The Soul Society

[Mamma Peach]

The Soul Society

The Soul Society is a place for the souls of the dead and is composed completely of reishi (spirit energy), though not as much as Hueco Mundo. (This is not the only place of the dead though... just one of them, one that can be physically reached from Triudomhan.) Originally formed from the ancient eastern part of Earth (hence the uniquely Japanese culture in spite of drawing souls from all over Earth) it spread across the world. Shortly after the events of Ichigo Kurosaki's life (as portrayed in Bleach) part of the soul society was rifted from Earth ending up in dying Primavaldia, where Sulis led in the fight against the Evil and the hollows that were also drawn there. After Locura formed the Soul Society reformed itself along former lines even though it lacked all of the important figures from the past. After over a thousand years passed the Soul Society of Locura came in contact with the former Soul Society again (which had spread across the universe with mankind's space faring to many alien worlds establishing many Soul Societies ruled by extended members of the ruling family and noble houses). The Soul Society of Locura again reorganized to be accommodated into the over all structure, though not much had changed since Ichigo's time. The Locuran Soul Society again met with disaster when the world split, loosing many of its people and having to rebuild.

The Soul Society consists of the circular Seireitei, a walled and fortified city containing the noble houses and the 13 court guards, ruled over by the local Spirit King (a relation of the Spirit King of Earth who is the head of the family) living in a separate dimension protected by the Seireitei, administered by the Central 46. Outside of the Seireitei is the Rukon District which consists of ordinary souls loosely gathered into families and communities (not based on former relations in the world). The Rukon District is where souls usually arrive first and is often riddled with both crime and poverty. Outside of that are fields and forests.

The Gotei 13
(13 Court Guards)

1st Division: Cpt. Yama Ryu; Lt. Sora Ryu -(Is the lead division, contains the oldest members /dragons)
2nd Division: Cpt. Mayonaka Shihoin; Lt. Kiyo Fon -(Stealth ops)
3rd Division: -(suffered a great deal of loss and betrayal, former Cpt. Mukouzune Rekkyo)
4th Division: Cpt. Alyson Joy; Lt. Audina Chanse -(Healing and janatorial division)
5th Division: -(intelligence gathering and "suicide" missions, former Lt. Yugata Ame)
6th Division: Cpt. Arashi Kuchiki -(A model division run by nobility, by-the-book)
7th Division: -(known for loyalty)
8th Division: Cpt. Kimagure Zenko -(Tradition and art preservation)
9th Division: -(Gotei 13 security force and news)
10th Division: Cpt. Nadir Kai; Lt. Yurishiro Tenshi -(mostly aliens)
11th Division: -(Melee combat and swordsmanship)
12th Division: Cpt. Isha Onoishi; Lt. Kikai Tetsudaite -(Research and development)
13th Division: -(Usually supplied a guard to Falcon 6 Town)

[Mamma Peach]

From here.

The doors shut behind them as they entered. They saw a garden, not unlike the ones that Lord Seiryu had, white walls and gold roofed buildings, and men in black hakama running towards them with forked poles.

"This doesn't look like your description of Huecho Mundo," said Ryoga casually tossing aside the closest guy with a forked pole.

"You think?!" said Akuma shoving aside another.

"Don't draw your weapons or hurt anyone," said Lien Hua. "I think we are in the Soul Society!"

"Are these Soul Reapers?" asked Shiori the Aosagibi disarming another and using the pole he took to push others away.

"No, but I am!" said a man approaching with drawn sword. He wore a very dark blue hakama and long white haori with black diamond like markings at the hem. His long dark hair was gathered and separated into three strands by an odd ornament on the left side of his head. "Put your weapons down and submit to my guards.

"We haven't even drawn weapons, and we'll stand as still as you like if you call your dogs off," Akuma snapped back. "Better yet, Xin Le Hua, why don't you just take out your key to open the door again so we can just get out of here?! We're obviously in the wrong place!"

"No," said Lien Hua."There must be some reason why we came here instead. Perhaps they have some information on Hueco Mundo, or another way of getting there... It won't do any good to just go back and try again. This is where the key and the butterflies led us. I don't know of any other way to rescue Takumi and his family."

