A Common Enemy(Xiao, closed)

[Hirato Murano]

The black cloaked figure moved quickly and quietly, disappearing like a shadow when any patrolling Shinigami neared its location and waiting until the danger had passed to continue closing in on its destination. Hirato's cerulean eyes glanced around underneath the black cloak, feeling furious and suspicious of any and every Shinigami following his shocking discovery of the Central 46's crimes. While they had orchestrated the assassination, it was definitely a solid possibility that one of the Captains or Lieutenants had assisted them, making the crimson haired man suspect everyone, including his own Lieutenant. Only one person presented themselves as a potential ally and his muscular form traveled toward their residence right now, hoping that she had not taken part in the death of her predecessor in order to replace him herself. Demizu-sama was an honorable woman and a capable leader, but the extent of the conspiracy was not yet clear to him. The 9th Captain had drawn his own battle line and stood behind it with Kaoru, the woman he loved; all the other battle lines were unclear to him and it was time to discover which side the Sotaicho had chosen.

Considering the authority and power the Central 46 possessed and the vast wealth that accompanied such power, no one except for his servants even knew the veteran Shinigami had departed his mansion and Hirato preferred it that way. It would not do for some spy of the Central 46 to learn his movements and it was not yet time to inform Kaoru of the results of his investigation, so the crimson haired man continued on alone, avoiding contact with absolutely anyone along the way. His cloak served to completely conceal his reiatsu signature and the muscular man had trained enough in masking his physical presence to circumvent the security of the Seireitei. Hirato silently thanked Urahara-san for his assistance and made a mental note to repay him later once the situation in the Soul Society stabilized enough for him to do so. As it stood, the 9th Captain spent the majority of his time preparing further countermeasures to protect Seireitei and delegated most of the paperwork to Takeda-san, a viable accomplice in Yamamoto-sama's murder.

Hirato sensed the reiatsu signature of the Sotaicho in her residence and breathed a sigh of relief, pleased that he had not expended all of this effort for nothing. Hirato glanced around and confirmed that there was no one else around, double checking that no spies of the Central 46 had managed to tail him despite his defenses against such an obvious action. The 9th Captain entered the Sotaicho's residence quickly and took in her petite form, bowing deeply to his leader before saying, "Forgive me, Demizu-sama, but I had to meet with you immediately," his tone urgent yet respectful and his expression concerned. If the Central 46 had targeted her predecessor, there was no evidence to suggest that they might consider eliminating the current leader; even if they had no intention of doing so, Demizu-sama had to learn the results of his investigation. "The Central 46 scum ordered the assassination of Yamamoto-sama through the use of poison," Hirato revealed furiously, his hands shaking due to the anger and his expression livid. The 9th Captain stood up and looked down at his commander, awaiting her reaction. Was she an enemy or an ally? Only time would tell.

[Lhin Demizu]

Xiaoyu was sitting on a small couch she was reading a few of the notes from the Ichibantai reporting what had all occurred while her and Kimiko where gone training. As the figure burst into the room she raised her zanpaktou but not as fast as Kimiko did. The blade was at Hirato's throat as the pair looked at him with obvious surprise and shock on their face. Quickly Xiao began to wave off Kimiko as she recognized Hirato rather quickly. Walking to her she spoke to her in hushed tones.

After a minute she would set aside her blade after Xiao placed a hand onto her shoulder in an innocent enough looking touch. Turning her attention back to Hirato she bowed to him. Waving her arm toward the couch she spoke up.

"Apologies Hirato-Taicho. Please come and sit. We are both on edge cause of current events..."

though Xiao's suspicions that something was up with why Hirato would show up to her residence at such a late hour was confirmed when he blurted out information she was trying to keep sealed away. A worried look shot from her toward Kimiko as she slammed her hand onto a support pillar of her home and a powerful kidou activated about the trio.

"How did you come upon this information. As I have already known this for some time and Kimiko just found out a few days ago... Tell me Hirato where did you find this out."

[Hirato Murano]

Hirato's eyes widened in surprise as a blade appeared at his next, noticing that it was that of the 1st Division's Lieutenant, Nobunaga-san. Demizu-sama had already drawn her blade as well and the 9th Captain attempted to appear nonthreatening, concerned for his life in addition to not wanting to make an enemy of either woman who sat in the Sotaicho's residence. The two of them spoke quietly and Hirato watched carefully, breathing a sigh of relief when they both lowered their blades and the Sotaicho returned his bow. The crimson haired man listened to the Sotaicho's words and nodded, feeling unable to relax ever since his discovery of the truth behind the former Sotaicho's death earlier in the day. Hirato obliged Demizu-sama and sat down on the couch, noticing the Sotaicho activate a Kido around her home and figuring it was to prevent any leakage of the information only the three of them knew within the Gotei 13.

