A World of Pure Imagintion [Open]

MATSUMOTO

PURE IMAGINATION.

As Captain Matsumoto walked along, his wooden sandals clicked on the cobblestone path. With each step, his white Captain’s haori swayed behind him. He didn’t quite enjoy wearing his haori, nor any uniform. When he was in the Rukongai, he often removed his Shinigami uniform. It’s not that others didn’t know he was a part of the Gotei 13, it’s just they seemed to be at ease when he seemed like The Lost Shinigami once again, the hero of the Rukongai, defender of the people.

The Seventh Division was perfect for him. He was in charge of relations between the Rukongai and the Seireitei. Former Captains didn’t’ spend much time in the Rukongai, instead preferring to listen to petitions and letters from the citizens. He was a bit more hands on, which received some scorn from his subordinates. They weren’t used to Matsumoto’s ways, not yet. But, he hoped to lead by example and show them how he intended to work things.

After spending hundreds of years wandering, on his own, fleeing from the Gotei 13, it was still strange for him to be living among the Shinigami, giving them smiles and curt nods as they saluted him when he passed. They had been his hunters and his potential captors. Now, they were his allies.

Today he had business with the Ninth Division, which was in charge of security for the Seireitei. He had received some intelligence that there was an underground smuggling operation going on, where Shinigami were smuggling out military surplus to the Rukongai and selling it for the highest bid. It was a serious security breach and although he didn’t have any evidence the Ninth Division would no-doubt love to look into it further.

Rounding the corner, he came upon the entrance to the Ninth’s Barracks and another Captain. It was Ryou Kurosawa. From what he understood, the Captain of the Thirteenth was a bit of an odd-ball. He seemed to fit the bill, with his red hobo-suit underneath his haori. But, Mastumoto wasn’t one to judge too far, as not too long ago, he himself had been homeless.

“Good day Captain,” he said and gave a curt nod.

It was good for him to become acquainted with his colleagues, no matter how odd they were.

MATSUMOTO

PURE IMAGINATION.

"Now you sssilly sssilly boy. Why did you want to come around and sssneak up on poor little me and my Mother while we where talking. Oh you are quite the naughty one Matsumoto-san. Yesss Yesss a good day indeed my friend. Not a cloud in the sssky, which is sssad,” Captain Kurosawa said. :If I am correct though, and I believe I am... that meansss that the wind isss certainly low. Ssso the butterfliesss are fassst in tow. They are certainly adorable don't you agree. Mother thinksss so, that much is for sssure... “

He seemed to trail off for a moment. "Sorry..." he said, picking up from where he left off. "Wait wait wait sssilly boy. I am here like a wonder cloud, floating through the breeze... but what the heck brings you all the way here form your humble abode in the 7th Division?"

“The weather is indeed quite agreeable. Then again, it seems to be that way more than it is not in the Seireitei, it seems. A sign of the Soul King's favor, perhaps?” Captain Matsumoto said and glanced off towards the clouds. Captain Kurosawa was an odd one, his behaviors not at all the typical disciplined type that the Shinigami often had. But, he figured that the Old Man wouldn't have allowed some sort of maniac a position in the Gotei 13, without good reason. Was it an act? Matsumoto wondered that.

There was nothing more powerful than throwing your opponents off, making them believe something was true nature, when it really wasn't. Did he think that was truly Kurosawa's intentions? Probably not. But, if it were, he had to give him kudos for his acting job. It was near perfection.

“As for my purpose of being here, it's business. I have gathered some very valuable intelligence that I feel the Ninth Division will be grateful for. That is, if it proves to be true,” Matsumoto said and walked past his fellow Captain, to the front entrance He grabbed the large bronze knocker on the barracks door and rapped it a few times. The thunderous knocks resounded across the courtyard.

A wooden slat in the door slid beack revealing the face young unseated officer peered out at them. Upon seeing two Captains standing outside, Matsumoto thought the kid's eyes were going to burst out of his head.

