Deep beneath the division 12's building chaos danced like a madman, in the rain, during a thunder storm, while death mettle played in the background.  Lightning cackled like a mad scientist who was certain his creation was about to rise from the table.  Various screens and dials jumped from one scene or number, without any apparent rhyme or reason.  Shadows flashed along the strange, myriad of machines that filled vast space that went by the simple of name of Mayuri's lab.

"Hmmm."  The man of what he considered to be his home, nodded.  He was dressed in his usual fashion, which many would consider to be unusual, slouched over a screen, grinning from ear to ear.  Something strange was going on, and he couldn't wait to prod it, and see if injecting it with his own creations would yield some interesting results.  "Mmmhmmm.  Yes. Yes."  He ignored the footsteps which echoed towards him.  

"Master Mayuri" a young woman with purple hair said, meekly, as she forced herself to slow down before reaching him.  "You have a guest!"

"Bah."  The captain of the twelfth division mutterer.  He made a slashing motion with his hands that was meant to let her know he didn't want to be disturbed.  

"But master Mayuri!"  The woman in purple said.

"I'm busy."  The captain snapped, using a tone that made it clear he wasn't interested in discussing the matter further.  "Get rid of whoever it is.  I'm very busy at the moment, and don't have any interest in anything but what's right in front of me on this screen."

"Ah!  Busy as always, I see."  Said a tall, light skinned man, with high cheek bones, and a eye patch over his right eye.  "You know a break wouldn't kill you."  Shunsui sighed as he stepped up to look at whatever it was his fellow captain was looking over.  It was all Greek to him.  

"Breaks are far too tiresome."  Mayuri muttered in a rush of excitement. His hands fiddled with some dials near the edge of the table, and the images on the screen switched to numbers, a lot of numbers, all moving in such a way that only a fool or mad genius would bother trying to keep up with them.  "All they do is wet my appetite for my next great work!"

"Speaking of which?"  The man with the pink kimono said as he leaned up against a machine that, against all expectations, wasn't humming at the moment.  "Will you be joining us for today's festivities?"

"Hmmm?"  Mayuri mumbled.  "festivities?  I have no time for such trifling matters.  Can't see you see I'm the precipice of something grand?  What matter are a few streamers and whistles compared to what I'm about to embark on?  Hmmm?"  

Shunsui shrugged.  "If you say so.  I just figured you'd like to give a speech and show off how your Prodigy Genesis program was coming along?"

"Ahhhhh!"  The young woman in the purple dress gasped.  "Master Mayuri, that's today.  The graduation ceremony is today!"  It was tempting to bounce with excitement to see what became of their big project, but she'd learn some time ago it wasn't best to be so loud and energetic when her master was close by.

"Oh."  The man's in the black and white face paint smiled.  His teeth weren't white, but they weren't black and falling out either.  There was a bet, among the more courageous members of the twelfth division that the man's teeth weren't actually his teeth at all, but some he made, and probably put in himself.  However, there were no members brave enough to ask.  Which wasn't due to fear the man would be insulted by their questions, but more the fear that the captain would suddenly remember they existed and figure that they'd be good enough for whatever sadistic experiment he was currently building up in the dark recesses of his mind.  "That's today, isn't it?"  The man stood up strange and tapped his finger, that ended in a long, long purple nail, against his chin.  "Well, it's not for a few more hours.  There's plenty I can get check of my to do list before going."

"Mayuri."  The captain commander laughed.  "That is a surprise.  It's not like you to lose track of date like that."

"Humph."  Mayuri snapped, turning on the man.  "Nothing of the sort has happened."  Without a word, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, circular object with a screen and several buttons.  "Look."  He pushed a button and the screen lit up like a child who learned he wasn't going to be kicked out of the house at 2AM so his parents could have some alone time. There was a moment of static before an image came to focus.

On said image there was a young woman with blue hair, and the customary outfit of the shinigami.  "I've got them all under tabs."  The woman was sitting at the counter of a small, but popular bar and grill, poking at her food.  Her eyes moved from one person to another, trying to figure out who could be pushed to do something interesting.

Shunsui nodded.  "Kokatsu Ririsu, an interesting one that.  She's going to be a bit of trouble some day.  Sort of like a certain mad scientist I know, if only she could manage to get herself to focus on something long enough to be productive."  The man grinned.  "But that's just luck.  I'm sure you couldn't have kept an eye on all of them that closely."

"You underestimate me."  Mayuri's grin moved from ear to ear.  "I've got them all covered.  Here just watch..."....