[center][sub][Colour=Tan][h3]太 郎    山 田[/h3][/Colour]
[Colour=Tan][h2]T A R O    Y A M A D A[/h2][/Colour][/sub][/Center]
[hr]
[sub][Colour=Tan]// B U I L D I N G  A  M O U N T A I N[/Colour][/sub]

[indent][Colour=DarkGray]
Running through the pathways outside of his barracks, Taro was searching for some semblance of reason. Plumes of black smoke filled the night sky with an inky rash and at their base the fires that fueled them emitted a frenzied glow. A thunderous crack exploded into the alleyway not five feet from where he stood, boring a hole into its left wall. Taro could only shield himself from the blast, batting away chunks of brink and plaster. He soon sped towards the hole, seeing another Shinigami crawling out from under the rubble. Jumping to his aid, Taro wrapped the mans arm around his shoulder to bring him to his feet. 
     [Colour=Tan]"Go! get to safety"[/Colour] He didn't truly know where safety was but there wasn't time nor mind to ponder it. [Colour=Tan]"What the hell is going on..."[/Colour] he muttered to himself, not sure of which way to turn. He could feel so many spiritual pressures at once that he could barely single one out, yet his attention was quickly caught by the sound of clashing blades. [Colour=Tan]"The barracks gate!"[/Colour] Leaping into the air Taro skipped from wall to wall, his wooden sandals clacking upon each impact. 

His billowing kosode flapped in the rush of air before settling with a thud as Taro arrived. The gates Honden stood above its surroundings, the bright Tenné colour signaling its locale to the area. Taro could hear voices, interspersed with several clangs of steel. As he scanned the space for movement, his eyesight focused on a figure passing through the gates aperture. He sighed in relief, recognizing the man as his captain, Mizushima. Taro let go of his swords hilt, allowing the cold air to chill his sweaty palms. There was something amiss. Staggering backwards the full extent of Mizushima's condition came to light. He was visibly wounded, the usual snowy white of the captains haori was blotched with blood and overflowed in places so badly that it had begun to pool on the tiled floor below. Everything got quiet. Taro could only watch as Mizushima strived to stay upright. In a sudden movement, a blade caught the light, forcing a flinch out of Taro as he witnessed his captain yield to a mortal blow.

Instinct took over. He drew his Zanpakuto, and charged forward with an sturdy cry. Vaulting to his mentors aid, Taro turned to face the gate, ready to take on any and all assailants. But he could only spot the silhouette, springing above the barracks arched canopy as they departed. Taro grimaced at the sight, highlighting his rugged features.  
     [Colour=Tan]"Captain!"[/Colour] as it dropped, the metallic skid of his sword was followed by a panicked pant. [Colour=Tan]"W-Who did this!? You're a captain, who has that kind of power!"[/Colour] the dying man still held his Zanpakuto, in its released form it was an angular sickle with an elongated haft still loosely clasped in his ash-laden hand. With what he could muster, Mizushima raised his hand and placed it by Taro's heart. 

     [Colour=CadetBlue]"That's not important now, Taro."[/Colour] he did well to fight off the spluttering cough building in his throat. [Colour=CadetBlue]"What is, is that you become what you were meant to be."[/Colour] he gave an honest smile, curling the corner of his mouth in a regret he owned. His hand fell into Taro's, passing his last gesture to him before his reign ended. 

     [Colour=Tan]"Captain..."[/Colour] a solemn reality deadened Taro's face. And as his hand fell away, it revealed the armband of a seated position in squad nine. Taro climbed to his feet, a single tear dampening the armbands tightly woven fabric. It was in this moment that Taro made a promise to himself, and among the anarchy, managed to crack a smile in remembrance for his teacher. Taro began to remove Mizushima's haori, brushing dirt from the insignia imprinted to its back. He carefully laid it over captain Jiro, and in one last subdued moment, said his goodbye. 

Reaching across he plucked Mizushima's Zanpakuto from his grip, as well as his own sword still laid behind him. Not knowing who or what to seek out, Taro began to wander away, further into the pandemonium that had engulfed the Seireitei.
[/Colour][/indent]