DEATH BY FREEDOM

**Date Started:** December 26th, 2021
**Date Completed:** Ongoing
**Previous Role-Play**: N/A
**Next Role-Play**: To Those Left Behind
**Users Involved:** User:ComicMaster619, User:Nearó\_Unlimited
**Setting:** Rukongai, Black Ridge Gate
**Characters Involved**: Yashiro Mitsuhide, Yoshino Jūsuke
**Mentioned**: Aya Jūsuke

## Rat in a Cage

The sound of laughter filled the air as the children from one of the far off villages ran across its green and luscious forests. The crack of sticks and rustles of leaves added to the mixture would make it clear to anyone in the vicinity that they were playing with one another, with this particular group of youngesters carrying branches of all lengths and sizes as they struck out against one another. Sometimes they'd be duelling each other as equals, other times pointed to one of them to play as the scary Hollow or up-start Quincy. This time it was one of the former. Two souls were slowly moving from left to right with a branch each in their hands, starring into the depths each others eyes and waited to see which one of them would strike out first. And naturally, the kids weren't alone. No. A bunch of them had come along to play with one another but only two of them had lasted throughout the "war", prompting the other children to circulate them into a makeshift arena for them to battle it out and determine who'd become the next Captain-Commander. One of the contenders, a boy, struck out first and went wide as he swung. Completetly missing his opponent, a girl that was barely a year older than him by the looks of it, before she took the opportunity to retaliate. The "sword" rustled through the air as she swung it, the leafs was still attached to its branches and little else than to sound off her intent and slow itself down. But these were kids, not trained shinigami warriors, the girl's branch found its mark at the back of the boy's head and he in turn would fall to his knees... Only to raise his hands towards the sky in a theatrical manner as to make a scene about his loss, much to the appeal of the victor and amusement of the now laughing crowd surrounding them.

Yet amongst the celebrations pierced another sound altogheter through its veil, the turning mechanism made out of cogs and bolts, and of whose origin belonged to that of a red-haired girl with a pair of glasses too big for her nose. Sitting ontop of a rock and within view of the other children, Yoshino's continued efforts of turning a small, golden rod attached to that of a mechanical butterly would've garnered some attention from one of the other girls. Peeking past the crowd and seemingly interested in whatever the red-haired girl was doing, Yoshino's vacant gaze shifted to meet the other kid even as she continued turning the rod. The curious soul opened her mouth to speak out, but before she could utter her first word, another one of the children grabbed her by the hand and pointed to where the next game would be held. The girl clearly hesitated at she spoke to the other kid. Mumbled whispers was all Yoshino could hear at this distance, but her eyes shed more light than words ever could as the curious girl looked back at her but shifted her gaze to the stick at the edge of Yoshino's rock. It had surely been at the behest of the other child, but nevertheless the curious one closed her mouth and meet with the young mechanics eyes one more time before they'd turn its sights on other children and make a run for it.

Yoshino didn't say anything, instead returning those empty eyes down to the creation before her - prompting the glasses to slid down from her nose as she did. Raising a hand to stop its descent just in time, the red-haired girl would simply push them back up as best as she could before rotating the golden rod one last time. Pulling the pin from the back of the mechincal butterly, the cogs inside its body began to turn and mimick the ticking sound of a clock as its wings began to flutter. A spark seemed to ignite in not only the mechincal lifeform, but also that of the girl's eyes, as the gadget found itself ascending across the air and began to travel across the open air, much like that of any ordiniary butterly. With a smile spreading across her lips, Yoshino looked on as her creation started moving further and further away from her, causing her to slid of the rock and reach for the stick that had been placed at its edge. Resting most of her body's weight on the make-shift cane in her possession, the crooked right leg of hers took its first step forward whilst using the stick to ease its process before taking the next one. Her eyes were fixated on the butterly soaring across the forest as she'd soon find herself picking up her pace as to not lose sight of it.