"Well I'm not going to let myself be manhandled by some humans!" said Akuma.

Key? Humans? Thought Arashi Kuchiki, the shinigami in blue and a captain's haori, as he noticed tendrils of plants reach up and grab his guards as hell butterflies circled the smiling red haired man with a large sword on his back, who was singing softly in a strange language, hands partly raised palm upward. "What are you?" he said sternly, raising his sword.

Conchobhar's group relaxed and did nothing as the men with the forked poles struggled with the twining plants (though Akuma did laugh at their discomfiture). With the attack stopped momentarily Lien Hua decided that now was the time to introduce themselves and state their purpose. "I am Lien Hua Fu," she began with a bow, speaking in a very friendly and apologetic tone of voice, "a soul reaper, but not of the Soul Society. I am such because of the Dragonsword and my association with Captain Korosu, my first teacher, and Kazuki who was with the Soul Society and a guardian of Falcon 6 Town in old Locura. This is my Nobody Xin Le Hua, and our husband Prince Conchobhar of Yokaisekai, who is half fay and half yokai," she said gesturing at each in turn. "These are my husband's team mates, Akuma, Kenka, Ryoga, Ekibyo, Shiori, and Dobutsu, all yokai from Yokaisekai. Our friend Takumi's wife and young children were taken to Hueco Mundo by a hollow and Takumi followed after. We were attempting to follow his trail and bring them back home, but for some reason we ended up here instead of there. I'm sorry for intruding where we should not have, but we must continue our journey somehow. I don't know if Kazuki is still here to vouch for me... so much has changed in the splitting of the world."

"Oh, I am well aware of what you are, Lien Hua the dragon princess," said Arashi Kuchiki coldly. He quickly sized up the group, a pretty motley one, but he was aware of the strange forms yokai had, as well as the power of fays, though the Soul Society had yet to enter the main areas they inhabited, Aleriand, the islands, and Yokaisekai, as they were considered nearly as dangerous Hueco Mundo. "We finally got the whole story from Kazuki, and no, he is not here. He and many others went missing when the world split, which seems to be the fault of your own people, princess. It isn't surprising to me that the renegade Korosu was your first teacher, even if we did consider him dead. You have caused us considerable trouble..."

"Yet her people came to Primavaldia long before yours did," Conchobhar pointed out, "and if the Great Fay Sulis, my mother's friend, had not come to your aid at the falling of it, and sacrificed her own life, those of yours that had come would not have survived."

Arashi glared at the grinning fay. It was very irritating to be caught off guard like this, in his own estate. Even if it were a "lesser" branch of the main family that now existed in some far off universe, he was still a Kuchiki, and head of the family in this one, as well as a captain of one of the 13 court guards. On top of this he knew that they would be needed alive to answer some of the questions that plagued their world, yet they didn't look like they would just let themselves be trussed up and delivered to the inquisitors. He sheathed his sword. "Release my guards and come with me," he ordered. "There will be no further further attacks on your party as long as you continue to refrain from aggression, and I shall forgive you your discourtesy of invading my estate." The red haired fay waved his hands and the plants gripping the guards went back into the soil, and the hell butterflies stopped circling his head and flittered off. Arashi turned to leave, keeping an eye on them anyway. Lien Hua noticed the markings for the number 6 within a black diamond outline on the back of his his haori.

"Come with you?" said Akuma disdainfully, "That all depends on where you're taking us!"

"I thought perhaps, into the house to have tea," he said rather imperiously.

"But we just had a big breakfast..." Ryoga complained.

"Not a meal, you bull headed lout," said Akuma, "tea... where you sit down, drink tea, and talk."

"That sounds pretty boring," the red oni grumbled.

"Well you can go take on the whole Soul Society, or whatever, if you want," said Kenka. "I just want to find out where Takumi is and get him back to Yokaisekai in time for the Tournament. If drinking tea will help, I'll drink tea."

"Talking would be good," said Lien Hua taking the lead in following the soul reaper. "I'm afraid I know very little about how the Soul Society works, and proper procedure here. Kazuki was rather vague," she said apologetically.

