[CB] 12 days of Madness

On the first day.

The first day seemed like it would never end, the dead man walked up and down the tower in an ultimate quest to find something to do. He found out that ultimatly in this tower there isn’t much aside from looking at the badass view that it has. From here, he could look at the whole of Soul society and even the outskirks of the first districts of the rukongai. He knew he would miss such a place. Coming back to his own little window he leaned his head against the rock and looked more and more towards the scenery slowly, very slowly starting to enjoy the very little things in life.

He looked over at the sun it was blinding, but its warmth came to console the dead man. Then it felt like a wave of sadness filled the rogue. He started speaking lowly, but to himself. ‘’Most of the time people enjoy long, long lives. Lots of people live well into their 700s or 800s, I wish I could make it that far, so many dreams still need to be fulfilled so many things I still dream to do, why does this happen to me, why did I trust him, he said I would make it back into the gotei for sure, look at where I am now....

He didn’t bother hiding the fact that he was talking to himself, before this event he had already spent many month’s alone, but he had something to do, and speaking to oneself helps prevent insanity breakdowns.

‘’Hmm, I wonder what people will remember of me when I’m dead...I wonder if people will remember me at all...am I just another lost soul in a whirl of chaos...all I wanted...was to find myself....guess I can’t get lost from here on out...ha..haha...’’

Falling asleep, not because he was tired but more because he was exhausted from all the events that had happened, he didn’t know where to throw his feelings anymore, he didn’t know if he was supposed to actually hate all of the shinigami, or accept what was happening to him.


Time passed and suddenly something, or rather someone knocked at the door, it resonated throughout the empty tower as someone came inside, waiting there to meet the dead man’s eye. Slowly Tatsu made his way all the way to the first floor, making sure this person wasn’t leaving or anythying, it would be sad to miss anything in his last dozen days. Stepping down from the last step Tatsu looked with his jaded glance at the man who seemed to be holding his meal. Slowly approaching him he eyed him from top to bottom. Old gray boring hair with a similar jaded glance, shinigami robes with a zanpakuto at his waist, plate with food on it in his hand, it looked rice rice, a cup of water and a piece of bread. Closing the distance between the two Tatsu grapped the place, uttering a quick ‘’Thanks’’ before turning tail and walking up his Ivory tower as he now liked to call it.

The ascension to madness began once again, eight hundred and sixty steps for every floor, who would make such a large tower if it is used so briefly everytime, he thought. Before reaching his cell, which seemed to be open just because there wasn’t any door to prevent them from circulating within the tower, the plate was done, no more water rice or bread to keep him company, but there was the plate! He entertained himself with the plate for a good hour. Making it twirl spin, and even roll in many direction, it was surprising how awesome a simple plate could be, or how fast a man’s mind could degenerate. Before long, Tatsu broke the plate and the overwhelming wave of rage filled him again, so he stepped on it again and again, now having pleasure seeing how much he could destroy the plate. He felt surprise to see how many usage a single plate could have, and how long a day was when you truly had nothing to do.



The Second Day.

Tatsu didn’t know what time it was, it was sunny when he woke up and the damned sun in this place always looked the same. He didn’t remember when he fell asleep either, time was already fleeting, but atleast it felt like his second day, he had only slept in this place once. These was were still the same, and he didn’t wake up from a bad dream, this was really happening and there was nothing he could do about it. In eleven days, his chest would be pierced twice leaving him defenseless against a hoard of hollows. He imagined hueco mundo like every inch of it was crawling with the toughest of hollows he had actually met. He imagined it to be pich black, where you could see nothing and had the sensation of falling every second, because it was forcefully empty, if its monster were called hollows. If not it was someting very weird to call such a place. He then wondered what the meanest of hollows actually looked like, the boss hollow in his mind looked very creative to say the least, it was a masked sky, shooting ceros in multiple directions at once. A frightful beast that wouldn’t even notice him due to his sheer weakness, maybe it had wings too, and was flying, but it still covered the sky.

