The Return (Open)

The night air was cool; the spring had begun to bring heat, but the night always brought in a cool change. Soft caressing wind blew lazily between buildings, houses and people. The oddly futuristic buildings that had sprouted up, rock steady and freakishly uniform and clean. The sun was on the brink of setting and Karakura Town was a bustling center of activity. From his vantage point on the tallest pillar of the bridge linking one side of Karakura Town to the other, Sadaharu surveyed the sprawling mass of human settlements.

Dark pools of emotional solidity swept slowly from place to place. Following one human here, another there. Street lights were already beginning to come alight. Cars drove about, carrying their inhabitants home. Almost all of them without a clue about the coming storm. The bleak future filled with death, torment and suffering. Brushing long red hair from his eyes, Sadaharu stood. Careful to conseal his Reiatsu, Sadaharu brewded over the massive changes to the World of the Living in the past 250 years. To think that Human's were now more then aware of those of the Spiritual Worlds and were now living for several hundred years... It was enough to make his head spin. But then he had heard whispers; echoes from crushed Hollow and aspicious Shinigami alike. There were new Spiritual Beings among them now. And so many beings of power all centralised around one point!

Readjusting his belt and dusting off his backside, He crossed his arms and turned to the other side of the large concrete pylon. Scuffing the toe of his shoe on its smooth surface, Sadaharu sighed. Everything most certainly wasn't the same as it was when he came here as a Captain. Closing his eyes, he slowly relived his final moments as a Shinigami. The time he spent fighting and mastering his hollow. The countless years spent in the Arctic Circle, spending as much time away from human settlements as he
could, whilst learning how to use his new Vizard powers. It had all been so he could learn how to defeat Aizen. But he was dead and gone. The burning fury that bubbled inside of Sadaharu for so long had been unwillingly quenched. Balance must be kept.

Sadaharu had no purpose now except to live and protect as many humans as he could.

Sitting on the edge of a rooftop, Mayonaka watched the sun as it descended towards the horizon in its regular daily ceremony. Traffic in town was getting lighter as night approached, things were settling down slightly in Karakura. It was a nice sight, the peaceful city at night. And so he would make sure that it stayed peaceful, no matter the cost. For now all was well, and Mayonaka could enjoy the sunset. After the sun had left the world for another day, when the creatures of the night started to come out from hiding, Mayonaka would begin patrolling the city, making sure nothing was wrong.

A bird flew overhead. Mayonaka sat and watched as the sun got lower and lower, the sky turning beautiful different shades of colour. After a few minutes it was over though. It would seem that true beauty was never permanent, that it always went away after but a short moment. Though, if beauty was seen very often, it would stop seeming so very beautiful. And so Mayonaka did not complain when a thing of beauty left the world.

With the sun gone for the day, Mayonaka began his patrol. Staying at the same altitude he was at, and with reishi under his feet to serve as a ground to walk upon, Mayonaka started walking about casually. He was not looking for anything in particular, just anything that he may spot that was out of the ordinary. Would anything be found on this night?

Zat. Sadaharu's feet landed softly on the next rooftop. The way in which he moved now was different. His body naturally taking to the new Hollow based Shunpo. Sonido was similar yet fundamentally different; it felt different, but didn't seem to be. Odd. Sadaharu didn't think he could make himself use Shunpo unless he concentrated on doing so.

Zat. Alighting on the edge of a large smooth structure on the outskirts of the main business district, Sadaharu came to abrupt halt. It was like the hint of a smell on a breeze. The faintest inkling of Reiatsu, carefully and assumable unconsciously consealed. It felt like home. Shinigami for sure. Just the tiniest taste in the air. You had to be aware of these things as a Vizard. You don't know when the next attack could come from. Being factionless was hard. You had few allies and far too many people out there looking to chop heads. Allowing the breeze to tug at his clothing, Sadaharu crept closer to where he felt the pressure.

Up. Up, up up. Always, the Shinigami loved being high. It was a sensible thing of course. But sometimes, it made Sadaharu wonder whether it was an instinctual superiority thing as well. He himself felt guilty of it most of the time. Although, Karakura Town did have amazing views from up high. There, moving patiently from building to building, all the while keeping a look out on his surroundings was a Shinigami. His dark hair ruffled slightly by the wind, he was casually making his rounds. It made Sadaharu smile. Then the Soul Reaper shifted. A glimpse of a white band on the upper arm. Sadaharu's brows drew down. Surely this guy couldn't be looking for him. Soul Society had changed, but they weren't stupid enough to send a Fuku-Taicho to confront him.

