Sometimes there are certain events in life that are past description, words simply fail to describe a scene or language cannot go far enough in its description. This was the feeling that came upon the Special Forces unit that came upon a sight that none of them would ever forget.
Flashback
"This meeting will come to order," a tap of a cane is heard in the captains meeting hall as the Commander-General of Soul Society Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai took his place at the head of the captains.
All of the captains present were surprised to see three other men kneeling in the back of the room near the door.
"Sotaichou, may I ask what the communications head is doing here, Captain Meetings are to be kept strictly confidential?"
The question came from the dark skinned captain of the 9th division Kaname Tousen.
"His report is the main subject of today's meeting Tousen, it is allowed. Now proceed."
The middle man of the three nodded, a holographic image of the 80th district appeared in the center of the room as the lights dimmed, "Hai Sotaichou, last night at around thirteen hundred hours my men detected an unusual drop in spiritual pressure in one of the forested areas of the 80th district in Rugonkai."
"Heh, probably a big fight went down between gangs, happens all the time," commented the large spiky haired Captain of the 11th division Zaraki Kenpahi. "What's so special about that?"
"How bothersome! To be called away from my research for something so trivial," this comment came from the rather odd faced captain of the 12th division Kurostuchi Mayuri.
"Quiet," Yamamoto commanded, "continue."
"Hai, as the first initial drop was reported, at the same time a massive spiritual pressure made itself known. While this spiritual pressure was active the spiritual pressure in the entire district began to drop."
The captains turned their heads at that. The entire district?
"Then we began to notice other spiritual pressures began simply disappearing it was as if something or someone was systematically exterminating the entire district. At the end when the pressure finally diminished we calculated that the spiritual pressures of at least 957 souls had vanished."
The room was deathly silent, 957 souls killed by one spiritual pressure? Impossible.
"…"
"…"
"Impossible," said Soi Fon Captain of the second division, "it would take a captain class shinigami to kill that many soul in one night, and even then it would take full control of his Zanpaktou to systematically butcher that many souls."
"Well now 957 souls, that'd take way to much effort," said the lazy 8th squad captain Shunsui Kyoraku, although there was a serious glint to his usually lazy good natured eyes.
"Communications officer are you sure this was the work of a single spiritual pressure," the question came from the fifth squad captain Sosuke Aizen.
"Of course Taichou, I told my men to triple check their findings and their equipment all the data came back positive this was the work of a single soul."
"Captain Mayuri, can you theorize how such a powerful soul has escaped our notice until now."
"Hmm, well without further data I cannot give any definite hypothesis, however this does seem to be an extremely violent soul," Mayuri grinned that scary look he was known for, "I find myself intrigued."
The conversation was interrupted as the door to the captains meeting hall was thrown open. All eyes were drawn to the messenger that had instantly dropped to one knee.
"What is the meaning of this?" The large captain of the 7th division growled.
"P-Pardon me Sotaichou, but a report came over from the communications division, it would seem that the spiritual pressure drop in the 80th district has halted."
Yamamoto slowly opened his brown eyes, "what of the large spiritual pressure."
"When we last had track of it, it was moving."
"What do you mean 'last had track of it' have we lost it," the captain of the communications division nearly shouted at the messenger. The messenger cringed, "I'm sorry taichou, we did not know what had happened, one moment it was there moving at a steady pace, then it simply decreased and nearly vanished."
The captain of the communications growled in his throat, "in what direction was it last heading."
The messenger gulped, "it was heading directly on a collision course for the Northern gate of Soul Society."
A profound stillness settled over the captain's hall.
"Well now it looks like we have something of a monster on the loose," came the ever calm reply of the 6th squad captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Communications Chief," the Sotaichou said slowly bringing all attention back into focus, "exactly how strong was this spiritual pressure at its peak?"
The Communications Chief took a long slow breath.
"It fluctuated at various times but at its peak almost as strong as you Sotaichou."
?
