The Pied Piper Cometh (Open)

As he walked along the streets they followed after him. His movemets were simply a shambling step, but they followed after him. The older ones gave him a wide berth, but these followed after him. He gave the food... he gave them treats... and he protected them when he could... so they followed after him. Two young girls much like his dead sisters clung to his hands walking at his sides, while the rest as I am sure you can guess... followed after him. It was quite ironic that was ture to see him here, if only they knew. The 'Mad Puppeteer' surronded by childern whom he had promised treats for free. The money he made was somthing that ment little to him, especially while these little ones starved. They followed up form the district in which he had been born. He knew of a candy shop in the 10th district... and it was somthing these kids could never afford. Nethier had he before he had become the 'creature' he was today. Yet here he was leading them on, like the Pied Piper in that old story the humans told. Ironically egough... compared to the dancing minstrual, the 'Mad Dog' was certianly no threat to these kids.

Ryou simply mumbled as he walked along with the group of childern he had gathered. It was not an act he did on purpose really, but somthing that had happened over a period of time. The childern of his old District, and the ones around it had come to trust him, and the gifts he brought. So they knew that when Ryou showed up that they would get somthing. Then one day he had showed up and told them to follow... tried of giving them things that were not as good, and also tried of them not having the best goal possiable. He always did his best every time he left them to give them one peice of advice, "Become like me..." He would do this pointing to his clothes and sword with a Chesire cat like grin. Then he would point to his head and say with a much more serious look on his face, "Though not like me." Most of them seem to understand. Ryou had found that becoming a Shinigami to be a quick way to change ones economic standing in this world of machines and metal. He hoped maybe there... at least engough would also find somthing differnt to put into there minds.

Soon they neared the food/candy shop and the grumbling of the onwer could be heard as a fimilar shadow stood in the door. The childern running past him to find differnt seats as the customers who were there quickly filed out. The old owner who ran the place sighed as he went to work handing out treats, or cooking up what the older kids ordered. "Same thing for yourself as usual Mad Dog?" The shop owner was probably the only person who could get away with calling Ryou that, and not get any effect. Ryou could care less anyway... the two had a gentlemens agreement. The shop onwer tolerated the kids as well as the intruppt in busniess that having Ryou around could cause. While at the same time Ryou usally paid a little extra for his troubles. As as long as the kids were fed Ryou really didn't care, plus even if this was only the 10 district... at least at this shop the kids could eat as much as they want... whatever they wanted. Much better than the small snack that were passed out form Seireitei.

Ryou's hair hung down around his face as he looked at his tea. In the liquid he swore he could see In'ei's disemboded winking and giggling back at him. Mummbling to himself softly he spoke with ammussment, "Ssilly ssword..." The Shinigami felt himself getting lost in his thoughts as well as the feeling of the tea sliding down his throat. His mind on the past, though especially the future. He knew he needed to be stronger to protecting these kids from the coming storm... there was always a coming storm. The main question was how... how... speed... Kidō... strengthing In'ei? HOW!!! The thoughts of his mind was suddenly suddenly shattered. As he heard a plate break and one of the kids started crying. He heard the voice of one of the older kids, and knew it was taken care of. Yet the shop owner didn't seem happy and so he spoke again in that cold nature of his that went right down a persons spine. Ryou sounded so much like a snake sometimes, "Don't worry... Just put it own my tab. Maybe I can get you a nicer one out of the Divisssion dining room or sssomthing...." The man shrugged an seemed to accept that... Ryou always kept his word... and paid his tab.

The 6th seat downed the rest of his tea in one gulp, as he looked back at the door. Realizing they still had a few hours, so he ordered some more. Running his fingers through his hair he crossed his legs in his chair as he felt someone pulling on his sleeve saying, "Hey Ryou do the trick... my sister hasn't seen it yet." Sighing he looked down and pulled his back over his ear to show one black eye looking down at the younger spiirt, "You know I can't do that. Remember the rule... I don't like to be ssseen." He tried to avoid other Shinigami seeing him do this... especially those were not seated. It ruined his image. He had not built the image on purpose, but felt that it should not be tarnished becuase he had his place and reputation as the 'Mad Puppeteer' or to some in the resreach division...'Dark Toymaker' and he prefered to keep it that way. Dispite the fact he was only a 6th seat. Still the boy asked, and even his sister chimed in, "Please?" It was this that he could not resist.