Zat. Sadaharu moved slightly further away but still kept an eye on the young Vice Captain. He may just be on patrol in the Human World as part of his duties. He may not be also. The badge looked as if it had the 5th Squad's symbol on it. Not unusual to see a 5th Division Shinigami here, but why one of such a level? No matter. Even if he did sense his Sonido's Reiatsu, if he was dumb enough to try and attack, Sadaharu would deal with him in short order.

It was slightly windy at this height. Looking around at the ground below him between the buildings as well as on the roof tops, Mayonaka made sure nothing bad was going on involving spiritual beings. If a hollow so much as dared to come anywhere near this city, he would make sure that they realized their mistake. Humans had their own problems, they did not need to have other problems added to their lives by things that they, for the most part, could not even see or hear coming. Such a thing just wasn't fair. And so here he was to even the odds.

Mayonaka was well aware that he didn't need to patrol the city. There were always some good uses for a Vice Captain, but sometimes he liked to come to the city, making sure that nothing went wrong. Sometimes, especially with such a big, and popular, city, something might decide to come to the city, something that the regular Shinigami of the area couldn't handle. If such a thing were to ever happen, Mayonaka would make sure that he would stop them, no matter the cost. At the very least, he could stall them until such time as a Captain could show up, if the being was too great for him. He would see them brought to justice, one way or the other.

Not slowing his pace, so as to not seem suspicious, Mayonaka's attention was momentarily taken away from watching the city streets below him as he heard a noise. It was a sound that he was familiar with, that he believed he knew. Sensing the reiatsu from it only confirmed what he already knew. A sonido, close by. Sonido, it meant that a relatively high class Hollow was nearby. This was why he patrolled Karakura, things such as this happened.

Looking over at the direction he had heard and sensed the sonido from, Mayonaka was slightly surprised to see a man not only wearing human clothes, but having just used sonido to get further away from him. If he had wanted to cause trouble, he would not have tried to evade him. Unless he was weaker than him, and knew it. Mayonaka couldn't help but think of a saying he had heard before:"Assume makes an ass out of you and me." A vague assumption based nowhere in reality could not be trusted. Halting his step, he turned to the direction of the man. With his right hand resting on his Zanpacto, Mayonaka flared his spiritual energy momentarily, never taking his eyes off the man. That should grab his attention, he thought. Not sure of what the man may do, he waited to see a response.

The young Lieutenant turned at the feeling of Sadaharu's Sonido. He tsked under his breath. He knew that the fellow would feel it. He wanted the fellow to feel it. But what he did in response was reckless and ridiculous. The Shinigami actually had the GAUL to release his Spiritual Pressure! Ha! Sadaharu's brow furrowed as the young fool actually placed his hand on his Zanpakuto.

Who teaches these kids these manners? Running a hand through his hair, Sadaharu very briefly mulled over what to do. The corners of his mouth raised as he let the torrents of his spiritual pressure rush out. Allowing equal measures of the deep and heavy feeling Hollow Reiatsu to mingle with the more silky, pure Shinigami Reiatsu. Well, that was at least how Sadaharu considered it. The air around him seemed to shiver. Undoubtedly, releasing so much Reiatsu would bring Hollows and other beings alike, but Sadaharu had to have a firm hand. As briefly as his Reiatsu was released, it stopped. There and gone within a heart beat. That was all he needed to do to display the difference in power between the two.

He need not rest his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto. Sadaharu was more then confident in his abilities with his Hand to Hand combat. He was certain that up to a point, he could handle the Vice Captain without having to draw his sword. But he very much doubted it would come to that. Visibly making himself relax, Sadaharu steeled himself. He coiled tightly, like a spring, and prepared himself for the worst, while making himself appear to take on a swaggering demeanor and relaxed, confident air. He stared at the Shinigami with a bland disinterest, whilst absorbing as much information from the appearance of the fellow as he could. With the sun now fully set, the air was becoming much cooler and the light was obscured by the twilight mixed with the faint glow from the street lights.