"I can imagine..." Arashi Kuchiki said leading the way along various buildings to a fairly large room. As the servants came bringing cushions and low tables like the ones used by both Lord Seiryu and Lord Byakko, Arashi Kuchiki excused himself for a moment. Away from his "guests" he composed several notes and sent them by messenger before returning. Then he sat down to be served tea.

[Mamma Peach]

Arashi Kuchiki knew he wasn't skilled enough to extract the needed information on his own, so he needed to stall for time. Since the newcomers wanted to know about the Soul Society he told them, just basic facts that everyone knew about the Seireitei, soul reapers and the balance of souls, the Rukon District, the 13 court guards, the four noble families and their clans, Central 46, and the Soul Emperor.

"Not much of a ruler if he needs all that protection," said Kenka a bit disdainfully of their social system.

"Why, is your king so powerful that he needs no protection?" said a female voice as another soul reaper wearing a captain's haori walked in, a very shapely athletic looking woman with very tan skin and gold eyes like Leeta, but purplish black hair tied back to keep it out of the way with a rather sharp looking set of hair pins stuck through it at the back. Ryoga and Kenka openly ogled the woman while Akuma gave her the appraising look of rivalry.

"Welcome, Lady Shihoin," said Arashi Kuchiki with a slight bow as she seated herself and was served.

"Just call me Mayonaka," she said and, "Bring me milk," she ordered the servant. "Intoxicating to your kind, Princess, isn't it?" she said playfully to Lien Hua, who blushed terribly, before returning to her original question to Kenka. "Is your king really that powerful?"

"Are you kidding!" said Kenka. "Conchobhar here has won the Dark Tournaments for... who knows how many times running, so that makes him pretty much the strongest yokai in Yokaisekai..."

"You forget, the daimyo aren't allowed to compete," said Shiori, sipping his tea with grace, his wings folded neatly and trailing elegantly on the tatami mat floor.

"Even so," Kenka continued, "not only could King Enma wipe the floor with his son Conchobhar, he defeated each of the four great daimyo himself, at the height of their power, and made them submit to him. And don't even get me started on Conchobhar's mother, Queen Morrigan!"

"What do you expect of two gods of death?" said Akuma.

"Gods of death?" said Mayonaka Shihoin, lifting an eyebrow and slowly drinking the milk, almost lapping it like a cat.

"My father came from Earth, not likely the Earth your people came from, but an Earth," said Conchobhar. "On that Earth there were many gods, demi gods, and other spirit folk... like the yokai themselves I'm told. In India he was Yama, a fierce and war-like god, so feared that he was made lord of the underworld by the other gods and given the job of slaying the wicked and passing judgment on the dead, whether they would suffer in hellish torment or go to paradise and other such things. He grew bored of such a tame life and tormenting the wicked dead that when he heard of lands further to the east, the land of China, he left his job in the hands of his subordinates, and taking only those of the garuda he trusted and who were sworn to him he went east. In China he found and personally defeated the four Divine Beasts, Byakko the White Tiger of the West, Suzaku the Vermilion Bird of the South, Genbu the Black Tortoise-Serpent of the North, and Seiryu the Azure Dragon of the East, all powerful deities who he brought into his service. But the land of China was a civilized one, and the gods there wanted order, so again he went east, to the islands of Japan, the land of the rising sun. There he subdued the fierce yokai who lived there. My mother always said that the yokai of Japan were analogous to the fays of Primavaldia, guardians of nature, only that the the yokai had immortal souls that would suffer judgment upon their death and a blood lust that the fays did not. One day a door on that Earth opened into the dying Primavaldia and my father, now called Enma, led his people through that door. It was there, in the ashes of a dying world that he met my mother, Morrigan, one of the four Great Fays who had attained immortal souls. In her youth it was my mother's job to cull the sick and the weakly from among the beasts, so the mortals called her a goddess of death, and she had the power to make mighty men of war either so strong that none opposed them or so weak that they soon met with death. She was both greatly sought after, and greatly feared for her power. Side by side my mother and father fought the Great Evil that destroyed her world, and when Primavaldia came to and end she used her power and the strength of the yokai to build our land, Yokaisekai, much in the same way that her sister Sulis built your world and imprisoned the hollows with her own life, sentencing her soul to an eternity in the land of Hueco Mundo... where she is to this day, surrounded by those soul reapers of your society that have lost their way in the land of hollows, secure in her grotto. That is where I hope to find my friend and his family." Conchobhar concluded with a pointed look in the direction of the two captains. "You know, Mayonaka, you remind me of someone," he said taking a sip of tea, "only you are more of a cat and he is more of a dog."