The knock on the door could be heard, he had been day dreaming far longer than he had actually thought, so he began his stroll from the sixth floor to the first floor, just like he had the previous day and he went on to meet the same man as before. The pair still holding on their jaded faces to one another, this time, Tatsu spoke up. ‘’Hey...know what time it is?’’ for a second there the other shinigami was surprised, he was expecting something a little more useful for him. ’’Should be around noon, if you’re eating’ The dead man looked at him in the eyes as if he was lieing, then swooped the plate right out of his hands and skiddled away with it. Once again, it was the same meal, placed in the same way most likely by the same person.

Making his way back to his own cell, he chuckled as he had the very smart idea to take another floor and stay there, as a rebel action to what was happening right now, he of course knew it was very useless for him to do so, because the tower was empty of anyone else, and filled with emptiness. This time he imagined a fight with the chopsticks. Using the chopsticks in between the fingers of both of his hands, he began what seemed like a chopstick fight. The right hand, swift and agile against the left and who was strong and nimble. It was a very arduous fight t hat his left hand won by forfeit. ‘’HAHA!’’ he shouted to himself while stabbing his right hand with his left chopstick, of course it left no wound because the right hand picked up the fight again.

After being tired of his legendary chopstick fight, where both of his hands seemed to have ended up as captain of the gotei 13 able to achieve bankai and about seventy two different abilities on each side, he decided that this game was outdated and went back with his plate, which he decided to see how far would it go if he left it down rolling to the bottom of the stairs. The plate made of wood rolled down and down all the way to the first floor, bonking on the door.

Wondering on what was happening, one of the guards stepped inside. His black hair and forked shape weapon in hand, usual shinigami robes and his sandals. He shouted. ‘’What are you doing in here’’ Tatsu didn’t speak, leaving the guard to his duties, he decided that he didn’t need to speak to the guards because he wasn’t a member of the gotei forces anymore.

The guard noticing the plate grumbled and went back to his guard duty. Slowly walking down to fetch his plate, he glanced outside, unable to not notice the area where his execution, or atleast his exile would take place. He tried to imagine the scene, would would be there? The minimal people he was sure, nobody would go all the way over there for just a rogue that barely anyone knew. He thought that it would most likely happen at the tip of the rock, they would open the garganta there where he roughly pointed with his finger, and they would stab him and push him inside leaving him prey to whatever beast was standing inside.

The glum thoughts brought Tatsu’s mood down, he had been killing time acting foolishly, but that didn’t work out just as well at that moment, just because it was the only thing he could see aside from the ivory walls of the tower. He resumed his walk to the first floor and picked up the plate, leaning against the first level door, listening to the guards chatting, even though they were not saying much, it helped him cheer up a bit hearing a little bit of voices even though they were not talking to him helped him out.

He had been trying to fight off the silence for long, and now that someone promised him to rejoin the seireitei forces he was caught and sent into jail, what a plan he thought that’s what I get for trusting people. Even though he couldn’t hold it against Kuro, he had tried his hardest and yet it wasn’t enough, it seemed like the decision had been taken even before Tatsu had stepped into that room, or even before he was actually caught. People wanted him forgotten, most likely because he knew about Kaiyo, and he knew that they had forced her into a secret mission in the past. It couldn’t be because he hadn’t saved one or two shinigami during his fights, even less about betrayal, he had upheld his duties even though he was a renegade, which proves that he had been setup, with these thoughts in mind, the dead man fell asleep once again on the stone cold floor.

The third day.

On the 3rd day, Tatsu woke up and didn’t bother stretching, or even moving for that matter, he didn’t even try to move. Why bother doing these trivial things when he could do nothing and let himself die he thought. Why bother with living when you know you will die shortly, why keep on pushing forward enjoying something as trivial as chopstick fighting when you could lay down and do nothing, a favored activity by anyone who is on vacation.