The wind continued to tug at Sadaharu's shirt, throwing his hair back in one stream lined direction. He didn't intend on being the first to speak, and if the Shinigami turned and went, even if he did report back to Soul Society that Sadaharu had been sighted, that was just fine.

As the man showed his spiritual energy for an ever short moment to him, Mayonaka couldn't help but be taken aback by it. His Reiatsu was a combination of both Hollow and Shinigami. A monstrous thing, and he could tell that the man before him had greater spiritual energy than himself. What stood before him was some kind of monster, at one point having been a God of Death, or at least having become somehow infused with one.

This man before him used Sonido, and had a Zanpacto. He had Reiatsu of Hollow and that of Shinigami. He wasn't reaching for his Zanpacto, meaning that he was confident enough that he wouldn't need it. Whether that would be a mistake for him Mayonaka wasn't sure. It was quite possible that he didn't need it. Taking the pose of being ever relaxed, not getting into a stance to fight. This man was much too cocky to just be stupid. He was cocky because he could afford to be, because he was a fighter of probable greater skill than Mayonaka.

Mayonaka had never shown fear on his face ever, it was not in his nature to be fearful of an opponent. Although, that was not to say that he didn't make well thought out decisions about fighting. It was quite possible that this man was an opponent at the level of a Captain. Fight or Flight, now was the time to decide. It was important to decide quickly and not show the man any signs of indecision or fear. Looking the man in the eyes, Mayonaka spoke in his usual rather casual voice, not showing any signs of weakness.

"Hello, I am Vice-Captain of the fifth squad of the Gotei 13, Mayonaka. If I might be so kind as to ask, who are you?" Mayonaka never looked away from the man, though he bowed slightly to him, his body straight with his right hand not grabbing his Zanpacto, but resting on the hilt. Straightening his body, Mayonaka was not in a fighting stance, but was alert of his surroundings, should he have to react quickly to something. Judging from the relaxed nature of the man though, he would more than likely not have to fight him unless Mayonaka struck first.

So, Seireitei isn't full of fools after all? Sadaharu thought to himself with wry humour. This Vice Captain, Mayonaka, knew when he shouldn't be rash. He would go far with the Thirteen. He instilled in Sadaharu a small sense of respect for the fellow. He knew that if he chose to, Sadaharu could make things very messy very quickly, but he didn't rush in to attack with an over bearing sense of honour or recklessness. He at least had a vague idea of what Sadaharu was but chose to live instead of dying. And on top of it all, he was even courteous! Amazing.

Mayonaka straightened after a small bow, body still slightly rigid; ready yet non-confrontational. What do I call myself now? I suppose Shinigami are still big on titles. Sadaharu returned the slight bend of the hips, it was always good to be courteous. "I am Sadaharu Ibaraki, Ex-Captain of the Seventh Squad. What might you be doing here in the World of the Living, Mayonaka, 5th Division Fuku Taicho?" Mayonaka still had his eyes fixed on Sadaharu's. It was good that he looked him in the eye. It showed that even though he may be afraid, he had his fear tightly reined. It filled Sadaharu with a sense of pride that Seireitei still had competent people within their ranks.

The breeze now turned cool was becoming slightly more vigorous. He pushed trees around down below and whipped hair clear away from faces. Sadaharu's human clothes styled in that of the early 2000 style were pushed tightly against his finely muscled body. He still found it odd that even though he was in a Gigai, he was still able to summon his Zanpakuto and use his Shinigami and Hollow abilities. One of the strange gifts bestowed upon him during his Hollowfication he supposed. What ever the reason, it made things easy to blend in around the humans when he needed too. Even if they looked at him strangely for the way he dressed.

Sadaharu shifted slightly in the air, giving Mayonaka a quizzical look.

So he was a Captain at one point, was he? That would explain why he had room to be cocky. Mayonaka was not quite ready to even try becoming a Captain. There was an obvious gap between him and someone at Captain level. That was, if he was still at Captain level. Though more than likely he had not stopped training or making use of his skills when he left the Gotei 13. Someone of his experience level would know not to be so lax unless they could quickly snap to attention if need be.


