It was a sunny day in the netherworld, the Soul Society. It was actually outrageously hot, especially for it being early spring. The wind was blowing gently, carrying with it not only freshness but the cries and shouts of glee of the spirit residents. Rukia Kuchiki walked with a bounce in her step and a smile on her lips through the dirt roads, elation in her every move.
"Rukia!" Someone shouted and Rukia grinned at once, knowing fully well who it was. She turned and waved, only to get smacked upside the head by her old friend. She was still in a state of shock as the usual brown eyes, crimson hair and bandana appeared in her, still slightly wavering, vision.
"What the…" Rukia mumbled, violet eyes wide and unseeing for a few moments before narrowing dangerously. "WHAT THE HELL- WHY DID YOU JUST HIT ME!" She shouted loud enough that everyone in Soul Society must have heard her. Renji just scowled and rolled his eyes. "Pig-headed bastard!" Rukia shouted once more and gave him one great smack with her hand, the space between his chin and ear marred a light red.
"Ya' Idiot!" Renji growled, grabbing the Shinigami by the upper arm. "I have been calling you for the past twenty minutes, trying to get ya' to turn around!" Renji huffed, his voice low and rushed. Rukia stayed in a slightly paralyzed form, her eyes round in a mild surprise.
"Why?" She inquired, seemingly calmed down.
"'Cause there's a Captain and Vice-Captain meeting in ten minutes." Renji explained as they slowly started walking down the path. Rukia gave a little 'oh' before stopping.
"Wait-then why am I needed?" She asked, almost utterly confused.
"'Cause Captain Jushiro Ukitake requested that you substitute as the position of Vice Captain for any and all meetings that request their presence." Renji explained as they turned the corner into another, more solid path.
"What is the meeting going to be about?" Rukia asked, puzzled.
The Soul Society 13 Court Guards had been swamped over the Winter War, although it was a mere two or three months away. A lot of problems had arisen, some large and others quite miniscule. It didn't help with the building tensions and the mounting suspicions. The Seretei was still trying to rebuild itself, the occupants in the Rukongai had no idea, and maybe that was the worse part. All those souls were in danger, they didn't know why and it wasn't their fault.
"Well, someone has important information about a new enemy, supposed to be real dangerous." Renji said casually as he stretched. Rukia glanced at the road and then her childhood friend, face warming considerably. Renji's well-toned muscles flexed as he stretched, marred by some old, faded scars and his black tribal tatoos. Renji seemed to sense this and looked at his petite friend, puzzled.
"So," Rukia cleared her throat, "What enemy?"
"I dunno, but it's a little odd, dontcha think?" Renji muttered, looking down at the path.
"How so?" Rukia asked, looking ahead. She seemed a little lost in thought, so Renji paused for a while before continuing.
"It's sort of a renegade Shinigami that brought this to our attention, he's not even seated yet he has all of this information…" Renji thought aloud. Rukia had to agree with the thought, and actually stopped.
"Wait, what time until the meeting begins?" She asked, the fact suddenly dawning on her.
"Oh, Shit!" Renji cursed as he lunged towards Rukia. He grabbed her by the arm and began to take off. "It's gonna start in ten minutes and we still have a fifteen minute walk!" Renji shouted as they zoomed through the path. Rukia could do nothing but bob her body up and down and let out little strangled sounds of discomfort as she was literally dragged through Seretei.
In about five minutes or so, the Sixth Squad's Lieutenant and the adopted Kuchiki royalty made their way into the meeting quarters. The only people outside, thankfully, were Ukitake and Shinsui, who seemed to be…well, to be perfectly honest, Renji didn't want to know what they were doing so pressed up in a slightly hidden corner of the small building. He let go of Rukia, who flopped to the ground.
"Oi!" Renji hollered, making Rukia jump. "Get your ass off the ground and let's go inside already!" Renji scowled at the petite Shinigami who turned a few shades of red before returning to her original tone.
"ltgfm…" Rukia mumbled, turning away.
"Huh?"
"Let go of me…" Rukia whispered, tugging at her arm that was being held up against Renji's chest. Renji completely deadpanned, his eyes following the pale arm's length until he caught sight of his own hand pressing Rukia's against his chest.
"OH!" Renji shouted and let go of her hand immediately.
"All right, you love birds, c'mon, the meetings about to start!" Shinsui said with a large grin as he surprised the duo. "Well, what are you two waiting for? Lets go!" He grinned as he shoved them in.
"Take your own advice." Ukitake said, a frown present on his features. "Well?"
"C'mere!" Shinsui said as he grabbed Ukitake, tucking him under his robed arm. "Alright, I'll let you go off with a warning for looking too damn cute, but next time I'm gonna' punish you for showing that face in public, knowing what it does to me!" Ukitake laughed and they entered the meeting room.
…
The meetings hadn't even started when Rukia and Renji stumbled in the room. They went into their designated areas, their spot below the Captain's. A few awkward glances later, the meeting started and the rest of the captains and lieutenants filed in. After a few minutes of muttering to each other, the room went deathly silent as Captain-Commander Yamamoto opened the two main doors and entered.
"Captain and Lieutenant class that stand before me, a new enemy has arisen, one that has been lurking in the shadows of Our World and that of the world of the living." Yamamoto said, his voice booming eerily around the walls of the vast room. "Though they had at some point been under close surveillance, it seems as if they have decided their fate once and for all."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Said a deep, rich voice as the doors opened once more. "But some kids out there were pestering me so…"
"No, not, it's fine, I was about to introduce you. Everyone, this is Katsurou, the informer."
Everyone now turned and looked at the man who had been standing slightly awkwardly at the doorway. He was tall and lean with slightly spiky dark brown hair, chocolate eyes and thin lips that were twisted into a slight smirk. The only thing that marred his handsome features was a scar, slightly jagged, that stretched out from his left eyebrow to his cheekbone. He wore a nicely trim suit-a dark gray, with a thin black tie and a strap across his chest that seemed to hold some kind of sack on his back.
"Hello, My name Is Katsurou and I am here to tell you about this new, forbidden breed that will endanger Seretei and the human world." Katsurou said frankly. "And it all starts off with an old race that was supposedly wiped out over 200 years ago…"