"Really, and who is that?" she said intrigued.

"Kagekiba, a wolf yokai and head of our secret police," said Conchobhar.

"Kagekiba? I would have though a female version of Takumi a better match," said Akuma. "Kagekiba is much too straight forward."

"Kagekiba and Takumi! You're both nuts!" said Ryoga. "She doesn't look like either of them. She actually looks a lot like Lord Suzaku's new wife... that Leeta girl... full figure, tan skin, gold eyes, only without the green hair."

Mayonaka laughed heartily at Ryoga's comment while Arashi continued to look prim and disapproving. "And you," she said teasingly to Kenka, "What's your opinion?"

Kenka really regretted ogling her earlier. She was definitely serious trouble and he could sense it. "At first glance I might have agreed with Ryoga," he said reluctantly, "but I really have to agree with Conchobhar and Akuma, especially with Akuma..." The thought of that voluptuous woman doing the kinds of things Takumi did came to mind and he nearly choked on his tea before quickly shoving down the perverted thoughts. It would have made great porn though...

"So this Takumi must really be something," said Mayonaka amused at Kenka's discomfiture. "I'd like to meet him sometime... But you are mistaken in thinking that we owe everything to Sulis. Since you seem to prefer frank speech; it's true that she saved those who were pulled to Primavaldia, and that they built a kind of Soul Society in Locura, but it was nothing compared to what we achieved there when we arrived with the first space travelers to Locura and set up the Spirit Bridge... which has since ceased to exist." She shot a pointed look in Lien Hua's direction. "Long ago we spread out to the stars, along side the living of Earth, establishing Soul Societies wherever the living went. Each was patterned after the original, an order composed of those related to the Spirit Emperor and the great houses forming lesser branches. Each individual Society was joined to a larger region, which were in turn answerable to the Spirit Emperor and his officials on Earth. We organized and reinforced that pitiful band that Sulis saved into a proper Soul Society long before you were born, dragon Princess. We made our world what it was, not Sulis."

"Yet your world is not what you claim it to be," Dobutsu the Nue softly interrupted. "You claim it to be the afterlife, and that the cycle of rebirth is what keeps life going on. Yet if you were to really keep track of all souls you would see that it isn't so. I think you have even seen that there is a major discrepancy right here in Locura, and I'm sure there was a huge one on Earth as well, since by your ties to spacefarers it is the same Earth that Father Asa came from. Even your society... it is formed after the likeness of Japanese culture and social systems, why? Japan is not the oldest, nor the largest, nor even necessarily the best of cultures that Earth had to offer, so why conform to their culture... unless, of course, you began there, long after human history had commenced... But even if it was chosen because you liked it or it fit well it does not account for all life and death. You seem to know nothing of the inner workings Aleriand, Yokaisekai, or the fays of Primavaldia, yet birth death and life have gone on in those lands for millennia without you and your system. I must say that without the presence of your people we have not experienced the hungry ghosts you call hollows either. Finally, when Princess Lien Hua died she went to a different, better, heaven than you could possibly provide with your system. The soul reaper, Captain Korosu, told her that her temporary body that she received upon being sent back to the living was far superior to anything the soul society had made, and also that the seal on her zanpakuto was blank because it could send souls to many different destinations of afterlife. Indeed, she sent his soul, and the soul of the shrine maiden Tenmonko, to the heaven that she had come from, the heaven of One who is greater than all because everything that exists was made by and through Him, even the gods who make and create their own worlds; and by Him all life came into being, all souls created and distributed, and all existence continues to exist. He is the one whom Earth has experienced, whom Aleriand has access to, and who is worshiped by them, by the King and Queen of Yokaisekai, by Sulis, and even the Mediator maker of this world Triudomhan and Primavaldia before it. There is a far greater reality than your society recognizes."

