[CB] Restless night (Open)

Seiretei

The sun had finally dropped below the horizon and the shadow took a firm hold. With it came the a chill as the warmth vanished with the light. Still there was activity as lights came on and shinigami still went about their business. The artificial lights dispelled the shadows that threatened to consume the inner fortress. But even with those lights there were places people kept away from. Within these places where the darkness had settled something stirred. Little by little the figure detached itself from the deepest shadows and moved further into Seireitei. Avoiding the light like it was a plague the hooded form emerged from a side street to peer down the block. There was no one coming or going on the main road. Mamoru sighed from beneath his hood.
"I'm sorry Claire, I'm so sorry." he muttered to some unseen person before darting through the street to the next side alley. The trio had come into Seireitei to deliver a message to the 2nd squad. While acting as a decoy the other two of his group and broken into the barracks. Mamaoru was meant to meet up with them later, but he has his own task to complete. He had secrets he had to keep from his comrades. This is what took him away from their meeting point and towards the academy.

In minutes he reached his destination. Shinōreijutsuin; Shinō Academy. Thankfully the fact was late meant the shinigami school grounds were be less populated. Much the Human world counterpart this was a school night. Many of the students sat huddled in the dormitory studying for the next test and exam. The road to becoming a shinigami was a long and hard one. Some coasted through, and other pulled through with hard work. And others with their connections to those in power and pulled the strings. Mamaoru sighed and pulled off his cloak. Underneath his hood he word a student's uniform. Mamaoru was a man of medium build and height, no more than 5'7 and short black hair. Not too interesting to look, a completely normal looking person. A perfect cover for infiltrating the school, no one would question a student walking about the academy grounds. Nervously the grasped the small box he had kept hidden under the cloak. A small wooden box 1 foot square. There was no hinges or locks on the cube. Almost if it was carved form a single piece of wood. Mamaoru was sure it wasn't a solid block of wood, even as he moved he could faintly hear something moving as he walked. Taking a deep breath he moved toward the dorms. He was to drop off the box into one of the rooms. This wasn't his first time making such a delivery, each time he had done so it was a different room. In the last two months he had dropped of six other boxes. As he pushed open the doors and stepped into the dorms he wondered what they held. True to his work he did not open the boxes, nor did he try to deduce their contents. His thoughts drifted back to this as he ascended the stairs. This time it was the 4th floor of the building. As he reached the landing there was no activity in the hallway. Straining his ears he could hear talking as he walked by the doors to the other rooms. There was also the faint sound of laughter and pacing from other rooms that lined the halls. Finally he came to a stop outside room 517. This was the room he was supposed to drop off the box.

There was no light coming from beneath the door, Mamaoru looked around once more. Someone has just exited their room and was going in the opposite direction. Holding his breath he waited til the person was out of view to open the door. Like always the door was unlocked. This had to be the place as most the doors remained locked until a student moved in. The door opened the light from the hallway filtering in behind him barely illuminating the room. Imagine his surprise when he saw the outline of a figure in a chair sitting by the desk. Mamaoru quickly stepped in and shut the door behind him plunging the room in total darkness. This was different from the other deliveries. Was this his contact, was this the man that was blackmailing him? All of his anger welled up inside of him instantly. His right hand still holding the box his left flipped the light switch. With a flick the room was brightened by the false light from the ceiling.
"Here's you package you bastard, I hope you choke on it." he fumed a the moved forward and set the box on the stand near the door. There was no reply. What if his taunt angered the blackmailer and he exposed his secret? Mamaoru didn't even think of this. Instead he thought of killing the person right here and be done with the whole business. Being so foolish as to expose himself would be his undoing. He felt no spiritual power form the sitting person, he was confident he could handle this person. Wait, no spiritual power? There was barely 9 feet between the two of them, how could anyone hide their spiritual power that well. That and the fact the person hadn't moved was very disturbing. Against his better judgement he moved forward and tapped the figure on the shoulder. There was no response and the body was stiff to the touch. His stomach lurched. He knew this feeling well. Groaning he turned the chair around to see what he already figured. The person before him was dead. Kneeling down he examined the body. It was a male with shoulder brown hair, his skin grotesquely pale and eyes already muddled from his untimely death. There was no sign of blood or any wounds visible. Was this the person blackmailing him or was it someone else? Either way, who had killed him? Other than the dead body the room looked rather neat and tidy. There wasn't a struggle if this was the place the man had expired. Perhaps someone had brought him here afterwards. Again he recalled the doors to the dorms being locked until someone took up residence inside. The fact that the room was open and it was the delivery point was too much of a coincidence. It didn't take much for him to figure there was something very wrong with this situation. The room suddenly exploded.

