mission 1D: melancholic moon

[Dizzy]

“Goddamnit,” spluttered the shinigami, panting, throat burbling with his own blood. He fell to his knees shaking, his vision already starting to blur. It took all the effort he could muster just to raise his head and face the traitor. “What the fuckin’ ‘ell happened to you, Naota?”

Naota smiled serenely, the bloodstains on his face glinting in the moonlight. Carelessly, he flicked a lock of hair out of his eyes and shifted his weight onto his other hip.

“I haven’t the slightest as to what you’re talking about, Mochi-kun,” said the other shinigami, innocently raising an eyebrow. “And even if I did, it’d be kinda pointless to talk to a corpse, neh?”

Mochizuki Fuuya slumped over and coughed violently, only barely keeping himself upright. The enormous spiderweb of fissures cracking over the ground looked hazy, climbing in and out of focus. He looked around for something, anything that could get him out alive, and saw only the unmoving, savaged bodies of his comrades, strewn over the clearing like discarded rag dolls, slowly seeping rivers of crimson.

They’d been left alive of course, just like he had. Why it had happened remained a complete mystery.

Behind Naota, the hollows had already begun eyeing them hungrily, practically licking their lips in anticipation. Some, although paralyzed and helpless, would still even be conscious. Unable to even scream for help, the only thing they could hope for now for was a quick death. They probably wouldn’t even get that.

“Come on now,” Naota admonished airily, “be patient. We had a deal, remember? You’ll get them after I’m done with them.”

Desperately, Fuuya tried to summon up the strength to save them, lurching forwards, but only succeeding in toppling himself onto his hands and knees. He gasped for precious oxygen and tried to force the mistiness out of his vision.

Naota … how could you sell us to the hollows … the Naota I know’d never do that, not in a bloody fuckin’ million years … and what th’ ‘ell’s this place he’s brought us to? … Never seen anythin’ like it in my life …

I didn’t wanta do this … but I’ve got lives in my command here, lives that’re about to go out like a fuckin’ candle. No choice, then.

Fuuya allowed his arms to give way and made a show of finally falling to the ground, while his right hand darted to his hakama pocket. Fumbling for his mobile phone, he searched its exterior with his fingertips before finding the button to send a silent distress signal to Seireitei.

He hesitated for a split second, then pressed it. A dimension away, alarms in Soul Society’s reconnaissance department began to sound.

Scenario:
A team of shinigami situated in the living world has sent a distress signal, requesting urgent aid. While otherwise a reasonably normal occurrence, this is punctuated by the fact that the entire team’s reiatsu had simply disappeared off the radar without a trace exactly forty-three minutes and thirty-nine seconds beforehand. Until the distress signal was given, they had been assumed dead – such a perfectly simultaneous reiatsu masking is humanely impossible. No explanation has yet been found, though any additional briefing will be provided as it is discovered.
Immediately prior to their disappearance from the radar, the teams’ reiatsu signatures had been flaring intermittently, along with a few foreign ones nearby that are likely to have belonged to hollows. None of these alien reiatsu have been found to be anything out of the ordinary, of even particularly strong. Nevertheless, their source remains our most likely suspect.
As the previous team was mostly below-8th seat level, we are looking for a significantly higher-seated force than that which had been assigned, of at least six shinigami and containing at least one healer and one researcher. Preferably, at least one vice-captain or above will enlist to lead the mission. Once a suitable force has arrived, the team will leave for the living world. Any interested applicants should hurry; these are lives on the line.

Briefing:
The regiment had been assigned to patrol a parcel of land known as Karakura Town and its surrounding areas in case of hollow attacks. The area is exceptionally spiritually-rich and therefore, very valuable. However, this also means that it attracts far more hollows than one might ordinarily expect. Be wary of sudden ambush; the cause of the team’s disappearance may still be out there.
The last location that the team’s presence had been confirmed in has been marked as a point in a dense piece of forest, one and a half miles north from Karakura Town. Their personnel are mostly from the 10th Division, and the team leader is 5th Seat Mochizuki Fuuya, from whose mobile device the distress signal was sent.
Any captain or vice-captain who embarks on this mission will have a limiter seal placed upon them. No exceptions, as there is a significant human population nearby.

