What's going on? <Izanami>

[Ueno Morei]

Morei bolted out of the Tenth Division offices, stumbling and sliding across the floor as he shuddered. "Gah. That one's terrifying when angry," he said softly. He stood, shaking softly for a moment. "Even I don't feel like tangling with him when he's really angry," he said, glaring down as the ribbons on the blade at his hip fluttered in a non-existent breeze.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Chiru," he said with a grin as he padded along the floor, his scarf catching an actual breeze and flapping in the wind. He chuckled for a moment, and then glanced back. "Though I don't know what's caused that upset. They never tell us lower seated officers anything," he said with a shake of his head.

As he walked, heading back toward the main part of the Seireitei, he pondered on some of the things that had happened thus far since he had left the Shino Academy. He remembered the look on his father's face when he'd burst into the family home waving the papers that assigned him to Tenth Division. Both of his parents were so pleased and shocked that day, though they were still fraught with worry over what had happened less than a week before.

He chuckled. "And who would have thought I'd rise in the ranks so fast when I was willing to," he muttered softly, not even noticing that his footsteps had carried him into the very heart of the Seireitei, nor that he was managing to sidestep another Shinigami every few steps.

He did stop, however, and his chin came up as he sensed a rather odd presence. "Huh?" he said, and turned, looking around him for a moment.

[Darake Kitoushi]

Izanami slowly lifted her eyes at the messenger, she met the gaze of the man as he relayed the message from the Captain Commander. An important meeting will be held two days from today, all Captains and Vice Captains in attendance. She studied the mans movements and from his composure, or lack there of, she could tell he was uneasy from the odd characters that littered the 12th Division halls. A stark contrast from the well dressed noble Captain that appeared before him, though he couldn't be expected to understand the dynamic of the 12th division and the, at times, eccentric, yet brilliant, individuals that dwell within. She laced her finger together, resting her hands on her paperwork littered desk, and nodded in acceptance at the messenger.

"Inform my Father that the 12th Division has received the notice and will be in attendance." Not that this was a request of her presence, far from it, the Captain Commander does not ask he demands; however, it was customary to relay acknowledgement.

As she lowered her gaze with a dismissive tone, the messenger quickly took his leave. She quickly wrote a note for Nanami, informing her of their meeting and handed it to one of her seated officers as she exited her division. The halls echoed with salutations from her Division and she nodded back in acceptance. Izanami was not a cold Captain but she definitely had an air of aloofness, though veteran members of the 12th Division know a gentle side to her noble exterior. She attempted to exit her division with increasing speed, not that she didn't want to interact with her subordinates but she didn't want anyone attempting to accompany her or ask about her plans. Honestly, she had no plans and had decided to roam for a while and clear her head. Usually she would be accompanied by Nanami but she had decided not to bother her brilliant Vice Captain.

Most Captains tend to find life a little difficult to adjust to after receiving their rank and Captain's Jacket, this is for many reasons but one in particular is the looks and general air that seems to follow the 12 highest seated officers within Seireitei. For Nakatomi Izanami this was something she never had to get used to, she had been noble since birth and so always had the wondering glares, quiet whispers or backwards glances from her appearance. As she rounded the corner, she realized she had been so lost in thought and was already within the heart of Seireitei. Raising her gaze she noticed the recognizable long royal blue hair of the Ouji of the Ueno family. The Blue hair is a common trait among the Ueno Clan and is a sign of importance and destiny of greatness. The Eastern Shōen of the Azure Dragon is a clan that has excelled at elemental type Zanpakutou, so it was little surprise when the young prince joined the 10th Division. Though she above anyone else understands the pressures of fitting into a division.

Closing the distance between herself and Ueno Morei, he suddenly turned around to meet the her gaze. The two nobles were almost the same height and both quite short comparatively to other Shinigami but the power held between them, in skill and nobility, easily trumped the majority of their peers.

"Afternoon, Ueno-oujisan. You seem surprised. Did I catch you off guard?" She grin in a respectful yet mocking tone.

[Ueno Morei]

He froze in shock, and then gave a quick bow. "Izanami-taichou, my apologies. No, ma'am, I was just... lost in thought was all. And wondering what on earth has the whole Seireitei in an uproar." He shook his head. "I've seen my own Taichou in an uproar before, but never like this. He and the fuku-taichou have been running around all day, barking orders and generally making an uproar. Honestly, I think today marks the first occasion the fuku-taichou has raised her voice at me," he said with a shiver. "I never realized just how scary she could be, to be honest," he said.

