Disclaimer: If you absolutely need to see this, refer to chapter 1

Chapter 2: Hierarchy of Power

As was his routine, Yamamoto Genryuusai-soutaichou was up at the crack of dawn. In reality, it was probably not necessary, as most issues could be dealt with later in the day, even in these uncertain times of war. Even if there were an urgent matter, his fukutaichou would be more than capable and eager to deal with it in his place, in most situations. Today, however, this would not be the case.

Sasakibe Chojirou burst into the General's quarters not 5 minutes after he had finished changing into his uniform.

"Yamamoto-soutaichou!" gasped the out-of-breath lieutenant of the 1st division, "It's an emergency!"

5 minutes earlier…

Sasakibe-fukutaichou was walking through the corridors of the first division offices, as the Captain-commander's living quarters were located within the complex in the first division that also contained his private office and the main meeting room using for accommodating the captains of the Gotei 13. It was not uncommon that he should be up this early; preparing to attend to his superior's requests from the moment he awakened. Such attentiveness was not only fitting, but also the duty of a loyal adjutant, he thought.

His philosophical introspection was broken by a loud crash and the appearance of several unknown, but apparently very potent, reiatsu signatures. He spun around and dashed back to the 1st division courtyard that he had just passed.

There he saw, as the dust was clearing 1 individual standing in the forefront, 1 man standing at his side and slightly behind him, and 4 men with spears a few feet behind kneeling on their right side.

He approached them authoritatively, since, judging by their clothing, they were not even shinigami, let alone people that would have clearance to a high-security area such as the soutaichou's living quarters. "You there, who are you and what do you think you're doing here?" he shouted, as the atmosphere was still thundering due to the high reiatsu currents running through them.

The man standing slightly behind the first, who appeared to be an adjutant himself, stepped forward and asked, in an equally authoritative tone that surprised the lieutenant, "Are these premises part of the 1st division?"

"As a matter of fact they are. And they are also a restricted area reserved for high-ranking shinigami only." Sasakibe responded in a rather annoyed and put-off manner.

"That is quite fortunate indeed," replied the man who appeared to be in charge of the group, "seeing as we were seeking an audience with the current Captain-commander of the Gotei 13." The lieutenant turned to regard the man, feeling unnerved by his calm, commanding voice and the unusual and heavy sprit pressure he was radiating. "Who are you, and what makes you think you could see the soutaichou?" he asked in a now mystified and confused manner.

"Rei-ou-sama", he replied simply.

And with that, the lieutenant was off using his fastest shunpo to reach the General's sleeping quarters.

Present

The Commander-General looked at his disheveled adjutant, slightly surprised by the uncharacteristic lack of composure. Sasakibe stood there, panting, for a few moments longer before standing and straightening his posture to its usual perfection. "Yamamoto-taichou!" he said, still slightly out of breath. "There's someone here claiming to be the Rei-Ou!"

The soutaichou stood up abruptly and followed his lieutenant, who was now hurriedly leading the way back to the strange group of people.

'Reiou? Is that even possible? I will see for myself soon enough, I suppose.' Yamamoto thought as the two rounded a corner and proceeded down another of Seireitei's expansive and seemingly identical white hallways.

'I must admit that I'm rather eager to verify this…it would be an honourable and enlightening experience to be allowed to meet the Reiou. Despite being entrusted with the only known copy of the Ou-Ken, even I have never been allowed such a thing in my many years serving as soutaichou.'

He could tell he was nearing his destination, as the air was permeated by a strange reiatsu, which he couldn't help but notice was fundamentally different than that of a shinigami.

And then he reached his destination.

The scene was exactly as Sasakibe had left it. The guards were kneeling in the rear, the adjutant was standing slightly removed, looking a bit annoyed at having been abandoned so unceremoniously, and the leader was still at the front.

If such a thing were possible, Yamamoto Genryuusai would be wearing a look of utter surprise on his face at that moment. Time froze for him as he observed the appearance of the ethereal being in front of him.

He was wearing a strange type of slipper made of white cloth, with intricate designs etched in gold adorning it, the likes of which the old man had never seen before. His lower legs were covered in golden bands. He was wearing a type of short kimono that ended at his knees. This garment was also white, with gold trim. A strange piece of jewellery hung from his neck, and more bands were wrapped around his forearms and neck. It was when the general's gaze reached the head that he was truly shocked. His hair was white with gold streaks running through it. He was wearing a golden diadem prominently featuring a falcon. This person had ears that, instead of being located in the normal place, sat upon the crown of his head.

This person, it seemed, was no more than a young man, judging by his face, but his eyes belied a wisdom and experience that seemed somehow out of place. Staring into the deep-purple irises of this person instilled within the old man the feeling of falling into an abyssal void, and he felt a piercing sensation of shock upon becoming aware of endless expanse that must be this individual's soul.

The crown, the regal bearing, the look of wisdom, and the strange reiatsu; in the soutaichou's eyes, this man was definitely a ruler of some sort. But was he the Reiou, this he had still to confirm.

"Are you the one who claims to be the Reiou?" queried the anxious, yet perfectly composed, commander.

"Indeed I am", replied the man.

"Do you have any proof?"

"Will this suffice?" The man proceeded to concentrate reiatsu in his left hand until dimensional space was distorted. In the next moment, the man was holding in his hand a strange golden object the likes of which was complex in design as to be beyond the sphere of a mortal to design or craft.

"Ou-Ken?" gasped the stunned soutaichou. "I thought I had the only one."

"You were mistaken. There are many such objects in the royal vaults that are entrusted to the current soutaichou and Reiou, as well as any candidate suitable in the eyes of the Reiou."

"Now then," continued the Reiou, "I'd like you to assemble the captains of the Gotei 13 within the hour."

Reiou - spirit king, the highest authority in the soul society

Soutaichou, Taichou, Fukutaichou - Captain-commander, Captain, and Lieutenant respectively

Seireitei - the Court of Pure Souls, or the city populated by shinigami

Gotei 13 - the 13 royal protection squads, or Seireitei's main military force

Ou-Ken - the King's Key, a highly protected secret that allows the possessor entrance to the Reiou's palace