"Indeed!" said Conchobhar sipping his tea with a huge grin, agreeing heartily with the nue. Shiori, Lien Hua and Xin Le Hua also nodded in agreement while Akuma just rolled her eyes and Kenka looked uncomfortable while Ekibyo just sat as gloomily as ever in the background. Arashi Kuchiki, however, looked like he wanted to kill someone. It was hard to tell what Mayonaka was thinking under her sly, cat like smile.

"You almost anticipate my questions," she said. "How convenient. It's true that we have many discrepancies in our records... as far back as Locura. Aleriand and Yokaisekai are complete unknowns, and we would like to find out more, especially about the nature of fays and yokai, who seem to be able to see us and interfere with our work. We do have a few yokai here, though not from your land, and assume from the circumstances that there are many who were devoured by hollows..."

"The destroyed villages in northern Talamh," said Conchobhar very seriously.

"Yes," said Mayonaka. "We also lost track of Lien Hua for the entire period between her training and the world split... though it seems that she might have been in Hueco Mundo for at least part of that time, and might have information that we don't. Is that correct?"

"Yes, it is," said Lien Hua.

"As well as information on the split itself..." continued the soul reaper. "Which was extremely inconvenient for us..."

"I think everyone could agree with you on that point!" laughed Conchobhar. Arashi Kuchiki looked quite sternly at him.

"Then there was another problem that occurred about the time that Lien Hua appeared in Locura. A certain item was stolen from us and ended up somehow in Hueco Mundo. Someone used it to create arrancar, and possibly still is... Have you ever heard of the Hogyoku?"

[Mamma Peach]

"No, I haven't," said Lien Hua, and it was obvious that the others had never heard of it either.

"Perhaps then you could tell us exactly when you were in Hueco Mundo and what you saw there," said Mayonaka with a disarming smile.

"Lets see..." said Lien Hua thinking back. "It was around January 5th, 2008, when I came back from that unicorn's valley and was attacked by a creature made from my own shadow, though time was often a tricky thing in Old Locura. There was that unaccounted for shift in time from Christmas to New Year's Eve... It was only a couple of days after that when Father Asa and I decided to leave so that we wouldn't burden others with those who had come against us... only I had to complete Xin Le Hua's keyblade by unlocking all of my forms and visiting the three Great Fays before I could go home, not as simple as taking a space ship like Father Asa, especially as I had no idea where the fays were. I decided to go to the Pokemon Islands first, to leave Ming with his own kind. Even that turned out a mess," she said adding the last part under her breath as she remembered the retracted championship because of Ming's mixed DNA, and the other pokemon's disappointment. "That took a bit of time... I'm not sure how long, a day or so, maybe longer. Then I stumbled across Brigid's island and Celebi took me back in time to meet Brigid when she was still alive, just after she had forged the Dragonsword and entrusted it to the shrine. I spent a great deal of time there training to complete her test, but I'm not sure that any time really passed since Celebi took me back to the same time I left... I think. So that would be about a week at the most. Then a hollow came out of nowhere and ripped my soul out of my body... it was a bit like the time Captain Korosu hit me with that glove and knocked my soul out of my body... Anyway, the hollow took me through some kind of dimensional rift to what I learned later was Hueco Mundo. Fortunately Xin Le Hua broke the restraints that bound her to inaction without summoning by the sword, and took over my body, following after the hollow and slaying it though we were both trapped in Hueco Mundo like Takumi has been. We both fought against the hollows, Xin Le Hua as a Nobody and I as a soul reaper. Then we fell through the sand into the Forest of Menos and were hunted by the menos until Ashido Kano found us and took us to Sulis's Grotto."

"Ashido Kano?" said Mayonaka sitting up from her lounging position. "Not the Ashido Kano who Ichigo Kurosaki met! He couldn't possibly be living..."

"Well, he did mention someone named Ichigo Kurosaki, and a Rukia Kuchiki once... Was she a relative of yours?" Lien Hua said to Arashi Kuchiki on noticing the similar last name.

