Rise of Ninth Division ~ Steel Judges

[GoldenKitten]

Chapter 1: The Student Disciplinary Committee

In an age when time was just starting to be counted, thousands of years before the current period, the mighty clan houses of Soul Society were just starting to make their mark in history. Seireitei itself was in a far different form than that of today; spirits were not as numerous, much of the feudal Japanese trends which are the mark of current day Soul Society would not be adopted for many centuries, and the shinigami were not nearly as ordered or large as they would exist in every generation since. It was in this timeframe that the house Hakushanshi would experience its great fall.

Unlike todays houses which have been in place for thousands of years it was quite common for clans of the day to rise and fall in a single generation, much like their real-world counterparts. Though Hakushanshi had not been there from the start of the clanhoods inceptions by those standards it had done quite well, existing for over two-hundred years. By all regards it should have continued on that path were it not for a great tragedy. At that time it was quite common for clansmen to fight together even if they heralded from the various divisions, clans often having say over the divisions themselves. It was during one of the first great hollow hunts that it occurred, a great hollow unlike any others rose up and struck many of them down, upon attempting to retreat the shinigami found the Senkaimon gate to be locked...

It would be days before the other clans allowed the shinigami to reach a decision and finally send help. By the time they did so there were no fighting members of the Hakushanshi left, indeed, there was little left of them at all. It is believed by many modern day historians that one of their rival clans was responsible for the gates inactivation, naturally any such evidence is gone but it was inherent of the time and as one of the highest ranked groups within Soul Society it held many enemies.

That was not the death of Hakushanshi but it's position would be belittled for the remainder of its existence. Many of the clan still lived but were women, children, or the few warriors remaining whom records suggest numbered under a dozen. They remained a primary clan in name only, though the other clans could not destroy them lest they harm their own public image that did not mean they need respect them any longer. With a name that held no weight and no way to quickly achieve their standing once more the Hakushanshi were little better than the average individual out of Rukongai who just happened to be allowed an estate.

Through these times the elder to lead the clan was the late elders wife, Hakushanshi Kukurakura. Though a respected woman of class and sophistication Kukurakura was not a quick or apt tactician. She was capable of keeping her people where they were but raising them up once more was a goal beyond her. Under her rule the remaining children of the Hakushanshi would be the ones to grow up and attempt to lead their clan to greatness once more. Amongst them was her own daughter and heir to the Hakushanshi, Taigana.
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A heavy rain pounded down upon the stucco buildings that comprised the shinigami academy. The weather was the worst Soul Society had seen in several generations and had kept most indoors for days. This included the academy where students had spent several days indoors working on theories or performing light sparring, mother nature proving once more she held sway over all. On the outskirts of the school-grounds sat an old storage room typically used by the gardeners, however at current and despite the squall hammering its walls a cacophony of laughter could be caught ushering through its paper-thin walls.

Over a dozen students had crowded into the structure despite its small size, the tools had been removed and several seats had been brought in. Children would be children, and what had begun as a rambunctious party had turned into an EVEN MORE rambunctious party, as the countless empty bottles littering the room were testament to. A full quarter of them were now passed out on the floor, another quarter were currently drawing pictures on those individuals faces, and the remainder were either attempting to not fall asleep and become a victim or enacting drunken makeout sessions.

An attractive if effeminate young Japanese man sat at the back of the room with three female students hanging off of him and doing their best to be “sexy”...though to anyone sober it was more like “hilariously drunk”. As the instigator of this whole mess (and many like it) he watched over all in a sort of bemused manner, truth be told he wasn't the least bit drunk, nor were some of his right hand men around the room. Enuru Razashi was building himself a base of loyal followers by making himself known as a fun loving leader, he certainly believed he was doing well enough. When one of the girls made a (not funny) joke he gave a polite laugh but it caught in his throat before the second guffaw when a piercing slam reached his ears.

The wooden door was thrown open with such force that it was a surprise it didn't come flying off its cedar hinges before it slammed into its connecting wall with an ear-splitting crack. Anyone not comatose drunk had their attention drawn to the source while several who were close to the door scampered back as rain and wind showered the room. A short figure clad in a black rain-suit made of animal skin stepped through and reached out with a petite hand to close the door so that the wind wasn't drowning out all sound.

As soon as it was done the now more obviously female figure spoke out, “The teachers have been looking for you for several hours now, gave them quite a scare. Razashi, I'll give you one warning, take your little band of misfits and return to your classes now.”

Shrugging the girls off the young Enuru clan heir stood up in a arrogant manner with his nose turned up at her, “Who the fuck do you think you are to use my first name Hakushanshi?”, he spoke the name with disdain as an obvious dishonor, “Fuck off little girl. Someone like you can't tell me what to do, you shouldn't make enemies you can't match. Give it another ten years and you and all the girls of your clan will just token offerings to us real clans.”

It was as the last word was leaving his mouth that a hand was wrapped around his lower face, in the next instant it was flush against the nearest wall with a slam. The girl had moved across the room so quickly that most of those present couldn't have followed her even if they hadn't been stupidly drunk. The speed had pushed the hood off her head so now her long semi-curly pink hair tussled behind her, her cute features at total odds with the scowl and shooting glare her orange eyes were giving.

Raising her free-hand up so that she was extending a single pointer-finger, “I did say you got one warning.”

“You heinous bitch! DO YOU KNOW WHO MY FATHER IS? I'M GON-”, Razashi began his usual bag of threats.

Eyes going wide his head elongated for a moment before exploding through the wall against which it was placed. Being pulled back a moment later he was tossed to the floor where he slid several feet before coming to a stop, after a few seconds it was apparent the pressure had knocked him unconscious. The girl walked into the center of the room and stood over him, crossing her arms and looking around at those who remained. Two were still laying asleep, the remainder were watching her but even on a good day they didn't stand a chance, fighting them drunk would have just been insulting...to her.

“I recommend you collect your people and return now.”

One of Razashis close companions massed enough gumption to point at her, “Hakushanshi you are so dead! You think you can keep doing this and there won't be repercussions?”

Without looking in his direction and with her arms still behind her back she used her foot to turn Razashis head over slightly, his eyes were rolled back in his head...he might have had a concussion, “I'm working with the teachers permission, if you have a problem perhaps you should tell the Commander General you don't approve of his decisions in leadership.”, she toyed with him calmly.

He shook his fist, “As if I care what those little nothings think, most of them are no names! We, the clans, are the real power. Not that you would know anything about the power in a name.”

