[BitP:R] Mortal World 3

[Shades of Gray]

Mihail's phone will ring at about 5:45. The Caller ID says it is Eirene calling.

"Hey, Mihail. I'm running a bit late, just trying on some clothes. Could you meet me at the mall? It's a few blocks away from the café, can't miss it. I'm in the clothing store, north side." Before even waiting for an answer she hangs up.

[Frozen_Feet]

[At the mall, 6:00 PM on Day 19]

Mihail appears on the mall just as the clock strikes six. The call had caught him off-guard - luckily, he'd reserved a good deal of time for walking, so he didn't have to run. He's wearing blue jeans, a brown leather jacket and brown leather shoes - not very fashionable, really. He's carrying a bundle of white azaleas on his left hand as he enter the clothing store to look around for Eirine.

[Shades of Gray]

[Mall. Day 19]

<Mihail!> shouted an excited voice from the change rooms. Out stepped Eirene, wearing cyan lingerie. <What do you think? Too bright?> She asked, turning around. Everywhere in the store people were either staring, turning away in embarrassment, or shielding their children's eyes.

[Frozen_Feet]

Mihail stares, as he is wont to do. Whether it's of surprise, embarrassement, or lewd intention is left unclear to all. <"Well... it's eyecatching, that's for sure">, he says plainly. <"But it's not really your... color. It doesn't suit your... eyes."> He glances at the flowers he's carrying, then puts them behind his back.

... I think I'll give these to her when she's not as... preoccupied.

[Shades of Gray]

<Hmmm... I guess so. I have some others to try on too. I hope you don't mind.> She said apologetically, holding a bag full of more to try.

A store clerk approached Mihail. "Ahem. Sir? Would you tell your... daughter to behave herself?"

[Frozen_Feet]

<"No, I don't mind at..."> Mihail's cut short by the shop clerk. Mihail turns to glare at the woman - he's not trying to be scary, he's jus trying to make out what she's saying. Doesn't stop the poor lady from flinching uneasily.

<"... they might, though. Doesn't this shop have a return policy. Maybe you could buy them all and then show them off... privately, and then return the ones you're not going to use?">

Wait... she called her my daughter?

[Shades of Gray]

<There's only a few, and I'll probably forget. Besides, I was planning on using some of my money for the date tonight.> She then turned to the shop clerk. <I hope that's okay.>

The shop clerk nodded warily.

<Alright.> Eirene stepped back into the change room. She emerged a minute later. <I think this one's a bit too skimpy> She stepped back in, and came out later, garnering another glare from the clerk. <Too transparent.> Once more. <Hmmm... I like the bottoms. Maybe I should just see what this one looks like alone...>

"Get out!"

<But I haven't bought anything->

"Take them all! Just get out of the store!"

<Thanks! I'll make sure to come back soon.> She bowed, taking her bag and slipping her dress on. <The prices here are great, eh Mihail?> She said, paying the cashier.

[Nicklance]

((Well that's a mystery worth looking into, to the mystery van!))

Toriyama Alice - Day 9 - Serpent of Knowledge (New Kido Corp Headquarters)

Alice, having spend her stay at the Serpent of Knowledge piecing together a mental map of the modern world and the general Shinigami presence in Phoenix Town, looks up at the chime with a smile. She puts a history book aside as she stands up.

"Certainly, I will be there immediately"

Pausing only to grab Kurarentou, Alice strides down the halls to the elevators. Once on her way down she takes time to greet her fellow Ex-Kido and enquire to their own research. Hastily moving on when the elevator stops, to be on time. Once positioned in the main hall she awaits Kitano's arrival.

Kitano Takeshi - Day 9 - Serpent of Knowledge - Main Hall

As Alice strides into the main hall, as she had done so during the few lectures held in the room, it remains the same without any changes. What she could definitely feel however, is the air of anticipation built up as if its static electricity.