Objectives:
1. Find the whereabouts of the missing team.
2. Rescue the team, or as many of its members as possible, and arrange for its transport back to Soul Society.
3. Investigate the reason for the disappearance of their reiatsu.
4. If possible, capture/acquire it and bring it to Soul Society for investigation.
5. Avoid disturbing reiatsu patterns in the living world, or the populace of Karakura Town.

OOC Notes:
Enforcing the existence of a new day, even for those who didn’t bother to finish up whatever they were doing beforehand. Deal with it.
Gather in this thread to enlist in this mission, once enough people have signed on, we can all parade off through the gates and a new thread will be set up in the Living World for your use there. This one’s probably more for the regular seated officers, it isn’t often that captains go to the Living World, and doubly so when there’s a killer running around loose.

---

Koichi Daisuke sits atop a cardboard box at the pre-specified location near Seireitei’s official gate to the living world. He is impatient – time is of the essence; every second lost is a second where a shinigami could be killed. He holds a clipboard in his lap to record the names of those who want to enlist, and beside him lies a satchel full of headsets for use with the regiment’s mobile phones.
Behind him, members of the Kidoushuu scurry frantically to prepare the dimensional gateway that will be used for transport, though the area is otherwise empty. Note that while it may still be morning in Soul Society, it is evening already in this particular section of the Living World.

[Kaoru Miyazaki]

Kaoru continued to Shun-Pou as fast as he could possibly go, all in an attempt to arrive for the mission before he lost his chance to contribute. His thoughts were racing, though not nearly as fast as his feet were. An entire squadron of Shinigami had just suddenly disappeared and then almost two hours later, a distress signal was sent out. What on earth could have managed that?

Well, that could be found out whenever this new team arrived in the Mortal Realm. For now, all that mattered was time. They had to gather quickly and leave quickly. Their comrads could still be alive out there, waiting on their help. Finally, the Third Seat touched down in front of another Shinigami who was sitting on a cardboard box. He walked over quickly, giving his name as he did so. "Miyazaki Kaoru, Third Seat of Eleventh Division."

[DarkPulsar]

Erin quickly exited the 4th Division compound and began to head towards the main gate to the living world. Knowing that shinigami lives hung in the balance, she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, taking the quickest route she could think of. Finally arriving at the scene, she rushed over to the shinigami handling the sign-ups.

"4th Division 7th Seat, Erin Maine, here for the mission, sir."

[Aoi Innocence]

Taking the quickest route from her division to the specified location, Yukiko shunpoed to the gates as fast as possible. Thoughts were scattered throughout her entire brain. The entire squad of shinigamis suddenly disappeared and a distress signal was sent to Soul Society. This can only mean bad news. A shiver ran down her spine as she erased the thoughts from her head.

Stopping right in front of three shinigamis, Yukiko walked past the other two and to the one sitting on the cardboard box. " Hiyashiwa Yukiko, Fifth seat of Third Division." She stated firmly, looking the shinigami right in the eye.

[Shdo]

He waited on the top of the 6th division roof, waiting for her to come and greet him. And then she came, washing the night and darkness away and filling the world with her bright light, he bowed his head in return at the sun and bathed in the warmth that filled the air.

A shadow came and interrupted the brilliant display of light, it was a hell butterfly.
"The real world…" Ezzo never was to the real world, which interests him enough so that he went back to his room at the basement and took his shinigami uniforms and Zanpakutou as well as a big bag with oval items.
He headed to the portal.

Ezzo arrived at the portal, a man was sitting and taking names of the shinigami who would go, "Ezzo coatl, 4th seat of the 6th division," he sniffed at the other shinigami's, it was a new scent.


(since this and the fury thread are parralel (i preffer to see it as a filler actually) Ezzo dont know neither of you and the same goes the other way)

[Unicorn]

@ Shdo - so to clarify, Ezzo doesn't know all the shinigami on this mission?

...

Sayuri managed to find the mission meet-up point only by asking various people. Trust the cow to send me off on something without the proper information. She looked around at the small group around the gate, and walked up to the shinigami with the clipboard.

