The Fall of an Empire.

[kaithehawk]

On the way home Kai's mind began to wonder and he became distracted slipping into his inner world. Upon looking around he found himself in familiar surroundings, a war zone filled with battles of the past and the future. As he walked through the never-ending battlefield he notice two immensely powerful beings fighting near by. “Why are you watching this battle?” Taka asked walking up behind Kai. “This was the final battle of the last arrancar invasion,” Kai said signing and then continued, “I’m not sure what I’m going to do as of yet, I’m going to have to sleep on it. One thing I know for sure I’m going to have to do something otherwise we might not make it through this fight, this time we don’t have him to bail us out.” Kai said pointing to the young orange haired soul reaper.

As Kai continued walking through the battleground Taka followed him asking him several questions, which he responded to in accord. “So you have no idea what you’re going to do?” “Its not that I don’t know what I wouldn’t do, its that I don’t know if that is going to be good enough.” “Your currently the most intelligent soul reaper in the soul society if you can’t come up with something to fit the scenario then nobody can. There must be something that you are thinking?” “Oh there is, several things currently.” As the two beings had this conversation they continued to walk through several different battles, occasionally stopping to look at the random battles of the past going on around them. As they were doing this Kai stumbled across a memory of a fight that he’d never seen before. A mysterious arrancar, obviously an espada of some kind, he was fighting a soul reaper he’d never seen before. As the two were fighting the arrancar stopped and looked directly at Kai and Taka. Who was this arrancar.

Suddenly Kai’s mind snapped back into reality. He was standing in front of his barracks looking confused. His feet must have carried him subconsciously to his destination, as he was lost in the inner recesses of his mind. Putting a smile on his face he walked into his barracks nodding to the gate guards on his way past them and walked down the hall past many busy subordinates. Once he reached his office he sat down and called in two of his seated officers. As he addressed them he set a recorder on the desk and began speaking, “I need you to take that and make a mock up for this week’s magazine. Once your done bring it to me.” Kai then looked at the other man and continued, “I need you to go find Vice Captain Athena and tell her that we are going to be having guest soon and that she needs to prepare for a party. Also let her know that I will be working in my office and do not wish to be bothered for any reason.” Finishing his orders Kai stood and dismissed the two who saluted him and rushed away to take care of their respective duties. “Such wonderful subordinates.”

Un strapping his Zanpakutou he set it on his desk and sat back down. Resting his head on his desk with his eyes close Kai started talking to himself, “What to do, what to do. It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own. I must not forget the mistakes we made in the past in order to overcome the adversities of the future. Last time the major problem was the three traitors.” Kai lifted his head and ran both his hands through his long hair remembering a famous quote from a roman philosopher, “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer in less to fear. The traitor is the plague.”

Opening his eyes Kai stood and walked over to his bed dropped his captain’s cloak on the ground in a pile and climbed up into his hole in the wall. Once in his bed he curled up in all his blankets and pillows murmuring as he drifted off to sleep, “The question is, this time around just how many wolves are hiding among the sheep.”

[Athena]

Athena had heard about the meeting, but never attended, for two reasons. One, she saw her captain going to the meeting, and two, the barracks had many things needing to be done. Being a hard worker that she was, she wasn't going to leave duties undone, and she was sure that Kai would tell her what happened at the meeting. Thus was the reason why the vice captain stayed at the barracks.

Athena wore the normal shinigami clothing, her long silver hair braided with a red ribbon in it, and pinned up so it didn't get in the way/ The red ribbon was a habit that was something Athena could never break. When her twin sister had still been vice captain of another squad, had been still here in the Soul Society, the two wore different color of ribbons in their hair. Athena had red, and her twin sister had blue. The ribbons had been there to tell the two apart... But now... now the ribbon wasn't exactly needed, was it? Her twin sister had done something, and before any one can do anything, she had run off, becoming a rouge. Athena could have stopped her.... but with what Selena had tried to do... Well, it was sure to be punishable by death. Athena did not want that....