And so he stayed there most of the day doing nothing until he had an idea, doing something that not alot of people enjoy, including him and trying to understand what pleasure there is to it, that is what he would do this day, and so he began reciting lyrics in his head, trying to invent some, quickly he failed, so he attempted trying something easier, like a poem, that would kill time.

Peace of mind
Its like a piece of pie
You think your blind
Untill your ready to die
And then you see.
What you really need to be
Then you aspire What you have to become
And Only then will you be proud of the outcome
Peace of mind Its like a piece of pie
You really never taste it
Because your always on the fly.

Took him about five hours to write as much and he gave up, his patience had led him this far but it was on edge, he glanced outside, remembering the only memories it gave him and lost what little joy he had accumulated during the day working hard on this poem. ‘’Maybe if she was still alive, I could give it to her, I’m sure she would remember...’’ The melancoly in his heart mixed with the fact that he was facing imminent execution only let him go hide himself in the corner and sigh, his life had been a mess and he couldn’t control his weak emotions and this is where it had led him, if this was a fairy tale there would be a solution, or he would survive, but to him it was nothing near pleasure, it was sorrow and anguish filling him. If he was lucky, he would have a last chance at saying good bye to Kuro, atleast he seemed like a friend, tarnishing his reputation to help a renegade, he was brave, he most likely makes a great captain.

The Fourth Day

Tatsu was hungry, but he did not eat, he drank the water but nothing else, two plates were at the entrance of the tower and the guards were starting to question if he didn’t plan to end it by himself faster with more brutal means. But Tatsu was simply not hungry, the loss of hunger is comon when facing something as complex as death. The dead man was wondering what would’ve happened if he had joined a different division, what would’ve happened if he had joined kuro instead of Kaiyo. Kuro never died, and he was a man, Tatsu could’ve never fallen in love with another guy it was against his principle, he would’ve never left seireitei without permission to find his captain during her secret mission, he never would’ve needed to become a rogue to find out about Kaiyo’s death. He never would’ve been a rogue in the first place, maybe he would’ve kept that third seat he had earned. Then again he would’ve never met the woman of his life, not that it mattered anymore, she was dead and she wouldn’t know he was about to get executed, because if she knew, there would be no stopping her, she swore she would do anything to save him if he was in danger.

Then again, Kuro too swore that he would help him no matter what, and yet the dead man was a dead man in about 8 days from now, or so he thought, he never looked outside, or as little as possible, so he could not just look at the sun to guess what time it was. He didn’t know if he slept at the right times to make it a day, or if he woke up at the right times, he knows though, he came back at the wrong time, because if it would’ve been a right time, he wouldn’t be in this tower.

Laying on his back on the first floor he heard very well at that someone knock at the door, it was most likely his meal again, he didn’t bother to turn around and face the man, and the man didn’t bother to talk to him, it was a very cold situation between them and Tatsu hadn’t spoken in three days, it almost made him feel good. Three meals were on the floor now, and all the glasses were empty, his stomach was grumbling yet he didn’t want to answer it. Why feed to preserve spiritual pressure, when you are about to lose it...why wait to be executed when you could finish it right there...

First attempt.

Tatsu stood up, and walked at the highest point of the tower, the staircase followed the outer side of the tower leaving a huge gap in the middle, making a nifty fall for someone who didn’t want to stop their fall. He looked down and imagine if it would hurt, and plunged into thoughts once again. Would it hurt more than being eaten by a hollow...I’ve never been eaten by a hollow...and I’ve never actually quite fell from this distance either...would it kill me...would I suffer..I’m not sure..does it really change something? I could just get up and do it again...I could also opt for an assisted suicide...attacking the guards when they opened the door, atleast that would give him an end with a blade, and not a monsters mouth chewing him bit by bit. And so he jumped head first to the bottom of the tower. Little did he know that the feeling of falling without actually holding you back is so strong. Short time after he crashed down at the bottom of the tower, no dust lifted, no rocks cracked..pain ensued but he was still alive if he felt pain.He looked left and right, this was most likely something that people tried in the past. ‘’Well I guess that fails it’’