One step faster than the other, Yoshino would soon find herself running at this momentum. But one faulty piece of footwork would prove otherwise as her legs would lock with one another and her body would fall forward, hitting the mixture of dirt and stone beneath her. The impact would not only shove the stick away from her but also the glasses on her head. Her soft voie squirmed beneath her breath as her muddled eyes gazed at the ground surrounding her, squinting them together before she'd spot the frame belonging to the item in question. Crawling a few steps ahead of her, Yoshino would reach out to take of her glasses and slid them back up the frame of her nose before looking back up from where she laid.

She'd lost sight of her gadget and in its placed stood the tall walls of a structure that could only be identified as the northern section of the Capital of Soul Society itself, perhaps better known as the Northern Black Ridge Gate. It wasn't the first time seeing it, the tips of its high walls could easily be spotted from her village no matter where you stood inside it. But she'd never been this close to it before though, now she wasn't sure if she'd even be able to see the tip of it at all. Her eyes wandered yet again though, not for her stick even if laid just a few meters away from her, but to once again see if she could spot the mechincal butterly that had brought her here in the first place. Where did it go?

"Hmmmm..." A large man stood watch from beside the large gate, the stranger standing out of place in front of the structure he was placed to guard, so diminutive and small in comparison to the previous Gatekeepers from yester years that watched over the gateway into the Seireitei. This man, although much larger than the average Shinigami from a simple glance, still made it rather difficult to believe that he could lift such an imposing wall all by himself. It was this impression that drew the attention of all would-be challengers that made light of him because of this fact, a daily routine for the man who called himself Yashiro. Since his tenure began, Yashiro's daily routine hadn't changed in the years leading up to today, the monotony of it all gave way to boredom, which slowly grew into a quiet resentment toward the people of the village. With the Northern Gate situated along the 80th District, the very same area where the village of Zaraki was located at, Yashiro had to do more fighting that he would imagine the other gatekeepers had to deal with, having to manage all manner of hot-headed residents who wanted to test their abilities or move past the gate for a better way of life from among the shanty town they inhabited.

It always ended the same way. Slash. Gouge. Crush. And stab. He had done it for so long, it stopped being entertaining the first hundred or so times, becoming more of a chore the longer he kept this up. As of now, Yashiro was still wiping the blood off his Zanpakutō from his most recent battle, a group of bandits tried and failed to ambush him, reduced to nothing more than piles of filth that loitered around the gate. *If I killed everyone in the village, there wouldn't be anyone left to try to get past the gate*, Yashiro thought, his logic machine-like in its cold reasoning, calculating the best way to uphold his responsibilities by using the fastest method to get there. Yashiro's relationship with the villagers was strenuous to put it delicately, he had kept his distance, only ever going into town to eat and sleep, with most of the residence either afraid to get involved with him or outright avoid him out of fear of drawing his attention from the savage display he puts on while defending the gate. But he had to be that ruthless. He wasn't as soft as the other Gatekeepers, the only language these people understood was force, and he would use the fear of that force to keep the animals in line. There couldn't be any compromise. This was his mission. And he was going to do his damndest to keep that gate shut, or entertain himself long enough before they did inevitably open.

Before he could entertain the thought any further, Yashiro noticed a small mechanical part tumble its way past his feet, a curious creation he would expect to see in the Human World. With his large hands, Yashiro picked it off the ground, holding it between his fingers to examine it, the detail and craftsmanship, if it was here, the creator wasn't too far behind. "A butterfly, this time of year," Yashiro spoke aloud, from the corner of his eye, he spotted a young girl, barely able to scrape by with a single crutch, "I guess there's a certain charm in seeing such a creature out of season huh?" Sheathing his sword back into its scabbard, Yashiro kicked the remaining bodies across the road, keeping it somewhat presentable to anyone watching the gate. Wiping what remained of the blood off his face with his sleeve, he approached the young girl, with Yashiro kneeling to get as close as he could to eye-level as he could, his large figure still towering over the young girl as his shadow cast over her.

