[BitP:R] Episode 11 - Back to Work

[Frozen_Feet]

[Mortal World, morning, Day ???]

It's been a few days since Õta Yui and Silva Rai left for their work-trip-slash-vacation. They've been sharing a room in a surprisingly fancy hotel in the city downtown. Outside, the city is bustling, with people hurrying along on the street far, far below the hotel room window.

Today, however, Silva wakes up alone. If she looks around, she might notice a note glued on the bathroom door.

"Good morning, Silva-chan!

I got a priority call, so I had to leave early. You were sleeping so deep, I didn't care to wake you up. If you miss breakfast, call the room service to bring you something. Don't worry, I can pay.

I don't know when I'll be coming back, probably not until late evening. Feel free to take a look around the city while I'm gone.

~ Yui

PS: I bought a new tube of toothpaste, it's on the mirror rack in the bathroom."

---

[Meanwhile, in Soul Society...]

[horngeek]

[Soul Society]

Inoue Hotaru waits for the patrol she's taking out to gather. I wouldn't normally be taking a patrol out... but given this is Aiko's first new one, he needs a firmer hand than just a low-level seated.

[riccaru]

[Soul Society]

Inoue Hotaru waits for the patrol she's taking out to gather. I wouldn't normally be taking a patrol out... but given this is Aiko's first new one, he needs a firmer hand than just a low-level seated.

"Fourth seat Hotaru, Thank you for arranging our excursion so quickly. I will do everything in my power to complete the mission at hand." Akio says as he walks up to his commanding officer, whom only last weak would have been taking orders from him.

[KerfuffleMach2]

[Mortal World]

When Silva wakes, she sits up, stretches, yawns, and rubs her eyes a little. She notices that Yui is gone, but isn't alarmed by it. That woman was more of a morning person than Silva.

Silva gets out bed, stretches again, and looks around.

Huh...no sign of Yui...

I saw her take off earlier. She left something on the bathroom door for you. Although the voice is in Silva's mind, she knows it's from her doll. The dagger laying on the bedside table.

Silva crosses to the door in question and grabs the note, reading it.

Oh...that works, then. Silva then finishes her morning routine of showering and such.

Within an hour, Silva heads out the door, her doll tucked neatly away in a special slot in her jeans.

[Dorizzit]

[Soul Society]

Allan is, as usual, late. He's actually kept a record; he hasn't been on time in forty three years. Lately he's been trying to be more punctual, but old habits die hard. He dashes up, then sets his hands on his knees, panting quietly. It's a few seconds before he is able to speak, and even then, he does so in between breaths.

"Allan Crossdale...reporting...for duty."

[Frozen_Feet]

[Soul Society]

As Allan hurries on the spot, Sato Hachirou approaches from the opposite direction. He gives Allan's exhausted self an amused look, then greets Hotaru. "Inoue-san. The Senkaimon is ready. Surveillance is scanning the destination. Do you all have Reiphones?"

[Dorizzit]

[Soul Society]

Allan drops his eyes at Hachirou's amused gaze.

"I was...I was training. Very hard. I lost track of time."

True, if by "lost track of time" he means "accidentally took a three hour nap during his five minute break."

[riccaru]

[Soul Society]

As Allan hurries on the spot, Sato Hachirou approaches from the opposite direction. He gives Allan's exhausted self an amused look, then greets Hotaru. "Inoue-san. The Senkaimon is ready. Surveillance is scanning the destination. Do you all have Reiphones?"

"I do. I can't speak for the others though." Akio is really out of his element and it shows. He's not used to being on this side of the conversation, and usually he's the one questioning the young upstarts if they're prepared. This has to change. Soon.

[Frozen_Feet]

Hachirou frowns at Akio, though averting his gaze. It's... odd to see his former superior in such a position. He'd never trusted Akio overly much - his manners had always been somewhat dubious. But since Natsuko had seen it fit to keep him as her 3rd seat, he'd thought that he'd be, if nothing more, at least competent. Recent events had not been kind to that view.

This all traces back to the joint ops. What went wrong with him? Why do all the bad things have to happen on my shifts?

Duh. Thirteen's your lucky number.

Well, at least I don't have to go this time around.

Better for them too. That way, you won't jinx the mission.

Hachirou hands one Reiphone to Allan. "Crossdale-kun, you seem to be lacking. Here's yours." Then he turns back to Hotaru, offering one to her too. "Inoue-san?"

Hachirou keeps watching Akio from the corner of his eye. He might not be around to cause bad luck, but the former 3rd seat... he'd assaulted his fellows for no good reason. Despite his demotion, he's still more powerful than any of the others present... should he choose to act up, it'd not be guaranteed that Hotaru and Allan would be able to stop it. I have a bad feeling about this...

[Dorizzit]

[Soul Society]

Allan turns a bit red at Hachirou's observation. He takes the offered reiphone, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Thanks. I won't lost it."

[horngeek]

Inoue nods. "Thanks. All right, everyone, let's move out!"

[Frozen_Feet]

[Back in the Mortal World]

Thin but brisk air greet the Shinigami as they step into the realm of the living. The Senkaimon was ordered to open in mid air, so they get a birds view of the bustling city. The myriad cars and people below look like mere ants from that perspective.

"Surveillance here. Connection working without a hitch. You may proceed", a voice comes from the radio. They seem to be in luck; screens of their Reiphones are blank, indicating that there are no Hollow beings in near vicinity. Rare from such a big city.

Elsewhere, Silva Rai might notice a whopping big shopping mall ahead. No doubt there'd be something interesting to buy there. Delinquent youths dressed in rather colourful clothes loiter near the entrance, perhaps skipping school.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Mortal World

Silva smiles to herself a little when she sees the mall. She heads towards it, deciding on at least looking around. I mean, why pass it up?

