Kuro stepped back through the gate, still supported by his squad members. They heard the hollows emerge behind them. They stood in front of the main Shihoin headquarters. Kuro had only been here once before, earlier that day when he'd been summoned to find and recruit the hollows. He gave the word and their party made its way slowly into the building. Guards stood all around the interior as Kuro glanced around wondering when the noble heads would arrive.

(OOC: as ryouta, you've dealt more with squad 2's leadership, the npc captain, etc. You can probably shape the part of the story where they arrive more accurately than me.)

ooc: i'm gonna do a little "time twisting" here and have Sekkou and alla his fraccion be in Vasto Lorde stage, since it's so much easier to rp them when they're more humanoid

Sekkou glanced around the bare, yet functional looking hall. Personally, he liked it for its practicality. Moments before, Kuro had informed them that they would be meeting the noble heads as well as the 2nd Squad Captain, and Sekkou was very curious as to what kind of people they were. And of course, how he could take advantage of that.

A gong and some drums preceded the arrival of the awaited. A set of doors opened, and out walked four groups of four people carrying these booth things, presumably that held the noble heads. In the middle of the booths was a lean, lithely muscular woman who wore a white haori. Judging from her high spiritual pressure, (near double his own, Sekkou felt), she was the Captain. They were all surrounded by a small guard of Onmitsukido.

A voice emerged from one of the booths. "He was successful, Taichou. I retract my previous statements regarding his competence, then. It seems you were correct in sending someone of Mr. Akarui's skill level. I'm surprised the Hollows around him haven't torn him apart."

A second voice added, "Yes, I agree. But...where is your Vice-Captain, Taichou? Should he also not be here?"

The Captain spoke in a clipped voice, completely unemotional. "Ayame...has always been a stubborn idiot. He doesn't follow orders unless he thinks they're the right thing to do. I'm afraid...he is our enemy. But no matter- he is too weak to make a difference."

"Good," a third voice said. "But first, I would like to ask the Hollows a question. We are busy, so keep your answers short. What are your names and abilities?"

Sekkou growled deep in the back of his throat at the disrespect in the tone of this one's voice. The noble would pay dearly for that, he'd make certain. "Niiro Sekkou," Sekkou replied. "Espionage and Assassination."

Sukauto stepped up, his cloven hooves clicking lightly on the tiled floor. “The name’s Teisatsu Sukauto, and don’t ya forget that. Scouting and Rapid Recovery.”

Sogekihei flapped his wings lightly, and said, “Sogekihei Sunaiperu. Precision Elimination.”

Demō twitched the legs from his back and said, “Bakuhatsu Demō. Demolitions.”

Enji scratched one of the pods on his back and said amicably, “Call me Enji. Area Denial’s what I do.”

The four newer members of Sekkou’s posse shifted around uncomfortably until Metic stepped forward, planting his splayed, root-like feet into the ground. “Hakasegou Metic. Healing…and Assisted Homicide.”

“Juuhou Hevi, Brute Strength,” said Hevi.

“Keisotsu Sōjeru, Shock and Awe,” said Sōjeru.

“Mmmph MMppph! Mmmph!” said Pyrō.

“His…her…its name is Konetsu Pyrō, and it does Pyrotechnics,” Sekkou clarified. “Now, what can we do for you?”

Kuro watched as the hollows all introduced themselves to the noble leaders. He was happy that they thought he'd done a good job, even though he had lost a good number of men in the process. The taichou brining up the subject of the fukutaichou made Kuro's face drop to a frown. The truth was that he didn't feel that different from Ryouta. But he was torn between his loyalties and his feelings about the war. In the end, he'd decided that the best way for him to do this would be to try his best from inside the squad. His thoughts were inturrupted by the taichou addressing him.

"Akarui-kun, you have done an impressive job today. We thank you for completing your mission adequately. You're dismissed for now. Go get yourself healed and rested. We shall send word of your next mission when it comes up."

Kuro bowed low before being helped by two squad members to start heading for the fourth squad's building. As he left, he heard the taichou behind him addressing the hollows. "Is there anything else that you would like to discuss hollows?"

"Nothing really," said Sekkou. "These were the things we were promised by Akarui. We were promised that our missions would always be without prisoners, and that the enemies we kill, we would be allowed to consume. And of course, that we could leave at any time without penalty."

"Those are high conditions," said one of the nobles. "Are all of you worth it?"

"Very much so," said Sekkou confidently. "We make excellent additions to any team, if employed properly."

The 2nd Squad Captain spoke up, "I think that any mission the Hollows are sent on; they should be accompanied by Shinigamis to ensure good behavior."

"Fine by me," said Sekkou. "So long as they do not get in the way- I have no objection." Sekkou paused for a moment, and then spoke again. "I, we, look forward to a bloody mission. I hope that whatever we do together- will be profitable for us both."