"Did you make this? You must be pretty smart for your age." Examining it from various different angles, Yashiro didn't move an inch, if anything, he closed the gap between them even further. "Impressive considering where you live. It must be hard for you too, hmm?"

The young girl didn't say anything when the large man first approached her, instead prompting to shrug her shoulders in response, and yet her expression had turned from one enduring pain to that of mixed curiosity and uncertainty. Wide eyed some might call it even as Yoshino's view had once again been blocked by something new entirely and one just as standfast. Yet even so, bits and pieces of the scenary behind the gatekeeper could still be seen past his shinigami robes and her inquisitive nature seemed to be getting the better of her. Yoshino would see the scattered bodies of souls who must've just moments ago still been alive. Bringing up the question of how neither she or the other children had even heard the ruckus going on so closeby... Or had she run further than she thought?

Her eyes finally wandered back to the man above, first sticking to the mechanical gadget that had flown away from her and was now Yashiro possession before shifting it once again to the strecks of blood still splattered across the man's clothing. "Were they bad men?"

Yashiro was taken aback, but it was something that felt refreshing to see a child's perspective on such matters. He found it humorous, and couldn't help but smile. "Would it make you feel better if I said yes...hehe just kidding." Moving the butterfly around the palm of his hand, Yashiro took a second to consider his options, ultimately deciding to return the small contraption back to her, but not before giving her a small pat across her head, his large hand easily able to cover her whole head. The more he pondered on her question, the harder it was to give an answer, because it wasn't so cut and dry. After a moment of silence, Yashiro had come up with an answer that best illustrates his point, simplifying it so that a child would understand.

"They were bad people, because they didn't follow the rules. But they could have been like you, maybe too curious for their own good. But you seem like a good girl. I bet when you're mommy and daddy tell you to be back before curfew, you're the first one back home. But if you do stay out, does that make YOU a bad person?" In the Soul Society, there were no half-measures, you were either guilty or innocent, his title was no exception, regardless of the circumstances, or whether or not people were "good" or "bad", Yashiro would kill any intruder under strict orders.

Her mouth turned slighlty ajar, evidently surprised at not only the notion of being patted on her head but also with the retrival of her creation and toy. She reached out with both palms open as the man gave it back to her, the expression returning to one of both curiosity and vacancy at the same time, lowering the mechanical butterfly down to her level and starred at it whilst listening to the Gatekeepers response. And listen she did. Taking her time to ponder, just has he had gone out of his way to describe to her, and remained silent even after he'd finished talking.

This world had laws and those who didn't follow them were punished, some more severly than others. Parents held authority over their children and a responsiblity to prepare them for the life ahead, and in the very same manner were everyone governed by people of authority. Because someone had to tell them when they could go out to play, which of the other kids were good or bad for you and when it was too dangerous to go out at night. At least this was the gist of it that spirelled inside the young child's mind, yet even then she wasn't sure on how to answer his question.

Yet as she continued to ponder, one thought stuck out more so to Yoshino than any of the others. She looked up at Yashiro, and the smile he presented to her, before grasping the small gadget in one of her hands and pulled it closer to her chest whilst using the other one for support as she began getting back on her feet. Or rather on her knees as it pretty evident that she couldn't strain her body all too much. Instead settling to sit down with her knees tucked up towards her chest, cuddling them together with her other hand and toy as she would yet again turn her attention to the giant of man.

"But what if they don't know that what I did was for a good thing? Am I still the bad guy if I came home late to help someone else? Like a sister..." It would seem that her thought was less of a scenario and more akin to a memory, one of which she questioned with renewed light inside those eyes of hers as she awaited an answer.