Shaking his head with a sigh he said, "Alright... but it must be your shadow." He had always found it so instresting how those who were so innocent held no fear of him, but those who were so guilty did. In'ei always told him he would find out the reason one day. So he looked back at the shop onwer and the man simply shrugged and stepped out the back. He didn't care to see it, as long as it didn't break anything. So Ryou said in a voice that loud egough for only mild coversation, "Ayatsuru In'ei no Ningyôtsukai." His scared hand which was rested on the hilt of his sword was soon surronded in shadows as his gloved weapon appered on it. While his Reiatsu spike would certian be sensed by any fellow Shinigami nearby... it was certianly not the type to damage the building. Ryou was holding back simply to give a magic show, and when a Chesire grin he said, "Kage no ken." With those words a tendirl came out of the shadow the Shinigami made while crouching in his chair and snaked down to the childs shadow before retreating.

Looking up for a moment he noticed what seemed to be fear in some of there eyes. It was not the emotion he wanted... and for one he saw about to cry... not what he expected. It was the reason he always seemed to have the same group... the fearful ones were weeded out. Looking at the them for only a moment he held his bladed index finger to his lips in shushing motion, before pointing at the shadow. Which with one quick movement of his fingers, and a devilish look in his eyes... it popped right out of the ground. Quickly creating a dancing shadow copy of the boy who had asked for the trick. Very soon he had the whole group laughing and cracking up again, but Ryou just hoped... that he didn't get caught. Dispite this worry the now seemingly impish Shinigami sat there crouched in his seat, entertaining childern. A certian ironic action for that of the 'Mad Dog'.

Jaeden was excellent at hiding his strength, this came in handy on days when he wandered around the Rukongai. The realm of the people, where many gathered here in this pivotal point, keeping a sake cup within his hand. He glanced on at the scenes up ahead, children were gathering. Seemed a speculation of sorts was going on, he could hear a couple voices and sense a large amount of fear. People were far to easily scared, the Captain kept his reiatsu at a zero right now. Noticing him wasn't something any of them would be able to do, not by power at least. Jaeden thought about perhaps jumping in, but it seemed the boy had things under hand. He remained leaning against the structure behind him, a finely built object. Kimiko would most likely be out searching for him, Jae had gotten into this habit of doing whatever he wanted. It was a fairly nice habit to have, his crimson eyes were hidden behind the lids for now. The habit of his made him far more alert then others, being trained blind had such fantastic results.

"What you think Seiryu, should we give him a hand and let them see a bit of our strength..I think he's got it pretty much under hand, besides I don't much care for using power against those who aren't quite at the level I am..It feels rather wrong..Seiryu, what do you think we should do in this situation. " Jaeden thought to himself, keeping a direct contact with his sword. Seiryu wasn't so willing to give opinions on these sorts of situations. These were the kind of things he and Jae both took to avoiding. But Jaeden and him needed to decide a course of action. Jaeden was at the moment keeping his reiatsu to a degree, that no one would sense it. If he decided to let it go freely, he could easily over whelm some of the people in this area. He tapped his Zanpakutō softly, this pry wouldn't even be needed for this. Jaeden smirked, picking up a wooden sword used for kendo from the nearby bench. One of the kids was a bit surprised, Jaeden brought a finger to his lips. Grinning as he walked over towards the situation now. The speculative nature was finished, now it was time to let himself be seen.

"Well..well this is an interesting sight..I think I'll jump in here..before it gets out of hand.." Jaeden's voice came out clearly, some may of known it. Some may not of, it wasn't the important part of the matter now. His reiatsu was let off the chain so to speak, the spike was pry high as his pressure was allowed to go. His Captain's haori whipped around as he walked forward. This place was in for a show, but Jaeden truly wasn't in the mood to give one. The situation looked about how it sounded, trouble and someone releasing their shikai. Or what he assumed was a shikai at least, questions and things like that would come later. He brought the kendo wooden blade to rest on his shoulder, while he waited. What would come would come, but drawing Seiryu for this would be a rather bad situation. Besides he didn't really want to kill anyone, this was just for sport and stopping things before they got to out of hand.