“Just one moment Captains!” he said and then he heard fiddling with the locking mechanisms. Matsumoto folded his arms and waited patiently. Sure, if he wanted to, he could have easily jumped over the top of the wall. But, that wasn't the civilized thing to do. Walls and doors were created for a reason.

The door opened and he stepped inside. “I've never been inside the Ninth's barracks, this is quite cozy. Wouldn't you say so yourself, Captain Kurosawa?”

“Thank you sir! We do our best to keep the grounds in perfect condition,” the young Shinigami said. He was standing alert, at the ready. Matsumoto nodded casually.

“Is Vice-Captain Hisagi here?”

“Uhh—I'm not sure sir, but I will go check.”

Matsumoto nodded. “Take your time son.”

The Shinigami must have not heard him, because he off, in search of the Lieutenant. It was well known that the Ninth didn't have an active Captain. Matsumoto wondered with the Old Man would fill the position, or bump up Hisagi. He scratched his unshaven face and waited, admiring a small koi pond they had in the courtyard.

MATSUMOTO

PURE IMAGINATION.

Matsumoto found it amusing how different his fellow Captain approached entering the Ninth Divison's compound. He had taken the route to simply jump and glide over the top of the wall, while Matsumoto had been formal and remained outside, waiting for them to open the gates. That went to show the difference in philosophy between the two men. Captain Kurosawa was perhaps the most informal person that Matsumoto ever met, but it had its own charm.

Yets there was a bit of charm behind his goofy ways. Most would most likely find the way he dragged on the “S” sound to be annoying, or his over-dramatic facial expressions to be irritating. But, it was fun for Matsumoto, who had spent most of his long existence running, hiding, and fighting. It was good to meet someone different, and it was even nicer to be able to smile because of them.

"Since I am in charge of planning and coordinating the defense of our dear home, I prefer to keep ssstockpiles checked very meticulously. Recently I noticed that there have been sssome irregularities that have been happening way too, oh how shall I put this... regularly. I am not really sssure who could be doing thisss or why it is being done. I certainly don't think it would be of our guysss though... hopefully." Captain Kurosawa said as they both stared at the nice koi pond. "Ssso it seemsss Matsumoto-sssan, that we both have business here today. Thank you for the reminder."

With that said, Kurosawa continued on, this time discussing the Koi fish and speaking to two other Ninth Division members nearby, all the while crouched. Matsumoto was in deep thought. Should he reveal that he also knows about the smuggling? Or, should he keep it to himself. They were allies, of course. While he was naturally guarded, deep down inside felt that Kurosawa would do no harm. His spacey ways didn't immediately lead to the conclusion that he was stupid. That was judging a book by its cover, and Matsumoto tried to avoid that at all costs.

He's a fellow Captain, a comrade, I should be able trust him with my life, let alone intel.

Captain Matsumoto grinned and faced Kurosawa. “Yes, indeed it does. And it seems, we are here on the same business, after all. As you know, my job is to manage relations between the Seireitei and the Rukongai. Unlike my predecessors, I don't prefer to sit behind a desk listening to petitions and reading letters. No, I go out into the Rukongai, talk to the locals, listen to their concerns. Because of this, I've earned loyalty of some, and have received a tip about our supplies being smuggled out.”

He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. “While, I prefer to have faith in the integrity of Shinigami, the other half of me is a born skeptic. I feel there is more to this, and I think that there are those inside who do support this little thievery scheme.”

Matsumoto wondered, would Vice-Captain Hisagi show up? And if he didn't, would he take it upon himself to lead an investigation. It was a bit out of his jurisdiction, but he wasn't one to sit idle and let things go on, just because it wasn't in his job description. If goods were getting in and out of the Seireitei, what's to say that people weren't too?

If that was the case, that posed a great deal of danger to the whole of the Gotei 13. Although they each had specific jobs, it was the main duty of the Captains to protect those who serve under them, along side them, and w