"A distant ancestor..." he replied and sipped his tea as if it was of no importance.

"So Ashido Kano still lives... and here too. That really is incredible," said Mayonaka. "It shouldn't be possible, though it is in the records from the beginning of the Locuran Soul Society that a soul reaper clothed with hollow masks and fur fought beside the fay Sulis in dying Primavaldia."

"That was Ashido Kano," said Lien Hua. "I think it is the power of Sulis that keeps him from aging, if soul reapers do age... Anyway, he trained me further and then Sulis put me to a test of courage, rescuing a party of soul reapers, under a Lieutenant Yugata Ame. Wait!... I think the Lieutenant mentioned arrancar and something that had been stolen, and something about not returning until it had been recovered. He wouldn't explain further, and since Sulis could only make a gateway to the world of the living for me, because of my connections through the Dragonsword, I didn't think anything of it. I was given the second diamond for the keyblade and a seeking stone to find Yokaisekai, and I left to finish my journey with a visit to Yokaisekai and then, having completed the keyblade, back to my home in Aleriand. I suppose if Sulis had given the Lieutenant the seeking stone instead, he could have found what he was looking for, but then again Ashido had said that they were too weak and would have gotten killed if they had made it to Los Noches. I wished I had asked more about it now."

"The timing's about right," mused Mayonaka. "The Hogyoku had been stolen about the time you showed up in Falcon 6 Town. We had a report of an impending arrancar attack about the time you were training as a 'soul reaper' and a team went into Hueco Mundo to investigate. Kazuki had been stationed in Falcon 6 Town because of the hollow attacks, and kept there because of the report. We wanted to be notified in case arrancar showed up. Then suddenly the attack seemed to have been called off for some reason about a week after you vanished again. It seems almost too convenient, but then again it could all be one big coincidence."

"It seems though that in any case you still need someone to retrieve this Hogyoku, and bring the soul reapers back," said Conchobhar.

"And you're offering to do just that," said Mayonaka swirling her milk in the bottom of her cup. Conchobhar gave her a wide grin. "By the way, do you happen to remember the names of those whom you rescued?"

"No, ma'am. I'm sorry I didn't inquire," said Lien Hua, "and only the Lieutenant introduced himself."

"That still leaves a great many things unexplained," said Arashi Kuchiki rather testily. "I assume the 'key' that opened their way here and the 'keyblade' mentioned are one and the same, and should be tested for the possible dangers it may present."

"I am required by law not to give the key to anyone," said Xin Le Hua in a softly menacing tone of voice. "You can not force me to give it to you even on threat of death!"

"And certainly I would be preventing of any such eventuality," said Conchobhar in that off hand sort of way that made those used to dealing with fays blood run cold.

"I'm sure it won't come to that," said Mayonaka with a glance in Arashi's direction that was deliberately ignored. "We have learned since the time of Ichigo Kurosaki that not everything as is it appears, and that everything must be examined carefully, even long held traditions." Then she turned back to Lien Hua. "Since you seem to know very little that we don't know about events in Hueco Mundo, perhaps you could enlighten us as to the nature of fays and yokai, the world split, and what part you have to play in all of this, Princess Lien Hua."

"My part?" said Lien Hua genuinely surprised. "Except for my brother starting the world split by having the fays pull Aleriand out of the world, partially because of my marriage to Conchobhar, I don't know what you mean."

"Of course you don't, Edana," said Conchobhar gently. "You never think more highly of yourself, and are always putting of others first. Tis one of the things I love about you... but because you did put others first, in the forgoing of heaven to return -helpless as you were- to try to help others... you became the one chosen to bear the Dragonsword. The Dragonsword was forged to join all peoples of the world together, to be fighting against the Evil that destroyed Primavaldia if it should raise it's ungodly head again, and so you took on the aspects of the many various peoples you met and became that which holds the world together, whether or nay you wanted it to be. I saw what you had become when you touched the completed Lia Fal... and when your brother tried to split Aleriand off from the rest of Locura it was nearly the death of you. If my mother had not held onto her sisters, and they the lands to which they were beholden, so that all came together here, you likely would have died, the fabric of what you have become ripped to pieces. As it was you were in a sleeping death, and Xin Le Hua was nearly lost completely. Not even thinking on this much, how would you even consider the possibility that you are important in the structure of the world itself? No, the very thought would be a burden to you, too heavy to bear, and it is not needful for you to think on it, as I am here to protect you, and not just I," said Conchobhar reaching over and patting her hand endearingly, "but all of those whose lives you have touched."