"Himura Sayuri, 5th Seat of 4th Division." She announced herself softly with a slight bow. "I'm reporting for the mission, Sir."

She waited until her name was recorded before turning around to bow politely at the rest of the group.

"I am looking for the 7th Seat of 4th Division. Could she please speak to me?" Sayuri asked, then waited.

[DarkPulsar]

Erin bowed lightly at the mentioning of her name, stepping forward.

"I'm here. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Himura," she said. "My name is Erin Maine. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble by rushing off so quickly like I did. I guess I just got a bit excited when I realized I'd be going on my first mission."

[Unicorn]

"Himura Sayuri." Sayuri introduced herself again, then motioned for the other girl to step aside from the main group.

"You forgot your medical pack." Sayuri handed it over. "It contains mission supplies for healers on the field, as we don't have easy access to a medicine cupboard. Carry it with you at all times, and use the contents carefully."

"I am carrying an additional satchel. It contains medicines and herbs, and it is not part of the standard medical pack. Please do not use the contents of the satchel, only I understand what the various pills and powders are for."

Sayuri paused to look at the girl a little more carefully.

"You're the new 7th Seat? Welcome. Did you come from another Division or from the Academy?"

[DarkPulsar]

"Oh goodness, thank you so much! I can't believe I forgot my medical supplies!" she chastized herself. "I'm sorry, it's so unlike me to forget things." She reached inside of her robe, pulling out a small notepad and a pen, taking notes. Do not forget medical supply pack. Very important. You're a healer first, not a fighter and you'd best remember that, she wrote down.


"Thank you, again. I'm fresh out of the academy. Just a couple of weeks really. I have no idea how I've been assigned to a seated position already, but I'm counting my blessings, and hoping not to let down whoever's had their eye on me. I also tend to ramble when I'm nervous. Which I am. First mission jitters and all," she said with a nervous laugh. She placed her notepad back into her robes, slinging her medical supply pack over her right shoulder.

[halfnhalf]

A voice came from behind the group yet adjacent to the shinigami taking role.

"Erin Maine? Now that name is familiar though I don't expect you to know me."
Kotone let a pause take over for a moment before continuing.

"My name is Ishikifuma Kotone Hakachi...well...Kotone for short, I just graduated from the academy myself. I saw you around there but never got the nerve to talk to you...but here I am ready to take on a mission...actually one of my first ones."
Kotone waited for that to sink in; in the meantime he would go register for the mission.

Though he cared about the lives of his fellow shinigami, Kotone had no interest in going to the real world...that is until he was ordered to. His captain...a very old and wise man...who shall remain unnamed for now...had told Kotone that the 7th division was not recognized at all compared to the other divisions. So in order to boost the reputation and make those shinigami recognize the 7th division, Kotone was sent as a sort of diplomat although he was determined to pay full attention to the mission.

He walked up to the shinigami taking role. "I hope I'm not too late...looks like five people are here...with me its six." Kotone took on a look of seriousness now and looked the shinigami dead-on "Ishikifuma Kotone Hakachi, 7th division fourth seat!"

[Mystic Serenade]

Mai walked down the streets until she eventually reached the sign-up area. She raised up a hand and looked down and sighed, "12th Division, unseated, Hanazuki Mai reporting."

*Earlier that day*
After the events that had occurred in Hueco Mundo, Mai had returned to her quarters immediately and decided to shower and then sleep, sleep a lot. When she woke up the next day she felt entirely refreshed and ready to sleep even more later. However such plans were ruined once she came to view a little note that was left attached to her door. It read "There's a mission going to the living world and it's pretty safe. Find interesting stuff kay." and featured a small drawing of her captain's head and a hand giving a peace sign.

She had stared at it blankly for a few moments before ripping up the note violently and making various hissing noises. Afterwards she begrudgingly walked off to sign up for the mission. My day of rest... she cried inwardly the whole time she walked to her destination.

[Dizzy]

Koichi greeted each newcomer in turn as they arrived, one by one, at his post. As he jotted down each volunteer's name and rank, he carefully inventoried the regiment he had to work with.

