"There are three ways to reach the position of captain in the thirteen divisions," Tousen Kaname approaches Zaraki with his sword spinning fast in one hand. "One way is to pass a captain level exam held in the presence of three or more captains, including the Captain-general. Another way is to receive nominations from six or more captains and then gain approval from three or more of the seven remaining captains. Then there is the third way, wherein one defeats the present captain in single combat with two hundred or more Division members bearing witness."

"...I know that," Zaraki scratches his neck. "What of it?"

"...Ever since I saw you, Zaraki Kenpachi, kill the previous captain of the eleventh and take on the position, I've felt a strong anxiety that bordered on absolute certainty: This man is a demon. He devours outrage and sucks blood. His existence is different than ours. He must not be allowed to stay here." Tousen recalls how he felt years ago, when Zaraki had slashed his way to the top and draped the blood-stained coat of the eleventh captain over his shoulders. "This man will surely bring our peace, the peace of the 13 Divisions, to ruin one day."

Zaraki watches him silently, unmoved by the speech.

"And the truth of the matter is you've rescued the intruders, resisted us, and now you're going to plunge Seireitei into chaos," Tousen continues. "Most likely it is only due to you lust for battle... am I wrong, Zaraki?"

"...Quit babbling," Zaraki rests the blade against his shoulder. "The whole point of it is just that you want to say you're on the righteous side." He sighs, "You're a pretty roundabout bastard. If you don't like me that much, then hurry up with the Bankai and come kill me!"

"No, I'm not saying I dislike you," Tousen raises his blade and swings it back, "I'm saying that it is difficult to forgive the fact that all of your words and actions are disrupting the peace that our people have built!! I do not hold a grudge, but for the sake of peace I have no choice but to kill you."

Komamura, sensing what Tousen is about to do, suddenly leaps over Zaraki and lands several feet away on the neighboring building. He turns back to watch the battle unfold, "...Tousen..."

Tousen presses the palm of his hand against a metal ring connected to the hilt of the sword. The ring starts to spin and as Tousen spreads his arms out, the ring grows until its diameter nearly matches that of a man's height.

"Bankai," Tousen calls out and it obeys by splitting up into nine equally large rings that spread out around him. The center ring emits a flash of energy, scattering the others, which fly past Zaraki to surround the building in a wide circle. Beams of light shoot from the center of the rings and suddenly the sky goes dark.

"'Bell-ringing cricket final style - Enma Koorogi'," Tousen announces. (1)

Zaraki's eyes are wide and his expression is slack, but he doesn't reply.

"This is my Bankai... everything within this space is my Bankai," Tousen says. There seems to be a black balloon tent over the entire rooftop, suspended by the rings which have kanji characters such as "scatter", "bone", and "blood" written in the center of each one as some sort of strange decoration.

"...How about it, Zaraki. It's a spectacle that even someone such as you did not imagine, am I right?" Tousen walks up to him, "...well, even if I asked it wouldn't matter because you already can't see a thing." He walks past without any reaction from the 11th Captain.

What is this? Zaraki wonders. I can't see anything. I can't hear anything. Without warning, his shoulder spurts blood from a gaping wound.

"What's it like?" Tousen completes the bloodied arc of his sword. "A world of true darkness, without light or sound, is quite frightening. The Enma Koorogi takes away the spiritual perception, vision, hearing, and even the sense of smell from anyone within it and creates a hell of darkness. There is only one person who can escape this hell; that is only the one who holds the true 'Suzumushi'." (2)

Zaraki reaches out in the direction he was attacked and Tousen walks by him, slashing his opponent's side as he passes. "It's no use. Even if you move merely by guessing the direction you were cut from, there's no way you can catch me. That is because no matter your skill, if light is taken away without warning then a faint sense of fear is born in its place. That faint fear slows you down half a step. I never had the light since my birth so my movements are - "

Zaraki lunges at him and brings down his blade. Tousen leaps away as Zaraki's sword cracks the ground, "...Wha..."

Zaraki grins from ear to ear.

This guy...! Tousen steps back warily, "I see... that's how it is... you're a demon... the hell of darkness is your home. There's no reason for you to be afraid of it in the first place...!" He charges at Zaraki, "So be it! If that's the case, I won't give you any time to feel fear!!"

~*~*~

At the Dual Terminus, Rukia stands on the podium, tied to the red cords that led her to this place. The Captain-general Yamaguchi Genryuusai arrives followed by his assistant, a blond man with a dark mustache.

Rukia raises her chin and arches her back, facing the sky.

"...Well then," Old man Yama speaks up, "begin the ceremony."


(1) Enma Koorogi is a type of cricket, apparently.
(2) Suzumushi = Bell-ringing cricket. Tousen's zanpaku sword.

Notes:
- I bet Tousen has a bug collection hidden somewhere in his office. Just ask Shuuhei. ;P
- Half the time, I have trouble remembering the Captain-General's name... is it Yamaguchi or Yamamoto? Aiyaa...

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