A sister huh, Yashiro thought, his grin still resolute and brimming with confidence. Instead of kneeling, Yashiro switched his posture, choosing to sit down on the ground to facilitate communication. Instinctively pulling out his kiseru pipe, he was just about to light the tobacco before realizing he was in the presence of a child, which he had to rethink his approach, putting it away. Rubbing his chin, he kept his eyes narrowed, observing her, trying to get a reaction from her with his next question. "As far as the Soul Society's concerned it doesn't matter what the excuse is, rules are rules. If you don't like it, then change the rules, or at least put yourself in a spot where they can't punish you, that's what I did." Shedding some light on his own circumstances, it was evident Yashiro wasn't a traditional Shinigami that had the best interests of the Soul Society at heart, rather he was opportunist that took advantage of the system that gave him his position based solely on his strength, using to indulge himself on to the fullest extent. This included his ability to kill at his leisure, without any consequence so long as it meant protecting the gate.

"You seem like a calm and reasonable person, and I don't get many visitors, so today's your lucky day." Getting up, Yashiro made his way to the gate, ducking down to dig his hands into the dirt, breaking past the hard stone floor, grabbing the gate by the bottom of its hinges. Giving it one good pull, Yashiro lifted it slowly, his size comparable to the gate's size would have one believe it was impossible for such a small figure to even attempt to open it, more plausible if he was the size of someone like Jidanbo. But against all sense of logic, Yashiro was effortlessly carrying it over his head, loud sliding and creaks of metal grinding against one another alerting everyone of his location. "Agh, heheh, why not take a look, for your viewing pleasure," Yashiro gestured, using his right arm to hold the gate overhead, his other to beckon her forward, keeping his Zanpakutō on the opposite end. Yashiro had gone to such trouble to see just how clever she was, whether or not she would prove him wrong and what was going to happen next rested on her shoulders.

Yoshino continued to watch the man before her as he shifted his body, and for a moment she looked up as the Gatekeeper hesitated to light up his pipe, one might just imagine how her curious little mind would find a gadget such at that. But that would have to be something to explore once she has grown up for a few more years though. Instead shifting her attention to Yashiro's explanation... Of how the world they lived in really operated according to a man that had lived in it for probably a few decades when compared to herself, and the tinge of honesty only made it settle in all the more. She believed him. Every word of it. She wasn't in any position to argue anyway, but the way her face seemed to slink further down the craddle that was her knees; her mind was still connecting the dots and what this type of world would mean for someone in her shoes. It went on to the point that her consciousness did not even register that Yashiro had started to make his way towards the gate until his fingers had begun digging into the ground itself.

The young girl's eyes would widen, and at first she'd hapazardly start making her way towards the barrier as it was being lifted, only to fall back down as her conditioned as it dawned on her once more. But it didn't impede her resolve in the slightest, instead quickly reaching out to the far edges of where her fingers could reach, touching the stick that she had been using as a cane with the very tip of her hand. But she managed to touch it, to push it close enough for her to grab it and use it to stand back up... Only to run towards the gate as quickly as her body would allow her to! She wouldn't slow down until she was merely a few steps from the gate instead, to which she would gradually find herself standing next to the man tasked with keeping this very dimension closed off to people like her. An outsider.

She couldn't help but be amazed at what she saw. The glimmer of the streets before the girl shinned through to not only her eyes but also her body, unconsciously straightening her body as to lift herself up just a little bit further to see all it had to offer. And before Yoshino were buildings beyond counting, streets that were as clean as freshly washed plater and people filling its interior like ants. Everything was fresh, everything was new, everything shinned and it was just the tip of the iceberg. Taking another step forward, Yoshino would clutch onto the piece of wood at her side and despite the crooked step it was as if she could just cast it all aside and make a run for it. Sure, these people - with all their inventions and discoveries, could have a cure for her and make her able to run. To be normal.