Arriving in good time, dressed in street clothes that seems to fit the small stature of the man better than the archaic robes and stuff that he used to wear, Kitano Takeshi, the man who made all these possible today, strides confidently to the stage.

"Greetings ladies and gentlemen, now I'll not bore you with another speech deriding the stupidity of the Gotei 13 and the abuses they have pushed onto us. We are sitting here because we know them all to well." gesturing to a deploying screen behind him on the illuminated stage, the screen lights up to reveal cross-sectional 3D images of a typical Adjuchas.

"This is a Hollow, Adjuchas Menos, one of the myriad thousand varieties that we come across. Notice that they wear those masks." Takeshi waves his hand again as the picture now shows an Arrancar.

"This is an Arrancar, one of the weaker ones that was documented. The Hollow on the screen before was the original form of that Arrancar, notice how the mask is fragmented? Now I know this is common curriculum by now, but there's still one bit of knowledge we do not have the answers yet: How did they come about? What inspired or encouraged the removal of the mask?"

The screen goes blank. "We need to fully understand the process of transformation into an Arrancar. This is the gap of knowledge that we lack. We need to know the how and why it is done so that we can device ways to eliminate the why, to discourage or prevent the impetus for evolution. We need to know how we can eliminate the how, by coming up with technology or new spells to sever that evolutionary link. We need to...for the lack of a better word, "fix" them."

The screen turns on again, this time showing a series of large tents in a camp site one would expect from a North Pole core ice drilling expedition base.

"I had taken a trip to Hueco Mundo, far far away from Las Noches and came across this abandoned camp site. It is situated on top of a mountain range, very isolated from any Hollows because most of them are disinclined to climb so high. The flying Hollows met an end against the camp's occupants most likely, but the campsite is still empty for I don't know how long. I didn't have time to really enter and check things out, but it seems that Gotei 13 did send expedition groups to Hueco Mundo way back." The screen now shows a list of names, including Alice's.

"This is the first joint project for all of us. All 50 of us can fit into that campsite with an acceptable level of comfort, but not all of us will go. I am selecting the best of us to enter and commandeer that camp site for our research purposes. The rest of you will resume your research and back us up logistically."

Kitano Takeshi smiles as he raises his arms, the screen flashes the objective of this project.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to be taking Hollows of all evolutionary stages up to the Adjuchas, and artificially induce the transformation into Arrancar. I will provide the necessary materials to the new Bakudo spells I have come up with, as well as all the necessary procedures and plans for the successful capture and containment of these creatures. Once we can make them, we know the how and the why, and we can thus reverse or sever the ability to evolve. This way, we might come up with the technology to regress our most powerful foes till date back into a form that has less power and less general intelligence."

The silence in the Hall is deafening. This is a big thing indeed.

"Gather your things, there will be a Garganta opened and maintained here to the campsite proper, supplies and communication links will be maintained through that Garganta. 25 of you whose names are not on the list will be given a set of instructions and protocols to facilitate this project. The rest of you are with me. Move out!"

[Frozen_Feet]

[Day 19, afternoon, Shopping Mall]

It is such a fortunate thing Mihail has an artificial heart keeping his pulse nice and steady - otherwise, his reputation as an implacable stoic might be in danger! He watches as Eirine gets in and out of changing booth in increasingly more revealing underwear. The shop clerk, on the other hand, looks like she's about to explode. Mihail feels he's supposed to do something about it, but what?

<"You have no shame, huh?">, he asks as they get out of the shop, the clerk staring daggers at his back. Why his back? He hadn't done anything! After a while, Mihail remembers the flowers and hands them to Eirine.

<"These are for you">, he says plainly. <"So, did you come up with any interesting ideas for the evening?"> Other than causing a scene in the clothing shop, that is.

[Shades of Gray]

Eirene

<Shame? What would I have to be ashamed about? Did I do something wrong?> She asked curiously. She wasn't shameless so much as she was clueless.

