deadgods01: the pursuit of peace

His face didn't flinch an inch from the news of the devastation that occurred in the Mortal Realm. His lack of emotion towards the subject came from years of instilling inside his head that caring gets you killed. It was truly sad that such a well regarded member of the Shinigami was lost during the tragedy, but was she not prepared to die upon taking the oath of becoming one? Rouen sure was, he knew there was always the chance of being slain where you stood when it came to a Soul Reaper's duties. However what came after, he was not expecting at all.

Sure, he understood why some of the individuals were called up to the plate. But him? Why him? It didn't seem logical to punish someone for what they wore, but he wasn't going to be the one to disagree with the Captain Commander herself. Actually, no, he was. He took a few steps forward, partially listening to what she requested him to do. However, he came to a halt when only a few meters separated the two. His body was still, calm and collective as he was known to be. "Sorry, Sōtaichō. But I will not be giving up my haori because I dressed wrong to a meeting. However, you can go ahead and take off my ears and whichever finger you want. I prefer you take the ring finger, I doubt I'll ever be getting married."

His words came out smooth as silk, bearing no threat or mockery towards his leader. "After you do so, I shall head back to my original position... still one of the captains of Seireitei." Rouen wasn't going to give up his spot as a captain, no sir. She'd have to pry that damn haori from his lifeless hands if she really wanted him out. This meant too much to him, and to have to give it up because of a dress code? That may have been the dumbest thing he's ever heard.

There was certainly an air of judgment about the room, which was to be expected. Those in attendance were Captains of their respective division, whom held a certain standard among their underlings, and were in constant judgment of those they held responsibility over. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was certainly thick of negativity, each seeming to scan among the rest and assumingly held their own opinions within their thoughts. Despite having passed the meeting time, it seemed the one who called forth this meeting, as well as handful of Captains, had yet to show; not particularly a good start to what appeared to be a rather important meeting. Nevertheless, the Yonbantai-Taichō kept quietly to herself, her eyes hastily taking in the small, miniscule actions of those around her. Then, came the passing of two; a confrontation of sorts, if it could even be called that. Due to the immense silence that filled the room, with only light chatter spoken in single, soft sentences when late arrivals became present, it was enough to draw the attention of everyone in the room, even if they weren’t directly focused upon the two.

Despite the shattering silence, it seemed the man continued to direct his focus from one to the next; the napping Captain, and eyes upon Kawa herself. Though he said nothing to her directly, the gaze he expressed was none too familiar upon the woman. The mightier-than-thou speech soon followed as he addressed the Captain Commander herself, words spoken like a true nobleman. As a member of nobility herself, it left a sour taste in her mouth as a screeching nails-on-chalkboard effect drove her to extend her index finger into her left ear and lightly stir about the itch. Then again, as Kawa’s eyes fell upon the Captain Commander, it seemed she held a similar opinion of the group that had so recklessly collected before her.

>>"Disgraceful. All of you are so completely disgraceful that you shame everything we stand for."

Kawa was singled out first as the elder woman approached, her presence like a wave of absolute intimidating pressure. Nevertheless, the Yonbantai-Taichō held her gaze as she was tapped upon the shoulder.

>>"Go kneel before my chair. Put your haori, folded, before my chair."

Like a student lectured by a strict teacher, Kawa stepped to the side to follow the woman’s command, knowing full well the tone she held was not something she should challenge at the moment; or ever, for that matter. They may have had light clashing prior to her promotion, and a bit more than she cared to announce thereafter, but if it was anything the young doctor had learned, it was never to argue with the woman when she held that glare or tone. Luckily, or perhaps not, for the Yonbantai-Taichō, as she knelt and easily removed the folded haori from her sash and placed it before her, she wasn’t alone as the Captain Commander picked out three more bodies to join her.

>>"Yesterday, ten million human souls were lost and eight major cities in the Mortal Realm were destroyed. Kunpuu Izumi, Sanbantai-Fukutaichou and the woman who has taught almost every shinigami in this room, went missing at the site of one. King will be providing a report on this in a moment, but I want you four to understand the magnitude of this meeting."

The doctor’s back tensed at the confirmation of the rumors that she had heard. It had been extremely unlike the Fukutaichō to have missed one of their monthly meetings. Despite the younger Captain’s constant verbal expression of how pointless their meetings were, she understood the importance behind them, and simply continued to act the part. Murmurs of her fellow Captains awoke her from her thoughts as those around her began to express their own shock and surprise to the missing Shinigami and extensively large abundance of lost souls.

>>"Sensei is... missing?"

>>"Izumi went missing how? What happened to Kunpuu Fukutaichou? Is there anything else we know?"

A slow breath escaped her lips as her eyes reflected upon the expressions of those within the room by default. It wasn’t as though she were attempting to filter out any of those that expressed little to no remorse for the magnitude of sudden destruction added with the sudden disappearance of one of their own, it was simply a reflexive action. The ability to take in an abundance of information from a mere glance; from studying one’s stance to their natural behavior, facial expressions; light twitches of the brow or cheek, from the way one smiled to how their tone changed in various dialog and subjects, it was an ability that certainly aided when dealing with patients, one that had aided likely into the stature of captaincy. Nevertheless, her inspection was silenced when the Captain Commander singled her out first, once again.