Ex-Captain Sadaharu Ibaraki had questioned Mayonaka's intentions in Karakura. It would be simple common courtesy to answer him. "I am on an unscheduled patrol of Karakura City. Although I do not have to do this, and was not asked to do it, it lets me stand easy knowing that the city is safe; and if not, that the best thing aside from a Captain, whom cannot afford to merely patrol Karakura at will, can help protect it. Every now and then, when I find myself with time on my hands, I come to Karakura City to watch the humans have their fun, maybe watch the sun set, and lazily take a look around to make sure nothing suspicious is happening." Mayonaka took a short pause, always looking Sadaharu in the eyes but finding himself less tense. "Unfortunately, a half-Hollow Ex-Captain using Sonido within the city would qualify as suspicious." he concluded, wondering how he would respond.

Sadaharu remained casual and not in a fighting stance. It would seem he didn't want to fight, always a nice thing for Mayonaka to find out. Fighting should be a last resort anyway, he thought to himself. All it served was to destroy and tear things apart. Yet, it was always a necessary thing in life. If one could not fight, then they could not stand up for what they thought was right. Mayonaka untensed his body a bit but remained wary of Sadaharu. "And what might you be doing in the Human World, Sadaharu Ibaraki?" Mayonaka asked him.

He must have big lungs.. Sadaharu thought to himself as the Vice Captain rambled on about patrolling the city for peace of mind. It was completely unnecessary but understandable. He himself was guilty of it on an occasion or two before he became a Captain. The quip about Sadaharu being suspicious made him lower his brows just slightly. Times were changing. There was more then one side now, Mayonaka had to have known that. Many strange individuals that Sadaharu had yet to encounter but had heard whispers of. He supposed he himself may even have been one of them. But none of that was really important any more. Protecting human souls and balance was all that mattered. Realizing he had a dark look on his face, Sadaharu smoothed his features. Focus!

"Heard of the Vizard before, Mayonaka? We reside here now. Not all of us are on the same side, or fight for the same cause, but we are here. Not all of us are as bad as some of the Hollow. Keep that in mind." Sadaharu had been meaning to try and plant this seed in a Shinigami for some time. He would never go back to being a SHinigami, and he wasn't sure he wanted to, but there was a storm coming. Something on the horizon or out of sight, but he could feel it drawing closer. If he could get at least one high ranking Shinigami to have some vague idea that the remaining people like Sadaharu weren't to be feared or hunted, then the day when they would have to inevitably stand together would be much less bloody.

Pursing his lips slightly, Sadaharu squared on Mayonaka, slowly drifting closer with his arms crossed. His biceps bulging against the backs of his hands. "Tell me Mayonaka, how does Soul Society stand? I've seldom heard news and must say I'm lacking information on current plights. I can't say I even know how things are going here in Karakura Town."

Vizard, a Shinigami with the abilities of a Hollow. He had only heard stories of them, and only heard those stories very few times. He remembered the stories now though. This was the first time Mayonaka had ever met a Vizard. This man seemed to still keep a good attitude though, even with Hollow inside him he seemed to remain a good person. Mayonaka couldn't help but remember when he had met Victor. Victor had been a Hollow, an Espada actually, but had taught Mayonaka a good lesson. Do not judge people by how they look or what species they are. Judge them upon their personality and how they act. Judge them by the decisions they make, not by what they can not change.

Though Sadaharu was part Hollow, it did not mean that he was a bad person. Mayonaka could see it in him, he was good at heart. He remained a noble Captain at heart. Of course Mayonaka could be very wrong, and it was possible that Sadaharu was merely using a facade. This was the second time that he bore his weapon upon an unarmed person, whom was not even trying to do wrong. Sheathing his Zanpacto, Mayonaka trusted that Sadaharu would not do anything.

As Sadaharu drifted slightly towards him with his arms crossed, Mayonaka answered to him. "I must admit, I am not very up-to-date on the on-goings of Soul Society. Not very good for a Fuku-Taicho of the Gotei 13, but that is the way it is." he took a short pause, looking at Sadaharu."Here in Karakura though, I do know much more of what is going on. It's possible I spend a bit too much time here, to be honest. There are almost always Shinigami patrols nearby, and Low to Mid-grade Hollow are effectively kept out of the city. High class Hollow and other beings, such as yourself, have a bit more skill at getting into the city though. Nevertheless, citizens are kept fairly safe from spiritual threats here in the city. That is something I personally make sure of."