An Independent Investigation (Ottozeo/Open)

Peace... evermore it seemed a fickle thing that was destined to dry up and vanish from reality all together. The Gotei United, the World War, Demonic Invasions... each and every single one wrought during the pursuit of peace and stability between the realms. No matter who or what tried to seek it, something was always there to completely shatter that vision and bring back death and destruction. Now it was Africa that was wrought with chaos and destruction, the stench of death hung heavy in the air regardless of where she was on this continent. One didn't need sight to be able to sense the almost palpable stench of wonton death that loomed heavier than ever, a stench Fuurinji was all-to-familiar with by now. "No matter where I go... Death is always faster." She muttered to herself. One hand placed upon the sheath of her right side, she'd long since lost count of how long the war for peace raged. Never did she truly consider any of these times of peace, true peace. They were always fleeting, always disrupted by some malignant force that sought death and destruction. Was this a result of seeking peace? Or was seeking peace a result of death? Truth be told she'd begun to ask herself this question for at least a few years at this point.

Could peace be achieved? Maybe, but only if those that sought its end were removed utterly and entirely. Naught less would suffice. From humans, to hollows, to Quincy, it seemed all life was destined to try and end the peace the Shinigami fought so hard to gain. She had limited resources truth be told, and hearing of this catastrophe was more a matter of coincidence than intention. She held no ill will towards the Gotei United, but they weren't the Gotei that trained her and while they were indisputably more powerful than her Gotei, in her eyes, none of them embodied what the Gotei was at its core. If she wished to investigate what happened here however, she needed more intel a sorely lacking commodity for her, and for the most part she was willing to take the intel from nearly any source.

This was only compounded by her relatively poor ability to control Reiatsu, let alone sense it without some decent effort unless it was simply too much to ignore. Alas, her arrival did not keen her into any of these particularly powerful Reiatsu's immediately, which could only mean they were either hiding or whatever caused the catastrophe had moved on somewhere else. It didn't help that where she arrived at seemed empty, not too surprising given the circumstances truth be told. As she made her rounds in the area, paying attention to when and where she felt signs of Reiatsu, she was particularly trying to keen in on any other Shinigami signatures she could... hoping and praying she didn't find any other signatures first.

Perhaps her prayers were being answered faster than she expected, or perhaps it coincidence? Well regardless of the specifics her arrival wasn't the lone one here for long, but thankfully it was another Shinigami and not a more sinister individual. She allowed her Shunpo to carry her towards the individual, stopping about 20 meters or so away from him. "Hey you" She called out, the one hand remaining on the sheath of her blade whilst her left hand rested loose at her left side next to the other sheath. "Wakaba Fuurinji, Former Shinigami of the Gotei." She introduced herself first and foremost, ensuring the other would be aware of her affiliations.

"What can you tell me about the happenings here? The stench of death lingers more potently on this continent of recent days and I would be interested in hearing an account from a fellow Shinigami." She'd hoped the other would be receptive to her inquiry, though from what she could tell they were of similar strengths... Spilling Shinigami blood wasn't something she desired to do.

Thankfully for her this one was willing to be helpful, a tenth seat of the combat division? Was he apart of the Jūichibantai? He did have a similar smell about him, though that would make sense of course. Stronger and larger hollows? "Does the Gotei United know who caused it yet? And just who leads the Jūichibantai these days? Not a Kenpachi I hope." While she had no direct venom in her tone towards the last part, her tone did indicate she had a certain distaste for the title itself. "And these hollows, from what you say it sounds like they are Gillian-class, likely Menos Grande from Hueco Mundo yet you say they come from under the earth?" She paused, her left hand now reaching up to cup her chin as she thought to herself "But what could drive so many-" She stopped in her train of thought, before her attention returned to the man in front of her. "What of Aizen? And the Maggots Nest? Are either compromised?"

Part of her felt her fears were unwarranted... But with the Demonic Invasion being the last time she was truly apart of the Gotei, she couldn't help but fear that such a thing could be happening again under the nose of the Gotei United. "Have you fought any of these hollows that have emerged from this hole? And just who has the Gotei United sent to form its perimeter?" Menos Grande weren't easy to take down, and most were considered to be on par with Lieutenants... There were many thoughts swimming through her mind right now, though truth be told she wondered just how much a tenth seat knew.