Ryou grinned as he let the childern play, it was really somthing that he could have set there and done all day. His fingers moved up and down, as the blades clanked together, and the invisable strings danced the shadow puppet on the end. The young Shinigami laughed softly, though even in this happy situation it came out dark. Still you could tell the 'Dark Toymaker' was enjoying himself by that Chesire grin that stayed on his face as he entertained the kids who he thought of as bothers and sisters. Well maybe that was two strong of a word, but it was close egnough. Make sure though that all would be safe he motioned for the older childern to push the chairs away form the area so they would have a bit more space for the silly game. Ryou of course no clue who was wacthing him, and frankly had he known... then the games would have stopped even quicker than they had began. Who he was to these childern, Tiacho, and his Mistresses... was a whole differnt person than he was towards the rest of the division. Even if his nature when playing pranks seemed to be quite impish. Still he kept playing his game as he softly chuckled at the site before him and soon had Sukai yelling her opinion into his head.

"You dumbass... your going to get caught if you keep playing around you know. I mean you should be training or somthing twerp... or at least get in here and let me kick the shit out of you." Yet the Shinigami simply chuckled to himself, "You think sso?" His words where spoken out loud, though in a slight mumbling voice. That is how one knew that Ryou was talking to his sword, and frankly it happened quite a lot. His bladed fingers contiuned to dance as he had some of the older childern move some of the chairs to make extra room. The little dance party contiuning on it's marry way. The last thing that Ryou needed was for someone to get hurt, but it seemed that just as the games had really began... they came to a sudden halt. The startled yelped left the raven haired male's throat the instant he felt Captian's reiatsu, "Tiacho-sama!!!" His arms pinwheeling as he fell backward out of his seat and onto the floor... only to lay there and stare up at the ceiling. Of all the people that he didn't want to see him like this... Tiacho was certian the last... yes of all the people... even the 'Mistress' would have been better than this.

It was with an annoyed sigh that he finally sat up, to let his hair fall in front of his face. He hoped for the childerns concern he wasn't in to much trouble, but doubted it. Still it was probably best that they waited inside, and with that in mind he said softly as he stood up in a voice that eerrie yet caring, "Now sstay here everyone... I will be back later." Though the kids gathered around him and especially the little boy that asked him to do the trick said, "We're sorry... please don't go... tell it was..." Yet Ryou quited the boy by ruffling his hair, "What is there to be ssorry about? We had fun didn't we?" A dark laugh escaped his throat as he turned his one visable towards the onwer who had stepped back in, "Could you do me a favor pleassse?" The man looked at him for a moment with a slightly confused looked as Ryou pulled somthing out of his sleeve in a showmen like fashion. It was a small bag, with a fancy old English tea cup. Ryou's prized possession. It was not a strange request... in fact it was one that he made without saying a word...

A mintue later the young Shinigami walked out of the shop with tea cup in hand. Drinking form it as he had one bladed finger in the air. It was more of a reflex from nerve damage than an attempt to be fancy. So there he stood staring at the captian while he drank his tea slowly. His large black eye that was visable through his hair coldly exaimed the man to figure out exactlly how much trouble he was in. From what he saw though at the moment, there was really nothing to fear. Maybe the other had simply mistaken his Shikai release for someone needing help? There could be many reasons, it was simply that Ryou hoped that they would be benign ones. After a bit he repostioned himself, by just hovering there indian style, and started to speak, "Ssso Tiacho-ssama... What bringss you all the way out here? I assume that it iss a bit more than a ssocial call?" Pausing for a moment took another sip before contiuning, "Though I don't think I am breaking any ruless." That was what shifted the nature of the way that eye studied Jaeden, "Sso Tiacho-ssama pleasse tell me? What iss it that I can do for you? Would you like me to ssend the litttle oness away, before we get down to talking? Oh and maybe you would like ssome tea also?.. I fine that tea is ssso lovely for coversationsss" Tilting his head he just stared at the larger man out of that one visable eye. One that echoed such a dark vicious monster, yet at the same time a innocent curious dog.