"Impossible, no Shinigami has ever generated Spiritual pressure at that level after being brought here, besides this there has been no report from the human world of any Captain or foot soldier performing a Soul Konso with that high of a pressure," objected the 3rd Division captain Gin Ichimaru.
This statement sent many heads nodding, while all captains present abhorred paperwork, anyone would have noticed a report of a soul with that kind of power.
"Sotaichou," Unohana Retsu the 4th division broke the silence, "I wish to take my division and search for survivors in the 80th district. We have a duty to those people after all."
"Until we know more of the situation that would be too risky," the old general replied although he understood her desire perfectly.
Unohana Retsu had the gentlest soul among them all; some even described her as an angel of mercy. In his entire acquaintance with the 4th squad captain he had only seen her get angry once. It was not pretty. As Unohana's face fell Yamamoto continued, "Therefore Soi Fon you are ordered to take the Special Forces squads and scout the 80th district of Rugonkai and report back at the earliest moment when the 4th may join you. Go"
"Hai," the 2nd Captain Flash stepped out of the meeting hall. Unohana nodded gratefully at the Commander. Yamamoto turned his eyes back to the rest of his captains.
"The rest of you keep your divisions on high alert, we do not know what this Ryoka will do, and you will receive updates as necessary, but above all keep your forces ready to move."
"Hai Sotaichou," was the general response.
The old general glanced around at the determined faces of his captains secretly glad of their readiness and confidence. It never failed to warm his old heart to see his men ready to fight for the Seireitei.
"Dismissed"
Flashback end
The stupefied squad of Special Forces looked at the scene that stretched before them. The sight alone was enough to make some of them think about losing their lunch.
"Get back to Soi Fon-taichou," the leader said in a halting voice, "she needs to see this."
"Hai."
Many Captains were surprised when Soi Fon sent back an urgent message requesting three additional captains with their lieutenants along with the entire 4th division.
In his office overlooking much of Soul Society Yamamato stared for some time at the request wondering what could have prompted Soi Fon to request such backup. Young Soi Fon maybe but she was an exceptionally proud and cold woman who disdained asking for assistance and had been known to cut down her own squad members if they got in her way. This was a new departure for the young 2nd squad captain; Yamamoto began to realize that something awful must have happened in the 80th district but to warrant three captains along with the entire 4th division. Yamamoto's eyes narrowed, 'something else must have happened here that we are unaware of.'
Coming to his decision he rose from his chair and gathered his walking staff which actually hid his Katana Ryuujin Jaka, turning he called his lieutenant, "Sasakibe."
"Hai, Sotaichou."
"Take a message to the 10th, 9th, and 4th division captains and their lieutenants to meet me at the north gate with all possible speed. Tell Unohana-taichou to have her entire division prepared for casualties. Make haste."
Notwithstanding his surprise the old lieutenant merely bent in a quick bow and shunpoed to his task.
At the Northern Gate
"Kaname-Taichou has this ever happened before, the Sotaichou going out for something like this," asked Shuhei Hisagi the Lieutenant of the 9th Division?
"Not that I can remember," His captain answered, "however it is apparent from our last meeting that something has happened in the 80th that cannot be ignored. It is unknown what this emergency will be so keep your guard up Hisagi."
"Hai," Hisagi nodded and glanced around. The fourth division was waiting in picture perfect lines awaiting the arrival of their Commander-General. Hitsugaya-taichou was waiting with his fuko-taichou Matsumoto Rangiku who was pestering him about some absurd question about getting out of this mission. To the said captains severe annoyance if the tick marks above his head was any indication.
Hisagi's captain on the other hand found his thoughts drawn back to the note that had him and his lieutenant awaiting the arrival of the Commander. It was unlike Soi Fon to ask for any sort of aid from any captain or even her lieutenant. So the question became what could frighten her so badly that she sent for reinforcement's specifically three captains and the entire 4th division. His sightless eyes narrowed beneath his visor, could this be some sort of trap, was there some kind of uprising going on. Were they walking into some kind of peasant civil war? It would explain the massive drop in…
His thoughts were cut off when his old friend the 7th division captain along with the Sotaichou Shunpoed into the area.