But as she was about to take her next step, Yoshino would hesitate. Staggering in place as the words spoken by the Gatekeeper would ring at the back of her mind, causing the smile that had been spreading across her lips to fade with it. "It's amazing... But rules are rules." Instead of taking another step forward, the girl took a step back and turned her gaze to the man up above. The glimmer in her eyes had not faded, if anything, it showed confidence. Much like answering a question with a hundred percent certainty that their answer was indeed the right one. She hadn't figured out if this had all been a test or not... But it felt wrong. This wasn't her world and she didn't belong in it, not yet at the very least.

"I can't go in there, can I?" She asked, her hand still clutching the cane at her side as she gazed back at Yashiro to once again look for answers.

Letting the gate crash into the ground, Yashiro burst out laughing, the loud thrashing of the metal overlapped between both sounds, echoing across the forest. He was more than happy with that response, she had met his expectations and went above and beyond, passing the test he had set for her. But his jubilant echoes vanished just as quickly, taking on a more serious expression that still kept his smile. "You can't. But if you chose to be a Shinigami, we'd be having a different conversation." For a moment, Yashiro was surprised at himself. Not on the fact that he didn't kill the young girl, but the fact that he was happy he didn't. It was strange. For as long as he could remember, he hadn't cared about who or what he struck down. It was a chore, requiring no thought or emotion to do it. As mindless as breathing. But now, she was the only person that could get a rise out of him, whether he acklodged it or not, she ironically got him to open the gate of his own volition, something that no other trespasser has accomplished.

"But I will say, very wise choice girl, if you had followed through, we wouldn't be talking right now, and that makes me glad." Pulling out a small bag, it contained his lunch for this afternoon, a few rice balls with some sweets he was saving for afterwards. Taking a small bite into his, Yashiro sat beside her and offered the second ball to the young girl, leaving it to her side on top of a napkin. "It's funny. I never figured myself much of a talker before today. And I don't even know your name." Finishing his lunch, Yashiro stood up, patting the dirt off his uniform, grabbing his sword as he gazed beyond the village. His attention turned to the red headed girl. Whether he knew her name or not, she was wise beyond her years, talents that he thought were squandered here.

"Girl...have you ever considered becoming a Shinigami? Just imagine all the fun you could have with that big head of yours. With your smarts, there wouldn't be anyone to stand in your way." Yashiro spoke with a hint of cynicism that he hid behind his encouraging words. Reflecting on the experience that he drew from his own past, Yashiro up until now used his own gifts to pursue more selfish means to entertain himself. As perverse as it was for others to see, he got a sick satisfaction in knowing that he could get away with it, which only increased the thrill for him the more he continued to thrive in the Gotei 13 because of it. For as much as they claimed to be righteous, it didn’t change the fact that they were still a military branch. And for as much as they could or wanted to punish him, it was in their best interest to keep him around due to his strength, creating a somewhat hypocritical situation that had them look the other way to his more "questionable" activities.

The gate shutting before her very eyes had sent a jolt shivering throughout her body, shaking the grasp Yoshino had around that shaft of her crutch whilst taking a step back and almost falling on her step as she did. Snapping her sights on the door before her as it did, the girl's eyes had opened up wide from the shock rather than from the joy it had percieved moments earlier. But even as the red-haired soul would realise how heavy the breaths coming out of her lungs truly were, Yoshino would look back at the man responsible and feel perplexed at the offer she'd been given even as his words would occupy her ears and mind. Not quite sure why, Yoshino didn't hesitate to reach out and accept the food presente before her. Perhaps it was just natural instinct taking its course given her livelyhood? But she wouldn't even have time to take a bite out of her before the Gatekeeper had already finished his own, prompting her to simply reach done to stuff the riceball in one of the pockets in her jacket for now.

Yet as she did so, Yashiro's latest inquiry would only serve to grab her attention even more so than ever before. It was clear, even at a glance, that she'd never even considered the possibility of pursuing a future as that of Shinigami. How could she have? But... just maybe. Maybe it was a possibility to her after all? Even if these thoughts never so much as touched her lips, the young girl's expressions said it all and more. The confusion, followed by doubt, then consideration before landing at hope. She'd turn yet again towards him, hesitating for a moment as she'd once again be reminded of just how large the man truly was. She could barely reach above his kneecaps at this stage, yet her eyes would continue to travel until she'd meet the Gatekeeper's eyes once again before prying her lips to part.

