A meeting between Taicho's (Private)

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

Today was a good day to be alive, The sun was shining, The Seireitei was in peace and Byakuya had just returned home. He slipped in through the gates, Setting his Captain's Haori on the hook near the door along with the scarf, Leaving him in just his Juban and Hakama on that was underneath his Haori. He moved about to his room, Taking his shower and dressing once more as he heard the front door, One of his servants answered the door as he was moving down "Message, For Kuchiki Taicho from Murano Taicho" The messanger said, Holding the message out for the servant to grasp, However, As she made a reach for it, Byakuya spoke "Murano Taicho?" Byakuya asked, Moving over towards the door and dismissing the servant "Hai, Kuchiki Taicho" He handed the letter over to Byakuya who was swift to open it.

His eyes skimmed past the note for a brief moment 'A meeting here?' He thought, A rather...unusual request all things considered. It wasn't often that any Taicho would meet with another away from the Gotei, More 'off the records' one might say. Either way, Byakuya nodded "Very well, Tell him he is welcome to come and visit, I shall make sure there is enough food to accomodate him and anyone else he wishes to bring" He told the messanger who swiftly nodded and vanished to deliver the return message to the Kyuubantai Taicho, Murano Hirato.

[Hirato Murano]

The tall man sat in his chambers, awaiting the reply of the 6th division Captain, Kuchiki-san. The two of them were quite similar in a few ways, being born into a noble family residing within the white walls of Seireitei and expected to accomplish great things, losing ones they had loved, and finding new people to fill that gap. He had desired to meet the 6th Captain for quite some time now, but never followed through with that request for one reason or another, the constant large amount of work to be done pushing it away for another day. Just before Hirato fell into a deep sleep, his mind reminded him of that wish, his body fatigued, his eyes barely open. Finally, the 9th Captain had simply sent a messenger to his fellow Captain, expressing his wish to meet in the Kuchiki mansion, hoping that the location would make for a more informal meeting. More than simply desiring to speak to Kuchiki-san informally, the crimson haired man wished to discuss some of his theories involving the unrest in the human world and the possible actions of the seemingly scattered Arrancar.

His reiatsu perception noticed the messenger's return prior to his physical senses recognizing the presence. The messenger relayed Kuchiki-san's acceptance of his request and Hirato could sense that Kuchiki-san had not expected a Captain to meet him at his mansion, since most assemblies of that sort were held at one of the Captains' respective chambers within their division. Even so, the meeting was such that it could not be further delayed, whatever the circumstances of it may be. The cerulean eyed man also preferred to make this less conspicuous, so meeting far away from the divisions and the eyes of those whom the 9th Captain did not wish to observe their interaction was to his benefit and liking. A tall form moved gracefully toward the location of the Kuchiki mansion, reaching it rather quickly after departing due in no small part to the proximity of the mansion to the 9th division and to his knowledge of the noble families of Seireitei. Knocking at the door, the crimson haired man waited patiently to be admitted into the home of a man who had earned his genuine respect. This meeting would be another step in his preparations, another critical ally added to the list of dependable comrades.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

Byakuya had the food prepared immediately for the other Taicho's arrival. Despite this not being a formal meeting, Byakuya was still seeming to try and make it as formal as possible with all of the preparations he was making, Alas, This was Byakuya in a nut shell. Informalities weren't exactly high on his list of things he should do. Upon his arrival a maid opened the door and gave a prompt bow "Murano Taicho" She said softly, Moving to the side and gestering for him to enter. Byakuya was headed down the stairs as Hirato would undoubtedly enter, Dressed mostly in the black kimono that he wore underneath his Haori, His Zanpakuto seemingly vacant from his person though with his current location and the fact it was merely Murano Taicho coming to visit, He didn't see the need to have it with him at all times. Even should he require it, It was but a flash step away for Byakuya and should he not be able to get to it? He was proficent with Hakuda and very good with Kido.