Taking in a deep sigh she closed her eyes and lowered her head. A wave of reiatsu built up inside her before she brought her head up with a quick snap and opened her eyes, the wave released out over the room, knocking several of those present back and white-washing the world for most present, “Perhaps I did not make myself clear, collect your friends, and return to class.” She spoke calmly but with the infusion of reiatsu the words rocked the world of those effected by it and sent several scurrying out the door, Razashis friends collected him and the other two who were passed out and began carrying them back, the one who had stood up to her left the room while pointing at her threateningly. The three girls who had been behind her tip-toed carefully past before they got far enough ahead and scampered off into the rain outside the building.

Taigana looked around the room once more, then satisfied everything was finished she walked to the door and looked out into the rain. It was briefly amusing to watch the particularly drunk students attempt to fight the strong winds but the feeling passed quickly, instead with a sigh she brought the hood back up over her head before walking back out into the maelstrom. Despite all she did it was never a permanent solution, but their positions protected them from her taking it any further, she didn't like it but she understood that at the moment that was how it was.

Minutes later she had returned to the main building, at the time it was quite an impressive piece of workmanship being many lengths long and four-stories high. Seireitei existed but it was a work of god, the works of man would not match it for many aeons, if they ever did. On par with even the most affluent clan houses the academy was one of the few places the clans had seen fit to pool their finances and fund without limit. They might not have agreed on all things, but all knew the hollow were a danger and new shinigami were always needed, the current shinigami count numbering only slightly over a thousand.

Removing her raincoat as she moved through the halls students readily moved out of her way once she was spotted. Everyone quieted down and stepped aside as she passed, more than a few acted suspicious as if they'd been caught in the middle of something but without immediate evidence she didn't bother pressing them, plus she couldn't stop every little transgression herself when larger problems like Razashi existed. Taigana had never had a good reputation, she was quiet, cold, and did not go out of her way to make friends, this combined with the fact that associating with a member of the Hakushanshi was akin to committing political suicide meant she had few friends. Now that her suggestion for a Student Disciplinary Committee had been accepted though most people treated her as if she were the plague.

She didn't mind, she didn't need friends; the way to power, peace, and justice was through any means necessary. Friendship hadn't done anything for the Hakushanshi in the end, but strength would have. The clan system disgusted her anyway, it might have been decent in theory but people were corrupt and the clans were a virus. Most underestimated her, still considering her a child, that worked for her since it gave her more time to prepare. She had many ideas for how those responsible could be judged and a proper shinigami capital could be arranged to do the job they were meant for, but for now she kept that to herself, and instead settled for keeping the student body in line.

Until this time teachers had been responsible for ensuring student safety and obedience, however teachers were few and their schedules busy. Clan status meant much amongst the student body but many of the teachers were not affiliated, this meant her name was not such a bane in their sight. Add to this her brilliant grades and the general distrust she garnered from the student body and she had developed into something of a natural “teachers-pet” over the past two years. When she had suggested the practice of students that could be trusted monitoring the other students the teachers had readily accepted. It was the first step in her plans to revive the Hakushanshi and then use its power to bring justice to Soul Society but...

But...

There were many problems in the way, not the least of which was lack of members...

She opened the door on the second floor to the side of which sat a neatly written simple board stating, “Student Disciplinary Committee”. Inside was an unused classroom that at current was utterly devoid of anything except two large teachers desks that were set along the far wall, everything else had been removed and nothing else had been brought in. They were well and truly alone, and to be completely honest Taigana had not the slightest idea how they were going to recruit others, as explained most clan members would have nothing to do with her, there were currently no other members of Hakushanshi in the academy, and she had alienated most normal people. Some part of her acknowledged she had perhaps been a little to hasty in breaking off relations but her typical pride didn't let her make the conscious connection.

But then she had said “They”, sitting at one of the desks intently scribbling on a piece of a papyrus sat another girl roughly Taiganas age in appearance. At that time in history Soul Society was even more dominated by Oriental, particularly Japanese, individuals and this was even more the case amongst the Shinigami. The number of non-Easterners in the entire organization could quite literally be counted on your hands, so that made the girl sitting at the desk a massive anomaly. Of some form of Eastern European descent her skin was light, and though her eyes and hair were both brown they were of a far lighter shade than any natural Japanese.

With her attention on the work on the desk Taigana eyed her mischievously, seeming to notice her the girl looked up but by the time she did Taigana was gone. Scanning very carefully as if she were very suspicious (or used to this) of the situation she finally seemed to accept that nobody was there. She once more looked down on the papers and within a split second one of Taiganas hands was wrapped around her neck while she placed her head on the girls shoulder.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-”

“How's my littllle Asleigh-taaaan~~~!!!”

“-AAAAHHHHhhhhhhhh!!!...” Asleighs cry wound down before she turned her head as far as she could in the situation and replied timidly, “Pleeeease, please stop doing that.”

Bringing her free hand up to the other girls lips in a shushing movement and she grinned at her without moving their heads from next to one another, “So, what's my little-bit doing?”

Relaxing Asleigh grabbed several papers and showed them to her, just regular work that had to be turned into the teachers to explain what they had been doing and who they had dealt with in the past week. After a moment she set them back down, and then making an “Ahhh” sound as if she remembered something she began searching. Taigana released her neck though she kept both her arms laid out on her shoulders along with her head, allowing the other girl to move more freely. While she searched Taigana absentmindedly tussled the other girls hair playfully.

Finally locating what she was looking for Asleigh brought a small stone tablet up for her to see, “Rukunu-Sensei came by with this, we're getting complaints from the clans...apparently they aren't taking to kindly to us beating up their precious children.”

Looking at the tablet with a glare Taigana took it from Asleighs hands and stared at the contents, an official looking request to find out more about the “supposed Student Disciplinary Committee” as the document put it. It was just like the clans to put law and order to the side if it meant one of their precious members got treated poorly in the process. Taigana emitted a low growl before she threw her hand to the side and the carefully etched piece of writing slammed into the far wall, breaking into a thousand pieces. Wrapping her arms around the other girl in a hug she lowered her head into her back and sighed, she hated people.

Grumbling into Asleighs back so that it was muffled she spoke, “They don't care about doing the right thing. Just look at history, time and time again they choose to do what benefits them...not what they've sworn to do. So...we'll do it for them, and how will we do it Asleigh?”

“No matter the cost?” she responded almost immediately.