While the work was done, Athena began to slowly walk back to her room , thinking. She hadn't heard from her twin since the incident long ago, but it was no surprise. Her sister cut off all thoughts from her, and because of their strong bond, Athena knew she was still all right. Just because Athena was still here, meant her sister was still alive as well. The Twin's Bond made sure of that.

Voices snapped the vice captain away from her thoughts as a seated officer called out to her and jogged up. He passed the message from the captain to her and waited for any commands from Athena. Athena sighed, pinching the bridge of her noise. "Well, we've been though this... how many times? If the Captain says a 'party', he wants a party. Get every thing set up, I'll help too... COme on, get every one else to...."

And thus, the group prepared the barracks for a party and their guests.

[Sieghart Rayvnl]

Sieghart walked quickly through the seiretei in the direction of the squad 9 barracks. The day was still far from over and the streets were busy as always. Turning a corner his destination finally came into view, "Ah it won't be long now, soon i'll be headed off to the world of the living. I can't wait, it'll be good to see Captain Moeru again. It's been so long since i've seen him, hmmmn I guess the last time would have been my second year at the academy over a century now. I wonder if he's doing well." Sieghart said as he crossed the final block between him and the barracks.

Walking through the barracks gates he nodded to the guards and said, "Looks like everyone pretty busy around here as usual. How's the magazine going?" One of the guards nodded, looking around at his fellow shinigami and replied, "Well its as good as it ever is, the captain has us currently preparing for the party this afternoon." Sieghart nodded, as to be expected of the squad 9 captain turning a strategy meeting into a party. Oh well, they'd get something done eventually and he could go for a glass of sake. Sieghart walked into the main building and greeted the soul reapers he past until he walked into the main gathering room and sat at the big table in the middle pouring himself a glass of sake that was already sitting on the table. "Well I guess i'll just wait here. Someone will come along eventually." He said downing the glass and pouring another one and begun waiting for the meeting to start.

[Hibiki Shimizu]

After a brief session of jinzen with his zanpakutou, Hibiki rose from his meditative stance, readying himself for the short trip to the Squad 9 barracks. He placed his swords in their respective sheaths and began to walk through his barracks, greeting his squad member subordinates as they ran around, preforming various tasks. As the squad 8 captain neared the gate to his division area, he stated quickly to one of the gate guards, "I will be attending another meeting today, please relay this information to the seated officers of the squad." The gate guard, a bit confused at first, acknowledged his superior's wishes and bowed as the captain slowly faded from sight.

The Seireitei was still bustling about as the squad 8 captain walked down the many winding and twisting corners of the place, shinigami occasionally passing by and greeting him. It wasn't long before Hibiki had reached the Squad 9 barracks, addressing himself to the guard, "Captain Shimizu, of Squad 8. I am here to attend to the strategy meeting directed by Squad 9 captain, Kai Inazuma," the captain stated quite formally. The guard shuffled, a bit nervous around the captain, but felt at ease because of the formality of the situation. "Its just inside...," the guard stammered a bit at first, "...in the main hall, and I believe only one other guest has arrived thus far, sir," the guard finished, pointing down a ways to the place of the meeting. Gratefully, Hibiki bowed to the guard of the 9th division, as the guard did in turn, and the captain continued on to the main building of the complex.

At his arrival to the building, Hibiki entered, noticing the squad 1 lieutenant, Sieghart. He entered the room quietly, taking a seat near the vice captain, giving a quaint smile. "Good day to you, Vice Captain Sieghart. I did not know you would be attending the strategy meeting today," the captain's expression returning to its usual stoic form, "I can say that I am much more at ease with each officer that attends this meeting, though, its good to have you here," Hibiki finished his statement, then quietly waited for other members of the meeting to arrive...

[Katagami Sairou]

Sairou had missed the earlier meeting because of his normal reluctance to do work. He had stayed in his office reading for the most part of the meeting. When he heard of the strategy meeting that squad nine was leading, he reluctantly left his room after finding out his lieutenant was in recon with the captain of squad two. Before leaving, he grabbed some "supplies" as a test for the squads that were to be at the meeting.