"Murano Taicho" He said softly, Giving him a slight bow as he entered "Welcome to the Kuchiki Residence" He said before motioning the maid to leave after she shut the door behind him to which she did quickly. Byakuya motioned for the male to follow as he lead him towards the dining area, Having the table set already for the two of them. "I'm afraid it'll only be the two of us for now, My sister seemed to want to spend some time to herself tonight...Though I suspect she might join us later, That is, Unless you leave relatively soon" He said softly, His voice soft and gentle like a midnight summer breeze. Once inside the dining area and both were seated he spoke once more "Tell me something Murano Taicho, To what do I owe the honor of your visit? The messanger said it was merely a visit, Nothing more...But something tells me that you came not to just talk over trivial things"

[Hirato Murano]

The crimson haired man returned the bow of his fellow Captain, murmuring a greeting before his cerulean eyes took in everything before him. Kuchiki-taicho was dressed in his standard black uniform, the staple of a Shinigami, although it was somewhat strange to see it on him without the familiar white cloak resting on his shoulders. His sharp eyes also noticed the absence of the noble's Zanpakuto from his side, yet that certainly did not mean Kuchiki-taicho was defenseless, his skills in Hakudo and Kido well-known even among the ranks of the white-robed leaders of the Gotei 13. "Thank you, Kuchiki-taicho," replied the 9th Captain, sincerely accepting the welcome of the man he had respected for so long. He followed the black haired man to the dining room, where the food was already prepared and the table set for the two of them, causing him to raise his eyebrows slightly. Hirato had not expected to be treated to dinner at the Kuchiki mansion, but he would gladly accept the generosity of his host and enjoy the food prepared for him. Listening to his host, the crimson haired man nodded in understanding, welcoming the fact that it would just be the two of them for a while. Neither Kuchiki Rukia's trustworthiness nor integrity could be questioned and the cerulean eyed man did not doubt her loyalty or honor in any way at all, but the nature of this future discussion was one where the fewer people were involved, the better.

It was also not his intention to bring anyone into this who did not have to be involved, because the path they would face was an extremely dangerous one, even for individuals as powerful as the Captains. Kuchiki-taicho's words made his attention refocus on the black haired man, his cerulean eyes looking at him in a calculated manner. "No, I did not, Kuchiki-taicho. I have come to discuss matters of a much more relevant nature, matters relating to the war that will soon threaten us all," said the muscular man solemnly, his expression serious and somber. Kuchiki-taicho immediately realized that there was great importance behind their meeting, that he had not traveled all the way here for small talk, and Hirato was pleased that he understood that so soon, expecting no less from the Captain of the 6th Division. This meeting was for an important reason and the outcome of it would either hinder or aid the progress of the plans he had put in motion to protect Seireitei from the danger lurking in the shadows. To fight the shadows, one must make their plans in them, but before the night was over, the crimson haired man hoped to secure another ally to battle with him in the light.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

"I thought as much" The male said, Waving his hand to the few others that were in the room and they quickly vanished, Closing the dining hall sliding doors. Once he was certain they were alone he spoke once more "I had a feeling you came here for something of importance. One Taicho visiting another at their residence, especially when one is so far away, Certainly isn't something that's done everyday, And it's even less common to visit the other for small talk" He said softly "So tell me, Murano-Taicho, What is it you wish to ask me for?" He had a feeling that the male wanted to ask him something specific though he didn't know quite what. He also knew that Murano-Taicho wouldn't beat around the bush....too much. It wasn't common that two Taicho's talked at one of the Taicho's home residence, It was mostly done on duty, If this matter required a private talk like this then it must've been something very important.

[Hirato Murano]

Hirato's cerulean eyes glanced at the others in the room, who quickly disappeared after a wave of the black haired Captain's hand. It was good that he already understood that this was not a matter to be discussed in front of others who would not be involved, for although he doubted any of Kuchiki-taicho's servants followed that man, one could never be certain considering the size of his organization. His reiatsu detection assured him that the two of them were completely alone now and his gaze returned to his fellow Captain as he spoke again. In response to Kuchiki-taicho's first couple of sentences, the crimson haired simply nodded in affirmation, pleased that the 6th Captain was not a person who minced words or chatted excessively, for he had come to discuss a matter of great importance. However, in contrast to Kuchiki-taicho's question, his purpose was not to make a request of his fellow Captain, but to inform him of something important and warn him of the hidden dangers. "I have not come to request anything of you, Kuchiki-taicho," said the cerulean eyed seriously, recognizing that all he required in this war of the shadows was allies; he possessed adequate amounts of all other necessary resources and did not require anything from the black haired man.