"I discovered it in my mansion while I was reviewing the official autopsy report of the former Sotaicho," the muscular man began, reassured that the Sotaicho was aware of this information and had chosen the side opposing the scum in the Central 46. Having the supreme leader of the Gotei 13 on his side did bolster Hirato's confidence and he continued, his deep tones revealing how his investigation had led him to the inevitable conclusion. "I'm quite well versed in the human body and how one's manner of death leaves behind distinct signs, so I recognized that poison had killed Yamamoto-sama," the 9th Captain continued, speaking matter-of-factly rather than taking any sort of petty pride in his abilities. Even now, Hirato half-wished that his abilities in such an area were significantly less developed so that his investigation had never realized such a shocking and unsettling truth. However, now that the truth was known to him, action of some sort would follow. Hirato continued, reaching the only part of the puzzle that was not clear to him just yet due to his distraction after discovering such a fact.

The Zanjutsu expert admitted, "However, I'm unsure as to who actually poisoned him, although I do have a few prime suspects," his gaze still furious but softened by the knowledge that he was in the company of allies currently. All the elder Captains had received promotions to the Royal Guard except for Ukitake-san, who had joined the ranks of the Central 46 instead. Kyoraku-san, Ukitake-san, and Unohana-san were his primary suspects since those three were the ones who stood to gain the most from the death of Yamamoto-sama and they remained closest to him over the centuries. Hirato was certain that the culprit of this despicable crime was among those three and did not expect that the culprit was someone still accessible in Soul Society, all three former Captains locked away in the Soul King's dimension. No one but the Sotaicho had any method of contacting anyone in that dimension, although any contact would only create further suspicion and undermine their cause. Hirato glanced at the Sotaicho curiously, waiting for his commander to confirm the culprit and clear up that portion of the mystery. Central 46's motives for ordering Yamamoto-sama's assassination were still unknown, but the crimson haired man swore that all parties involved would receive the most severe punishment possible.

[Lhin Demizu]

Xiao kept a wary eye on him as she stood there watching Hirato as he took his seat. Picking up her tea cup she took a sip from it as she listened to him speak up. Holding the cup in her hand she glanced over at Kimiko as she shook her head. Taking in the information he spoke to her she nodded as she turned her gaze back to him.

"Tell me who it is that you believe killed Genryusai Yamamoto. As I know the truth but I wish to hear what and who you believe it is that did it."

Xiao spoke rather matter of factly herself. Her features only softening when she glanced at Kimiko when she was thinking that Hirato was not paying attention. Walking about her small seating room she stopped at a small desk she had there and placed a hand upon it in a specific spot. Pressing down a light click could be heard as she pulled out a drawer that she had a small bundle of papers with.

Moving back she held them as she awaited Hirato's response to her earlier question.

[Hirato Murano]

The 9th Captain continued revealing how he had discovered the truth behind the death of the former Sotaicho, meeting Demizu-sama's gaze evenly when she watched him carefully. Hirato understood her suspicion and unwillingness to trust him completely, since his suspicion in this matter extended to everyone outside of this room except for Kaoru. Hirato noticed her gaze leave him and move to Nobunaga-san, sensing that something had happened between the two women and suspecting what that was. The crimson haired man raised his eyebrows slightly when Demizu-sama reflected his question and asked him who he thought had committed this crime, his mind immediately beginning to work and all the facts returning to his brain. Among all his prime suspects, Ukitake-san and Kyoraku-san were some of the first graduates from the Shinigami Academy, while they respected Yamamoto-sama greatly and perhaps even perceived him as a sort of father figure.

Their abilities were prodigious, both individually and working together; however, neither of them had trained in the medical usage of Kido or served in the 4th Division for any significant amount of time. Unohana-san, on the other hand, had served in the 4th Division for many centuries and possessed a complete mastery of Kaido, following her creating the 11th Division and earning the title of the first Kenpachi. "Unohana-san seems the most likely culprit," Hirato said finally, confident that his answer was correct. The crimson haired man noticed how Demizu-sama's features softened when she looked at her Lieutenant and pieced everything together, putting his hands together in front of his face. Such an action immediately made the 1st Lieutenant a target for those working against them, meaning that the Sotaicho now had a weakness. "I see the two of you are...involved now," Hirato commented, taking great care to choose his words carefully lest the 1st Lieutenant's blade reappear at his throat. That was something he would rather avoid if he could.