When he reached the front gates, the guards looked at him curiously and stopped him for a moment. "Captain Katagami... what is that you're carrying with you?" the guard asked, pointing to a large bag he had over his shoulder.

"Ha ha... you guys don't need to worry about that. It's just some... party supplies." he said with a sly grin on his face. "I'm gonna give these guys a little test. Don't worry though, it's nothing dangerous. Just some typical Squad Three fun." he said with a laugh. The guards had a worried look on their faces, knowing what "Squad Three fun" meant.

"J-just don't make a big mess please..." the guard said nervously.

"Don't worry about it! Time to get the party started, right?" he said with a grin as he quietly walked into the building. Before he reached the room the party was to be in, he stopped, opened the bag and pulled out a large teddy bear. He then put a white-painted helmet on it, making it a poor-looking Arrancar. He then walked close to the room and threw some of his signature flour bombs into it, covering the room in a white smoke. He then held out out the "Arrancar", which he had tied to the end of a stick, in the middle of the entrance. "Puny Shinigami! Your days are numbered! Sould Society belongs to the Arrancar now!!" he said in a faked, deep voice, as he tried to keep from laughing.

[Kimyona Fugawarina]

Nathan walked casually to the squad 9 barracks. He found everything to be rather annoying but at the same time exciting. It isn't often he gets to fight. In the last Arrancar war he wasn't able to do much fighting do to the battle loving captain of squad 11. He didn't mind. He was glad that he could at least witness a magnificent battle. "Blah...I should hurry on over there.... Brilliant minds should always be on attendance for things like this." With those thoughts he shunpo'ed his way over to the squad nine barracks.
Looking at it, it seemed like everyone was so busy. He focused his attention on the guard that was looking at him. He waved joyfully to him and the guard let him in.
He looked at the few that were here and paid little interest to them. He was laughing inside that Kai's would make this into a party. He walked around a little and found a quite little spot where he could rest and wait for the others to arrive.

[Athena]

Athena was busy working. She didn't just give orders for the meeting room to be prepared for the party, she ordered for every where to be ready, even the outside. The whole squad might have a party, it wouldn't fair if it was just a few selected people. Canopies where being set up outside, and tables where to be put underneath them with food and drinks.

Taking a deep breath, the vice captain sighed and moved off to the side. A few officers told her guests arrived and moved to the meeting room. Letting out a sigh, she told the officers thanks and to get back to work, as it wasn't yet ready. SHe moved to the meeting room, stopping out side of it.

She saw the mess from the out side, and she saw Captain Katagami. Anger flared in to the blood-red eyes.

"Captain Katagami," she said very slowly. "I'm sure an arrancar would be less..." she looked at the teddy bear with the helmet on. "Would be less cuddly looking...." She looked at the mess anger still burning in her eyes. She was not please with the flour bomb part. "I'm not going to even try to make you clean this up..." she muttered angrily. Calling out two names, she got two people to clean the mess up. She shook her head again and walked into the meeting room looking around. "Welcome... we weren't quite ready yet but, well... " she shrugged.

[Rin Akisame]

Rin walked to the barracks of squad nine. The captain had finally woken up, taking a quick, short nap and spacing her face with cold water. She didn't take a drink, but, seeing as the captain of squad nine threw a party for every meeting being held at his barracks, she might just take a drink or two there.

Nodding to the guards, she was allowed entrance. They knew she was there for the 'party'. She wached people hurry about and she moved to go to the entrance room, stopping at the door. She raised her eye brow and looked around her and shook her head. "Having fun?" she said to the captain that was the cause.

She followed Athena in as well, but didn't stop next to the vice captain to exchange words of greeting, she instead quicken her pace to put distance between her and Athena. The captain nodded to the others and sat down, sighing. She closed her eyes thinking. Seighart was going to the world of the living... DId he plan on going alone, or was he willing to let another go with him... Despite the fact that Rin preferred to have all the captains here, it couldn't hurt to have some go o the world of the living. It wasn't like they could hurt owl socket right?