Asleigh was a lot like Taigana, most people looked down on her as inferior because of her race despite the fact that she was the third highest ranked student in the school. Despite this when they'd first met both had been so used to not getting along that it had taken a while for them to become friends, however they'd soon realize that they made quite a team with their combined power, this was of great benefit since in a world where status meant everything they had none. When Taigana had learned they shared common world viewpoints they'd become friends despite protests from her mother about mingling with the lower class...suffice it to say she would not be pleased if she knew the truth.

Bringing her head up she promptly kicked one of the chairs supports and it spun about so quickly Asleigh didn't even have time to flail about. With the chair leaning against the table she jumped on top of the other girl and just about smothered her with a hug being a full head taller. With a sly grin she brought her face close and spoke pointedly, “Right...sooo, what's my little-bit think we should be doing now?”

Her act was so good that it took Taigana a moment to pick it up, Asleigh first looked to the side to avoid eye contact and twiddled her fingers in circles, “Welll~~~ I was thinking we could-” and in an instant her voice changed to a sarcastic beating, “Go to the First Year welcoming ceremony they've been putting off. Guess they decided since the weather isn't changing we'd go ahead and do it...I did tell you this morning.”

As Asleigh spoke Taiganas whole body drooped dejectedly, “But...but...the sexy times!”

“Well, you know, Justice no matter the cost and all that”, she gave a victorious smile.

Taigana gave a fake glare at her, “I. Hate. Justice....sometimes...so when is it?”

Asleigh tilted her head up to look at the mechanic sundial on the wall, a very early version of the modern day clock that was only possible through the use of spiritual energy. Doing the math in her head she responded, “We're already kind of late...like...we're going to get there at the end late.”

Thinking about that for a moment Taigana stood up, releasing Asleigh, and standing the chair back up. As she did so she produced a loud sigh and thought about everything that yet needed to be done today, now that the new students were being introduced it was a chance to widen their holdings, but without greater political standing she really didn't know what to do. Looking down at the other girl she stated simply, “Well then...guess we got to do what we got to do.”

Asleigh nodded and stood up from her chair grabbing her coat off the edge. But before she could even begin to put it on she was grabbed from behind and pulled to the floor on top of Taigana who had her in a vice like grip, from behind she whispered into her ear, “And what we've got to do is TICKLES!!!” Her strength was many times greater than that of her little hostage and soon she had her pinned down as she tickled her eliciting the other girl to cry out and giggle herself half to death.

Several minutes and unmentionables later Taigana and Asleigh were walking down the hall leaning on each other, giggling like schoolgirls...which they were. Clearly “Justice” only applied to others since Taigana would have cited any other student for indecent or juvenile behavior if she'd caught them in a similar situation, she wasn't abusing her position, not at all. Asleigh moaned, “We so missed it...I hope you know the teachers are going to say something?”, but when Taigana didn't respond she changed focus and pointed to her multi-colored hat, “What do you think? I just made it, it will be the NEW WAVE IN FASHION!!!”, Taigana moved in as if she were getting a better look, then snatched it off her head before running away backwards, “The new wave in fashion for the blind maybe! Mewwwww~~~!!!”

She dangled it in front of her playfully as Asleigh came charging after her intent on retrieving it. But before she could catch up a heavy force fell upon them both, given the situation they'd been totally unprepared as they tried to fall into a battle stance. Taigana didn't have time to question who it could have been as she turned a corner and a hand wrapped around her throat, slamming her into the nearest wall. Her sight went black momentarily as she heard an unfamiliar voice calling for them to stop, though whoever was at hand didn't seem to be minding. As her eyes opened her hands fished around inside her robes, she found herself looking at a small boy surrounded by six shinigami wearing division patches on their arms.

The one holding her up looked back and spoke to the small boy, “You can never be to careful Imari-sama, you're the future of the clan, enemies could be anywhere. Plus you've got to show the riff-raff whose boss so stop being so soft.”

He turned back to look at Taigana and muttered a low, “Oh, what's that look for little girl?”

Taigana was glaring at them now that she'd heard their reasoning. This was exactly why she hated the clans, why she wanted to eliminate them as they stood, their continued existence would always undermine the principles of the shinigami. She couldn't deny some of these feelings within her were personal, the Imari clan had been one of the three most prosperous clans alongside the Hakushanshi...there was a very real possibility they were involved in the Senkaimon failure.

She grasped something solid inside her coat and a moment later an 'X' shaped pattern formed before her before she was dropped to the ground. The man who had been holding her backed up screaming as both his hands fell limply, dangling from his wrists by only a few uncut tendons as blood poured to the ground. Taigana spun her gun-metal gray dual-shortswords several times as she approached the rest of the shinigami, a look of intense loathing across her face.

Realizing what had occurred they began to yell out to get her but as soon as they had readied their weapons and begun to charge all five of those left fell to the ground, releasing their weapon as they cradled their legs. Blood pooled out around them and it became obvious their ankles and lower legs had been shred to pieces, a quick eye would have caught black lightning retreating from them shortly before they had fallen. Asleigh entered from the hallway where she had stopped and produced her machete-style blade and stepped atop the closest mans chest, “Anyone who wishes to fight Hakushanshi-sama can first try me, having her fight you would just be an insult to her strength.”

The man she was atop tried to spit at her but failed to send it far enough, “You foul wretches! Imari-sama! Don't listen to what these fools have to say, anyone aligned with the Hakushanshi will be gone in a generation. Go to your class, we will take care of this!”

Indeed, several of the men though clearly injured were standing up and finding their footing...at the very least they were well trained. But before they could ready themselves for battle there was a loud clapping sound as the young boy brought his hands together and let out a “Woooow!”.

He moved toward Taigana and though she was ready to strike at first she soon realized he didn't even have anything to fight her with, much less hurt her. He gave an impressed laugh, “Oh when I saw the other later year students during the introduction I was so worried I'd made a mistake but that was incredible! They were specially picked by Otou-sama to watch over me and you took them down so quickly! My name is Imari Rukouro, what is yours?”

Despite the continuing protests of his caretakers he paid them no heed and continued talking at her. Meanwhile Taigana was almost oblivious to what was being said, a complex mix of emotions building inside her. Imari Rukouro...this was the first son of the Imari household, the only one all its members would accept as its future leader...if he were removed the clan would quickly fall to infighting no matter the reason, it would still exist but without a uniting future head it would lose power. That she had a blade in her hand at that very moment did not escape her, yet something inside her said there was another way, but what? Playing nice and wishing the little first-year a good day hardly seemed...and then it hit her, fortune it seemed, did smile on the brave.