Jaeden glanced around, so he misread the situation everything appeared to be fine. Jaeden decided it was best that the boy didn't know that, he rubbed his chin looking over the situation with those crimson orbs. Jaeden had a house in these parts, thus him living in a fair house nearby, this was the way life was. Jaeden spun the kendo stick around and held it out to the boy. The child took it and grinned running away, he looked back to the other Shinigami in the area. So it appeared the boy was entertaining people with his Shikai, that wasn't always wise at times. People who act first could of stumbled on the situation and misread it. Jaeden smiled and opened his mouth to speak now, he would much rather just explain the situation as it was now. The wind was nice, today was a nice day after all. Tea was a lovely way to pass the day Jaeden thought to himself. So he wasn't really known as more then just Taicho-sama. That was alright, as the boy seemed to finish talking. jaeden began to say his part.

"No no, it's quite alright. Just need to be careful, was wondering why someone would have release their shikai in this area. it's had trouble with bandits and other things of the like. So I was just checking in to see what was going on, tea does sound nice. Very nice indeed, days like these should be spent enjoying ones self. "

Jaeden finished his sentence now, letting his hand tap on his belt softly, things weren't exctly going how he planned them to go so far. His crimson gaze found it's way to the crowd, things seemed to of resolved themselves here. Not that an issue existed here just yet as it was.

Ryou was delighted that Jaedan had accepted the fact that everything was fine. Though there wasn't any change of emotion on his face, that wasn't even visable save for that one eye... Ryou had still been worried that Tiacho would get mad and have him punished. Even worse than that, cause a commotion which would bother the childern. That was the last thing that he wanted was to cause more problems and get his little group of friends banned from this place. It would certianly remove that speck of delight that was in there lives. It was as eye wacthed his captian his emotionless gaze, became a curious that showed a slight sense of delight. It was sinster sense of delight, but that was simply because Ryou could express no other. The game had been played and though he had been caught, it seemed that his actions had not been for naught. Plus now with a reaction like this he knew... he could play the game again... on a day that was new. Still even In'ei could not help but to comment on the situation, "You know you need to quit being so stupid about such things... your going to get yourself in trouble, and then you will never be able to get promoted." Sighing the Shinigami spoke outloud in a muttered tone, though his annoyance with his Zanpakutō was not detecable in his voice, "Ssilence In'ei, I have the ssituuation under control."

As he listined to the words of his captian the Shinigami couldn't help his amusment, especially at the first part of Tiacho's warning. In fact it even had him and his Zanpakutō sharing a laugh inwardly... there was so much the man didn't know and if he did, well Ryou didn't know. So in his mind the game was to continue at least on that front, but he decided to make it a bit more instersting, "Really Tiacho-ssama... Banditsss... Pleasse do go on..." Ryou wanted only one thing... faces... or names. Ethier way he would be happy about it, but he also knew that he had to keep with the flow of the conversation, "Well don't you worry about usss Ticho-ssama. We have ourselvesss very well handled, when it comes to playing games with any banditss that my come along." A grin appered across his face for only a moment, before it dissapered when the topic swhiched to tea. Nodding his head he pulled the same trick as before only this time there was no special tea cup involved... only the payment to one of the childern. In order to fecth Tiacho some tea.

"It iss a very nice day indeed Tiacho-ssama..." The man paused to take a sip of his tea as he looked around and examined everyone who passed in the crowd. There was a certian look of paranioa in his eye as he did this, because Ryou was almost always on alert for some threat. The need to be prepared at almost every instant had been beaten into him by In'ei during his time spent training with her in his inner world. "Maybe almost too quite. Though it is nice that there is this ssense of calm before the ssstorm... even if there iss going to be a sstorm afterward. The peace that comess before war is alwayss the peace that is sssavored the most. Before... and after." Taking another sip he looked up at the man threw that layer of hair that layed over his face, "Sso Tiacho-ssama... sshould we take our tea time ssomewhere elsse ass to get it out of the middle of the ssstreet."