The reason Rin wanted to go to the world of the living, was to see a certain vizard....Aiko.. and old friend, and an old student.

[Shintaro Takayama]

Shintaro had arrived at the barracks of the 9th squad,where a guard was standing in front of them. "Guards? Well I guess thats a good idea, with all the possessed shinigami running around." After that battle, it hit him hard fighting off his own subordinates, despite his easy-going demeanor. He tried not to think about and walked up to the guards with a light smirk. "Yo, Im here for the meeting." The guards moved out of the way with nervousness and Shin just walked through, loving his position as a captain

As he entered the barracks, he noticed that this was more of a party than a meeting which was okay with Shin. Captain's and Lieutenants alike had gotten here before him. Shin wasnt the one to mingle with anyone other than the women here, but he felt that it was more important to catch up on sleep. He sat in a nearby chair, and laid back in it, trying to get a little sleep before the actual meeting got started.

[Haku Rose]

Haku had been walking behind his captain 10 paces for a couple of meters now. Noticing his captain had walked into a guarded building. The building was within the 9th Division Barracks. Haku tilted his head in curiosity was something going on. Was their a memo that went out he wasn't aware of. Then again there probably was Haku was just a little to absent minded to remember. Tilting his head back he noticed a few more people were appearing. They were fellow Vice Captains. With a blank look Haku walked up to the building. He was hoping it was some kind of a meeting tho he was Vice Captain he didn't kindly like meetings. They seemed to waste his time most of the time.

As he made his way to the building he was greeted by two guards who gave him a odd look. Well who didn't now a days. Haku turned to the left showcasing his squads arm band. The guards looked at the arm band and moved aside. As he walked past the guards he rolled his eyes and thought 'wow you think they would know a Vice Captain when they see one' as he walked in he noticed quite a few Vice Captains and Captains. He gracefully walked to a empty seat and sat down.

[Yoshinara Mori]

Yoshinara looked around his new room, barely able to contain himself. "How far I've come... from being no one to the Vice Captain of Squad 8..." He cracked one of his smiles, and pulled out his badge. He stared at it for a moment, basking in its glow. He then put it on his arm, securing it snugly. He belted on his zanpakuto, and exited his room.

"The meeting is in the squad 9 barracks, and it should be going on soon. Better get a move on." He began to walk to the barracks, lost in thought. He was so distracted he walked right past the door and ended up by the squad 10 barracks instead. Red-faced at his mistake, he walked quickly back the other way, and said to the guards at the door, "Vice Captain of Squad 8 Yoshinara Mori, reporting for the meeting!" He grinned to himself as the guards sprang to attention and let him enter with a crisp, "Sir!" He stepped into the room, and looked at the mess and the Arrancar teddy bear. His eyebrow shot up and he gave Captain Katagami a cool look before going over to his own captain and sitting next to him, also waiting for the meeting to begin.

[Nakajima Mei]

The 4th Squad Captain was tending to a few wounded Shinigami. She knew of the large meeting occurring, but there was far too much work that needed to be done. Captain Mei walked over to the next patient on her rounds in the barracks. "Hm...BP 118/76...Body temp at 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit...steady pulse of 80 BPM...alright vitals seem to be improving greatly. You'll be fine as long as you're in my hands comrade...and as long as you continue to keep up afterwards~" Mei smiled at her patient, hoping to lift his spirits. "Thank you very much Captain!" the Shinigami replied. She walked off to the next group of patients, thinking to herself. "I just wish all the cases were like that...but it's why I'm here. I love what I do. Even if I can't save them all, I can do my best by them to ease the pain..."

Captain Nakajima finally made her way to her desk. She noticed a new stack of papers to fill out and turned to the clock. "I have a bit of time to relax. Although, I wonder if he's not too busy...no. I should let one of the lower seats practice being charge." She called out to the 3rd seat and told them to take charge while she took a break. "Y-Yes ma'am! I'll do my best in your absence!" Mei smiled & nodded to her subordinate and headed out.