Supposing he would start off with a peculiar, albeit relevant question, the man's deep tones echoed out in the nearly empty dining room. "Are you frightened of the dark, Kuchiki-taicho?" the crimson haired man asked mysteriously, meeting the eyes of his host with his own cerulean orbs. Despite the fact that the answer to that question seemed obvious, Hirato was not entirely sure that it should be, especially now that the shadows have begun to move. His cerulean eyes wandered for a moment, glancing here and there around the dining room before he decided to continue and demonstrate the reason for that seemingly ridiculous query. "There's a massive organization that operates in the shadows, Kuchiki-taicho. An army of the darkness is lying in wait, waiting for its chance to strike," began the last of the Murano clan knowingly, his eyes looking into the shadows of the room. "Worse still, a former Captain created it and now controls it, so he's very familiar with our strengths and weaknesses," finished the noble with the same knowledgeable tone, involuntarily grimacing a little when his mind conjured the image of the master of the shadows. He picked up his fork and started to eat, not desiring for the food to go waste or to disrespect his host. He could not tell Kuchiki-taicho too much, because that would result in an earnest desire to participate in this shadow war and it was not something he wanted to drag anyone else into, no matter how pure their intentions. He and he alone could fight the war at this stage, for the shadows had not yet made any overt moves. For now, he would fight the war alone and wait for the war to leave the realm of the darkness. Only then could others join him in the fight and beat back the darkness that threatened to consume them all.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

Byakuya listened to the male as he spoke, Raising an eyebrow as he told him he wasn't here to make a request "Oh?" He asked in response to his first answer before falling silent and listening. His feature only changing when he was asked if he was afraid of the dark. His eyes narrowed for a moment "I assume you do not mean the standard question" He said as his answer to the question. It was quite obvious that he didn't mean if he was LITERALLY afraid of the DARK. And his suspicious were confirmed upon his next statement "I see..." He said, Before starting to eat. He stopped only for a moment when he heard of a Former Taicho leading them. "A former Taicho?" He asked, "Who is the Leader?" Byakuya asked. It was very rare for Byakuya to show any hint of emotion under his 'mask' as some might call it, So the fact that he was showing clear concern and....disheartening interest said a lot.

If it had just been some random Hollow or Quincy, Byakuya would show very little interest really....But the fact that it's a former Taicho....Well, That got his attention and interest REAL fast. "Is this Taicho one that I would know?" He asked shortly after, Giving little to no time to respond to his previous question. Byakuya ate, But he did it slowly, His face staying locked to Murano Taicho. An event like this was most concerning, And thinking about it now....Byakuya was glad Rukia wasn't here right now. While he would still inform Rukia of this regardless.....Having her here right now would be a very bad idea, He would much prefer telling her in private where he was undoubtedly going to be able to control her if she tried doing anything reckless. While Byakuya loved her like she was his own sister, Byakuya would not allow Rukia to tarnish the Kuchiki name....Not for any reason.

[Hirato Murano]

The crimson haired man continued to eat slowly, deciding not to respond to Kuchiki-taicho's reply to his peculiar question, considering it unnecessary since it would quickly become clear that he did not mean it in the standard fashion. The food was quite good and Hirato took a few moments to enjoy it before glancing at Kuchiki-taicho, who was obviously started that the organization was headed by a former Captain. It bothered the cerulean eyed man as well, for it made the situation considerably more complicated and the enemy far more dangerous, especially since he had led the 3rd Division in the past and gathered all sorts of critical information about the defenses of the Seireitei and their battle strength. The fact that Kuchiki-taicho was outwardly expressing his surprise spoke volumes and the tall man paused to consider how he would adequately answer his fellow Captain's query without revealing too much. "He has many names, none of which would be familiar to you, Kuchiki-taicho," said Hirato carefully, hoping that Kuchiki-taicho would not press too much for a more satisfactory answer. Upon hearing his second question, the crimson haired man looked up from his food and addressed a different point brought up by it, since its main point was already apparent.