"Tosen," the greeting rumbled from inside that absurd helmet his friend insisted on wearing.
"Komamaru, what are you doing here I did not remember you being assigned to accompany us."
"As if I would allow you to walk into potential danger without me old friend."
Tosen smiled "I am glad my friend."
"Attention," the tap of the Captain-Commanders cane brought all attention back to him.
"We are heading to the 80th division of Rugonkai, it is known to be a particularly harsh district so do not let your guard down, we are acting as backup for the second division in scouting the area and determining what has occurred in the District."
The Sotaichou walked to the gate where the giant Jidanbo waited. Nodding to the giant the gate was opened.
"Go"
All present vanished into Shunpo.
Soi Fon waited in a small house she and her squad had commandeered to serve as there make shift headquarters. When she had first seen the horror of what had taken place not five miles from where she stood she had to stop to repress a shudder. Heaven, she thought, have mercy on their souls for whoever had did this had not.
It had been at least eight hours since she had sent in her request for backup and that alone had been galling to do.
A messenger appeared in front of her, "the area of the incident has been secured taichou."
Soi Fon nodded, "good. Inform me the instant the others arrive."
"No need Soi Fon," a reply came from the door. Soi Fon glanced up and gave a small start as the Sotaichou walked into the room followed by Sajin Komamura, Tosen, Hitsugaya Toshiro and Unohana Retsu.
"Sotaichou, I did not expect to see you here," Soi Fon said giving a quick bow.
"Hmm, I am not so old that I cannot take a walk with you youngins every once in a while," Yamamoto replied.
All the Captains present smiled slightly, it was a rare thing to be able to see their Commander-General in action or even leaving Seireitei for that matter. All the captains present did have an undivided attachment to the old general; he was a symbol of power the consummate warrior and leader.
"Soi Fon, what is the situation here," Tosen asked?
Soi Fon looked pensive for a moment, "Follow me."
At the edge of a forest was where it began. It was a literal carpet of bodies one could not walk without tripping over a mutilated corpse. All of the bodies on the ground had weapons in their hands; some were seemingly cut down before they even had a chance to draw their weapons. Some were hacked in half with their heads smashed into the ground. The stench of blood was everywhere. All in all it looked as if a hurricane made of blades and raw power had decimated nearly the entire male populace of the 80th. More than one lieutenant lost control of their stomachs on the way. All the captains' faces were grim for it seemed to them that when they had seen enough they came upon an even more horrifying sight.
It was a grisly walk through the forest bodies pinned to trees by their own weapons heads split in half, some burned as their top half was cut in two and cooked on the inside, but even more horror waited in the village at the center of the forest. It was a small one, no more than a bandits hideout, but when the captains left the trees the entire party came to a halt.
No one could believe the sight in front of them. The village, what was left of it, had corpses lying all over the place, killed in the most grotesque fashions.
"T-Taichou, w-w-what am I looking a-at," Kotetsu Isane the lieutenant of the 4th division whispered in a hushed almost scared tone of voice.
Instead of Unohana the Sotaichou answered her, "it's a killing field."
"Monstrous," Komamura growled.
For almost five minutes the entire party stood motionless. Piles of corpses were messily tossed about with carless abandon; some seemed to be at the epicenter of some kind of explosion. The quiet in the forest seemed to be deafening.
"Very monster like this Ryoka," the Sotaichou said, "although these souls appear to have been able to defend themselves."
That was true weapons were lying about randomly, some in the death grip of some smashed corpses hand.
'SNAP'
The small sound of a twig breaking was enough to break the stunned silence, instantly all hands were on weapons some even half drawn.
"Wait" was the simple command from the Sotaichou and all hands relaxed.
The small sounds of someone walking were coming from the opposite side of the village. The shinigami tensed, waiting for whatever it was to show itself.