[Lhin Demizu]

Xiaoyu listened to Hirato speak. She nodded to him as she watched the wheels go and then she heard him speak about who it was that he thought had done it. Setting down the papers on the table she spoke up.

"You are correct. All of the information you have gathered is just as I have collected. From what I have gathered they blackmailed her with something and then promptly 'promoted' her. For some reason I think that she is long gone to the Maggot's Nest or are dead."

As she began to sit down she heard Hirato speak up about herself and Kimiko. It suddenly made her face to sour and her gaze to sharpen toward him. Her hand quivered a little as she tried to look at him before speaking back up.

"Congratulations you have figured t out. Your the first one. Yes me and Kimiko are together. Just as I have seen that you are with that one named Kaoru if I remember her name correctly..."

She brought up Hirato's own relationship as she knew that she was one of the few that knew of it.

[Hirato Murano]

His cerulean eyes narrowed as Demizu-sama nodded to him and spoke, affirming that his suspicions were correct. It was indeed Unohana-san that poisoned and killed Yamamoto-san on the orders of the Central 46, who had blackmailed her and coerced her into committing such a serious crime against someone she had served faithfully for centuries. Hirato glanced down at the papers laid down in front of him, quickly recognizing that they were the results of the Sotaicho's own investigation and suspecting that her investigation had begun shortly after she had taken her position as leader of the Gotei 13. The 9th Captain rubbed his chin and pondered her statements, distancing the outrage he felt at the strong possibility that Unohana-san from the logical operation of his mind. "That sounds like something they'd do," Hirato agreed neutrally, forcing the emotion to remain distant from his thought process so he could figure out their next move. They would have to act carefully and patiently for a chance to turn the tables on the Central 46.

The crimson haired man watched Demizu-sama react to his revelation, seeing her gaze sharpen and her hand quiver due to the mix of emotions she must feel in response to someone else figuring out exactly what was happening. Demizu-sama spoke and confirmed that he was correct and that the two of them were indeed together, which made Hirato nod. Hirato raised his eyebrows in surprise upon hearing that Demizu-sama knew of his relationship with Kaoru then smiled lightly to himself, thinking of his beloved. Forgive me, Kaoru, the cerulean eyed man thought with a twinge of guilt, wishing he could explain everything to Kaoru but realizing that that course of action was not prudent regardless of his feelings. "Yes, I love Kaoru with all my heart and soul," Hirato confirmed quietly, almost reluctantly, realizing that this was the first time those words were directed at anyone but his beloved herself, fearing for her safety. Hirato did not regret loving her or entering into a relationship with her in the slightest, despite the danger.

[Lhin Demizu]

Hearing Hirato confirm what she had been thinking about his relationship with the other shinigami. She smiled to him as she finally relaxed somewhat. It was certain that she was to be trusting of this man because he knew what she did. That and he now knew of her most hidden of secrets.

"Well we are now on the same level. As you know of my relationship and i know of your relationship. I guess we should talk about what it is that you came here for. We are allies in this."

She went over and sat down across from Hirato as they began to grow through all of her paperwork. The only times she stopped was to stand to go get something to drink. When she did that Kimiko would stand there keeping an eye on Hirato. It was as if she was permenantly keeping an eye on him as if she was afraid of what he could do.

"So this is everything we have Hirato. Is there anything that we could know about that neither of us have found after seeing what I have found?"

[Hirato Murano]

Hirato admitted the depth of his feelings for Kaoru to the Sotaicho, quietly speaking of his beloved and glancing up carefully to see a smile on Demizu-sama's face. The 9th Captain smiled back lightly and felt reassured by the sight, although it was not something that Demizu-sama showed very often in the presence of the other Captains of the Gotei 13 or in the presence of anyone else to his knowledge. Demizu-sama was finally relaxing for the first time since her fellow Captain had entered her residence secretly and was almost killed by the blade of her Lieutenant who served as her lover now. All three of them in the room were allies working to expose crimes of the Central 46 and punish them accordingly, so anything he figured out, he would share with the two of them. Hirato listened to Demizu-sama affirm their alliance and nodded his head, saying, "Yes, we are," smiling confidently due to the prospect of actually having others on the same side as him. The Central 46 involved in the murder would receive the harshest punishment imaginable and Yamamoto-san would receive his retribution on his murderers.