Arashi Kuchiki looked frozen in alarm, or perhaps just surprise, when Mayonaka briefly glanced in his direction before replying what they were probably both thinking. "And just what are fays that they could put so much of the world's fate into just one girl?" she mused.

"I don't think that was their intention at first," said Conchobhar. "Some other structure of the world Locura may have been destabilized by the higher powers. We have no way to be knowing that, though my mother has tried hard to understand the forces that had been controlling of our world - namely the gods who briefly manifested themselves from time to time - but very little could be learned about them as to how the world of Locura was being related to them and of the split itself. Ever since the new world has formed along the lines of Primavaldia, the power of the Dragonsword to be binding people together has increased, and with it Lien Hua's role in the world. As to the nature of fays... they are being the incarnation of nature itself, like spirits that both flow from nature and control it, only in bodily form. Tis why we can see reishi and shape it to our desire, as reishi is but a part of nature. Fays are immortal creatures without souls, as nature itself is. Though some fays have gained souls from either a mortal parent, or from the Creator of All, for most if their body perishes they cease to exist, like a flower or a tree or a beast of the forest or field, and they give no care for the future or thought to the morality of their actions For that reason they are very dangerous. Yet for all that they are needful to the world as the sun and moon, as water and wind. Supposedly yokai were the same in the world they came from, only they had souls and a sense of morals and the future, but they developed a lust for blood, especially the blood of humans, so for most of them their powers were diminished and lives encompassed with mortality. Yet they still have a relationship with nature, and can see and use the power of their own souls - much like the soul reaper does. Perhaps my explanation of these things is a bit lacking, as is the explaining of all things of mystery, but a fey is indeed quite powerful... even more so the four great ones."

"I see..." said Mayonaka. "We have some serious things to consider. Would it be possible for you to stay with us for a dew days?"

From the way she said it Conchobhar, at least, understood that the Soul Society intended to keep them there whether they agreed or not, and that asking was only a polite formality. That could be a problem in time, if they decided to keep them there indefinitely, but wouldn't hurt their chances of rescuing Takumi if they stayed for just a few days as suggested. His mother always preferred diplomacy to aggression, often seeing better results for it, and in this case there was also something to be gained in getting to know the Soul Society better. "We agree to stay for a few days," he replied, "if you will assist us in entering Hueco Mundo to rescue our friend. We could use the information you have as well. Consider our cooperation with your investigations as a fair, and friendly, exchange of information between sovereign realms."

Fair exchange indeed, thought Mayonaka. This prince had been well trained. "Arashi, could you house the princess and her entourage in the Kuchiki estate while they are here?"

"No," said Arashi Kuchiki rather coldly. He was very irritated by the whole thing, and suggesting that he house these interlopers on the family estate...

Mayonaka saw that he was adamant and came up with a better idea. "Perhaps the squad 12 barracks would be better suited. I'll have Captain Onoishi set aside room for our guests, and they can take their meals there too."

[Mamma Peach]

"I'll have my Lieutenant, Kiyo Fon, escort your group there," Mayonaka said to Conchobhar. "I must insist that you have an escort at all times when traveling in the Soul Society... and only go where directed. You understand that we have security measures that we must maintain." After seeing that he did indeed understand she thanked their host, Arashi Kuchiki, for the milk and left. Lien Hua noticed the markings for the number 2 in a diamond on the back of her haori.

After an awkward silence Akuma spoke. "Not that this hasn't been fun, but we should be moving on... Do we really have to wait for her lieutenant to show up?"

Just then a small woman entered the room bowing to Arashi Kuchiki. She was dressed rather like the Yokaisekai special ops but with an arm band displaying a pasque flower symbol along with the same number that was on the back of Mayonaka Shihoin's haori. She had short dark hair with a thin longer side braid on the right. She turned to Conchobhar and his group. "If you will follow me..." she said rather emotionlessly.