Right, so that's one 3rd seat, two 4th seats, two 5th seats, a 7th seat, and one unseated to fill in for our researcher? Two healers too, which is probably for the best. Could've used a vice-captain to lead us, but this should be more than satisfactory. I just hope we're not too late.

The Kidoushuu members had prepared the portal efficiently enough, and as the gaping gateway opened into the senkaimon, the void between dimensions, Koichi stood and faced the team.

"Alright, listen up!" he barked, reminiscent of an army sergeant. "Our first and foremost objective is to locate the missing shinigami and secure their passage back to Soul Society. Once that has been completed, we are to find out the cause of their reiatsu signatures' disappearance.

I assume that you all have already received briefing on the situation when you got the message. As further briefing will be given to us on the fly, everybody needs to pick up a headset - " at this, he pointed to the pile sitting in the satchel beside him " - for their mobile devices."

He demonstrated by plucking a headset out of the bag and plugging it into his own, and then motioned for everybody present to do the same.

"Once we are in the Living World," he began once more, "we will split up and fan out from our starting position in order to find the missing shinigami. Use your headsets to keep the rest of your team informed on any new developments. Purify any hollow that tries to interfere, and do not interact with any nearby humans."

He paused for emphasis, one hand resting on his zanpakuto. "Time is short, so unless there are any questions, we'll depart immediately."

[DarkPulsar]

Erin looked at Kotone, vaguely remembering having heard of him in the academy, though couldn't remember ever having contacted him before. She nodded politely at him, too focused on the mission that was about to begin to come up with a proper greeting.

Erin took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She looked a bit different when she re-opened them. More determined, resolute. Exhaling, she walked over and picked a headset out of the satchel, plugging it into her mobile device. That accomplished, she stood ready to depart.

[Aoi Innocence]

Plugging the headset into her mobile device, Yukiko focused her eyes forward and let out a sigh.

'Let the mission begin...

[Shdo]

The noisy mammal barked like a dog but Ezzo didn’t listened to him, something else caught his attention…the new girl had a tail, and cat ears and paws…could she be a agent of the 'cat'? (Something from the previous mission) if so then he will need to dispose of this 'finger'.

The rest of the shinigami started to take headsets from the pile, so Ezzo did the same and as he passed beside Mai he released a subtle hiss of displeasure at her.
she dosnt smell like a cat but if he want to be assured it will be best if she would be...disposed.

[Kaoru Miyazaki]

Kaoru walked over and retrieved a headset from the bag, stepping back so that the others could get their own. He plugged it into his mobile and slipped it on over his hair and head. After a moment, he took it off. "This won't do..." The shinigami then pulled a hairband from within the kimono of his shihakusho. His long hair would just get in the way if he attempted to wear the headset over it. So he gathered his hair between his hands and put it up in a ponytail, instead of letting it flow freely down his back. Then he replaced the headset, completely ready to depart with the others who had appeared for this mission.

[Unicorn]

Sayuri was about to advise Erin on general mission behaviour when she was rudely interrupted by another shinigami... seemingly also a fresh graduate.

She considered interrupting their conversation when the shinigami with the clipboard began to speak. Sayuri listened carefully. Situation briefing when the message was sent? She didn't tell me that! She calmed slightly when the man said they'd be given another briefing during the mission and told them to collect a headset.

Sayuri walked closer to the man and collected her headset. Then bowed slightly.

"Sir, may I please have a list of the shinigami attending this mission? I would like to report it back to 4th Div and for my own reference, in case we may require medical assistance later."

[Mystic Serenade]

Mai took notice that the giant lizard man had let out some sort of hiss at her. She replied by giving him the finger and waving it angrily for a few seconds. Reaching into one of the bags to take a look at one of the headsets, she figured it was too much trouble attempting to get the thing on her head. So she tossed it and fished out the custom one she used when she got stuck on communications duty. She clipped the small speaker in the shape of cat's head at the base of her ear and walked towards Koichi.

She pulled on his sleeve, "Hey, what's the frequency we're using for communication?"