>>"Kawa, you come in sleeping and popping pills here? Is that why we saved your life? Don’t think I forgot about what happened to you. About how your lover turned into a hollow and how you failed to save his life. Tell me, Yonbantai-Taichou, do you wear that haori so you can kill more people you love? If so, leave here now with your haori and go to the prisons."

That left brow twitched lightly as the elder woman’s knife twisted in her chest ever so roughly. Nevertheless, that was the only facial expression reflected upon the woman’s words and intensely heated glare. She understood that upon her promotion, her story had been passed on in more expression than when she was simply a minute seated member of her division. It didn't’t matter to her in the least; sure, their judgment of her spiritual infection brought heated glares, her use in medication brought judgmental murmurs in the passing halls. Nevertheless, she continued to provide the highest morality rate the hospital had produced. In accordance to her medication, sure it was speculated the woman took more than the recommended dosage, though such actions never impeded her judgment nor her work. Hell, the only reason she was medicating more often recently was due to her missed meeting with the currently missing Fukutaichō. Due to her own inability to focus as of late, her normal infection cleansing treatment hadn’t worked. As such, her nerves became more hypersensitive and hyperactive. Had her bangs not been covering more portions of her face, and more so the left side, the darkened veins expressing through her pale skin would have been evidence enough for that. While the treatment had worked for over a century thus far, the past five years seemed to express that the young doctor needed to tweak her methods. Whether the infection itself was adapting to her treatment or something else entirely, she wasn't certain just yet. Then again, that was a thought process for another time.

In accordance to the act of not wearing her haori, well… the young doctor’s eyes fell upon the folded cloth as the elder Captain Commander continued to address the other three. The long white robe was two-sizes too large for her; the sleeves extended passed her hands, and the robe itself dragged along the floor behind her. Of course, such a complication should have been addressed upon receiving the cloth two months prior, and while obviously putting the resizing date on the back burner when it came to the hospital, she knew addressing such would only further indicate her priorities weren’t up to the Captain Commander’s standards. She should have taken care of that long ago. As the woman finalized her speech, Kawa’s eyes gazed up when she was referenced for a final time.

>>"... I can find any doctor with bankai to replace you, Kawa, and any shinigami to replace you three captains. They may even be weaker, but at least they would be proper captains."

Hold your tongue, the young doctor well known for witty retorts and debatable, argumentative nature wisely talked herself into silence.

>>"Sotaichō, permission to speak?"

The Gobantai-Taichō sought to speak after the necessary tongue bashing of their Captain Commander.

>>"While it is apparent that there are grave consequences for a lack of prioritization. And that there should be penalties for a lack of discipline, I believe it to be the best course of action to cause a punishment which does not directly injure one's chances in an upcoming battle against a force which eliminated ten million people. While wounds such as ears and toes can be potentially restructured in the future, the mark that is left is also mentally traumatic to an individual, lowers morale and furthermore increases likelihood of disasters occurring in the midst of battle. If it is in our interest to combat these forces, we should not reduce the likelihood of our battle chances, no matter how small. A single captain may be the difference between the utter destruction of Soul Society. Even if their personalities are less than formal, their assets should not be harmed in the case of a future war."

>>" I don't know what makes me feel worse. How quickly we dismiss one another after meeting for the first time in ages, or how quickly they will to lay down their haori..."

Seriously? Again, Kawa found herself biting her tongue at the well-disguised defensive words spoken by the Captain of the Gonbantai. Adding salt to the wounds was the Hachibantai-Taichō with his well-chosen verbiage. The Jusanbai-Taichō was next to abbreviate lightly on the given lecture, the intensity of their meeting certainly focusing more greatly on the four kneeling before the Captain Commander’s chair rather than the sudden imbalance of souls or their own missing kindred. Perhaps the young woman should express herself vocally...

"A-"

>>"A toe and an ear.. Sounds like that'd hurt a lot.. but, prison means i'd get a lot of sleep, correct? However.. as much as anyone else says, better to lose much combat ability than do nothing at all but sleep in a cell, Sōtaichō. Left ear, and my small right pinky toe.. Then, we may continue on the matter of Kunpuu Fukutaichō, yes?"

If the young doctor could smack her palm to her face, she likely would have in response to the words spoken. Was she really grouped with someone like this, while the warmonger Jusanbantai-Taichō, who expressed more immaturity than Kawa herself by instigating with another Captain prior to the meeting commencing, remained grouped with the shining stars of Captaincy? Really? Oh wait; did that mean Kawa too was supposed to say something in regards to the rhetorical choice she had been given?

"H-"

>>"I apologize for interrupting Sōtaichō. I...I am unawares of the whereabouts of the Commander. I thought it wise to attend this meeting myself to ensure the Goteijuusantai and Kidōshū keep one another in the loop... Our own duties aside, we are at your disposal."