"Suicide?" Said a voice from the doorway. A blonde man wearing all black with a red sash and armband stood there with his arms crossed. "The way you were looking after the trial I expected you to make an attempt after you got here." The two guards were about to step forward, but he raised his hand "Leave us." he said and stepped completely into the room. Both guards nodded and shut the door behind him and locked it. The man watched the two guards til they were out of sight. Very slowly the man walked around the room. His arm stretched out to touch the wall as he stepped.
The man's fingers seemed to run across the walls of the room til he came to the window. "Nice view." He said looking out. "Quite fitting when you think of it; a narrow view of the world. This room is yours and yet you know there's so much more out there. You're restricted from seeing or experiencing it. Tragic isn't it?"

He moved away from the window and continued to walk around the cell. It took less than a minuted for him to reach the door he had entered from.
"I can feel the walls trying to leech my energy." he shuddered and brushed his short hair out of his face. "Not very comfortable place, abit drafty." The man blew some dust off his hand from tracing the walls of the room. "Dirty too." He gave a small sigh and looked at Tatsu on the floor "Are you all right? Need a hand? You can get up right?" the man looked at the one on the floor with some concern.

Tatsu had stayed on the floor the whole time the door was opened he glanced at the outside world from another view and thought about running...a bad thought which he quickly abandoned. Seeing as the man stayed inside Tatsu slowly got up, the fall would have been mortal for a human but shinigami's were hard being to kill. Glancing at the blond man Tatsu went to the side of the window right after him and glanced at the outside world, he wanted to be part of it, four days cut from everything changed a man's perception specially when the only time he would leave this place would be the time of his death.

Without much emotion Tatsu replied to the comments. ''The thought of being able to see your place of execution really works, but knowing you'll be eaten by the very enemy you fought is the real torture.''

Tatsu didn't lose his jaded expression, but he had lost most of his feelings, he wanted to know what this man was doing in his cell, of course it was more entertaining than fighting with captain class chopsticks.

''I'm sporting the thought you've come here to tell me something, else you wouldn't want to speak to a deadman...'' Tatsu was down to facts but he didn't want this man to leave, so he remained polite enjoying every moment he had with this conversation. He sat down on what remained of a bed and looked at the blond man, really wanting to chatter and everything, but also really wanting to know what he was doing in his cell.

"Not really, Tatsu. I just have a question or two I'd like for you to answer." Came the reply "Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Tyrannus, nice to meet you" He flashed the prisoner a small smile and short nod of his head. "We've actually met before. You'll probably remember me from the trial. My associate and I was the ones to escort you there. I'm sure that meeting me wasn't exactly the high point of that day. Not by a long shot." A soft chuckle as he leaned against the wall. "Eight days from now there's going to seal your powers and send you to Hueco Mundo. Since you're trying to kill yourself I guess that means you don't want to live. So I guess my first question is moot."
Tyrannus rubbed his chin as he observed the man before him. It didn't seem he was too happy to see him. Actually the man looked radically different from what he had seen days prior. Imprisonment was bound to have an effect on a person. More then likely a negative one. The stress alone the most painful of it all. The fact he had caught the other man in the midst of a suicide attempt, was proof of that.

He tapped his fingers on his cheeks for a second. Before pushing off the wall and making second trip around the room.
"My question was; Do you want to be here? The obvious answer is yes." Tyrannus said as he stopped by the window. "Who would want to stay in such a place? Especially when death is all that awaits you. Lovely view though. I guess that's perk. Eight more days." The blonde man looked away from the windows to examine the walls. "I'm surprised they didn't give you a clock. That would really be something." he said with a wry chuckle.
"Since I already know the answer to my first question, let's move on to my second one. So tell me, Tatsu Chirako, do you want to die?"