"Tinker?! Come on, everyone is waiting for us. It's time to go! Come out now!" The voice came from the forests just beyound the wall, the same path from where the girl had traversed through before coming here. Yoshino turned towards its direction, not having realised until now of how long she might've actually been here and that the other might be looking for here. Her eyes would then travel to the piles of bodies that still littered their surroundings, piecing things together of how bad this might just appear before the others.

"I'm... I'm sorry. But I have to go." She'd finally call out even as she'd take her first step towards the forest, yet even so her head would continously shift between that of the forest and back at the Gatekeeper. And just as she'd turn around and look as though she'd about to take off, the clinking sound of metal almost being crushed to pieces could be heard as she'd stop right in her tracks. The young girl looked down at the palm of one of her hands, remembering the small gadget that had brought her here in the first place. Looking at it, nothing had been damaged. The wings had merely been pushed against one another. Taking a deep breath, she'd turn back around and exhale as she'd make her way back to the man who had opened up so many new ideas and possibilities in the span of an hour or so.

Stopping just before the man in question, the red-haired girl reached out with her left hand to little pull at the man's clothing to urge him to come down to her level. Only to then follow along by grabbing one of his hands, spread it out into an open palm before finally placing her own hand inside it. And as she'd remove the appendage, it'd be revealed that she'd left the mechanical butterfly in her possession and the small rod that was used to bring it to life. "You asked if it was hard for me too... It must be lonely out here. But that's fine, because if you ever feel like you need a friend again then now you have him." Pointing at the small little gadget before taking a step back once again, she'd continue to keep eye contact for as long as she could manage. "It's... Yoshino. Yoshino Jūsuke." After speaking those words she'd finally turn and make a run for it, or walking at a fast pace as well as she could more likely. She'd continue to do this until she'd reach the mouth of the forest before looking back the Gatekeeper, raising a hand to wave goodbye and yell out another few words... But she was too far away for him to hear them at this point so he'd have to make do with the wave. And then she'd finally turn back the way she came from, disappearing amongst the trees and bushes as she'd make her way back to the village.

Waving her goodbye, Yashiro took one last glance just before she disappeared into the brush of the forest, taking note that he hadn't introduced himself properly, snapping his fingers the moment he remembered such an important detail. Running his hand across his chin, Yashiro's curiosity was piqued with her, "talent" he had to keep an eye out for his own sake. "Rough around the edges, but a gem nonetheless. Just thinking about it..." Before he could finish his thought, his attention was drawn to the smell and flies buzzing around the bodies from across the gate, reminded that as its caretaker, he was also responsible with the disposal of the leftovers from his battles, a job he wasn't looking forward to due to how close it was from him. Sighing loudly, Yashiro proceeded to stack up the bodies of his most recent set of opponents into two small piles, taking out a gourd from his sleeve after finishing. Biting off the cork, Yashiro took a deep swig of it, sloppily gulping it down as some of the drink ran down his chin, dripping down onto his chest, the scent alone being clearly sake that he had bought from town earlier this morning. Wiping off the excess with his arm, Yashiro spat at the direction of the cadavers, spilling his drink across the top of the piles before lighting a small spark with his hands, causing them to ignite into some kind of pyre.