"Well, since I missed the general meeting, the least I could do is head to the strategy meeting. I read it was in the...9th squad barracks? Yes I believe so..." She immediately shunpo'ed to the 9th Squad barracks and waved to the guard. "Nice to see you again~ I do hope that you're following up on your medicine." she playfully scolds the guard as he sheepishly lets her in. "My apologies Captain Nakajima...I'll try to keep up again." Mei walked in on the mess that the 3rd Squad Captain had made, along with an "Arrancar" off to the side. She took her place at the table and sighed "Captain Sairou... always the playful one hm? In any case, I do hope that the enemy isn't as adorable as you imagined with your friend here." She waited for the meeting to start, noticing that most of the captains and vice captains were already present.

[Katagami Sairou]

Sairou let out a small laugh at the Captains' responses, before putting his supplies away. "Well, Captain Nakajima, Lieutenant Athena, I just had to make sure we would be prepared for an invasion some how, right?" he said with a grin before he headed to his own seat, saying his hellos to the various captains and lieutenants in the room.

"Well... since Captain Inazuka is still sleeping, I'll be taking over until he arrives." he called out among the Shinigami, not bothering to quiet them. "Ugh... I hate getting stuck with the work... I feel like a Lieutenant again..." he said to himself, as he laid his hand on his chin. "I wish Hitomi was here so I could just make her do this..." he said, letting out a sigh as sat up straight, looking at the Shinigami.

"Alright guys!! Time to get to business!" he shouted, hoping to get their attention. The captain wasn't sure how well he would do leading a strategy meeting, especially because most of his plans involved running away or deceit; something that wouldn't likely be an option for the upcoming battle.

"I know I'm not really the most qualified to lead this meeting, but I don't think that's much of an issue right now. Our home is going to be attacked by Arrancar soon, so there's no time for complaining about small things. Anyway, to start this meeting off, what are everyone's ideas to stop this invasion?" he called out, wanting to be able to get the best strategy for the battle ahead.

[Kimyona Fugawarina]

The brilliant Captain humbly awoke from his dreamless slumber to find the meeting picking up. Though things still seemed a bit chaotic. "What a lively bunch." He said happily to himself. He stood up and shunpo'ed over to Sairou's left. He gave a light pat on the Captain's head and smirked. "Good to see someone taking charge." He said playfully.

The Captain tapped his chin with his index finger wondering if people were paying attention. He dug into his Shinigami clothes and pulled out a mega-microphone. It was an inch long resembling a so called "blue-tooth" device the humans have. Fluorescent green swirls wrapped around the object. He pushed the button on the top. The fluorescent swirls began glowing brighter and the object itself resembled a cero. The object gave off with a remarkably large neon green flash. The beautiful sound of a cero came roaring from it. The flash brightened up the hole place leaving no shadows, the sound being loud enough to be heard outside the barracks.

It seized and the Captain grinned and put the object away. "Sorry if it was a bit over flashy. Let's get this meeting started!"

[Head Kuchiki: Reza Kuchiki]

The noble Head Kuchiki stood upon the roof of where the meeting was currently taking place. Knowing how energetic the young Captains and luietenents were, especially Sairou, he saw it best to wait for them to calm down. He had no problem waiting outside. It was a lovely day. The sun shinning through a few clouds as nippy winds stuck the Captain, blowing the light gold tassels at the corner of his high collared cloak and the fairly larger red tassels that hung around his neck. The sun rays that managed to peak through the clouds caused the light gold on his cloak's edges to glisten.

"I believe by now the group must be ready to start the strategizing meeting." He said as he looked down noticing a green glow comming from the room and the sound of a cero being charge. "I suppose not." He said as he looked away from the lights, raising his right arm and adjusting the fingerless white tekkou. The light became even greater as it sounded like the "cero" was being fired. Reza jumped down from the roof casually and headed into the building noticing Captain Cantu standing next to Captain Sairou. He walked over to the two and sat down in the chair oppostie of where Sairou sat.