The 9th Captain poured over the paperwork gathered by Demizu-sama, noticing how Nobunaga-san watched him carefully, almost fearfully, every time her Captain and lover left for some refreshments. His cerulean eyes remained on the paperwork and his mind barely paid the attention any mind, although Nobunaga-san's vigilance was a quite valuable trait in an ally who worked to uncover evidence of a conspiracy. Demizu-sama's words made him raise his hand to his chin and rub it gently, his mind processing all the evidence gathered thus far and realizing that there was one piece of the puzzle they were missing. Hirato reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, an analysis of the poison running in Zabuza-taicho's veins and compared it to the information they had on the poison used to murder Yamamoto-sama. His cerulean eyes widened and his deep voice echoed out, "It seems the poison used to murder Yamamoto-sama and the poison in Zabuza-taicho's veins are linked somehow," his tone curious and his eyes thoughtful as his mind processed this new piece of information. Did this mean Zabuza-taicho was an accomplice to the crime or had the murderers simply modified his poison for their own uses? Hirato glanced up at Demizu-sama, the uncertainty clear in his gaze.

[Lhin Demizu]

"The poison that... Your right. I forgot that he has poison constantly pumping through himself. Though would they of blackmailed him or would he of been a willing accomplice to the plans Hirato- taicho? I mean he does not strike me as the type of man to just follow along with the crowd or orders for that matter."

Xiaoyu spoke as she offered a cup of tea to Hirato as she set down her own on the table beside her papers. Her gaze drifted past Hirato to the kidou barrier about the place. She turned to Kimiko and nodded to her motioning for the barrier. As if she was wanting it to go away. As the kidou vanished away after a minute she spoke back up.

"Cannot arouse to much suspisicion. I mean the kidou is strong but not strong enough to go against the private army I think the Central has. As when they came to harass me after I found out this information I was confronted by two Omnikitsudou that where not members of Soifon's Omnikitsudou. They wore no band of identification as hers do. It was unnerving to think they may be amassing an army behind our very backs."

[Hirato Murano]

The third member of this impromptu alliance remained silent, listening to Demizu-sama speak and beginning to consider the possibility that the Central 46 had somehow manipulated Zabuza-taicho into participating in the assassination of Yamamoto-sama as an accomplice, supplying them with the poison they required for the task. It was entirely plausible that Zabuza-taicho participated willingly without any coercion, but if he was willing to betray others so easily, why would he attempt to destroy Takashi for causing harm to a member of his division? His cerulean eyes glanced up toward Demizu-sama and Hirato thanked her politely for the tea, sipping it as he reached his conclusion. "If Zabuza-taicho did assist them, it seems more likely that they coerced him, possibly by threatening the members of his division," the 9th Captain answered finally, recalling clearly how enraged Zabuza-taicho became at the realization that one of his division was harmed. Hirato returned to examining the link between Zabuza-taicho's poison and the poison used to kill Yamamoto-sama.

His reiatsu detection sensed the Kido barrier's release and his cerulean eyes flicked back to Demizu-sama, searching for an explanation. The crimson haired man sipped his tea slowly until hearing that the Central 46 were amassing their own private army and that two members belonging to it had approached Demizu-sama, his eyes widening in surprise then narrowing, his suspicion growing ever more. It made perfect sense for them to create a private army that only listened to them while the leader of the Gotei 13 defied their orders and openly opposed them. So they were Omnitsukido members without the band to identify them as subordinates of Soifon-taicho, which probably meant they were all claimed deceased by purposely false reports tampered with by the Central 46 or their minions. Hirato had to grudgingly admit their opponents were dangerous and relentless in their quest to retain their blood-stained power. However, there was a man who possessed his own private army capable of countering and defeating such an opposing force. "I believe I may know someone who has a force capable of countering any private army amassed by the Central 46," the muscular man admitted quietly enough so only Demizu-sama and Nobunaga-san could hear him, automatically frowning at the thought of relaying on Enigma to defeat the Central 46. Hirato perceived him as less suspicious than his fellow Captains and their Lieutenants now, certain that Enigma knew exactly who and what killed the former Sotaicho. The knowledge of who committed such a murder was an extremely interesting piece of information to a man like him, so Hirato was absolutely confident that Enigma had obtained it somehow.

[Demizu Kimiko]

It was about time that Kimiko spoke up. Her entire body shifted, about the most movement shed done this entire time since her blade was removed from Hirato's throat. She moved over, one of her knives being thrown into the table and causing it to pierce through the wood just above Hirato's hand.

"There is but one person Xiaoyu-Chan need rely on. Myself. Even if the Central 46 is amassing their own private Omnitsukido, I will exterminate every single one of them before they even draw their Zanpakuto."