Her lips were parted to speak, but the sudden burst of the double doors brought in the Fukutaichō of the Kidōshū. For whatever reason, it seemed their Captain’s whereabouts were unknown, and a representative of sorts was brought to visit their meeting in her stead. His appearance alone should have brought a bit more severity of the situation they all were facing currently, and hopefully, the childish lecturing could be place aside along with the judgmental opinions of the higher-then-thou Captains currently reflecting their arrogant gazes about.

Should she save face before her fellow Captains and attempt to argue her point? Due to her missed visit with the missing Izumi, she was unable to follow up with her cleansing treatment properly. While having mastered the art herself, Izumi was a great aid in channeling and filtering, and alone, the process required an amount of focus that she just couldn't perform at the moment. A simple brush of her hair would have been evidence enough the need for the medication. Sure, she may have indulged a bit more than she should in the past, but the pain now was ever constant, even with the pain medicine. However, expressing any form of weakness before the thick stench of judgment and ignorance was like throwing a sick puppy to a hunger pack of wolves. Nevertheless...

"I-"

>>"Sorry, Sōtaichō. But I will not be giving up my haori because I dressed wrong to a meeting. However, you can go ahead and take off my ears and whichever finger you want. I prefer you take the ring finger, I doubt I'll ever be getting married. After you do so, I shall head back to my original position... still one of the captains of Seireitei."

Was it merely a test to see who so easily gave up their haori? While certainly the robes held their great symbolism among the Gotei, it was merely a piece of cloth etched with their respective division's insignia. Kawa, along with the other Captains, had all heard the importance of the robe upon entry into Captaincy. Yes, she understood it was disrespectful not wearing it properly, and yea, she may have just as easily shown that she was giving it up, likely to receive more 'Oh, you gave it up that easily' type of stares as her eyes befell the folded cloth before her, but she wasn't about to give up a limb for an article of clothing. While it was likely a bluff by the Captain to express his pride of position and to the Gotei itself, losing any sort of finger would greatly tarnish the skill of any swordsman, especially when it came to their own Zanpakuto.

What made wielding a katana so unique over a variety of other sword-type weaponry, was that it required every single finger to wield it proficiently. Each finger held its own purpose; ring finger included. The fact that the man even picked out his finger just made the statement more bluffly sounding, especially with the added marriage quip. Folding a piece of cloth didn't mean Kawa wished not of her position. Despite having not wanting the promotion in the first place and arguing against it with the previous Yonbantai-Taicho, Kawa was prideful of her position and responsibilities. Sure, she may express it a bit differently than others, but if laying her haori down at her knelt position was simply a test to see how easily she would give it up, signifying her weak resolve as a Captain... well, then she surmised she just gave up her Captaincy per the Captain Commander's orders.

At least she didn't choose to leave for the prison. With the chatter dying lightly, Kawa again attempted to part her lips and speak, but it seemed she wasn't the only one annoyed that the focus of their meeting was so greatly centered around the lack of apparent respect those within the great halls expressed.

"T-"

>>"Enough, all of you! How about we focus on the main task at hand? A mass amount of souls have vanished, gone without a single trace and all you can focus on at the moment is the disrespect you all seem to be dashing out? We have a duty to abide by, let's focus on it and get to punishments AFTER the seriousness of this meeting has been dealt with. I'm saying this as a captain, as a fellow shinigami, we need to focus. And with all due respect, I believe the Espada has something to do with this."

It seemed everyone had their four yen to put into the conversation, it was exact change only, and Kawa had no coin purse. The entirety of this situation was bringing that burning pulse at her temples to an all time high and her left brow started to twitch in rhythm with the throb. A single hand motioned to her left temple for a light, messaging, circular rub.

Focusing on the main topic, however, the Rokubantai-Taicho had suggested his own interpretation to the vague summary of the disappearance. Espada? With what evidence? While it was certainly likely, making a sudden accusation with only what the Captain Commander had said was pure lunacy. Sure, the normal formula for missing souls was; souls missing = hollows. Large quantity of souls missing = large quantity of hollows. The very group they were supposed to currently hold a peace treaty with, however? There were too many variables; what if there was some sort of fallout with a group of Hollows within their realm? Was this perhaps a coup, to force the Gotei into taking action against the Hollows, thus tarnishing their treaty? Simply assuming it was the Espada and placing blame would destroy their decade of peace, and any future attempt to be made with their kind.

"If you have further evidence of their involvement, I'd like to hear it," Kawa finally spoke, hopefully this time, without interruption. "While it can certainly be assumed that a large number of souls being lost over such a short period of time would be Hollow related, assuming it was this group without proper investigation would only bring tension to our current treaty. Were it some rebel group within the Hollow faction, or some other factor entirely responsible for this to force us into taking action against the Hollows without fully investigating the situation, it would tarnish our current treaty, and devastate any further attempt to keeping peace... we would just be locked in another eternal war, perhaps following the path the true culprits wish us to follow."