"Pardon my rambling, Izanami-taichou. I'm sure you have more important things to do. But... if you don't mind me asking, and I'm entitled to that information... Why are all the Captains and Lieutenants in such a rush? What's going on? Even as a Third Seat, I don't get told a whole lot, and I've never really been one to cause waves unless someone else causes them first." He shrugged. "Even being a noble, I don't like using that status to force information that I don't need to worry about. I have the utmost trust in my Captain and his leadership. I'm just... I don't like being in the dark, and information is the lifeblood of teamwork, after all."

He glanced around him a moment, eyebrows furrowed as he paused for a moment, the slight breeze making both his scarf and the ribbons on his Zanpakutou twirl merrily. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then looked back at her. "Even my father has been rather tight-lipped about things. In all honesty, I've never seen him this quiet, even when I was younger. It worries me to be honest. I realize we all have a job to do, but that doesn't stop me from worrying over him. With my older sibling so busy, if something were to happen to my father... I would likely be expected to step up and take charge of the family."

[Darake Kitoushi]

Izanami cocked her eyebrow unsure how to take this young noble. He was clearly more outspoken with his views and wants more than the average noble. She also wondered why he didn't just bring up these concerns with his Captain or even Vice Captain, though his superiors weren't noble nor did they have the brilliance of the 12th Division. With those two important distinctions in mind, Iza wasn't really surprised that they were acting rather impatient and rash about the goings on within Seireitei. This was a very important time within the Gotei, even dangerous; however, having the warning and the time to make intelligent choices can make or break any tough wars. Izanami lowered her eyebrow and sighed deeply, choosing her words carefully with this impulsive noble.

"Ueno-san, It isn't my place to inform the 10th Division of their duties but there have been some unnerving developments within the human world. In two days time there will be a Captain and Vice Captains meeting conducted which will decide how the Gotei will react and how strongly. I can understand your Captain and Vice Captains nervousness, though I can't condone it. As for you having to step in and become Damiyo, that would be a surprising turn of events for the Ueno, someone so young taking up such a position and with older siblings as well. So you are aware you, and the Ueno-clan, will have the support of the Nakatomi clan as it has always been." She smiled enigmatically at the noble. "You know I am reminded of a song I once heard will visiting the human world, brilliant man, odd voice... Dylan... Dylan." She shifted her eyes left in thought, attempting to access her memory banks. "Bob Dylan, yes that was it. Regardless, I am reminded of this song 'The times they are a chaingin''."

[Ueno Morei]

He nodded softly, listening to what she had said. He wasn't surprised that she scoffed slightly at the prospect of him taking over as his clan's Daimyo, he scoffed himself. He knew his brother, and knew that, while he would grumble and complain, his brother would gladly step up to run the family if their father fell. But it didn't stop him from worrying. And the anger was now understandable. Even though he was only a step behind the Lieutenant, he was still just one of the seated officers, and for a Captain and Vice Captain to be preparing for a meeting such as the one she mentioned while trying to answer questions from their division must be nerve-wracking. He sighed, shaking his head.

He smiled, however, and took another deep breath. "I will be sure to inform my father that you have said that. I'm sure he will be pleased to hear that we can still count on our old allies," he said with a chuckle. "And while I have spent some time in the human world, I can't say I've ever heard that song." He nodded again. "However, I do agree that times are changing. I'm not going to ask you to divulge to me what the meeting is pertaining to EXACTLY, as you may have a different side of it altogether than what my division will be concerned with, not to mention that it is strictly a Captain and vice-Captain meeting." He bowed. "Thank you, though. You've set my mind a bit more at ease. Now that I know what is going on... I think I shall try and be of service to the Captain and Vice Captain."

He tilted his head. "But that's enough of the business talk," he said with a laugh. "How have you been? It's been... what... how many years since you've stopped by my family home? My sister misses seeing you. She'll be starting at the academy soon," he said.