Ever so slowly a smile formed on her face and she sheathed her weapons underneath her cloak motioning for Asleigh to do the same. After a moments pause she spoke in a calculated attempt to sound cheerful, “Oh hi, my name is Taigana and this is Asleigh, you may call us that.”

“Oh I couldn-” he began but she waved him off with a polite laugh.

“Oh we're all students here, formality isn't necessary, don't worry. Anyhow we're just wandering the halls doing our job, you should tell your caretakers to be more at ease, the Student Disciplinary Committee has orders to remove anyone taking hostile actions against others in the academy.”

Inside her little plotting imp was jumping up and down wildly while screaming, “TAKE IT!!! ASK!!! ASK!!!!!”

There was a moments pause as he absorbed that information and then asked the obvious, “What's the Student Disciplinary Committee?”

Taigana couldn't help but let a sly smile cross her face so she turned around using an excuse of pointing down the hall toward their Committee Room. She turned back toward him with a friendlier smile, “Wow you don't know? Well...why don't I show you?! Best for a new student to know everything right?!”

“Hey you're right!”
“Hahahahahaha~~~~”
“Come on!”
“Asleigh what are you doing?!”
“I-Imari-sama don't just follow them without us!”
“IMARI-SAMA!!!”
“And so then we went to the water park and-”

Taigana knew she had just had a spot of grace, but she had no idea at that time how far it would carry her.

[GoldenKitten]

Chapter 2: Revolutionary Rebirth

Dozens of students lay out before the academy entrance, most had simply received a beating but some had received horrible wounds, the day had seen fifteen casualties already. Taigana knelt over a younger boy who had received a massive laceration across his chest, it was easily the worst injury she had seen of the day, thankfully it would also be the last. He bore a red sash around his right arm marking him as a member of the Student Disciplinary Committee, she looked up at the teacher who was healing him and he shook his head as if to suggest nothing could be done. Anger welled up in her heart, not because she was attached to the child in any personal way but because he had given his life protecting ideals similar to her own and it had been taken by those with not the least bit of honor.

Unexpectedly he coughed and this seemed to give him a brief lapse into consciousness as his eyes wearily focused on Taigana, “Hakushanshi-sama...how, how stupid...I can't believe I'm dieing here of all places...” The teacher attempted to placate him but without breaking his gaze with Taigana he stated, “-you don't have to deny it, I can't feel my body...but, if I'm going to go I just wanted to thank you Taigana...if you'll forgive me using your real name in these last moments. I, I was from one of the weakest clans, our name means nothing. Sooo...so, when I came here I just kept my head down---ahhh, ahhhhh...”

His eyes became unfocused and he stopped tracking them, the bleeding from his wound increased and trickles began to fall from the corner of his mouth. His chest heaved up and down but after a moment it relaxed, “I can't see...huhu, death isn't as peaceful as they claim...but you're still their so listen... I kept watching, you didn't hide in the shadows or worry about what they thought about you. You did the right thing; and it might have taken me a while to join you but I'm glad I finally did, and I'm not the only one. I don't know what you plan to do once out of the academy Taigana...but, please keep being who you are...please keep fighting the corruption within us. Will you do that?”

Taigana let out a long exhalation of breath, she felt her eyes get misty in a way she never had before. She quickly wiped away at it before she collected herself and responded, “Yes, yes of course. I would never do otherwise.” After a moments pause she asked, “What was your full name?”

The boy tried to open his mouth several times but no sound game out. He proceeded to lick his lips a few times before attempting again, though his voice was weakening quickly sound came out this time, “Eruta...Sakki”

She reached forward and held his blood soaked hand while giving it a little squeeze, his face seemed surprised at first but he then smiled gently. There were several other members of the Committee surrounding them by this point and spoke loudly, “We will not forget your sacrifice in the name of what was right Sakki-san, does everyone present agree?”, there were a chorus of affirmations around her, some were shaky suggesting some of those around him were his friends. She stood up and Eruta laid flat on his back seeming content, his breathing slowed down and a nearby girl and boy got in close to him and began to whisper, by this point he could not speak back to them in more than a handful of forced words. The teacher seemed to realize there was no saving him and so did not try to have him save his breath.

She looked down on the scene for several more seconds before the concern in her chest turned to white-hot fury. Spinning on her foot the assembled members split before her as she walked off across the clearing where the days major battle had taken place, one look around told you the death count had tripled here alone. Though the number of bodies from those rebelling outnumbered those from the Committee six-too-one she couldn't feel satisfied, not just because no deaths was preferable but because this had been utterly avoidable. Most that had died here were just stupid kids being jerked around by an ideal they didn't even understand. At least the members of the Committee who perished understood why they fought, the malcontents had simply done this based on promises the instigator could never have kept, a single instigator.

“HOLD HIM STILL!!!” she yelled as she approached the two students and one teacher holding that instigator, Enuru Razashi in the kneeling position. She pulled her hand back as far as she could and then unleashed a slap that could be heard from a dozen meters away and forced his head all the way to the side.

Once finished she pulled her hand back and attempted to recapture her usual calm. Razashi brought his gaze back to her and snarled before spitting in her direction, he then broke into a laugh. Taigana ignored him and instead undid a satchel on her belt, pulling a small sheaf of papyrus from inside. She licked her middle finger and thumbed through the stack, each possessing a red-seal of Law Order from the Sixth Division which the Committee had gained this year. Finding the one she was looking for she held it up and read it verbatim and in a monotone, as if she were reading a grocery list.

“Razashi Enuru – Fifth Year of the Shinigami Academy. Confirmed on three counts of murder, suspected of a half-dozen others. Confirmed on two counts of Non-consensual Carnal Knowledge...that would be Rape in case you were wondering and I won't bother with the number of claimed and suspected cases. Confirmed on at least thirty counts of assault against a law officer or preceding adult of the academy during todays events, this number is certainly higher and will be confirmed in the coming days. Dozens of smaller related charges; assault with a weapon, assault against a civilian, and so forth. And of course, inciting a violent riot against the morally just law of your peers.”

She took the paper and placed it in a separate pocket before continuing, “Any number of these results in years of jail-time and immediate expulsion from the Academy, combined they are multiple life-time sentences, or death by a method of your choosing. All depending on how your trial fairs.”