Her words were spoken only loud enough for those two to hear, However eh carried the weight of the world on them. She wouldn't allow any harm to come to Xiaoyu if she had the ability too... Which, right now, she did.

"I'm sure you know of my skills, Hirato-Taichou, and as such you know that no matter how big their army, I will have no qualms with exterminating every single one of them who oppose Xiaoyu-Chan."

[Lhin Demizu]

As the blade passed her head she sighed heavily. She knew Kimiko was going to be chiming into the conversation. though to her it was welcome because all of them would need to work together in order to come up with a foolproof plan to stay alive. Shaking her head she listened to Kimiko speak and she waited for her to finish before she chimed up.

"You are speaking of the Rogues living on Earth aren't you Hirato-taicho? Or shoudl we go and speak with the Vizards and the substitute shnigami down there? I am game for anyone to assist us because it will take more than just the four of us to barge into the Cetnral Forty Six chamber and expose them to the Light."

She closed her eyes as she spoke though as she placed a hand on the table. As she took several breaths she spoke back up.

"So we have two very large things we need to figure out. Where the poison link comes in from... and where this hidden army is located out of. As I am more afraid of politicians with an army at their beck and call than some poison."

[Hirato Murano]

His reiatsu signature flared in anger and shock as a blade hit the wall above his hand, his cerulean eyes glaring furiously at the 1st Division Lieutenant who had just thrown the blade in his direction. The 9th Captain listened to Nobunaga-san's foolish words and laughed heartily, unable to contain himself due to the statement's misplaced confidence and utter falsehood, laughing even harder because the woman honestly believed that her skills were even close to the level where she could accomplish such a feat. Hirato recovered sufficiently to hear the Lieutenant's next words, chuckling lightly both at the obvious fact and the fact that the Lieutenant referred to Demizu-sama as 'Xiaoyu-chan'. The fury returned the moment the amusement left and his hand gripped the blade, taking it out of the wall and stabbing it into the table separating him from Demizu-sama. "If you ever throw another knife at me or threaten me in any way again, Nobunaga-san, I'll take your arm off at the shoulder," the crimson haired man promised furiously, fully intent and capable of fulfilling his promise. Which arm he took depended on which arm was her dominant one, but she would certainly lose one of them if she threatened him again.

"Your skills are nowhere near the level required to achieve such a feat, Nobunaga-san, especially alone," Hirato replied firmly, not wishing to lose a member of the alliance so early because of an entirely unfounded feeling of confidence she felt toward an enemy force of unknown number and strength. The 9th Captain would grant that Nobunaga-san was considerably skilled for a Lieutenant, but none of the three of them could defeat the entire private army of the Central 46 alone. Hirato listened to Demizu-sama speak and shook his head upon hearing the prospect of involving the 14th Division, thinking an alliance too risky due to the force's link to the Central 46, however slight. His deep voice echoed out in response, only loud enough for the two of them to hear, its message clear. "I was speaking of taking action to secure the assistance of a man named Enigma," the muscular man suggested, wondering if Demizu-sama's absence from the Soul Society for many months was related to the former Captain in any way. If she had met him before, receiving his assistance would prove even easier, as Enigma recognized her and had not taken action to eliminate her. Hirato glanced toward Demizu-sama as she brought up the poison and the private army again, his mind working toward a hypothesis. "The poison was likely modified by the Central 46's minions in order to achieve its purpose and the private army is either based out of the Central 46's living quarters or the library underneath the main meeting chambers," the 9th Captain hypothesized, recalling the information he had obtained about the building while the Central 46 had fallen under Aizen's blade and following the traitors' departure, just days prior to a new Central 46 assembling in the structure. Information gained so long ago was now benefiting him.

[Lhin Demizu]

Xiaoyu looked at Kimiko and nodded in agreement with Hirato as he spoke about how non of them where ready to take on a literal army. Quickly she spoke up as she looked at Kimiko and her face was soft as she did.

"That is why I am still going to be training you as a constant there Kimiko. I want you to attain your bankai and I want you to be able to use it. Just in case we need it. Which I think we will need your strength alongside my own and Hirato-taichos."

Turning her gaze back to Hirato she listened to him speak somemore. Hearing the name of Enigma made Xiaoyu start a little. She took a deep breath as she looked at Hirato and listened to him finish speaking. Clearing her throat she spoke up as soon as Hirato finished.

"I know this Rogue you speak of Hirato-taicho. I found him and that is where I found out all the information that I have. I had to exchange information with him in order for me to get what I got. I do not know where he is though. As the trail I had would be long cold by now."