"This. Is this the only thing I have to look forward to when the job's done? Pathetic." The smell and smoke alone could make him gag if he hadn't been so used to it by now. And from the numbers this time around, it wasn’t going to die down until the better part of a day, meaning he had to stand there to put up with it until they were nothing but bones and ash. Yashiro found it ironic in one way or another. He had done this for so long, he was essentially a master at human disposal, a “trashman” of sorts that made his job as a Gatekeeper a secondary one in a twist of fate. What Yoshino hadn’t noticed from all the trees and bushes was a secret that Yashiro alone was privy to. Walking alongside the wall, Yashiro traced his hand along the wall, the white surface, the color changing the further along he walked. After a certain distance, black smoke stains began to litter the wall more and more, the distance he had traveled was far from the town, with bits and pieces of white shards and teeth loitered all across the floor he was standing. Yashiro still maintained his narrowed eyes and smile as he picked one of them up, examining it before throwing it into a nearby bush.

“That’s no good, I thought I hid these, hehehe, oh well.” Pulling up a large tarp that was hidden underneath the greenery and forest brush, the scene unveiled what remained of the numerous “trespassers” that had the unfortunate chance to run into Yashiro’s part of the gate, this part of the forest completely lifeless, devoid of anything but dead trees that appear to have been burned to cinders. And from the ash piled across the floor, human remains were loitered all across the landscape, contrasting the black scenery with the white bones of those that “broke the rules”, taking in the scene before heading back to his station. “Yoshino…Jūsuke. What a good girl,” Yashiro muttered, clutching at his Zanpakutō.

## Hello, Mr Fear

*It's dark...*
*It was the first thing that crept inside her mind.*
*The muffled sound of the deep would soon follow thereafter as she sank...*
*A shade of light would tickle the child's eyelids as she descended...*
*Slowly, her eyes would begin to open its blinds... Shades of a moonlit sky would pierce the roof of the sea above and paint her half-lit eyes.*
*Empty. Peaceful. Surreal.*Its luminescent light would unveil pillars at the corner of her eyes.She turned to face it... And was met with a city of silver and gold.Magnificent structures paved its streets and bridges of light would connect its rivers...Humanoid figures, with whose bodies shone with the same light, walked along its paths with no turmoil in sight...Blinking her eyes, the young soul would stand at the bottom of the sea and at the foot of the city itself.Her body would hesitate, lifting one foot only to put it down again.Her eyes would wander before locking eyes with one of its inhabitants.Its face was that of blank slate with the exception of one eye at the centre of its forehead, beckoning her to embrace it. *She took a step forward. Raising a hand and reaching forward as she did.*
*At the tip of her hand, the fingers would begin to bathe itself in the cities light, turning into shinning gold and spreading along the arm.*
*A smile would form across the girl's lips.*
*It felt safe.*
*She welcomed its embrace and soon, it would only be her face left for it to paint in its image...*
She'd blink again.Her smile would fade and her eyes squint as a silhouette bathed in living shadows would suddenly stand before her.It didn't move nor did it breath.She'd open her mouth to speak... But the only thing that would leave her mouth would be the air bubbles filling her lungs. *In one moment... The once faceless figure would reveal and spread its lips, revealing a large toothed grin with a white scar tracing across its surface.*
*And in the next... The smiling figure would suddenly reach out to grab the girl by the throat and lift her up.*
*Panic would paint her face as the golden light would retract from her body and more air would pour from her lungs...*
With flickering eyes she would turn to the city before her... Looking for help.Yet as she did, the figure would raise its other hand into the air before swinging it back down. In its same motion would a sea of blackness pour over the city and its entirety would fade from view.Twisting and turning, the girl would try to pull the figures fingers apart and escape his grip!Yet his clutches would not yield and the figure would begin to laugh... Laugh and laugh as her vision would begin to fade.Yet the shadowed figure would grab onto her leg before digging into fingers into its skin.The sharp pain would shoot her eyelids open and in that same moment, the figures jaw would spread to inhuman length before her eyes. Cascades of black liquids would pour from its gaping mouth like oil and saliva before clasping its teeth forward.**CHOMP!**

Yoshino's eyelids would spring open, gasping loudly for air as her body would fling itself forward and her hands reached to touch the surface of her throat. Heavy breaths would follow as the girl would feel cold sweatdrops trickle down from her face, her head frantically twisting and turning to spot the shadowed figure that had tormented her... Yet all she would find would be the darkness of her own room and her sister sleeping soundly on the bed next to her.