Sighing audibly at the thought of him, the Zanjutsu expert's deep tones resonated throughout the room once more. "He deserted the Gotei 13 150 years ago, so it was a little before your time, Kuchiki-taicho," the 9th Captain began knowingly, recalling the incident that shook the Gotei to its core and caused one of its white pillars to collapse. "When he deserted, a Captain and his lieutenant attempted to capture him as he was leaving the Seireitei, but he killed both of them," finished the muscular man, grimacing at such an abhorrent act of treachery. He looked up at Kuchiki-taicho momentarily, his cerulean eyes meeting the black ones of the 6th Captain, the slight grimace still on his face. Kuchiki-taicho had to comprehend just how extremely dangerous this opponent was, and Hirato had to accept that he would probably be defeated by the leader of the shadowy organization if they fought. Even so, he would foil the man's plans, whatever they were, at the cost of his life if necessary. That was the path he had chosen long ago.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

"I see..." Byakuya replied as the male stated he went by many names, None of which he'd know. Byakuya continued to eat slowly, Thinking hard on what was being said, His outward expression unchanging as the situation at hand was very concerning. "150 years ago?" He muttered softly "I believe my Grandfather, Kuchiki Genrei was Taicho at the time...." He stated, Genrei was the Taicho of 6th Division before himself and if he recalled correctly, It was only a few years prior to the mark Hirato had stated that he himself became Taicho. Meanwhile however, Soft footsteps had been placed upon the floor of the Kuchiki Residence, Footsteps that Byakuya might have heard had he not been focused on the conversation. Just outside the very room the two sat.

On the edge of one of the doors so her shadow wasn't seen stood Kuchiki Rukia, Fukutaicho of 13th Division. Listening in on the conversation carefully. It wasn't long after Byakuya mentioned the comment about his Grandfather that he grew silent, First looking at Hirato with eyes that showed that the silence was needed at this moment before his eyes slowly wandered over to the door, Placing his food back slowly down onto his plate "Why do you hide" He said before pausing for a moment "Rukia". With that comment a soft gasp was heard, Rukia slightly surprised that she was caught and yet...Not that surprised at all. "Rukia, Please enter. I'm sure you wish to hear more about this" Byakuya said calmly, While he would've preferred telling her in private, Somewhere where her outbursts that were undoubtedly about to come out, could be controlled, This was unavoidable. Byakuya figured Rukia would return before their conversation was finished, He just hoped she hadn't ease dropped on them.

With that being said, Rukia slowly opened the sliding door, Looking first at Byakuya then over at the guest, Her eyes widened in a bit of shock before she was quick to bow "Murano Taicho!" She said quickly, Having moved to her knees to bow rather then the other bow which one performed whilst standing. There were 2 types of bows for a reason, 1 was standing, This one was performed when the person you were showing respect too was also standing, The other was kneeling, Which was performed when the other was sitting normally. Both of which would show the proper respect regardless, However it was moreso a form of formality rather then anything else. Had she not been in the presence of her Brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, She might've performed the standing bow, However with her Brother right there, She figured it was best to be more formal. "If you don't mind me asking Nee-sama, What is this about? I overheard something about a traitor Taicho..." She said without lifting herself, Waiting for permission from the other Taicho as this was who she was paying her respects too at the moment and thus, Was the only one allowed.

Byakuya looked at Rukia for a moment before turning his head to Hirato "That is for Murano-Taicho to decide" He said softly in response to her question before going silent and starting to eat once more.

[Hirato Murano]

