Chapter 1: The Pillar
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts."
They had found him lying in a ditch bloody and beaten, the victim of some heinous attack.
It was strange, the fact that the dark haired man possessed a zanpaktou meant that he clearly had manifested shinigami powers and yet the only blood at the scene of the crime was his. For some reason, it seemed as if he hadn't even drawn his sword against the people of Rukongai. Even for the 4th Division this reluctance for battle was baffling.
Shinigami were the ruling class of Soul Society, and even if he was not yet officially a member of their caste, for him to allow powerless miscreants to harm him was incomprehensible.
The 7th seat of 4th Division and leader of the 14th relief squad, Hanatarou Yamada didn't know what to make of the man.
Although he personally despised violence he would defend himself if it came down to it, and if the threat were to someone he cared about he would protect them at all costs.
"You're in really bad shape mister." He began "I'm afraid I'm going to have to use my zanpaktou Hisagomaru to absorb some of your wounds."
A benevolent but commanding voice called out from behind them.
"That won't be necessary."
He turned around and saw a woman with soft, gentle features and a rather unique braid going down the front of her white robe.
"C-captain! How fortunate you arrived! This man is dying, I.. I didn't know if my abilities would be enough." he stammered
"You're too modest Hanatarou!" she smiled "I am confident that you would be able to heal him, but I'm going to solve two problems at once. Please stand clear. Minazuki shall carry us back to Seretei." She said, placing her hand on the hilt of her long zanpaktou.
Captain Unohana Retsu looked into the dark cerulean eyes of the bleeding man; although he was barely alive he instantly saw the deep-seated tenderness that resided within her and was at ease.
"Devour all injuries of the flesh, Minazuki!" she cried
To those who had never seen it, the giant one-eyed manta-like creature's appearance was a little unsettling. Getting swallowed whole by it was another matter altogether. When he was finally spat out at the 4th Division's headquarters it was clear that although most of his wounds had been healed in the process, the experience was jarring enough to render him unconscious.
"He very nearly didn't make it…" Hanatarou stated
The captain knelt by the sleeping man and wiped away a spot of blood from his forehead.
"Why did you not fight?" she wondered, "You could have taken all of them with little effort."
At that moment Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu arrived with stretcher-bearers to take the man inside.
"I will put his blade in safekeeping Captain." The dutiful lieutenant said, reaching out for the oddly silver scabbard.
"Stop!" Unohana shouted suddenly
A black wave of reiatsu flared around the man, and his hand pulled the sword away from her instinctively.
"Danger…" he whispered, and was still