Her hands would still be shaking as it reached further up to bury her eyes and mouth in its embrace, trying to slow her breathing in an effort to calm herself down. The world would slowly start to settle and her breaths along with it... It had just been a nightmare.

Yet as she was finally beginning to calm down, Yoshino would at the same time start to hear muffled sounds from outside her house. Turning to face the window and the curtains the blocked its view, trickles of blurred light would flicker into view as the curtains moved. It was in the middle of the night... What was going on?

With eyes still wide open, Yoshino reached over to the side of her bed and grabbed the pair of glasses lying there. Now seeing the world as clearly as anyone else, she'd pull the blanket aside and make her way towards the window before spreading the curtains apart with on quick motion to see what was truly happening outside.

A fire erupted from across the small town. Screams and cries filled the air as smoke began to trail behind it. From beyond the roar of the flames, shadows and figures danced wildly from across the light, swinging crazily at the other, much smaller shadows, silencing their cries as the rest of voices fled in loud desperation. Yashiro was humming a tune. Cutting and slashing at the closest living thing he could touch until it stopped moving, his Zanpakutō emitting flames all the while he swung. His expression hadn't changed a single instance since he started this insane campaign, eyes still narrowed with a delicate smile etched around his lips. Dragging his sword across the floor, Yashiro ran the blade along the wall of a nearby house, the slash catching fire as it spread to engulf the entire building, the occupants running out before meeting the same fate. "No, no, that won't do. Can't leave any stragglers," he muttered, swinging at the air as fire flew from one of the branches of his sword, setting the fleeing survivors alight.

"YOU GOD DAMN PSYCHO!" Mumbled one gruff looking resident.

"KILL THE FREAK!" Said another.

Before he knew it, Yashiro was surrounded by the very same scum he had spent his time fending off from the moment he was put in charge of the gate. All holding swords, Yashiro couldn't help but marvel at the stupidity of these people, seeing it as a sort of kindness that he was going to fulfill. "Yea, that's it. Saves me the trouble of finding you." Surrounding him from all sides, the thugs and criminals that one would expect to encounter so close to this area’s district sprang forth, coming out of the woodwork in droves, with nothing but fire to illuminate the battle ground, neither side made a move, with Yashiro calmly observing the crowd of desperate onlookers trying to flee toward the only part of the town that wasn’t already engulfed in flames and spreading by the minute, ironically being gatekept by the large Shinigami himself, standing between freedom and a burning death. They knew of the reputation the gatekeeper had, privy to the occupation the Soul Society gave him, but with the fire raging on, there was precious little time to debate on what needed to be done.

“It's only one man, there’s at lea—,” a flash of light flew past in the air, landing directly into the thug's throat, cutting him off before he knew what had happened. Coming into the light, it became apparent the weapon that had so abruptly ended his life was Yashiro’s Zanpakutō, thrown with such force that it started at the neck and completely ran him through, emerging from the other side and crashing into the nearby debris, knocking up ash and burning wood. Yashiro was more than elated at the prospect, after all, he liked using his hands more than his sword, only because he could get more “intimate” with his opponent, letting him feel every sensation and texture in a much more visceral manner than any weapon could provide. As if possessed by some otherworldly force, Yashiro leapt head first into the crowd of opponents, swinging his arms like a madman at whatever he could get his hands on, no rhyme or reason behind his attacks, simply mindless instinct driving the beast toward where it should go next. Every attack was calculated. Not an ounce of energy wasted on his part. From the sound alone, the crackling bone and tearing of muscle rose above the screams of his adversaries, the only thing that stood out was the smile the guardian was known for effervescently present throughout this entire ordeal, only reinforcing the civilians present from the village to run from monster pretending to be a Shinigami.