Tatsu looked at the man, blond hair mildly tall, oddly well mannered he even went forward to present himself, kicking emotions back to himself Tatsu stood up and faced the man, he remembered him now. ''I am sure you know me..but I am Tatsu Chirako, pleased to make you acquaintance.'' Tatsu was polite afterall, and even though someone knows you, its always a good thing to present yourself. Hearing the man talk about the trial brought memories back back to the shinigami that his brain had long classed under forgotten and useless with most of the other articles.


Tatsu politely looked at the man as he heard him speak, hearing about his suicide and the fact that he wanted to live the samurai drew a chuckle and smiled for half a moment. ''Wouldn't you want to escape being eaten by a hollow? Doesn't it mean that my soul will become corrupted and eaten for an enemy of Soul Society...I thought that for a moment, if I could escape such a predicament, I'd be given another chance in another body, to serve Soul Society. '' This was the logic behind his attempt, ultimate loyalty to the one nation he always served, even when he was sentenced to death, he remained loyal to the vows he had made in the past. Truly this shinigami's willpower was strong even though it had eaten him at the same time...burning the candle by both sides.

Letting the man continue his speech, which really well seemed prepared he listened to him speak and smiled..an honest smile at the man's comment about the clock and reacted in shock when he heard the man's question, it seemed obvious to the rogue that death was unavoidable, but this man seemed to be asking him if he wanted to die...was he proposing help or assistance in the matter...Tatsu didn't know how to react at first so he reply in his usual manner. ''...of course not...'' . The samurai was calm he had weighted his words to make sure he had remained polite to the man and made sure he was understood in everything he said.

"No, no, of course not." Tyrannus said sarcasitcally "You can understand why I don't believe you. I mean, look." He made his right hand into a fist and raised it over his head. It only stayed there a second before he brought it crashing down into his open left with a loud slap. The man was sure to make a sharp whistling sound as the fist fell. "Not the actions of a man that wants to live. I think anyone would say it's quite the opposite. Like I mentioned I figured you were going to killed yourself on the first day. What happened today that hadn't happened then? " It was obvious that the man had lost hope, but what hope had he left. The Central 46 had found him guilty and thus sentenced him. Nothing had changed since the first day, just more time to think about, and that was probably what had smashed whatever slim, fragile hope the pathetic man had left. Tyrannus looked back out the window to watch the clouds pass lazily through the sky. It really was a nice view, and it was quiet. Something that the blonde man could enjoy. He wouldn't mind staying in such a place if not for the sekki sekki stone trying sap his energy. But with the sure amount of reiryoku he had it was more than tolerable. Just by suppressing it the drain was less apparent if not non-existent. He could only wonder the intensity in which it sapped Tatsu. At this point the man was no better than a human in terms of spiritual strength. Thankfully stone did no drain him of his physical sturdiness, otherwise he'd died from the sucide attempt.

Tyrannus shelved his thoughts as he recalled the goal of his visit. So easy to forget the bothersome work. He turned to face Tatsu as he leaned by the window.
"Let us review." he said "You don't want to be here." He raised his hand with only his index finger extended. "Second, you don't want to die." This time his middle fighter rose up beside the index finger. Tyrannus wiggled the two fingers vigorously. "But the problem is you've been sentenced to a quite gruesome death." The thumb jutted out to be counted with the others. "The makings of a desperate man, no? So I'm here to bring you salvation; I want you to work for me. An extra pair of eyes and ears within the Gotei. A spy. My group is more than capable of doing so, but a less obvious agent can't hurt. Agree and you will be released from here. I'll have you reinstated into the 13 Gotei and your record expunged. As of this moment the only ones that know of your case are the Central 46, Captain Akarui, and some guards. Except for the captain their silence in the matter is easily obtained." He waited a moment for the words to sink in. It was a good offer, one that he probably wouldn't hear anywhere. Of course he could reject it, but it would only mean he was truly mad. "If you really want to live, then swear your allegiance, and join me."