(Just some random NPC sibling. )

[Darake Kitoushi]

The corner of her mouth lifted when Ueno-san mentioned his little sister. She remember the small Ueno child from her birth and she had a fondness for the girl, perhaps, it was because she reminded her of her own past. Remembering her own life as a small noble child, from the gardeners, to the cooks, to the random other servants that always touch your life but are never truly aloud to be apart of it. She remembered that feeling, one could call it loneliness, and yet, it was something harder to explain then that, a natural distance. Like the flowers that grow on a great mountain, one can not expect the mountain to need their presence, or even want it, the mountain is great with or without its companions.

Perhaps she visited the Ueno child as frequently as she did because she could recognize that same emotion in her mannerisms. Izanami was alone once, until her 5th birthday when her father brought her to maggots nest, she can remember it like it was yesterday. An innocent child with pigtails and skinned knees skipping while tightly holding her father's hand, he lead her through the prison and they finally came upon a cell. After ordering the cell door open, Iza looked upon the small figure inside. His white hair was dirty and matted, from the years of being confined within the small cell. Slowly he looked upwards, his shimmering emerald eyes locked upon her father. Iza, being so young not understanding the severity of such a situation, ran forward and poked the small boy on the forehead. The boy blinked and shifted a surprised gaze to the tiny noble girl, Iza loved the boys eyes from the moment she saw them, and to this day she can't quite recall what made her so enamored with those viridian orbs.

From that day forward she stopped being alone, she had him, that small boy who became her assistant, eventually he became her classmate, and now he is her comrade and the Captain of the 4th Division, Darake Kitoushi. She drifted her gaze back to Ueno.

"I must come see her soon, perhaps after this Captains meeting I could spare a moment to come see her. I can't believe she will be in the academy." Iza sighed and cocked an eyebrow. "And here I was trying not to think about how old I have gotten. So Ueno-san, what division will she be joining? Following after her big brothers footsteps? She will have great shoes to fill, I heard rumors about your exceptional talent even when you were in the academy. And now you have become a 3rd seat quiet quickly, exceptional talent. Not that it isn't expected of the Ueno family, but I have always believed our merits are our own."

[Ueno Morei]

He chuckled. "You're trying not to think of how old you are? How do you think I feel? When I joined the academy, she was barely knee-high to a grasshopper, and now she's joining." He smiled, and shook his head. "And we're not sure, but we've noticed that she's been even more voracious about reading than I was when I was that age. We're expecting Thirteenth. Either that or Kido Corp," he said. "Neither of those would surprise me, and considering I've broken the mold with my family already, I'd be surprised if she did end up in Sixth."

He smiled. "But I'm sure she'll be thrilled to know you'll be stopping by. Every time I have the chance to stop by at home, she's always asking how you are." He laughed, shaking his head. "Even though I've explained to her countless times that I don't often get to see you since we're in different divisions. She'll understand soon enough, though with her going into the academy." He sighed. "I miss those days. Things were so simple then, never having to worry about when we would be killed or when one of our friends wouldn't be there the next day."

He shook his head. "I really, really do miss those days, but they're gone, and we can't bring them back. I have some other things to do, then I have to go see how my father is doing with things. Be safe, Izanami-taichou. With any luck, we'll all survive the upcoming days," he said, and turned, leaping toward the rooftops, flickering out of sight as he bolted away.

As he bounded from rooftop to rooftop, heading for the Ueno compound, his thoughts came out aloud. "She's worried. I can see it. Something's not right, and I want to know what it is. I'll have to get it out of my father, though. He's going to be the easiest, as there's blood ties that I can take advantage of. I only hope I can do something to help."

[Darake Kitoushi]

The 12th Division Captain looked towards the ground as Ueno's figure bolted out of sight. Something within her felt he was still uneasy about the situation, though she could doubt anything she said would have made him feel any better. The truth would have just stirred up more doubts and fears within the young shinigami and lies would have been cruel, if not insulting, to a comrade. Her forehead wrinkled from when thinking of his last words, missing the days when things were easy. Thinking back she never had many days where things were easy or not having to worry about who would die next, with the loss of both her mother and brother, both being odd circumstances, Iza never truly had that feeling of things being "alright". Not to say things were all gloom and doom, she still had others who loved and cared for her but being the daughter of two Captains, surely, makes her grow up completely differently.

While she slowly walked through the town, continuing to clear her thoughts, she listened to the dulcet tones of her wooden shoes as they hit the pavement. She preferred these sounds over her own thoughts, they are more optimistic.

[Exit Izanami and close thread]