Sensing the reiatsu presence before hearing the footsteps, Hirato fell silent and waited for the bearer of it to be revealed, considering the few possibilities of the individual's identity. Kuchiki-taicho's significant look was hardly necessary, but the crimson haired man maintained his silence nonetheless and listened as the black haired man called out to his sister, who might have been eavesdropping, but heard some of their conversation even if she had not. His cerulean eyes glanced over to her and he accepted her bow with an incline of his head, realizing that she had not expected him to be present. A sigh escaped his mouth at the interruption and Kuchiki-fukutaicho's interest in the subject of their conversation, not a matter he wanted to involve her in at all; in fact, Hirato was wondering whether he had made the correct decision in speaking to Kuchiki-taicho about this, but there was no chance that he could involve anyone else in this. Kuchiki-taicho was allowing him to decide whether to involve her in it and he was grateful, saying his thanks prior to pondering for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Kuchiki-fukutaicho, but this is far too dangerous to involve you in at the current time," began the Zanjutsu expert solemnly, wishing to prevent anyone else from being harmed by this war. "It's a war I have to fight by myself for the moment. I'm only here to warn Kuchiki-taicho to be on his guard, but I cannot involve him in this any further right now, either," he finished, glancing back down to his food and eating again. None of the other Captains could be involved in the war at the moment; many of his countermeasures would not be considered appropriate by the Gotei 13 and he could have anyone interfering with them, not even trusted comrades. Without his countermeasures, Seireitei could be swallowed up by the shadows and lost forever. Hirato looked at Kuchiki-taicho, wishing to continue their conversation, but evidently waiting patiently for his sister to leave so that she would not hear more about something that didn't involve her, something that couldn't involve her. That man was his opponent and he would defeat him, no matter what it took. Even if it took fighting alone against his army, the crimson haired man would do it, for his failure would mean the destruction of the peace they had labored to create.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

Byakuya had gone back to eating by now as Hirato took his time to respond to Rukia, Who at the time, Was anxiously awaiting the answer. Once Hirato spoke his answer, Rukia spoke herself "But! If it involves a Taicho then~" Her words were cut off by the sound of something hitting the table "THAT'S ENOUGH RUKIA!" The sound of the all-too familiar voice of Byakuya rung out as he looked over at her, His face showing clear disappointment "Murano-Taicho has made it clear that you are not to know about this matter, Furthermore I am going to request you leave us alone and do not attempt to eavesdrop on us. Any further action against what Murano-Taicho or I have told you will result in disciplinary action, This is an order as Gotei Juusantai Rokubantai Taicho" Byakuya was not pleased with Rukia's outburst towards the felow Captain and he was sure to make that clear.

Rukia looked at her Brother shocked. With eyes widened and unsure of what to say, Rukia said nothing more, She merely stood, walked out, Bowed and closed the door before walking away. To Byakuya, Murano-Taicho, Whether he was here on business or not, Was still a Taicho. Rukia, Being a Fukutaicho, Should've known better then to talk back to either of them, And the fact that she made her outburst not just in front of Byakuya, But too another Taicho....Rukia was lucky that Murano-Taicho was there. Byakuya let out a soft sigh before his face returned to how it was before and he looked back to Hirato "Please, Forgive me for both Rukia and my own outburst" He asked softly to Hirato, giving a slight bow as he did so. "However, Back to what you were saying before...You spoke of his desertion, How is it he eluded us for so long? And why is it we haven't tried to find him before?"

[Hirato Murano]

Crimson eyebrows were raised slightly in surprise at the emotional reaction of the black haired man, the eyes beneath them stealing a glance at the man's face before turning to gaze upon his sister. He had not expected Kuchiki-taicho to respond so forcefully, but brushed it aside and continued feasting on the delicious food provided to him by his host. Hirato simply patiently waited for Kuchiki-fukutaicho to leave and for Kuchiki-taicho to regain his composure so that their discussion could be continued without any potential for unnecessary involvement of others. As he stated, he did not intend to involve Kuchiki-taicho in this, merely informing him of this threat to encourage him to maintain vigilance and not become complacent. His cerulean eyes watched the Captain's sister leave, wondering whether that would be enough to discourage him from pursuing the subject, although it was doubtful she would learn anything of value anyway.

Hirato, hearing Kuchiki-taicho's apology, nodded in assent, accepting it quickly in order to return to the subject at hand. Before answering the Captain's queries, the crimson haired man took a sip of his drink and involuntarily frowned when his mind thought of that man, the master of the war of the shadows. "As I said, he has a massive organization at his disposal, including informants within the Gotei 13 itself. By the time a force is organized to seek him out, he and his subordinates have already vacated the hideout with any important documents and usually laid a trap for us," admitted the Captain with a sigh, wishing that capturing him was a simple matter. Prior to responding to the second question, the crimson haired man ate some more, washing it down with a gulp of his drink and using the napkin to clean his face. His eyes looked ahead at the black haired Captain and his deep tones echoed out again. "We have, most recently with a task force led by the previous Captain of the 5th Division. All of them disappeared without a trace," the crimson haired man revealed, slightly surprised that the 6th Captain was unaware of their efforts to catch that man and their consistently negative outcomes. After the most recent attempt, the leadership of the Gotei 13 decided that that man was not worth the cost and more pressing concerns would be addressed instead of a traitor who fled more than a century ago. Hirato preferred this, because fighting against him was his concern and he did not enjoy any interference from anyone, even his allies.