The sound of the explosion echoed into the darkening sky, but was soon was joined by the sounds of more explosions. Fire branched out windows as six other explosions tore into the dormitory. Each of these explosions from a different portion of the building. There were screams as the occupants of the dorms realized what was happening. Those not killed instantly by the huge blast now had to contend with the growing flames the ate at the building. Although shinigami could slay monstrous beast called hollow that night remember they were just as vulnerable as the humans they protected.

Fire all but consumed the bath house as Dominic plunged into the warm water. Through the steamy room he could see wooden beams being ripped from the ceiling as the force of, what he could only assume was an explosion, tore through the room. As the initial blast faded, leaving only kindling around him, Dominic stood up from the bath. In the building adjacent he could see through multiple holes in the walls and ceiling, into both the upper floors in which the dormitories were located.

Moments later he heard the clacking of the alarms, presumably the emergency alert throughout the barracks. In no time, Shinigami from any and all of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads would be on them. They would likely lock down the premises until a full investigation could be made. A cool breeze swept into the room as the night air rushed into the bath house. Only then did Dominic realize that he was naked, he'd just finished undressing when the explosions occurred.

He quickly toweled off and dressed himself, watching as the fires began to die down around him. Dominic stepped out of the remnants of the small building he'd stood in, only three walls left standing. The first year could smell blood and burning flesh around him, it was almost enough to make him sick. "What in God's name just happened?"

The only response to Dominic's question were screams of horror and pain. Those screams were joined by cries of panic from those outside the towering inferno that was the dormitory. Every second they wasted another person was burned alive. Some people people had buckets of sand and shovels. Feverishly they tried their best to keep the flames from spreading and moving to other buildings. There were patches of burnt grass from when the explosion had sent fiery debris outward. There was a black clump near one such spot. A body had been expelled from the building with the first few explosions. Burned beyond all recognition it was impossible to tell if it was even male or female. Sand was tossed on it only to prevent any more trouble. Still none attempted to breath the blazing portal in an attempt to rescue those held hostage by the flames. The night sky was lit up from the bright blaze turning the torched building into false sun.

A window on the eighth floor shattered as a body burst through. Glass showered down upon the onlookers and the young man in the tattered robs stopped his fall a foot from the ground. He coughed and then dropped to the ground his body still smoking. Patches of his hair was blackened from what could only have been where the fire had touched him. Those that had been standing about ran to his aid to see if the young man was okay. There was another crash as another window broke, another student seeking escape. Rather than jumping from the sixth floor he climbed out on the thin ledge. Smoke billowed out the broken window and fire danced up the side. He was safe, but for how long. A shinigami on the ground shunpo'd towards him and grabbed him. Once they turned to the ground other shinigami were arriving on the scene. It would seem they were from the 4th squad as they quickly sought out those that were injured from the blaze.

Dominic felt completely useless as he watched the other shinigami attempting to fight back the blaze and tend to the wounded. He knew very little about first aid and he didn't have anything he could use to put out the fires. All that was around him was a burnt down bath house... Just then the man had an idea. Water, heat, pressure... He dashed back into the building and looked towards the large pool of water. He scanned the area for a bit and noticed a small panel on the wooden base of the bath. He knelt down and slid open the small door to find the water temperature and pressure regulators. The first year thought for a moment and shut off the water before adjusting the pressure settings to the max it would allow. Using a wrench he found lying in the pipe access area he cranked the pressure up even more by shutting off the water flow to the three other pipes that poured water into the bath. Before long the single pipe beside him began to shake violently as water backed up behind it.

Dominic stole a glance at the building adjacent to him. The fires were no less intense than they were a few minutes ago. It seemed as if everyone had figured the building to be a lost cause and were tending to the fire's spread rather than the main source. With a grunt and possible injury to his hands, The first year grabbed the rattling pipe and began twisting it towards the blaze. The pipe was not willing to bend however the elbow joint it was attached to allowed it to move with only moderate resistance. After positioning the pipe, Dominic went to release the pressure behind the valve. However the water wasn't waiting any longer, the valve broke and shot the metal wheel at the man's face, knocking him back on his ass. Water began to spray onto the building, at first it didn't seem like it was doing much but then the fire seemed to waver. A small portion of it had been extinguished and hopefully the water would inhibit much more spread to the building.