[Dizzy]

Koichi waited as two of the shinigami in his team chimed in with questions. That was good, he thought, he'd have been worried if there hadn't been any at all. On the other hand, the researcher with the cat ears and the giant lizard - he checked himself to make sure he wasn't seeing things - had already found a mutual animosity. Just great.

"Right," he said to the first request, rummaging through his pockets for a slip of paper. Tearing a scrap off, he copied the names down from his own roster and handed it to the healer. "Here you go."

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7492/teamrostercopyca2.png

He noticed that the cat-girl had randomly thrown her headset into the grass and sighed, she was definitely going to be trouble. The researcher pulled out a set of her own, probably to fit her weird ears, and as if he hadn't see her toss the headset out, came to ask him what the communications frequency was.

"Should be 238.5," he said nonchalantly. "And could you pick that up and put it back? It's expensive, so we can't just leave it lying around there."

[Mystic Serenade]

"Should be 238.5," he said nonchalantly. "And could you pick that up and put it back? It's expensive, so we can't just leave it lying around there."

"Uh-huh, gotcha," she said as she adjusted the frequency on her mobile. She took a look at the headset in the grass. Then took note of how far away it was, so shot a small byakurai at it, "Oops too bad, doesn't look like it works anymore."

That done, she started to walk towards the back of where the group was standing.

[Shdo]

"Cute," Ezzo snarled at the exhibition of firecrackers that the feline did, "if we are done playing with 'Whose reproductive organs are bigger', can we start with this mission? The sooner we finish the sooner we can go back."

[Dizzy]

... Did she just ...

Whose brilliant idea was it to send her on this mission? Lives at stake and she can't bother to pick up a headset? Who even let her become a shinigami?

Ugh, if we had the luxury of another researcher, I'd get rid of her right here and now. But for lack of another punishment, I'll make her pair with the lizard when we split up.

Speechless, Koichi glared at the insolent girl, who was already pretending she hadn't done anything. He'd let her find out that the headset she'd just destroyed was worth more than an entire month of her pay later.

He let out an exasperated sigh and turned to the gateway. "Well, if there's nothing else, let's get a move on already."

Beckoning with a wave of the hand for the others to follow, Koichi tread over the marbled-floor and arrived at mouth of the gate. The senkaimon before them was stark white, lit brightly by a nonexistent source. On the other side was the feudal-styled gate that was the entrance to the living world.

A slight weight on his fingernail indicated that a hell butterfly had touched down upon it, allowing him passage through. With a nod from the Kidoushuu member standing in front of the opening, he stepped through the gate, unsheathing his zanpakuto to unlock the other one, and burst into the outskirts of Karakura Town.

[DarkPulsar]

Erin ignored the bickering of Mai and Ezzo, thinking it best not to get involved. She checked to make sure she had everything. Notepad, medical supply pack, mobile device, zanpakuto. Everything was in order. Deciding it was best to simply move on, she stepped towards the gate, gracefully lifting an index finger, which a hell butterfly quickly perched itself upon. With a final look back towards Soul Society, she stepped into the gate and began to run.

[Aoi Innocence]

Nodding her at the commands that were just spoken, Yukiko lifted her index finger in the air and watched as a jigoku-chou landed gracefully on the smooth finger. Tying her hair back. She approached the mouth of the gate and stared. Letting out a sigh, she sprinted right through, disappearing from the sight of the other shinigamis.

[Shdo]

"Finally…" Ezzo followed as soon as one of the hell butterflies sat on the tip of Ezzo snout.
It was a new thing for Ezzo, the smells were so unworldly…he would have stopped and sniff around if not the promise of reaching the real world which was far more interesting.

[Kaoru Miyazaki]

Kaoru had never been one to be involved in internal squabbles between other shinigami, so he decided not to involve himself with Hanazuki-san or Ezzo-san as they bickered at each other. He was appalled when Hanazuki-san merely destroyed the headset she'd discarded instead of replacing it within the satchell. But he kept his silence and stepped up to the gate after Ezzo-san had departed through dangai. The Third seat stood patiently until a Hell Butterfly flew down to rest upon his hand. Then he entered the portal and began a desperate dash to get through to the other side.

[Mystic Serenade]

Meh, time for another not so happy experience

As the hell butterfly fluttered in front of her, she simply walked behind it and followed it into the gate.