"Special ops material, to be sure," said Conchobhar with a mischievous grin. "Well... shall we be going then?" he said standing and the others followed. "And thanks to our host for such hospitality," he said with an elaborate bow. Akuma burst out laughing and Arashi nodded in reply, glad to see the motley group leave his house. As they walked out Arashi ordered the servants to clean up.

[Mamma Peach]

They left the Kuchiki estate through the outer gate following the woman, Lieutenant Kiyo Fon, through streets that seemed very bland and unadorned. They were uniform pale pavement hemmed in by pale stone and white plastered walls with gray tile tops that showed only a few golden tops of roofs and towers, or trees and other greenery above them. After turning more than a few corners it became difficult for the Lien Hua and the yokai to keep their bearings. Only Conchobhar with his fay perception of the world knew exactly where they were in the environment, though glimpses of the central towering rock formation and its castle like structure helped them orient themselves from time to time. Akuma wondered if the mind numbing conformity was to confuse an invading enemy or to ensure the obedient conformity of the inhabitants. Personally she preferred the tight, natural, labyrinthine ice caves of northern Kitachiku to these wide but featureless roads. Even Enma's capitol had less of a bland rigidity to it. While Lien Hua appreciated the clean lines of the architecture, she also found the lack of gardens or other adornment somewhat oppressive. Only the plainness of the portalorium city Terra could compare to it, but Terra's lines followed the function of the living mechanism that had been born from Cybertron's people and was always bustling with life. Whatever life occurred here was deliberately hidden behind tall walls.

Finally they entered a large gold roofed gate, similar to the one they left the Kuchiki estate from but marked with large diamonds with the number designating 12 on the sturdy rock and white plastered supports, into a large but plain and unadorned compound with many gold roofed buildings, some of which were quite large, even double storied and including a tower. They were met by the captain and his lieutenant, as the long white haori and the arm band would seem to indicate. The captain was an unassuming man of medium build with rather unkempt medium length brown hair and a general tousled, absent minded, look about him, while his lieutenant was a prim, bookish, slightly built woman, with her dark brown hair done tightly in a bun, that seemed to have the emotional capacity of a stone in her blank green eyed gaze.

"Hello! Hello!" said the captain affably as he greeted them, his blue eyes twinkling merrily. "I'm so happy to meet all of you!" He shook Conchobhar's hand, so quickly that the fay couldn't quite get a power reading off of him, and then patted Lien Hua and Xen Le Hua on the shoulder. "I'm Captain Isha Onoishi and this is my Lieutenant, Kikai Tetsudaite. I hear you will be staying with us for a while. I do hope you will help me with my research while you stay..." Kenka inwardly squirmed at the too eager tone of the captain's voice when he mentioned research.

"That is depending on what your research is being..." said Conchobhar in the Irish brogue of his fay form, putting a protecting arm around each of his wife's two forms.

"Oh, I'm very interested in fays and yokai... especially as to why you can be here in the flesh without being converted to reishi... and I'm hoping that you will allow me to examine you... at least a little," he said, eyes gleaming. "But where are my manners! Let me show you where the mess hall is and find you a place to stay," he said turning and leading the way. Kiyo Fon slipped out quietly and unnoticed. "I wasn't sure what you'd need for living quarters..." he continued looking over his shoulder. "The men and women have separate barracks... but we could probably find someplace to house your whole group, if you want... maybe clear out one of the smaller warehouses..."

"Ekibyo and I would be fine in the women's barracks," said Akuma confidently examining her sharp nails. "It would be interesting to see what soul reaper women do for fun... and I'm sure the guys would do fine in the men's barracks, but you will have to find a separate room for our prince and his blushing wives as I don't think you will get him to agree to even a temporary separation from the dragon princess and her nobody."

"I see..." said Captain Onoishi. "In that case they can have my quarters... I never use them much anyway... and Lieutenant Tetsudaite can make sure that preparations are made in the barracks for guests." Which she immediately left to do as they passed courtyards where various soul reapers were carrying out training exercises and warehouses on their way to the mess hall.