something useful."

"Well damn, I'm just happy ta help, ain't that right, Taichō?" Ryuzawa smirked, then snorted, and spat on the floor in front of him.

Itō regarded him severely, but then he shot a look at Umeshita. "Has the 2nd Division received any information regarding this shinigami? If not, we may be in time to catch another clone."

[Dizzy]

To this moment, the captain of the 3rd had remained practically silent since arriving in the room. These kinds of things always made him rather uneasy; Cres was never one to be particularly skilled at torture, as he'd never had the stomach for it. He had just sat back uneasily as Umeshita-san and Ito-san seemed to be taking care of it for the most part.

He'd tried to note obvious contradictions or lies for the benefit of the others, but was beaten to it several times before simply giving up and trying to collect as much information as possible, while trying to separate the lies from the truth, in order to draw up a plan of defense against this menace.

However, at the mention of Lexi's name, Cres immediately jumped up from his seat, as if scalded. They was a slight lull as the others all stared at him. Ryuzawa's lopsided grin deepened, but his eyes seemed glazed-over and unfocused ... "That can't be true," Cres breathed, trying as badly to convince himself as he was the others.

He was unwillingly reminded of a time when, six years ago, he'd been similarly wracked with worry for his friend in a different crisis, so far back. They were both lucky to have survived that, but if this was true ... and they already knew that the criminal killed the shinigami that he or she cloned ...

"No, she was in a mission in Hueco Mundo until just yesterday," he said in not much more than a whisper, "I brought her to 4th division myself, it's impossible - " and now with much more strength, " - and you were captured yesterday, just after I'd brought her, you lying bastard - "

"Hunter could've been cloned beforehand or while unconscious in 4th," Umeshita interjected, having been on the same mission. He held out an arm to bar Cres from attacking Ryuzawa. "But even if she is a clone, it's unlikely that she would be included in the plans when she was in Hueco Mundo for the foreseeable future."

Ryuzawa pursed his lips, not missing a beat, though the detached quality in his eyes remained. "Th' plans 'ere set in motion at th' same time. An' I said trio of attacks, not attackers. S'ppose it coulda been a number o' people in 12th, but once 'Unter returned, boss picked 'er."

Cres fell silent, but his eyes exhibited a mutinous anger as he tried drum something together to disprove Ryuzawa's words.

Suddenly, Ryuzawa's brow suddenly furrowed deeply, and he screwed up his eyes as if in deep concentration. He began murmuring distractedly to himself in a very different voice, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead and trickling down his face. His mouth hardly even moved, but an extremely low and quiet stream of noise came out, only a few disjointed words audible, and very barely at that. "Don'tsdsfgafcor ... psedfascumaffds ... dsfanothinggshdfleftsdfegaadiefgd ... "

The man looked horror-struck as he continued spitting out sounds, now shaking visibly, fists clenched, body held stiff as a board. His expression moved abruptly to that of a furious man, and now his teeth were clenched, his veins were bulging, he was shaking harder than ever, straining against his bonds. The lie detector's graph jumped and skipped erratically, as if it was trying to give readings for several mentally unstable people.

And as quickly as it had begun, his movements stopped and he fell limp, though still shivering and looking stricken. "No," he whispered, "no, damn it all ... "

Ryuzawa looked up, as if he'd only just noticed the presence of four captains and two members of the special forces. Wide-eyed, he stared across the room, eyes bulging with horror, as if he'd seen a ghost. The man closed his eyes, inhaled, and when he opened them again, for a split second, they had gained a steely look, both scared and determined. Then a loud explosion rent the air as the bomb in Ryuzawa's body detonated.

The entire room was suddenly awash in an intense wave of fiery heat; everything was a blazing red, orange, and yellow as everybody was knocked heavily backwards by the force of the blast. Cres' reiatsu shielded him from damage, but he still felt the blistering heat biting at him, felt the enormous force ram into him with the force of a missile. He lost his footing, stumbled backwards several steps, and fell back against the wall.

Coughing, Cres shielded his eyes and mouth against the acrid smoke and blasting reiatsu forth to dispel it. Elsewhere in the room, he could feel the other captains doing the same. Quickly enough, the blast subsided, leaving behind a dense, grey fog.

Ryuzawa had been all but completely vaporized; all that remained of him was a few wayward, bloodstained chunks of flesh and scraps of cloth that were now spattered against the chair and wall. The chair that had held him was scorched black on its back and seat, and dyed a blotchy crimson from the man’s remnants.

Though the captains were unhurt, the special forces shinigami were not so lucky. While they were still alive, they’d caught the full force of the explosion and were now pressed against the wall, their fronts all but completely melted, faces raw, burnt, and indistinguishable, bits of liquid flesh having begun to pool around them. If they hadn’t been knocked unconscious as well, they would be screaming in agony.

Umeshita swore loudly and rammed his fist into a nearby button; the door opened, revealing several more special forces members who immediately rushed in and carted the firsts away. The thick fog began to pool out the room and into the main chamber.

“Right, we’re not getting anywhere else in here then,” he said fiercely, trying to regain control of the situation. His uniform and hair were still singed and smoking. “first thing we need to do is check the whereabouts of Hunter and that Kusa Kabe he also mentioned. As unreliable as this information may be, if it was the only thing we could get from him, we’d better still investigate it.

And as for your last question, Ito, 2nd Division has your basic information on her, but I doubt she has any important records or anything. Actually … you implied that Kusa Kabe wouldn’t be useful. Any particular reason for that?”