They locked eyes and for a brief moment Enuru faltered, a bit of fear leaking through upon hearing what could happen to him. However his old self quickly took over and he let out a series of laughs, which continued for a long time. Taigana stood with her hands behind her back and calmly watched as the boy laughed himself silly, almost falling to the ground in the process. She made no attempt to stop him because she knew what he would say next and in her eyes it made him no more than an insect, insects were hardly worth contemplating. Even if he had believed his reasoning was the right one once you were caught a true man lived up to his failures till the end but Enuru would surely attempt to escape his fate once again...he just didn't realize yet that this time he would not succeed.

Tears of laugher in his eyes he began to speak while still giggling slightly from his bout of laughter, “You fool! I'll go to that trial a hero! You think father would let the charges of some little school-girl playing police stand-up to scrutiny? I'll be cleared of wrongdoing within a day! At most I'll serve some time at home for 'bad-behavior'.”

Taigana did not break her stance or tone as she spoke, “So you're admitting to these things?”

He chuckled again, “What does it matter? My family controls the LAW. What would it matter if I told you I did all those things and more? It wouldn't, I could kill everyone right here right now, and that wouldn't matter either! This case you've been pushing for so long is just going to be your own undoing. We're going to get into that room and after I'm cleared this little group of playground detectives is going to be taken apart, by the time we're done rearranging the school laws you won't be able to write a ticket for some kid stealing another's lunch, much less come after me. And then when you're nothing Taigana you and me are-”

A loud smack sounded out again as she slapped him, stopping him from continuing, she had heard what she needed. One of the Committee members holding him down was a girl and Taigana motioned to the blade she held at her hip, holding out her hand as if to ask for it. The girl was confused for a moment but then understood and handed it to her, Taigana looked the short-blade over before she tossed it to Enurus feet. She took three steps back before she motioned for them to release him, the teacher was the last to let go but eventually did so.

As soon as he did Taigana spoke in a harsh tone, “You think me a fool Enuru? I know what would happen if we took this out of the school, and that is exactly why you won't be getting a trial. You certainly don't deserve one.”

The initially confused look on Enurus face lifted as he looked at the sword and put two-and-two together, “What, you're going to murder me Taigana? I won't kid myself into thinking I'm stronger than you, but how long do you think it'll be before it's your head on a platter if you just cut me down you fool? Has your anger at being born so powerless clouded your judgment?”

“Murder?” Taigana scoffed, “I did no such thing, I was merely protecting a fellow student whose weapon you stole during transport. Members of the Disciplinary Committee, what did you see?”

They looked as confused as Enuru at first but understanding seemed to dawn across their faces at the same time, the girl was the first to nod her affirmation. After a bit more thought the boy also seemed to agree, Taigana it seemed, was not the only one tired of being wronged by the clans and watching them get away with whatever they pleased.

“I was so frightened. We had subdued the riots leader Razashi Enuru when he broke out of his bonds and took my zanpakutou, he would have cut me down if Hakushanshi-sama hadn't arrived.” she finished with a little bow and closed her eyes.

Enuru waved his hands, “Hey now wait a minute, what's this?”

The other boy continued, “I was there, if Hakushanshi hadn't dealt that blow so quickly Mushi-san would have died at the very least, and that's assuming he was stopped before hurting anyone else.”

“Now come on! What sort of bullshit is this?” Enuru was yelling a bit now.

There was a long pervading silence amongst them as the two students kept their eyes low to the ground. Slowly Taigana and Enuru's eyes fell on the last person within sight and hearing to be aware of what was happening, the first-year Kido instructor Morootu. He looked at them both before giving Taigana a long hard look, meanwhile Enuru had an expression that said surely this was a bad dream but that the teacher wouldn't let something like this fly so he was sure this would all be cleared up soon. Morootus eyes crossed the battlefield to the numerous student corpses, and others who would be injured for life before he looked back at them and spoke slowly.

“It was...unfortunate...but taking the time to line-up a less lethal blow could well have resulted in that young ladies life being lost...after how much life was already lost that day we could not risk more. And we do those lost a disservice by casting doubt on the manner of their passing.” As soon as he finished he turned away from them and began to walk off.

The look on Enurus face was indescribable, he would step in one direction before seeing one of the three and heading in the other direction for a step before rerouting again, almost as if he were about to pass out. As he continued moving from side to side he raised his hand and kept changing who he would point at in a similar manner, “Ha~~~ha~~~~ You've got to be kidding me...you...you're all insane! Mad! You think things will be that easy?!”

Taigana drew one of her blades and held it to her side, “Stop doing yourself a disservice Enuru. There's nobody here to save you except yourself now, and that makes you just like the rest of us for once in your life. So try to face what we face daily with some bloody gumption, I wouldn't want to remember you any lesser than I already will, that would just destroy my faith in humanity. Now, pick up the sword.”

Enuru gritted his teeth and glared at her. He attempted to open his mouth a dozen times but failed to say anything instead just closing it a second later as he threw his hands around and let out little grunts of frustration. Nobody had ever faced up to his threats like this before and even when Taigana had in the past she still had to work within the boundaries of their laws, but it seemed he and many others had underestimated the strength of the bonds the Committee had created in the recent past. He never imagined he would even be looking at getting in trouble, much less looking at losing his life, but there wasn't a single friend anywhere he looked now...

His eyes fell on the blade near his feet, then on Taigana who was standing perfectly still, waiting.
He only saw one way out and reached down, “You've got another thing coming if you think I'll just di-”
He let out a quick breath as the strength in his body gave out, dropping the girls blade to the ground.

Piercing his belly and coming out the other side Taigana had made sure she drove it through his intestines so there would be no mistakes. She was now looking Enuru in the face and though he was losing strength fast he was still very much conscious and alive. His breathing was heavy and labored but he still managed to give her a look of sheer anger though it was twisting between that and pain.

She whispered to him, “The time of your corrupt system is ending, it will not sustain itself on the pain and sorrow of the innocent and the just for much longer...this is just the start. So, don't think of it as dieing, think of it as leaving the play a few scenes early. Because you got off pretty easy compared to your sins. I will do anything to do what is right; justice, no matter the cost.”

Twisting the blade and then zagging it back and forth before she ripped it out Enurus insides were mixed and then let out. He fell to his knees with no sounds made and the resulting shock saw several loops of his intestines fall out and touch the ground, some had been cut into sections and were disconnected from the body entirely. Surely unaware of those around him by this point he absentmindedly attempted to grab the pieces with his hands but he no longer had the coordination to do so and all the while blood and gore dropped from his torso. In the last few seconds he seemed to be mouthing words but no sound accompanied them before he fell forward with an unceremonious face-plant into the ground.