[riccaru]

Akio sighs in clear disappointment as he steps through the large gate. This is not my proving ground. Not today.

The time will come, Akio. Elder still has much to discuss with us. There are secrets to be revealed in due time.

"Nothing yet. Where should we start the search then?" Akio says, the weight of his failure heavy in his voice.

--------------------------------------------------------
As she walks into the mall, her way is blocked with a teenage arm. "Hey, you look like a respectable young miss. Maybe you can help us with a problem?" The first thing she would notice is his hair, wild and untamed in a rainbow. Next would be his clothes, the dark colors making his hair stand out even more.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Silva blinks a couple of times, taking in the sight of the teenage boy.

Uh...sure, why not.

[riccaru]

Silva blinks a couple of times, taking in the sight of the teenage boy.

Uh...sure, why not.

A second of the young boys walks behind her, baseball bat in his hand lazily.

The first smiles and nods to the others with a grin. "Well, see. We're having a bit of a party tonight, but we're not quite old enough to get the party favors. That's where you come in. We have the money and all, but we need someone old enough to buy for us."

[KerfuffleMach2]

Silva gives a short laugh, shaking her head a little.

Sorry, kid. I'm not gonna be the one to buy kids booze. Good luck with that, though.

Silva will try to walk past him.

[riccaru]

Silva gives a short laugh, shaking her head a little.

Sorry, kid. I'm not gonna be the one to buy kids booze. Good luck with that, though.

Silva will try to walk past him.

The boy behind her speaks up, and his voice is quite a bit lower than the others. The other two laugh evilly as they reach into their pockets to grasp something. "Look, lady. We ain't askin' you to help. We're tellin'. You get your pretty little rear int here and get everything on the list or else." In his hand he holds a small slip of paper with names of alcohol.

[KerfuffleMach2]

The boy behind her speaks up, and his voice is quite a bit lower than the others. The other two laugh evilly as they reach into their pockets to grasp something. "Look, lady. We ain't askin' you to help. We're tellin'. You get your pretty little rear int here and get everything on the list or else." In his hand he holds a small slip of paper with names of alcohol.

So...we going to fight?

Silva sighs, placing the heel of her left hand on her forehead.

Look...you don't wanna do this with me. Trust me. You'll just get hurt. Just go away.

Even with that statement, Silva figures that they won't. So, she tries to keep aware of them.

[horngeek]

Akio sighs in clear disappointment as he steps through the large gate. This is not my proving ground. Not today.

The time will come, Akio. Elder still has much to discuss with us. There are secrets to be revealed in due time.

"Nothing yet. Where should we start the search then?" Akio says, the weight of his failure heavy in his voice.

"Grid pattern, origin point this location."

[riccaru]

So...we going to fight?

Silva sighs, placing the heel of her left hand on her forehead.

Look...you don't wanna do this with me. Trust me. You'll just get hurt. Just go away.

Even with that statement, Silva figures that they won't. So, she tries to keep aware of them.

The third boy on her left rushes forward, pulling out a small switchblade knife and opening it with a click as the other two look on, expecting the fight o be over as soon as it started. "You're the one makin' the mistake lady!"

"Grid pattern, origin point this location."

Akio nods quietly and begins moving into position.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Silva should easily sidestep his attack. As she does, she'll bring her knee up, aiming for his stomach.

Uh-huh. I'll remember that.

[riccaru]

Silva should easily sidestep his attack. As she does, she'll bring her knee up, aiming for his stomach.

Uh-huh. I'll remember that.

Her knee slams into his unprotected stomach and leaves him winded and gasping on the air as the one behind her swings the bat at her ribcage "No one messes with us, lady!"

[KerfuffleMach2]

Silva twists to dodge the bat. It misses by inches.

Duly noted.

Now, if ya don't mind, I'd like to just be on my way.

[Dorizzit]

Allan steps through the gate and nods at Inoue's command before moving into position. He looks around cautiously, even...sniffing the air? He rests one hand on the hilt of his sword, reassuring himself of its presence. He splits his attention, keeping aware of his surroundings while mentally speaking to his Zanpakuto.

Are you ready?

I live for the hunt.

Across the surface of Allan's mind flashes an image of a lupine face contorted into a savage grin, revealing pointed fangs. Allan nods, and his mouth twists into a gentler, easy going smile. Everything would work itself out. He was ready.

[Frozen_Feet]

First half an hour of their patrol is delightfully uneventful for the Shinigami, with no alerts of suspicious spiritual activity, Hollow or otherwise. Then, their Reiphones beep, a call coming in from surveillance.

"Okay, doesn't look like there's going to be much action today", a relieved voice rattles from the aether. "Listen - you don't all have to remain there if things continue this smoothly. Just leave one to keep guard and the rest can come back to chill. Or we could send you your Gigais, so you can take a stroll through the city or something. Sound like a deal?"

[horngeek]

"Send our Gigai through. That said... everyone, I want artificial souls ready for the first sign of trouble."

[Frozen_Feet]

"Okay. Find yourselves some secluded spot to pick them up from." After all, while Shinigami themselves are invisible to good majority of humans, Gigai are not, and it would not be in anyone's best interest to have a bunch of (seemingly) dead bodies appear in open sky.

"Any requests for clothing?"

[Dorizzit]

Allan responds to the inquiry about clothing.

"A fishing hat. I would like a fishing hat."

[Vulkan]

[Mortal World]

A small Garganta opened at standing at the edge of it was Mimus with a face filled with almost child like glee. "You must admit Abs, yeah that's what I'm calling you now... Where was I? Oh yeah! Anyways you must admit compared to Las Nachos this world is far more beautiful with all of it's sounds and colors. It's also far more delicious if I remember correctly.."