NEFARIOUS [FEAT. KOSUKE]

"I swear if you were any more loud there'd be no sound left on Earth."

His voice was cold like the blankets of frost smothering the Rukon night yet every letter that fell from the lieutenant's lips hinted at sarcasm. Ashton's voice had barely risen above a hush - both parties knew this to be fact, but the sheer power gushing from the strawberry-headed soldier could easily be felt for miles to come.

Heaps of gentle white snow gathered atop Kosuke's jet black fedora as a vicious wind kicked a flurry of bits about the clearing. Why Ashton had called the Gobantai was far beyond the royal, but he'd never question a call from his true friend. If he was needed then he'd come and so he did.

Any normal person would've approached a comrade in clear eyesight, but there was just no fun in that. "Why be normal when you could be intersting?" was Kosuke's philosophy and the reason the coal haired Ryuugamine lounged about on a branch hovering just over the head of Ashton. "Deadset in the middle of where the fuck doing only god knows in this dreadful ice age" he smirked. What's on your mind Ash"

It was really starting to get cold. Not even the chattering of the tree branches could be heard above the bellows of wind. Daggers of ice dropped from the branches above Kosuke's head, the lieutenant not even moving his grayed sight from his hollow slaying cohort as he slapped them away with the flick of his wrist.

Kosuke had always lagged when it came to picking up on the thoughts of others. His lack of empathy would disallow him many comrades, but with a brilliant facade it was easy to seem as though he cared; however, things were different with Ashton. Kosuke wore no mask around his fellow fukutaicho for the one known as Arterius was no fool. He'd easily see through any guise of Kosuke's which is why the recluse saw the cherry haired warrior as a friend.

Interest began to peek it's way through Kosuke's narrowed gray eyes as they locked with Ashton's own. Through the blizzard it was a tedious task to look into his eyes, even more so to read his mind, but Kosuke could tell something was taxing the man's thoughts. "Kosuke is a man that readily fights for the greater good of the Seireitei, the home he'd readily risk his life for." Ashton's questions were beginning to spark a string of questions in the Ryuugamine. What was going on? What was the meaning behind his words? "And you Ashton? Why is such a question dancing on your tongue?

A short smile played on the lips of the hat wearing Kosuke. He didn't even know why he spoke his own name; weather it be to mock his friend or some other strange reason he hadn't a clue. Nevertheless, it had appeared as though this male had called upon the Gobantai Fukutaicho to a vacant plot of land to discuss matters that could never survive as secrets in the Seireitei.

Ashton Arterius, one of the few people among the squads capable of making Kosuke Ryuugamine crack an actual smile. Rebellion. With just a single word he'd managed to swirl a hurricane of thoughts in Kosuke's head. Just as soon as the words fell from Ashton's lips would a chilling cool run the length of Kosuke's body.

It was getting colder.

"Rebellion huh? I haven't heard any of these rumors yet." Gray optics stayed fixed on Ashton, unrelenting in the scanning of his features. It was near impossible to tell just what the soldier was getting at. "We are gods of death Ashton...soul reapers. We've never garnered peace without spilling a few drops. We learn this in the Academy do we not? Kosuke's face was stone.

When had his drinking buddy become such the philosophical leader? Deep down Kosuke burned holes through the lecturing red head, but on the surface his visage was simply serene. He found it rather easy to keep calm albeit the fierce bite of the cold North.

Being called all the way to the frozen tundra of Northern Rukon was by all means okay, but boiling blood sluggishly began to bubble beneath Kosuke's skin the more Ashton talked. At this point comprehending exactly what the man was getting at stood out of the shadow haired Shinigami's reach, but it was becoming slightly evident that he was being accused.

A moment of silence passed between the two men with Ashton's final statements. The conversation was growing much too hot for Kosuke to handle and caution was leading the warrior to consider walking away. Then again if he turned his back on Ashton any accusations he faced would have been strengthened ten fold.