Taigana wiped the blood off of her blade with a cloth and then walked over to the corpse after thirty seconds. She knelt down and once she was convinced there was no longer a pulse she turned back toward the academy. Looking over her shoulder she addressed the boy and girl, “Wait two minutes, then locate a medic, though not one currently help others...there's nothing that can be done for him unfortunately. If only he hadn't been so brash.” she kicked the girls blade off the ground and caught it, twirling the hilt toward her, “And you, you should know better than to put yourself in a situation where an enemy can grab your blade.”

Both of them put their hands to their chest to salute her, “Yes mam!”

Taigana looked at Enurus corpse one last time, now surrounded by an ocean of blood, then she walked back toward the academy. Though she was hardly “happy” with how things had turned out she couldn't deny a certain amount of cheer in the knowledge that the progress she had long seeded was now bearing fruit. Much of Seireitei was made of the disenchanted lower-caste and there was now proof that given proper motivation they would do what was right. Combine that with her ability to plan and what had once been a childhood dream drew ever closer to reality. Some might point out that in doing this she was breaking the law herself and it was hypocritical, but she hardly considered breaking the laws of bigots, tyrants, and egotists to matter.

As she passed by she saw that one of the girls was cradling the now still body of Eruta, even from this distance she could tell there was no life in him anymore. She naturally felt bad that anyone in the Committee had perished but as their leader she couldn't feel too personal about it, they were after all going to the Academy to become soldiers of a sort. Plus if her goals were to be achieved she highly doubted this would be the last time those she commanded would be faced with death, or the last time she would have to manipulate a death of her own making. It wasn't a pretty business but change didn't come from those afraid to get their hands dirty, if hell awaited her so that future generations might live justly then she would gladly carry that burden.

Seeing that the the teachers were now taking care of most of the clean-up and knowing that it was best to leave them to it for diplomatic reasons she called the nearest leader of the Committee over. Akito was a young man of traditional Japanese looks and proportions, he wasn't her best but he had proved quite capable of keeping most rowdy students in line through power alone. More importantly though he was friends with Rukouro and that meant he never questioned his orders, he also tended to carry them out quickly. She told him to inform those present that they were to return to their homes (dorms would not be built on campus for another two decades) once they had finished their business was concluded and that they were not to try to help with the collecting of the bodies regardless of their feelings.

With that stated he placed his hand on his chest in salute and went on about her business. She too began moving back toward the Student Disciplinary Committee office as her work for the day was far from finished. Where the others were done once the sun went down she was often there for hours doing paperwork and today that would be doubly true. Not just due to the amount that would be required to cover all of this but also because she wanted to get it done quickly, the sooner one wrote the information the less likely time had, had a chance to muddle the details. And if she could state the reports were written immediately after the incidents then anyone who might question her would at least lack that as a potential detractor against her.

The halls of the academy were eerily silent, all non-affiliated members have been evacuated during the initial conflict so that left few individuals to move through the normally crowded halls. At first the teachers had insisted on taking care of it themselves but Enuru had recruited more later year students than they would have thought possible, it soon became apparent they could not hold them. Enuru had started it because of the Committees growing strength and the rules it was imposing anyhow, it was fitting that they join in, and once they did things had not lasted long. Of course it had also not ended exactly as expected either, things had taken a decidedly serious tone once Enuru escalated the scale and had actually killed one of the students. From there it had turned from a riot into a full-scale battle and there had been no time fore careful contemplation, the next few days would be interesting to say the least.

Passing through the large double-doors marked by a red committee banner there lay beyond it a vastly different room than that which it had started as. In the past two years the Committee had absorbed three surrounding rooms that were not being used and in the end appropriated the hallway, knocking walls down and in effect turning the entire second-floor west wing of the academy into their headquarters. Now no longer an empty room a massive table took center stage with enough room for a dozen members to sit. Countless other desks had been moved in and set-up in a classroom format so everyone had somewhere to sit should need be. One wall was plastered in papyrus notes, school announcements and bounties put on students so that everyone was aware of who hadn't paid their debts yet. Alongside the far wall a miniature cafeteria was set-up and supplied both breakfast and lunch, though by now it was cold and completely picked over.

Hanging around the room were red banners expounding the title of the Student Disciplinary Committee...yes they had come far. Though it was now built to house over a dozen people at a time there was currently only one other, the one who had made all this possible in fact. When Rukouro had joined them the tides had changed; nobody was going to tell an Imari they couldn't do something, and if an Imari was ok with fraternizing with a Hakushanshi then others figured they could as well. Soon a half-dozen members had been approved for acceptance into the order but while they initially joined to get closer to him they soon found out who the one really in control was. At first they'd been dropping members as quickly as they recruited them but eventually through trial and error they put together a group who shared their values, once that was accomplished it was just a matter of driving the indoctrination home daily.

Rukouro blushed when she appeared unexpectedly, he was hilariously easy to read and she was quite aware he lusted after her and Asleigh. She was not above utilizing that to her benefit though it had not necessitated itself yet, still it was a good reminder of the situation she found herself in. Rukouro was easily manipulated and didn't have much of a will of his own, he would agree with you but only because he lacked the ability to form his own opinions. Taigana despised people like that, even if she disagreed with someones views at least they were strong enough to form their own values, but in this case she let it slide since for the time being he proved absolutely necessary to further ascension. Knowing all that she often thanked that chance meeting, he could have wound up running with any of the number of little clicks in the school and her chance would have been missed...perhaps forever.

As she greeted him and sat down at the main desk, pulling out a stack of papyrus to fill out she realized he was still watching and after a period she finally met his gaze, “Is something wrong Rukouro-san?”

Realizing he'd been staring he became flustered and looked all around while trying to find something to focus on, “Oh, um n...no...I just, um well...er, I heard today went well!”

Taigana shook her head negatively and perched on an arm, “Not really. It was a victory only so-far-in that we won the battle, but overall it was a loss because by all accounts there shouldn't have been a battle in the first place.”

With that said she turned her eyes back to her desk thinking that had more than said what was necessary. She proceeded to scribble as she filled out the name of the first casualty by alphabetical order, she wasn't particularly good with names but Asleigh had left a notebook on her desk that organized all the students in the academy by class. Her memory of faces was better so putting that together with the notebook she was able to conclude who someone was without ever having actually spent much time with them. However as she continued filling out the situation surrounding that individuals passing she continued to feel prying eyes, everyone had that kind of sixth sense but when you were spiritually enhanced you quite literally had it. Without pulling her quill up or turning her head her eyes lifted slightly and locked with Rukouro across the room, she noticed he didn't even seem to pick up on the fact.