She gladly accepted the flowers, smelling them before putting them into the shopping bag. <Thank you! I was thinking we'd head out to dinner and then stop off by my place, I rented some movies. Sound good to you?>

[KnightDisciple]

Izumi looks at Sora as she runs. "Well, that's one way of dealing with Hollows.

We're going to be seeking them out anyway, so that doesn't matter so much for out purposes right now. Also, if we're right and they're being controlled... it won't matter to them that you're here. If they're ordered to attack, they'll attack anyway."

"Frankly, right now, I'm all in favor of overwhelming force. And you're right, Izumi. This seems like the sort of situation where those Hollows won't be running away. Which is all the better, I think."

Sora laughed softly.

"Eh, true. Are we any closer to this shop you're looking for Izumi?"

Kaito nodded after looking at the business card again.

"Shouldn't be more than a couple of blocks away, now."

[Mina Kobold]

Toriyama Alice, Day 9, Serpent of Knowledge Main Hall.

Alice's eyes widen as Kitano explains their mission, this was astronomical indeed. Quickly putting speculations aside, albeit she notices it is not as quickly as others in the hall, she hurries off to gather the essential supplies.

"Stopping the evolution of Arrancars? If this could work we'd-"

Not keeping an eye on her surroundings, she almost gets in the way of a fellow ex-Kido. Apologising she hurries to her room and gather what she needs.

Leaving her gigai, she soon arrives again in the Main Hall. A few others having arrived before her.

[Frozen_Feet]

[Day 19, afternoon, Shopping Mall]

Mihail nods in agreement. <"I can pay for the food. Lead the way.">

[Shades of Gray]

Eirene

The two arrive at an incredibly fancy looking restaurant. <My sister pulled some strings to get a reservation on such short notice.> The two are led up to the balcony, where they have a private table. Eirene orders a vintage red wine for the table. The prices are more than extravagant. Everything was imported from France, including the staff.

[Frozen_Feet]

Mihail feels more than a bit out of his depth, surrounded by all the fanciness. When he picks up the menu, it almost looks like his eyes widen a bit. Almost.

Good grief, these prices are exorbitant! How does the owner sleep at night?, he wonders. Luckily, his paycheck from SWORD hard arrived just a while ago, with some pretty hefty bonuses - it's not like Mihail's staying in a hotel with the wage of a school janitor anyhow.

<"Your sister? Is she an employee here?">, he asks as they wait for the first dish to come.

[Shades of Gray]

<Nah, she just knows a guy who knows ago.> This was probably true for any restaurant or other business in the town. <She runs a specialist store. Knick-knacks, tchotchkes. Voodoo dolls. All of that bull.> The first dishes arrive; they have one of those ridiculously small patté things that takes up one square inch of the plate and costs as much as a steak. <Do you have any family in the country?>

[Frozen_Feet]

Mihail eats the miniscule dish in one bite. Well, at least it tastes good. <"Interesting. I have to visit her shop sometime">, he replies. <"No, all my family is back in Finland... I guess. I haven't kept contact in a while. I'm here on my own. Lucked out, financially, which made this possible.>"

[Shades of Gray]

<You ever miss them?> Eirene asks, delicately eating her appetizer. <I haven't been away from my sister for more than a few weeks. I can't imagine what it's like.>

[strawberryman]

Principal's Office

Doors closed, Reene feels more at ease.

And Gralster appears partially within a garganta on the southern wall.

"It is quite the atypical year. There is a shinigami on my staff, a girl from the Hayashi family became a substitute. An exchange turned out to be another quincy, I am watching four of them now, hah. It is almost amusing."

Reene slouches back on her chair.

"As for troublemakers... The quincy I mentioned before are always causing trouble, one girl in particular, Williams. Quite the troublemaker. A little medium priestess, Kondo Sayaka, has been scattering amulets all over the school... Hardly enough to hinder me in the least, but they were bothersome."