Dominic could see more students exiting the building, some who had somehow survived the blast but were trapped due to the flames. As Squad Four arrived on scene they rushed over to these people, most of which had third degree burns. Soon, someone rushed over to Dominic as well. He wasn't sure who it was, the blow to the head had given him a mild concussion. Though after a few moments he felt the warm pulsing energy of healing kido flow over him, and he slept.

As water met flame there was a loud hiss. The flames retreated as the spray of water hit them. But it was only those flames on the outside that were doused. The fire still ate at the dormitory's innards like a cancerous growth. Still Dominic's efforts were not to be in vain. Those on the lower floors managed to take the opportunity to egress from the structure. The higher levels of the building weren't so lucky. Even with the high pressure gravity kept the most of the water from hitting the upper floors. The torrent of water arched into the air and fell short of the high building's peak. Their where now places where the flames had been extinguished complete thanks to Dominic. In addition the burst of water had soaked the ground enough to prevent the fire from torching any of the grass. Still the remainder of the building wasn't as lucky.

The building groaned as the structural integrity was greatly reduced. The fire crackled as it completed it's work. One shinigami used allowed the spout of water to douse him and then burst through the door. He was gone for several moments before returning with a single person on his arm. There was a belch of fire behind him as he exited the blazing doorway, as if he had angered a fierce beast. He and the person he had rescued collapsed on the ground. The water that he had used to protect himself from the flames had completely vanished. There were parts of his uniform and skin that were burned from the many embers falling on him. Both he and the person he had saved were moved away from the building by the medical personnel. Another attempted to do the same, but someone grabbed him.
"Don't do it!" said the man holding him back. "The person he brought out was already dead! There can't be anyone left alive in there." No one had noticed when the screams had stopped from the burning dorm. Dark clouds drifted from the building as people watched the fire flicker.

OOC: I was able to get some additional writing done at my uncle's house today. I won't be home until Tuesday night but I should still be able to read your reply at my mother's place. Until then however, take care!

IC: Dominic could feel the healing energies pulse through his body. It didn't feel particularly warm or cool, just pleasant was all he could describe it as. The pain in his head began to subside and the first year opened his eyes to find a member of the Fourth Court Guard Squad leaning over him.

"How are you feeling?" The young man asked, obviously noticing Dominic's eyes had opened. "I'm feeling better, thank you. Have the fires been put out?" Upon further study of his surroundings, the man found himself in a white tent. Other students lay on bedrolls beside him, some still badly injured and being tended to. Some however had died and were simply waiting to be carted off for a burial. "For the most part, yes. I believe some of it had to do with your efforts as well from what I'm told. You are a brave man." Dominic shook his head and began to sit up. "No, brave men are the ones that rushed in to bring out those poor people. I'm not brave."

"True, some did reckless things in the face of danger in order to attempt to save others. However caution and cowardice are not analogous. You did what you could with what you had. One can be brave while still holding to their intelligence, you'll do well to remember that." The shinigami stood up and walked from Dominic's side, proceeding to tend to the other injured. As the first year stood up from his bedroll, he heard the flap of the medical tent open and two Squad Eleven shinigami enter. They looked about the tent before addressing Dominic. "We have temporary rooms set up within the Academy. You'll be sharing rooms with at least two other students for the night. Considering the circumstances all classes will be cancelled for tomorrow. You are not to leave school grounds for any reason without an escort while Squad Two and Twelve's investigation continues. If you're done here, we'll take you directly to your assigned room for the night." Dominic nodded and the pair led him into the academy.

"Bakudo #29: Calming wind!" came the chorus of shouts outside of the tent. A line of shinigami cast their spell in a perimeter about the blazing dorm. Without strong winds the fires didn't fan much further than they had already progressed. Part of the building was only a burnt black shell from the intense flames. There was nothing left to burn so the fire was slowly dying. The wave of water that had struck the side helped contribute to the the already dwindling flames.
At one point someone had tried to use another kido to suppress the fire. Bakudo #11 had given a somewhat mixed result. The sand did squelch some of the fire's ability to burn, but the wind that accompanied it was troublesome. The effort was quickly dropped.