[Byakuya Kuchiki]

"I...See" He said softly before setting his fork down and cleaning his mouth. Byakuya's eyes remained closed for a few moments before they reopened and he began to speak "If this is the case, Then we cannot hide this matter from the Sotaicho if she doesn't already know about this. Either way, This is something the entire Gotei must respond too and act accordingly. I will not do it as you have asked me not too, However I will recommend with extreme concern that this be brought not just to Sotaicho Demizu's attention, but to the all the Taicho's attention. We should keep this merely to the Taicho's and nobody else, If there is a leak then we will know it is a Taicho, If there is no leak and they are not aware that we are onto them, Then it is either a Fukutaicho or a seated officer. From there, We can act accordingly once more. I have faith, Murano Taicho, That despite you wanting to keep this to yourself, That if we bring this to a meeting, We will yield more positive results"

With that, He took a deep breath, His emotions once more showing as he continued to speak, His expression showing a deep concern "This is a matter that affects all of the Gotei, Not just yourself. While I understand your concern and wanting to keep it soley to yourself and try to avoid bringing it to anyone's attention, It is inevitable that this is discovered. This is a threat of great importance as it affects all of us and such a threat must be acted upon with great haste, If we sit by and do nothing while they prepare then they will catch us unprepared and offguard, And that alone could result in the very structure we strive to protect to crumble and collapse under its weight."

[Hirato Murano]

The frown on the muscular man's face increased considerably and he let out an audible sigh, growing more irritated by the fact that Kuchiki-taicho didn't seem to understand the point of his earlier statements. He wondered if this entire endeavor was nothing more than a waste of his valuable time, a sort of cold anger radiating from him at the response of the black haired man. It was predictable, but nonetheless bothersome, especially in the current situation. The crimson haired man regained some composure with great effort and glanced up to Kuchiki-taicho, deciding to be clear and blunt rather than his typical vague warnings this time, in hopes that he would comprehend the reality of the circumstances. "Fighting this war alone is certainly not my desire, Kuchiki-taicho," the Captain began, the irritation seeping into his voice. "However, no one may interfere with my work, including other Captains. Any interference could mean the destruction of the Seireitei," his tone serious and slightly annoyed when he spoke those words, unwilling to make the same exact point a third time. While Hirato appreciated the willingness of Kuchiki-taicho, this war was one he fought on his own, not because he desired to, but because he had to, no matter his personal sentiments.

Returning to his food, the noble listened to the next words spoken by his black haired colleague, thinking them unnecessary and partially incorrect, yet declining to comment on them for a few moments. The food somehow did not taste as it had minutes ago, perhaps due to the irritation he was feeling at the moment or perhaps due to the fact that he was simply not concentrated on enjoying it like he was previously. In either case, the crimson haired man placed his fork on the table and glanced at Kuchiki-taicho, prepared to respond to his concerns. "Really? How would you respond to it? None of the Captains except for me are even capable of contacting the leader of this organization, much less mounting a defense against it." Hirato spoke matter-of-factly, although his tone still retained a trace of the cold anger that coursed through his body currently, a familiar feeling in his soul. Unfortunately for Kuchiki-taicho, he knew not of what he spoke or of its danger, nor of any defense against it, for it fought in the dark and he had lived his entire life in the light of day. Hirato seriously considered leaving immediately and ending what appeared to be nothing more than a waste of time and energy, but held off for the moment. Kuchiki-taicho should at least have a chance to reply before he departed, although his reply would likely not be to his liking. Another sigh escaped his mouth and his eyes glanced around aimlessly, staring at the walls of the luxurious mansion as if they were the barriers of a cage in which he was trapped.