A brisk wind shook a mound of snow onto the whole of Kosuke's black figure. He slipped from the branch, the shield of white falling from his hakama as he weightlessly glided to the floor while his eyes never left Ashton's figure. "Why did you call me here" Kosuke sighed as he leaned his left shoulder against the tree while looking over that same shoulder at Ashton. "It sounds like you're talking at me rather than to me."

In truth Kosuke was growing edgier by the second. His vitals stayed at a constant, his breathing and surface signs cool as the frosty winds that lanced through his covered body, but he was swiftly becoming wary of his friend. Just what was Ashton's goal here? The Ryuugamine racked his brain for any hints or traces of evidence the asshole could've stumbled upon leading back to him, but he could think of none. Sojiro had ensured any crumbs leading to his followers would be swept up.

So why was Ashton standing here today...unless...

Lightning zapped Kosuke's brain in an instant as he'd come to the realization that his own cautions had led to Ashton's prying conversation. From the start he could have been attempting to call upon his comrade's aide in order to put an end to any rebellion that may have been in the works. Somewhere during the course of the conversation Ashton must have become wary of Kosuke himself.

Gentle drops of ice crashed onto the rim of his jet black hat as a smile began to ease across his features. The spiritual power oozing from the gauntlet forced Kosuke's attention on Ashton even more, if only out of caution. Though he didn't show it, the black headed shiniami was beginning to brace not only his body, but his mind for whatever was to come. His senses were keen and he'd keep every single one fixated on the man before him.

There was no telling what Ashton would do...not at all, but if there was bad blood between the two Kosuke definitely would be staining the snow; he'd stain it red with Ashton's blood. "Indeed, I see no reason for blood to be shed or talk of corpses to drop. So what is it you're wondering Ashton...it's been some time since we've met one on one, how are things in the seventh? From the friction in the air you're sounding a bit on edge." Kosuke's smile faded though his focus remained on his friend; he had no clue why in the heavens that glove held any traces of reishi.

Every step Kosuke's opposition took drew him so much closer to reaching for his blade's handle. Each shuffle through the white ice forced the lieutenant to eye down Ashton with even more scrutiny than before, though he wouldn't let it show.

Though the seventh's lieutenant had always given off an ominous air, something seemed different to Kosuke. A pale digit unfurled a curly sideburn as he desperately analyzed the man drawing ever so near, but nothing seemed to be out of place. Wait...that glove...what was the purpose of the glove?! Thoughts spiked beneath the Ryuugamine's night black hat. He hadn't remembered Ashton ever owning such a piece of armor nor did he think the man needed it; he'd always been a more than capable fighter.

After allowing Ashton to trifle about on his robes, Kosuke managed a silent step away from the tree, keeping his fellow Shinigami on his left side. Was the rebellion he spoke of now true or some ploy in order to delve deeper into the secret affairs of the Gobantai's fukutaicho? "I haven't heard a single story on the matter, I've been keeping busy with Earthly affairs."

Kosuke gave a slight pause as a bitter stab of frosty wind whipped at his face. "I don't understand...why would a bunch of scraps from Rukon target captain Koshitsu or yourself? He's renown as one of our strongest captains, and you one of our strongest lieutenants...it'd be idiocy to attack either of you."

Then again if this rebellion were real, could it be so that Kosuke too was on the list of targets?

Kosuke swerved the fire that lined Ashton's words. Why it was the air was so thick with tension was beyond the Ryuugamine, but he was certain his adversary was trying to draw a answers.

Thick leather boots marched forth through the snow, pushing the lieutenant from his redheaded interrogator. Journeying out to the Northern district's raging blizzard with sandals? Kosuke would sooner chop his feet off. "Let's walk Ash,I'll see if I can help any" he sighed, not bothering to see if the fellow soldier was following.

Ashton messed up. He'd taken a chance by using Sojiro's name, but unfortunately for him Sojiro was the one Captain besides his own that Kosuke would've immediately known about any public action against. Sojiro hadn't informed his followers of any rebellious acts or bulls-eyes on his back, and if he knew about any such cases he'd be sure to dispatch of the lot.

"That's insane! Even if someone took out all the higher ups, who's to say any of us would follow? What say you to snuffing out this rebellion asap?"