“You're um...starting to creep me out over here Rukouro-san, do you need something?”

Jolted out of his one-sided staring contest he again fidgeted and hollered in surprise, “Oh!~~~Um, well, I...” he took a deep breath as he steadied himself and then spoke much more clearly, “I'm having a problem and I wanted to ask your opinion on how to handle it, you were always born to deal with the politics of the clans while I wasn't.”

Taigana wasn't quite sure how to feel about that but she couldn't help but smirk slightly. Here was someone who was devoting her life to dismantling clan rule being told she would do well in the politics that held them together. Of course her answer to that was obvious, you had to understand your enemy to pull it apart, it was one advantage she had over those above her. Those with high clan status were so convinced that the rebellions of the lower class were seated simply in their desire to have the same status that they would forever be at a disadvantage. Their overwhelming strength often made up for that but it was a weakness to be exploited.

Ignoring her inner commentary she leaned on her hand and stated simply, “Yeeees?”

“Well you see, have you heard about-”

But just as he was finally about to come out of his silly little shell and tell her a group of Committee members came busting into the room, supporting one of the mildly injured members on their shoulders. Taigana looked back to Rukouro but he was now looking away and fiddling with the paper on his desk, it seemed he didn't want to speak about it in person. She quickly went back to work and paid the matter no mind, she had important things to do and if it was a big enough deal for him he would bring it up later. As she filled out the endless sheets of legality it seemed the room became ever more busy, despite her orders a few had returned perhaps not having received them and went to work. Since it caused no trouble she allowed them to stay and of course it did lighten her workload.

Once Asleigh returned things progressed at an even rate for the next two hours. Taigana couldn't help but admit she was somewhat relieved when the other girl had come through the door, not that she doubted her ability for a second but putting her in harms way was difficult. If Asleigh were to ever perish Taigana would be well-and-truly alone...she did not like to think about that, to say the least.

By the time they were coming to a close on the days work the teachers informed them that the campus was now cleaned. Of course just because the corpses were gone and the blood washed away didn't mean things would ever be the same again; participants were now stuck on their given sides, rivalries and hatreds had been birthed, and in the future those whose end was coming would look back and wish they had taken greater action. At the time though they were all simply grateful to be moving on to the next day, past what had occurred with the hopes of maintaining the status quo, only Taigana and Asleigh truly understood there was no going back though even they hadn't the slightest idea just how true that was.

Completing their work the room began to empty one member at a time, and it was during that time she noticed Rukouro was still hard at work at his desk...or looked like it. Considering he rarely left late, often leaving the real work up to others, she could only deduce that he still intended to speak about the earlier subject. A few minutes more and this was confirmed as the last girl other than she and Asleigh left the room, prompting him to immediately put down the pin which as it turned out he had just been scribbling with.

Before he could say anything Taigana proceeded, “So, what is it?”

Rukouro looked over her and nodded realizing she had already picked up on the situation. His eyes fell on Asleigh but he knew well enough that she wasn't someone who went around talking, even now with so many members in the Committee they were still the only real friends each other had. Plus even if that weren't the case she had no real reason to share anything. Seeming to come to this conclusion himself he looked back at Taigana and asked, “Do you know about the Yuuishi Imari case?”

Leaning back in her chair Taigana fiddled with her hair a bit. Truth be told she knew everything about it since anything that could be used to hurt the clans was of interest to her, but since she SHOULDN'T have known everything she couldn't well say that, “I know bits and pieces, he's going through a clan tribunal for the murder of some children, right?”

Rukouro nodded, “That's more or less the gist of it, and overall that's not the important part. He's already been pronounced guilty of his crimes the issue now is how he shall be punished. As the heir to the Imari and having turned 16 this year they will expect me to sit in as the Non-attrition. Normally this would be of no concern but the judges being placed have well known political ties. Without almost a shadow of a doubt three of them will vote for life imprisonment, the other three will vote for the death penalty.”

Taigana stood up and began collecting her papers as she spoke, “I don't see the problem. If my understanding of his crimes are correct then he's the sort of person the death penalty was MADE for. Or do you have a problem committing someone to death?”

She eyed him somewhat incredulously when she said that, respecting life was one thing but once somebody had committed a crime of this caliber they had given up their own rights. When you killed a murderer or something similar you were destroying something less than human, there was no reason to waver.

However Rukouro shook his hands, “No, no that's not it. See the clan leaders siding with the jailing hold more power than those upholding the death penalty. I won't lie they largely see me as a puppet and I fear if I just go along with the death penalty that's all I'll ever be seen as. If I sided with th-”

Crossing the room in an instant Taiganas fist came down on his desk like a hammer, causing a visible crack to run down its middle. After the initial surprise passed he looked up to meet her eyes only to find a maddened glare awaiting him. When she spoke she did so calmly but she looked anything but, “If you sided with them you'd just look like a puppet in another way, AND be doing the wrong thing. It's exactly this bullshit that we're trying to fight, that caused the tragedy that occurred today. It's sickening!”

Taigana grumbled as she walked off away from the table and began collecting her things. Asleigh simply stayed out of the way and Rukouro tried to reach out and say something several times, retreating each as he came up empty for the right words. Still angered and her mind spinning she grabbed everything and began walking toward the door, the boy was lucky she needed him and hadn't just cracked his skull there. Asleigh moved to fall in behind her as she swung the door open with a bang however as she took the first step through she froze in place, almost causing the other girl to run into her.

“Orrrr....” she spoke to herself as she slowly turned around, tapping her pointer finger to her lip. She nursed the finger for a moment, chewing on the fingernail before her eyes focused on Rukouro and a grin started to creep across her features, “How about thiisss?”, the room filled with her excited voice as things pieced together and she posed as if before the judges, all the while Rukouro nodded away like an obedient little sheep.

By the time they had finished their planning the nights pitch darkness had set in, the same darkness that loomed over the Imari Clan house two hours later.

Given the mood of the hearing it was deemed appropriate for suiting ambiance to be provided. So while the hearing room could be brightly lit it was currently dark to the point it was hard to see, a dozen candles circling the room the only real light. Three-dozen men sat in the room, several in higher podiums with seven men, one of them Rukouro, sitting in a circle around a white-haired man who was shackled to the floor. A tense aura had set in amongst them as none said a word and they instead shared momentary stares with one-another, after a long five minute silence one of the elder men stood up and turned toward those in sitting in the stands above them.

