300 years hadn't been kind to the Gotei 13, the ranks of shinigami had seen their fair share of losses, and their share of victories. The war which raged for so long between the hollows and Shinigami had finally drawn to an end, with the highest ranks of Shinigami effectively wiped out.

Soul Society was left with no choice but to rebuild, to start again. The same went for Hueco Mundo, the hollow capital had been near destroyed through the war, rebuilt up with time the monsters of impure souls have started to rise up once more; this time for a much more sinister cause.

It had been natural for the war, that had drenched the ground of the blood of so many, would prove troublesome. The two factions had crippled each other, leaving both in a weakened state, with the final blow left to Soul Society, Aizen and his espada were killed, along with the Gotei 13 Captains. The quincy and superhumans on the other hand, the cunning races had stayed out of the war, instead choosing to rise in power for themselves, recruiting more to their ranks as their ambitions rose with their skill.

However, the Superhuman, the Quincy and even the hollows had all been the anticipated enemies of Soul Society; little did they know their battle would be fought among each other......

The Shihoin family, the natural fighters using their speed and subtlety to kill their opponents quickly an effectively. Most commonly known for their unparalled skill in shunpo and subtlety.

The Kuchiki family, Kidou fighters by nature, they are known for their wealth among the four noble families.

The Kaein family, the most aggressive fighters of the noble families they hold their conflict highest with the Kuchiki family, natural opposite fighting styles cause rifts between the nobles.

The Tsinube family. Most renown for their highly tactical combat this noble family is least trusted among the top four, with continual side deals and plans for power the noble clan climbed it's way to the top four.

The four noble families were at the top of Soul Society, contributing heavily to the rebuild of the Gotei 13. Leaving the ranks of Shinigami peaceful for many years after the reconstruction of the anarchy that lay in the wasted lands. Despite their inital help each noble family began to struggle for power, trying to beat out the others for power and influence among the ranks of the Goeti 13.

Unfortunately for Soul Society, the families were successful. A Civil war broke out, with each family driven by lies and secrets, focusing on a single goal, to be in control of Soul Society. The war appeared almost overnight, the families had been subtle, bribing their ways into the ranks of each squad, paying off division captains for continual backing. Rules were flaunted, and fights became a regular occurance, with each noble family equally out-matched the fight came to a stand still, a gridlock of one month; which was just enough time....

The Tsinube family had made a deal; they had gained the backing from three divisons, 12th, 7th, and 10th.

The Kaein family had ventured further, they had the willing fighters of the 11th Divison on their side, but had also recruited the superhumans to fight for powers, promising their allies shared victories.

The Kuckiki family had taken squad 5, along with a steady alliance with the Quincy.

The Shihoin family had taken the greatest risk, with firm support form the 2nd squad they sough after the very monsters that had helped create such anarchy, making an alliance with the hollows.

The civil war was simple, each side wanted to rule Soul Society; deciding they had respectively helped rebuild the heavenly army. A small group of rebels had formed, those unwilling to be bought by the promise of riches and glory...determined to find a solution, and discover the truth to the war that had already claimed the lives of many, discover the real meaning behind the war, and more importantly, stop the shed of any more blood.

Ryouta was walking through what was left of the 2nd Squad barracks. It was one of the areas where a large battle had taken place and destroyed nearly everything. The war was one where battles were fought intermittently, and usually when two opposing parties met each other. This battlefield was old; Ryouta remembered fighting here some months ago with a small rebel party. Here, his old five-man squad had fallen (save himself). Here, Ryouta had buried them and marked their graves, after having destroyed all on the enemy side. No one came here anymore, except for the occasional optimistic looter. There was nothing here to fight over.

And now, Ryouta was here, as he always was, once a month, to pay his respects. He looked at the four graves. Great changes had occurred to him, to his personality since the war began. He was more sober, and though he still spoke as if he was in his teens, it was with an always almost mournful tone. As he stared at the graves, tears formed in his eyes, making them shiny and reflective, but they did not fall.