[Unicorn]

Sayuri received the slip of paper with a bow of thanks. Then busied herself with fitting on the communications headset when she felt and saw a burst of byakurai. What...

She watched the culprit simply act as if it happened everyday, and saw the annoyed expression on Koichi's face. The cost of the destroyed equipment had to come from somewhere and Sayuri had a pretty fair idea who was paying for it. Especially with witnesses around.

The Team Leader then announced that they were moving out. Hell Butterflies fluttered over and assigned themselves to each shinigami. Sayuri watched how Erin reacted and was pleased that the girl had settled down somewhat.

She held out a hand for one Butterfly to land on, then started whispering information on the mission personnel - names, ranks and divisions.

Once Sayuri stepped foot on the other side of the gate, the Hell Butterfly fluttered back through the closing gates, carrying the information directly to 4th Division as she ordered.

She smiled slightly. If everything went bad, 4th Div would already have the mission personnel's information and could react accordingly.

[halfnhalf]

Kotone instantly found out the troubles of his disability on that day. Being deaf he had experienced sch difficulties with hell's butterfly's before not to mention that he couldn't understand the weird lips of the lizard. You see, Kotone reads lips to understand what people can say, after a few years he became an expect...but only with human lips. Since his mission handler or "leader" had already stepped through the gate...he was unable to tell him.

Everything was just going to fast, and being as it was Kotone's first time to the real world he was unaware of the need of a hell's butterfly. Fortunately one had been prepared for him, and after observing the shinigami, he learned of the use and need of these creatures of which had caused problems for him before. Gently the butterfly landed on his hand, "Why are such delicate creatures called 'Hells' butterfly's?" he asked himself was he took his first step into the gate. It was more of a leap, a giant one in fact, and about half way into the huge blinding white light...he thought to himself...."what if it's like taking a step....what if a jump will send me somewhere else?" despite the fear...Kotone found the experience to be....exhilarating.

(occ: u guys all post when I'm just about to sleep....are all of you really in the other part of the world...or do u all just stay up late?)

[Thantos-Espada]

"What the hell is it now... i said already no visitor untill i've finished writing my Report..."

Sai was hard at work, for once. Pen in hand filling in report of the latest goings on in the 11th division. as 6th seat he had hardly any responcibilitys. But Kaoru managed to lump paper work on him in mountain sized proportions.

"Sir, message received From HQ... a shinigami recon team has gone of the scope, and all officers no matter the seat have been called to help in this dilema, should i tell them your not going...?"

Sai lowered his head, his thing hair changing from silvor to a moave red. as the pen tip bent and snapped onto the paper spilling ink.

"Why Didn't You say this Earlier!"

Sai bounced onto his desk, Grabbing henna as he leapt past his Div member into the corridoor. instantly bounding down steps and through doors as the power beam of sunlight smashed against his head like a brick.

Sai stared into the light his white eyes reflecting the sun, as he began to Shun-pou through the streets, odd that for once he wasn't on the roofs.

"Damn it, i'm gonna be late... god save me from the boring paper work! and i'm gonna miss my chance of escape..."

Sai skidded round the corners kicking up dust nearly 10 meters into the air. his Rietsu slowly pumped into his legs making them move faster and more controled. as he sped towards the meeting area.

[Unicorn]

ooc: Not sure if I can interrupt mission 1C with hell butterflies, so will keep this message here.

...

Back in Soul Society:

The Communications Office released Hell Butterflies to the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eleventh and Twelfth Captains and Vice Captains updating them of their personnel status in the Real World Mission, and requesting permission to send reinforcements.

"Maine, responding to Soul Society," she said. "As per our current situation, we've retreated further into the forests. Koichi Daisuke, Third Seat of Sixth division, and former leader of the investigation squad, elected to stay and engage the vastorode in combat to allow us to escape. All we know about his current status is that by the bursts of reiatsu we can feel, he is still alive, and likely engaged in combat. As the enemy is vastorode class, without reinforcements he will almost surely be killed," she said almost callously. "Reinforcements needed. Orders, Soul Society? Maine, over."