What walked out of the trees however was the last thing any of the Soul Reapers present expected.
A small boy with a shovel dragging on the ground behind him straggled out of the forest. He was garbed in dirty trousers and wore a worn and filthy vest. His feet were bare and dirty, his face smudged as if he had been digging around in the dirt.
"A…A child?"
The stunned response came from Hisagi.
"Hush, we do not want to frighten a potential witness" Retsu said.
The boy walked to the center of the village looking around with a blank despondent stare.
He shook his head sinking to his knees, "How troublesome, more dead for me to bury?"
That simple little question struck the hearts of all present.
'More…child what paths have you walked,' was the thought of Tosen.
'A child burying the dead? How lax we have become,' was the thought of the helmeted captain.
'Such a small child to look upon such horrors,' was the pitying thought of the 4th division captain.
'Boy what have you seen,' was the thought of Hitsugaya Toshiro
Yamamato slowly walked forward until he was in front of the child, who merely looked up and stared for a long while. The two stared at each for a long time for those watching. The boy got up slowly looked the old commander up and down.
"Oh, a live one. I don't know what to do with a live one? Should I bury you too?"
The boy crumpled and would have fallen to the ground in pure exhaustion had Yamamato not caught him.
"Unhonana-taichou," the commander's voice snapped the daze that the Shinigami had fallen into.
"Hai," she replied appearing by his side.
"Take the little one away from here, he has seen enough," the Commanders voice was soft.
"Of course," she replied taking him in her arms.
"So he has already begun has he?"
The captains and there lieutenants this time could not restrain the impulse and drew their swords on the voice. The voice was musical to the ear and soft but not soft enough for it to hide were it was located.
However no matter how hard one looked you could not see a thing amidst the trees where the voice originated. The captains extended their senses and came up with something odd. Something was indeed there but their eyes just couldn't see it. Tosen sent a light wave of Reiatsu at were the voice should have been and it took all of his composure not to faint with a massive nosebleed.
Standing there with a slight distortion about her was a completely nude woman; well not completely there was a light pink scarf that extended across her shoulder down to her well formed waist and hips just barely covering her modesty. This might not have been enough to nearly cause him to faint except for the fact that she had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her flawless brown skin stretched over perfect muscles which indicated that she kept herself in shape. Her chest had to have been as big as the 10th squad's lieutenant. A beautiful heart shaped face, whose smile would melt even the coldest heart, seemed to glisten in the sunlight.
"Who are you," he was barely able to ask?
"Tosen what do you see," barked Komamura. The fox captain could smell something in the direction his friend was looking. A very sweet smell, the kind normally associated with a woman's perfume. It smelled like mountain roses and lilacs.
To even Unohana's trained eye she could not see were the strange voice had come from.
To someone as old and experienced as the Commander however such a thing as sensing someone came as second nature to him.
"Impressive," the old general stated, "to be able to mask your presence for so long."
The Lieutenants heard the voice but were unable to see anything which was rather disconcerting. Had the situation been less serious it would have been a rather a comical sight to see the Commander General talking to empty space.
A musical laugh drew their attention back to the spot where the air seemed to shimmer.
"Compliments will get you everywhere with me, and I do have a soft spot for older men," the voice seemed to giggle when it spoke.
"Who are you," the question was not a request and everyone present understood that perfectly?
"Well I have had many names over the centuries," the musical voice continued, "but you may call me…"
NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ALL THINKING BUT I DO HAVE TO KEEP UP A HIGH REPUTATION FOR SUSPENSE. I ALWAYS HATED IT WHEN WRITERS DID THAT BUT THIS IS CONSIDERED PAYBACK. SO SCREW ALL Y'AL. NOT REALLY BUT SERIOUSLY I THINK EVERYBODY CAN GUESS WHO THIS IS BUT IF YOU CAN'T WELL GO WATCH GOD OF WAR 3 AND YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
PEACE PEOPLE…
STORY WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY BETA'ED SOON.