Ryouta blamed himself for the entire war. He was, or rather had been, the Vice-Captain of the 2nd Squad. He should have known of the ambitions of the noble families, of how far they were willing to go. But he had failed, and many had died for it. Friends and strangers alike.

The sound of crunching gravel alerted him to the presence of others. He turned to see a group of five Shinigami. They were unfamiliar. They also looked unfriendly. "What're you doing trespassing on Kaien territory?" asked one of them.

"Kaien territory?" Ryouta said softly. "Then ya're all formerly 11th Squad."

"Damn straight; we're doing hella better now that we're in the employ of the Kaien family. Now I ain't askin' you again- what're you doin' on our turf?" the man said belligerently.

Ryouta shook his head. "Payin' my respects," he said. Clearly, these men had no idea who he was. Ryouta decided that he would give them a chance to run away. "Look, it's obvious that ya wanna pick a fight with me." Ryouta parted his robes to show his old Vice-Captain badge, as well as his tulip tattoo.

"Oh, big man huh? Well, we five can take you!" All of them assumed battle stances and released their Zanpakuto. Their Zanpakuto became the following: a broadsword, a mace, a trident, a longsword, and a maul. (I will now refer to each of the Shinigami by their weapon)

Ryouta released his Zanpakuto wordlessly. "In the old days, I woulda just sent you guys off with a beatin' and left it at that. But...it looks like I'm gonna hafta be a little more serious this time."

"Big talk from an average looking guy," said Maul.

"Tch," Ryouta flash stepped and appeared behind Maul, the hook of his left sword curved dangerously around Maul's neck. "Last chance to run away," said Ryouta.

A flash of silver; Ryouta dodged as Trident threw his weapon at him. He unhooked Maul easily without harming him and flash stepped towards Trident. Ryouta’s foot caught Trident squarely under the jaw, sending him flying backward. “Ha!” Behind him, Maul smashed his hammer into the ground, sending shockwaves through it, shattering the ground all around him…and the graves of the fallen.

Ryouta’s head spun around, and for a second, it looked like the image of a snarling lion was over his crouched form. Ryouta literally saw red, as if he was viewing the world through red-tinted glass. He was filled with rage all of a sudden; the rage of a lion. And it was not just him; Ryouta could feel Raikou Arashi’s rage adding to his own. And now, Ryouta attacked.

He watched and applauded as his blade tore Maul in half diagonally across his torso. He laughed as his right blade split the skull of Trident. Ryouta laughed louder when his left sword separated Mace’s head from his shoulders; laughed uproariously, insanely, as he kicked Broadsword’s head so hard that he broke his neck. It was as if he was a lion, and every time he slashed at an opponent, every time his blade rent the flesh of an enemy, it was like he had claws and could feel them tearing through enemy meat. Ryouta grinned as he saw Longsword running as fast as he could, away from the massacre. And he was running in a straight line.

“Hado no Yo: Byakurai!” A flash of lightning and Longsword fell, his heart completely obliterated. Ryouta used a Reel spell to bring his body back. He piled the bodies of the Shinigami he had just killed in a pile, and then cast Hado#54 on them, incinerating all of them without a trace.

Ryouta returned to the rebel base of operations soon after and went straight to his room, eyes wet again. He had acted mercilessly, and out of rage. It was unlike him to kill so callously. Ryouta blamed himself for it all, all the death and destruction. He glanced over at the cupboard above his bed. He opened it, and pulled out a bottle of sake. Ryouta quickly uncorked it and began downing the contents. He slipped gratefully into unconsciousness…

ooc: I thought I’d get the story going. Ryouta's a depressed alcoholic now. nice. anyway, this is for spirit power

>.<

i'm really sorry if i explained myself badly here.... but the plan was to run the storyline differently, everyone being involved in missions etc and then using smaller roleplay groups to continue writing out new chapters for a storyline, if that makes sense?