Tatsu clearly understood why the blond man wouldn't believe his words, it was just a way of seeing loyalty beyond death. The dead man didn't know what to think of this man, the sekki sekki stone robbed him of most of his spiritual pressure over time and by this day he had basically none left. ''I guess it is useless to try to explain my point of view on the matter, this room is driving me to madness, maybe its a bit of delirium..'' Of course that might be one way to explain how he came to the conclusion that suicide might help him transcend into his next life without being eaten by a hollow. .

Glancing up at the tower walls, he wondered what everyone was doing out there, he had enjoyed his calm and had his fair share of silence already. The broken man listened to said review, something was coming up, the reason why he was there. He listed facts such as not wanting to be here...who would actually want to be stuck here until their last day. And the second fact was that he didn't want to die, Tatsu thought that anyone being sent to death didn't actually want to die at one point, or atleast made themselves not want to believe they wanted to.

And there were unbelievable words being heard, words of salvation words speaking of his release, why would this man want someone like Tatsu he did not know, but the stake wasn't that hard, swear an allegiance to Soul Society, he already did that! A spark of life bursted through Tatsu as a hope to redemption appeared in front of him. Everyword resonated through the tower. Every syllable sunk in Tatsu's brain as he thought of a way to reply.

Dropping a knee to the ground in front of the man Tatsu took a deep breath and spoke the words of allegiance. ''I, Tatsu Chirako, Swear my allegiance to you and your cause, your goals shall be mine and your orders will be absolute, my loyalty knows no bound.'' In fact it truly didn't mostly because he went even rogue to follow his orders until the last minute, he stood slowly stood back up waiting to see what would happen afterwards, would he be required to do something else? He didn't know, would he be required to wear another attire? he didn't know. What he did know, is that he would do anything to remain within the gotei forces.

"Good enough." Tyrannus muttered went back to look out the window. He was unfazed by the man's words. There were only that, words. If he meant them only time would tell. "I've already completed the necessary paperwork. But with the filing you'll be freed from this place by tomorrow. " In actuality he had already done it 3 days ago, he had merely waited to soften Tatsu up; stew in his own juices. It stood to reason a man so concerned with honor and pride would crack when faced with the gravity of his crimes. Disgrace and shame were greater burden than death. His very loud outburst in court was proof of that. The man wanted to prove and redeem himself in anyway possible. By waiting he had gotten the man to agree to his terms. Now not only had he complete his task for Kuro Akarui, but he had gained a underling as well. In addition to that he had the captain's marker. While it was possible that the man would renege on his end of the bargain, it was doubtful such a man of honor would do so. That matter would have to be addressed when he came to it, for now he was ahead.

And so Tyrannus enjoyed the simple victories as he gazed out the window. It was indeed peaceful here. From this vantage point all looked calm and serine. He grinned to himself as if a joke had been told. With a sigh he walked from the window towards the door. He was halfway to the portal before he stops.
"Ah, nearly forgot." He reaches into his shirt and pulls out a metal tube with several small needles on the end. In an instant he vanishes and appears next to Tatsu. Tyrannus grabs the other man's arm and jabs the needle device into the other man's wrist. He presses a small button on the side of the metal tube, and then pulls the object away. The skin on Tatsu's wrist is slightly pink, but there's now a small mark where the needles had struck him. A black three part mitsudomoe was tattooed on the wrist.

"There we go." Tyrannus said as he put the device away. He raised his index finger and passed it over the symbol. His finger started to glow and the mitsudomoe changed from black to red. After he took his finger away the symbol went back to the dark black. "Should you fall into trouble with my forces this will keep you alive long enough so they won't kill you." he said "Try not to test it out, I know some not willing to listen if you antagonize them." With that he moved back to the door and knocked on the frame five times. There was a click and the door opened. "After today officially back in the Gotei. Do as you whatever you wish. I'll send for you when I need you." He nodded to the guards and stepped out of the room. The door quickly shut leaving Tatsu alone once again.