The gathered shinigami held their spells in place as the fires got smaller and smaller with each passing moment. No one present had a better plan. The attempts to enter the building had stopped completely. Perhaps they all knew that no good would come of it. There was almost no chance of anyone surviving in that hellish environment. If the fire hadn't killed them, then the smoke was enough to finish them. Some where already trying to take inventory of the deaths that night. The students as well as the shinigami tried to recall who had stayed in the dormitories. While they searched the crowd for familiar faces more people were carried from the ground to the tents for medical care. They could only hope that if their friends weren't seen outside they would be there instead. Even with that slim hope very few approached the tents. Both in fear of not seeing their friends and colleagues or just getting in they way.

There came shouts from the back of the building. A man had emerged from the burning building covered in shield. Without anyone noticing he had snuck into the burning building and tried to rescue people. He had returned empty handed. His clothing was burned and he was covered in ash. The medics helped him to the medical tent. As he was taken away he mumbled how all he could see was flames.
"Everyone stay clear!" a shinigami ordered forcing the onlooker back and hoping to discourage further acts of heroism. Those that weren't part of the medical squads or helping with the kido spells were pushed away from the perimeter. In another hour the flames were all, but gone. There was still smoke and the air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh and wood. The shinigami began organizing those students still in the area. They would need to find temporary housing for them. Some of the squads could take some of the students in their barracks. Others would be housed in the free portions of Seireitai. Once the investigation finished they would look into building a new dormitory.

Dominic emerged from the medical tent, the smell of burnt flesh still heavy in the air. Smoke darkened the sky above them, the black haze obscuring the little moonlight that had illuminated the school grounds. He noticed students gathered near the tent, a group of shinigami stood between them and what was left of the dormitories. Several faces looked up at the first year, a few were relieved to see at least someone had recovered and emerged from the large white tent. Others weren't so alleviated, their sullen gazes nearly pierced him with feelings of guilt. As if it should be someone else returning from death's door rather than him. Albeit he wasn't anywhere near death in the first place, though Dominic imaged it mattered little to these people. It was painfully obvious to Dominic that most of the men and women he'd seen lying still within the tent would not be emerging as he just had. Whoever was responsible for this travesty was not around to be made responsible for his actions yet these people needed someone to blame; He was just an easy target.

"All of you form a line and follow us. Standing out here will serve them no good, you'll only get in our way." Shouted one of the Shinigami that escorted Dominic. "That's right, get moving. There's nothing for you to see here."

The group of about seven or so grudgingly followed the Shinigami into the Academy. Since the brutes of Squad Eleven were of little help in extinguishing the fires, those that weren't outside forming a perimeter were assigned to clearing the Academy's classrooms of furniture in order to make room for students to reside within them. Stacks of desks and chairs littered the hallways. As the group proceeded down the hallways they noticed that several of the classrooms were already packed full of restless students. Most held around five or six, some more, some less depending on the size of each.

The group stopped at a smaller room that already housed two students. "Dominic, you are assigned to this one. The rest of you are to take the Zanjutsu training room down the hall once they finish airing it out. Somebody had left the windows open and it reeks of... well. It just reeks, okay?" The Shinigami duo left Dominic to his assigned room, and his assigned roommates...

The immediate are around the dormitory was complete blocked off from the rest of Seireitei. No one was allowed to enter the area without the permission from the Central 46. There was no official word on the death toll, but the empty seats during classes spoke volumes. Even after the tragedy, the school was to remain open. The hope was the it could take the student's minds off the incident if they kept them busy enough. Those involved in the investigation were hand selected and were to keep the matter under wraps. They were to find out how and why the fire had started. It was around this time that a rumor spread that a student had caused the fire due to improper use of kido. Yet another story came into being in regards that two students were fighting when one used demon arts and caused the explosions people heard. And still another story of a student somehow establishing a link with his zanpukto prematurely and ultimately caused the disaster that unfolded. Whatever the truth it was lost amid the gossip and speculation. The less the massed knew the more they wanted to know. Still their curiosity stopped there, as none dare to trespass.

Subconsciously some students would find themselves on the familiar road to the dormitory and quickly turn around to there temporary domiciles. Most of the classes had a heavy air. The teachers acted like nothing had happened as they went about their routines. They rarely asked the class questions and assigned mountains of homework. Several squads were given extra patrols to ensure the safety of the students. But in truth it was merely a way to keep an eye on them. Perhaps some truth was to the rumors of a student causing the accident. The shinigami that weren't part of the investigation seemed to think so. Some of the students that were housed with the squads were treated rather coldly and were under constant supervision. The area to the dormitory remains blocked off to the public.