((OOC: T^T The Kuchiki!!!! I hate them.... <.< 2 of the 3 characters I want dead are from there... Byakuya and Rukia... <.< And now I must serve their descendants... sadness. Oooh well, must serve when hired. Stupid responsibilities. <.< The other one I wish death upon is Renji. >.> lol))

(so im with the Kuchiki cool)

((OOC: Cool, i'm with the Shihoin.))

(I guess I'm free from all the influence from the clans nice. Haha)

xD nope nope check the missions thread i added in squad 3 and 5 together i think <.<

ooc: can the admin/mods get rid of the ooc threads and Ryouta's? thanks. also, not sure if this is supposed to go here, but i guess you guys can move it if ya wanna.

Sekkou and his companions were running across the white desert of Hueco Mundo. It was an unusually dark night, even for Hueco Mundo. Sekkou could not explain the prickly feeling that he had along his skin; all he knew was that something big was going to happen tonight. Something that would significantly change things. His muscles tensed involuntarily. He was wary, very wary. And all of a sudden, he felt an intense flare of reiatsu. And it wasn't that of a Hollow. It was Shinigami reiatsu.

Instantly, Sekkou and his fellows assumed defensive positions- in fact, Sekkou became invisible. A Garganta opened up, and out of it came a group of perhaps 20 Shinigami dressed in ninja-esque outfits, led by a clearly very powerful individual. She stood tall and looked at the four Adjuchas in front of her. "You're all very strong," she complimented them. Up above her, Sogekihei seemed to drop a little in the air, but the movement was barely perceptible.

"I come to you with a proposition-" Sekkou had jumped invisible to climb onto Sogekihei's back, where he had become visible again while out of sight of the others. He had jumped into the air and fired a Bala from each of his limbs, and then a Cero directly at this confident looking woman. There was a large explosion that sent sand flying everywhere. When the dust cleared, the woman was still standing there, apparently unscathed and unperturbed. Sekkou landed with an expression of apathy on his face, though he was secretly feeling fear.

"I will forgive that," she stated. "You are lucky you attacked me with ranged attacks- had you chosen to engage me in physical combat, you would be dead. Now, I am a member of the Shihoin noble family in Soul Society. I come to offer you Hollows employment, so that we may gain the upper hand on the other noble families and take control of Soul Society."

"And in return for our aid, and the peril this would put us in?" asked Sekkou.

"Name your price, and I will deem if it is fair," she replied.

Sekkou was silent for a moment, and then said, "First, you allow us to consume the soul of anyone we kill- no exceptions. Second, you do not send us on missions to capture- we fight to kill at all times. And third…you allow us to leave unharmed at any time."

The lady smiled imperceptibly. "Done," she said.

"Then let us go," said Sekkou. "I am eager to taste Shinigami blood." The lady smiled and crooked her finger- a Senkai Gate opened, and she and her escort disappeared into it. Sekkou and his companions followed wordlessly.

They came out in a compound of opulence that they had never before seen. "Welcome to the Shihoin family castle," said the woman carelessly. "Soon, someone will brief you on your missions, but first, we must know of your talents. What can you do?"

"Espionage and assassination," said Sekkou.

"Precision elimination," said Sunaiperu.

"Demolitions," said Demō.

"Area denial," said Enjinia.

"Rapid recovery," said Sukauto.

The woman smiled. "You will be brief shortly- for now, make yourselves at home."

ooc: not sure if this is what you had in mind, Kaiyo, but i hope it's up to par

erm...
Okay sorry once more i think my explanation left a little to be desired.
For your missions you rp with other characters and don't npc unless you have special permission from and admin/mod. The missions say on there explanation where the thread should be- in your case hueco Mundo. Unfortunately i can't move this because the whole storyline would end up there and you kinda need to change it- check the mission thread again to see who you're rp'ing with then just start the thread or send them a pm

I'll be deleting all posts under the storyline after everyone gets a chance to read this as i don't want to keep telling people seperately...especially when i really am so bad at explaining