“Then gentlemen I vote that we are at an impasse, we've traded reasoning for the last hour and our vote remains tied. I move to the Non-Attritional voter of this hearing.”

The older man continued to look up into the darkness above as whispers were traded, finally a voice came down to them, “We agree. A popular vote cannot be attained in this manner. Very well then, the one to be punished is Yuuishi Imari. He stands convicted of seven counts of murder, two counts of murder of an innocent, and numerous counts of assault on law officers. The possible punishments brought to the table are life imprisonment or death. Ruokoro Imari, as the jury cannot reach a verdict the choice now falls to you to make, which shall it be?”

Ruokoro had been totally silent until now, just as planned. And now he took a long deep breath before standing slowly...just as planned. The boy might not have been much of a thinker in his own right but you couldn't fault his acting skills. Even if the thoughts weren't his own he did such a good job of putting them across they might as well have been to anyone not in the know. That surely came from a lifetime of having to pander to the wishes and desires of a demanding family, Taigana could relate if only in a different way.

“I choose neither.” he stated simply, as expected the moment he did this whispers started but he didn't give them time to build.

“By the Agreement of the Attritional Stand-in the one given that position has final say and is not required to honor either of the popular entries, and can very well substitute their own. Yuuishi Imari is guilty of grievous crimes and must be punished, but as a senior member of the Shinigami losing his powers would benefit no one. As such I suggest that he be bound by kido bonds to serve us for eternity, on punishment of death. Having been the one to suggest this I request that he be taken under my Insignia control. Is this agreeable?”

There was what seemed like an eternity of silence in the room. Yuuishi himself who had appeared uncaring until this point and content with either option now looked at the boy in horror, once a kido pact was forced on you, you became less yourself with every passing day. Similarly the six judges were now on their feet and yelling back and forth, then at Ruokoro, though he never responded and instead kept his eyes up on the elder judge high up in the darkness. The dozen other men could not be read so easily since they were cast in darkness but countless whispers filled the room. But soon they were all drowned out as a loud laugh filled the room and they all ceased to turn and look up toward the elder judge.

He made a low hum as he stopped his laughing and leaned forward just far enough to make out some of his wrinkled features, “Innnteresting, how very interesting. Ruokoro Imari, I approve your judgment. Yuuishi shall be taken back into custody until the preparations for the binding can be completed. And so, judgment is passed. Punishment equal to that of the crime has been agreed upon. This trial is complete.”

Ruokoro gave an extravagant bow, “My greatest thanks lord”. Before he turned around and walked off, behind him the other judges tried to call after but he paid them no mind, or rather he normally would have, but he was doing what Taigana had said he should. Surely he understood what he was doing, until now they thought they could predict him but now he had thrown them all for a loop, particularly those who thought they could weasel their way into a station above his. They would be attempting to retake that lead as quickly as possible, but if he didn't speak with them then they would have to get more devious to succeed, just as he had...and if he was lucky they weren't that smart.

The Imari Clanhouse was his home and so he had no trouble finding his way through its halls, soon leaving the more business associated area for the family housing. This late at night it was dark and empty which he was just fine with, he didn't want to be questioned about the proceedings, he wasn't even sure how he felt about it. Climbing three floors to the senior clansmen level he walked into one of only three rooms on that floor which was his. He proceeded inside and closed the door behind him, intent on falling to his cot when he caught sight of someone waiting at his balcony.

For a moment his heart jumped thinking someone was angrier about this than they seemed and had come for him, however he soon recognized the figure though it didn't lessen his confusion, “How did you get here?” he whispered as he drew close to the balcony.

Taigana lazily looked in his direction as she leaned against the banister, “You did well”, she redirected the conversation.

Ruokoro heaved a big sigh, “Could have fooled me; this is going to be trouble, mountains of trouble.”

Taigana pushed off the banister and got close to him and even in the darkness she could see him redden a bit, “But you've achieved two victories with no losses. You've done the right thing morally and gained a power over your adversaries, not an easy thing to do in the corrupt world of politics.”

He fidgeted with his hands and tried not to look at her, “Y...yes, but that was your doing more than mine.”

“Yes” She stated simply before moving in close to him and putting a hand on each side of his head, she could tell he could hardly concentrate now as she spoke softly, “But that's why we're going to teach you, right Asleigh?” Suddenly the other girl placed her arms around his waist and peeked her head over his shoulder and with a giggle added, “Right, no matter the cost”.

You could almost hear Ruokoros brain screaming like a line of lit explosive powder, and even more so the resounding crash that accompanied it when a resounding knock came at his door. But there was no need to worry as in a flash both girls were gone by the time the door opened. Ruokoro on the other hand was hardly of sound mind to act but luckily wouldn't need to as the “elder judge” or rather his father came forward and gave the boy a hard smack on his back. The next moment the room was filled with jovial laughter, “Damn boy that show you put on down there? Class A stuff, I knew you had it in you!”

And for the first time in many years his father spent the night speaking with him.

Meanwhile two young girls flitted through the forest giggling incessantly at themselves for the damn fine show they themselves had played.

-------------------

In the years that would follow the Student Disciplinary Committee would grow in power to frightening degrees. Three decades later upon the inception of the Rule of the Steel Judges it gained almost full autonomy. Students were allowed to hold court over fellow students for minor infractions and dole out punishment, they were also allowed to investigate greater crimes and give their suggestions to the Sixth and Ninth divisions whom often took these claims very seriously. In all it is suspected over six-hundred students were put to death, and countless others were faced with extended jail sentences.

Both these punishments are of course now saved for only the most serious infractions, and students rarely find themselves facing them. Similarly though the Student Disciplinary Committee exists till this day it has now been limited to a club organization with slightly superior standing but has no legal capabilities and its numbers are severely limited. Many believing that the system was abused greatly during the Steel Judges reign, though with the records old as they are proof will never manifest.

The man known as Yuuishi Imari would serve Ruokoro Imari for many years under the kido bond (which are of course extremely illegal now). His jobs seem limited to basic bookwork as far as records show but he promptly disappears around the time the age of the Steel Judges begins in history. It is uncertain if he was finally judged and put to death, or more likely as it seems, put to work in the Penal Warclans that arose under the Steel Judges. Criminals who were promised leniency if they faced near suicidal missions of a combative nature.