"My queen, my princess."

"Speak, Graslter."

"My forays indicate that the latest hollow attacks were not the work of any of the espada, these wild hollows were organized by some other force."

"And the one in front of my school?"

"That was unrelated, it was the new primera espada. A much more agreeable woman, according to Lord Von Geister."

Carina listens silently, sitting down and swinging her feet slightly.

The man waves away the subject without hostility. "The trivialities of financing are of little concern to me. Charge what you will, within reason, and we will see if the quality of the goods merit a repeat performance in the part of my pocketbook."

"...Very well. I can give you a bundle deal for the gigai and modsouls... ¥17000000 is the lowest I can go, though." Viatrix taps a few more times on her smartphone, then writes something down on a piece of paper. "For large sums I usually have a handful of bank accounts for that purpose. Here's the routing number, as soon as the initial amount is transferred, I'll start working."

"As for your second request... well, I'll call my contacts and see how difficult it is."

[horngeek]

Izumi points. "Is that it?"

[KnightDisciple]

Izumi points. "Is that it?"

Kaito nods.

"It is. Let's get this taken care of, so we can rendezvous with the others."

With that, Kaito walks up to the front door of the store, knocking on the door frame.

"Um, hello? Anyone in here today?"

[Hadrian_Emrys]

"...Very well. I can give you a bundle deal for the gigai and modsouls... ¥17000000 is the lowest I can go, though." Viatrix taps a few more times on her smartphone, then writes something down on a piece of paper. "For large sums I usually have a handful of bank accounts for that purpose. Here's the routing number, as soon as the initial amount is transferred, I'll start working."

"As for your second request... well, I'll call my contacts and see how difficult it is."

"Excellent." The man reaches into his overcoat's breast pocket in order to extracts a silver tube with a button top and hand it to the shop keep. "I do try to avoid phone usage, even in this country. All you need do is compress once to alert me that dialogue is in order. However, a second press should follow shortly thereafter as the signal is quite strong and has been known to agitate those sensitive to such things. The funds should reach your account within the hour."

[strawberryman]

Viatrix looks the object with passing interest before slipping it under the counter. "Sounds like a deal. Now, sounds like I've got other customers."

She nods her head to Fuchs, who stealthily walks over to the door and opens it before slipping back into the shadows. The bount spends a moment to take stock of her visitors. "Well? Just going to stand there? Usually people just come in."

Assuming they take the offer, they will find the shelves stocked with various oddities, much of which they may not even be able to recognize. On the surface, it might look like an ordinary curio shop, but to those spiritually aware with all the recent potent visitors it feels like much more...

[horngeek]

Izumi lets Kaito do the talking at first, having a look around.

{{Does Viatrix have Soul Candies stocked?}}

[Nicklance]

Toriyama Alice, Day 9, Serpent of Knowledge Main Hall.

Alice's eyes widen as Kitano explains their mission, this was astronomical indeed. Quickly putting speculations aside, albeit she notices it is not as quickly as others in the hall, she hurries off to gather the essential supplies.

"Stopping the evolution of Arrancars? If this could work we'd-"

Not keeping an eye on her surroundings, she almost gets in the way of a fellow ex-Kido. Apologising she hurries to her room and gather what she needs.

Leaving her gigai, she soon arrives again in the Main Hall. A few others having arrived before her.

Arriving at the meeting point, a Garganta large enough to fit a bus through can be seen, along with some measure of shielding to prevent the large reiatsu signature from broadcasting itself too far out.

Two teams of three Kido corp members are on hand with the equipment to transmit their energy to maintaining the gate as well as monitor and guard the portal.

"Alright teams, move out. Secure the campsite and set up." comes Takeshi's command as he draws his Zanpakuto and leaps in.

(Kido Corp Plot arc will continue in the Hueco Mundo thread, when I'm on lunch break. )

[KnightDisciple]

Viatrix looks the object with passing interest before slipping it under the counter. "Sounds like a deal. Now, sounds like I've got other customers."