No one?! The Juichibantai was no more? "The Yonbantai? The Combat division?" Every answer this man gave her just confused her more and more, to a very visible degree. "Then... Unohana Taicho..." She muttered to herself, starting to truly wonder what this Gotei United truly was. But his next response wasn't one that was confusing, nor was it too surprising. She expected it to still be under investigation and was glad to know she wasn't wrong this time.

If the Gotei United had restructured itself to this extent then there really was no way for her to tell how far along their investigation could've been. If it was the Juichibantai then she would've expected Zaraki Kenpachi to have been on the front lines, but if it was the Yonbantai that was in charge of the combat front then who could truly tell. Still, she didn't expect Zaraki to be dead, that man was far too cocky to die to anything less than an absolutely overwhelming power... One she definitely-... Her thoughts were instantly cut off, her head shooting up to stare towards the male as she took a single, rather large, step backwards "Sosuke... Aizen... dead?" Even if her eyes were covered by the thick black cloth, the highly raised eyebrows alone would convey the shock that now placated her face. How was that possible? Even Sotaicho Yamamoto couldn't kill him... What the hell was happening within Soul Society?!

Honestly she'd missed the part about the maggots nest, but she didn't even care at this point. How the hell was Aizen dead? Who killed him? Her mind was in a spiraling daze trying to comprehend what this man had just told her. In addition to that, the perimeter was made with unseated or low-ranking officers? Where the hell was Zaraki? Unohana? Or any of the other Taicho's for that matter? Why weren't any of them being sent? What the hell was going on?

"Truth be told I couldn't tell you where I was when I heard of the catastrophe, I'd just heard it while patrolling the region, and that I was doing because of the stench within the air though I know suspect the two things to be related at least in some minor way. Most are reacting as you might expect when things begin to suddenly explode and people start going missing." She shook her head and took a few deep breathes to steady herself. "But before any of that, Who killed Aizen? And what about the other Taicho's? Kuchiki Taicho? Unohana Taicho? Zaraki Taicho? If no one else I would expect a Kenpachi to be the first onto the battlefield of such a large event." What the hell had she missed since she left?

If the Gotei United didn't have even one of those three, the chances of having any of the former Taicho's she knew was slim to none. "What about Urahara-san or Yoruichi-san? Has the Gotei United reached out to either of them?"

Just what the hell was going on? At the very least it was refreshing to hear that most of the former Taicho's were still alive, even if some might not be on active duty anymore. Unohana not being the Taicho of the Yonbantai anymore was a bit perplexing at first, but if it'd been converted into a Combat Division then it did make sense that she would step down or be replaced. He went on to confirm that Sosuke Aizen was, in fact, dead, killed by none other than Kurosaki Ichigo himself. She had to admit, her heart did flutter just a bit when she heard that, wondering to herself just what he might've been up to at this point though that wasn't something she clung too for to long.

The Shinigami also confirmed that all of those previously mentioned by Fuu were still around, just not called upon at the moment which... if it was only small fry that would make sense. "I suppose that would explain why Zaraki hasn't made an appearance... He wouldn't be interested in small fry." She mused to herself. Upon being asked what she now planned on doing, it took her a moment or two before she could formulate a response. "Truth be told I'm not entirely sure... I want to investigate this hole still, though I'm unsure what I might be able to learn if I do so." She tapped her chin with her knuckle a few times "If the Taicho's haven't been called to arms yet, then the threat must not seem that high, going by prior protocol would suggest that this means either almost nothing is known about the hole, or the threat level of it is stupendously low. However, given what you've told me and what I have experienced personally around the area it would seem to be the former rather than the latter." The girl was clearly somewhat lost in thought as she contemplated the situation and the information learned.

"This... may sound stupid but... What about Kurosaki Ichigo? He was never one to turn away from helping those in danger, I can't help but feel like he would be the very first one at the scene... I know he was only human before, but surely even if he had passed on he would've continued on as a Shinigami no? Has he not investigated the hole? Has the Gotei United blocked him from coming? I apologize if I am asking too much of you, but the Ichigo I remember was one who would always arrive when help was needed, even if... no especially if nobody asked. If he has been there then I feel my presence would serve only to slow him down rather than aid him in any meaningful way."