She nods her head to Fuchs, who stealthily walks over to the door and opens it before slipping back into the shadows. The bount spends a moment to take stock of her visitors. "Well? Just going to stand there? Usually people just come in."

Assuming they take the offer, they will find the shelves stocked with various oddities, much of which they may not even be able to recognize. On the surface, it might look like an ordinary curio shop, but to those spiritually aware with all the recent potent visitors it feels like much more...

Izumi lets Kaito do the talking at first, having a look around.

{{Does Viatrix have Soul Candies stocked?}}

Kaito glances at the stock before walking in and over to Viatrix, an intent look on his face.

"Do you possess any items that would aid in tracking individuals? Possibly via spiritual means?"

[riccaru]

Kaito glances at the stock before walking in and over to Viatrix, an intent look on his face.

"Do you possess any items that would aid in tracking individuals? Possibly via spiritual means?"

"Subtle as always, Watanabe-san." Yoko walks in and moves among the wares with the disinterest that comes with knowledge. She happens to stop near the reishi cola, looking at them quite hungrily before turning back around. "Someone's gone missing, Viatrix! Can you believe that? In such a quiet town."

[KnightDisciple]

"Subtle as always, Watanabe-san." Yoko walks in and moves among the wares with the disinterest that comes with knowledge. She happens to stop near the reishi cola, looking at them quite hungrily before turning back around. "Someone's gone missing, Viatrix! Can you believe that? In such a quiet town."

Kaito whirls on Yoko at her sarcastic words. It's virtually the last straw for him in a stressful two days, a stressful month. He moves faster than he ought to be able to, and suddenly he's just a couple feet away, his right hand is up in a slight grasping motion in the air...

And Yoko feels an invisible vice on her throat.

"I have had damn well enough of your prattle, you bitch. If you don't stop making light of this, I will make you regret it."

Throughout the whole exchange, his voice never actually increased in volume. It remained eerily quiet as he threatened a woman who presented herself as a fellow classmate.

[strawberryman]

Izumi lets Kaito do the talking at first, having a look around.

{{Does Viatrix have Soul Candies stocked?}}

((She would. ))

Kaito glances at the stock before walking in and over to Viatrix, an intent look on his face.

"Do you possess any items that would aid in tracking individuals? Possibly via spiritual means?"

"Subtle as always, Watanabe-san." Yoko walks in and moves among the wares with the disinterest that comes with knowledge. She happens to stop near the reishi cola, looking at them quite hungrily before turning back around. "Someone's gone missing, Viatrix! Can you believe that? In such a quiet town."

First, Viatrix eyes Yoko. "I don't do gossip, I do business. I would think you'd remember that."

Then, she turns her attention to Kaito. "I might have a few items on hand; I take it these things are directly related to one another?"

At the tingle of spiritual energy, Viatrix just about vaults over the counter, sweeps Kaito's legs, and brings his torso down onto the straw-mat floor with her arm. The boy might notice the silver fox hanging on the girl's back, and the fact that she weighs much more than her build should suggest on his chest, but not harmfully so.

"There are a lot of things I tolerate. But I won't have fighting in my store."

[KnightDisciple]

Kaito coughed as he landed, shock evident in his eyes as he gazes up at Viatrix...and the fox. He blinks, but doesn't freak out.

'I wonder why she has...not improtant!'

"Fine. No fighting. It'll help if she stays quiet until the rest of us leave."

He shot a glare at Yoko.

"Because I don't want you following us, frankly."

He turned his eyes back to Viatrix.

"My request is related to the "rumor" she spoke of. I'd like to see what you have, hear what each item does, before coming to a financial arrangement. I'll have to come another day for a broader selection of wares."

'Promise the person who's obviously an enthusiastic capitalist future business, and it might smooth feathers.'