Water Tigers [Closed/Jin]

[Shuu]

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Through the water way
Footfalls soft and voices deep
Suiko shadows stalk

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“You, Katsuragi? You want to take part in the tunnel patrol?” Hotaka asked, both skepticism and incredulous slack jaw barreling down on the younger Shinigami. Nerves prickled the back of his mind but the purple haired man stood straight-backed and didn’t waver as he carefully chose his words.

“Yes, Hotaka-san.” Meek but at attention, back straight and his green eyes struggling to not look away. All eyes were on him from the small group of his sub-division, a better way to break up the thousands of tasks assigned to the 10th, and it took every ounce of willpower for Shuu not to fold under the pressure of those who had always seen him as a...slacker. Murmuring in the group of about thirty shinigami broke as Hotaka, standing behind a podium with a stack of folders atop it, held up his hand for them to quiet down.

“I appreciate the incentive, Katsuragi, but…” Hotaka let out a chuckle as the older Shinigami shuffled through his paperwork and trailed off as he came across a report in his hand. His eye twitched as he mouthed a word that Shuu couldn’t quite pick up. Was it a name? A place?

“Actually, I got an assignment for you. You’ll be working with a recruit from the 6th Division.” Shuu could have sworn he saw a nefarious gleam from the eye of the bald Shinigami but dismissed it as his imagination. Waving the folder assignment in the air, Shuu looked startled for a moment before quickly approaching the podium and reaching for the folder. Trying to pull it from his senior’s hand it was held fast as the purple-haired Shinigami gave Hotaka a confused glance.

Gritting his teeth, he let out a reserved sigh before releasing the folder. “This is the first time you’ve ever volunteered for tunnel patrol so I’m not gonna leave you abandoned to look after some schmuck from the 6th. Sugimoto. Kaneko. You’re going to help.”

A groan came from one of his fellows behind him, Shuu hesitant to turn around. He knew every name, every face in the sub-division, but they knew him just as well. It was considered easier to give Shuu tedious, mundane assignments so that they could tag along for more high-profile duties. It meant Shuu had more work to do than others but he was diligent and thorough. It was considered a good arrangement by all but the green-eyed recruit had felt he needed to be more...impressive, as of late.

Sugimoto Kei snatched the folder from behind Shuu, thumbing through it as Kaneko Yuko walked up beside him. While Sugimoto was tall and well built with a short crew cut of dark hair, Kaneko was smaller and her hair was wavy with hints of blue and black. She kept it tied back into a ponytail and most didn’t approach her as she was quite foul mouthed when not around their superiors.

Hotaka waved them over, his normally booming voice dropping to casual pitch, “The sector you’re patrolling hasn’t had any issues before but some jackass from the 6th is all wound up about it. Just do a standard patrol, Sugimoto. Walk the tunnel, get out. Maybe it’ll keep that jackass to stop nosing about the tunnels and let us do our damn job.”

Sugimoto smirked, shouldering past Shuu with Kaneko shrugging and following close behind trying to snatch the folder away from the short-haired Shinigami. Shuu let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing for a moment before tensing back up from Hotaka clearing his throat.

“Just...keep it simple, Katsuragi. This is an easy job but I hate the guy making the request so I don’t really care if you fuck this up but...” He paused for moment, looking Shuu up and down, letting out a sigh. “Stepping up for once. Good. Either way this pans out, that right there took you off my shit list. Get it done.”

Shuu could only nod as he readjusted his sword and followed the other two out of the meeting hall.

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Rukongai, Tunnel Entrance B93
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“You gotta duck your head more, shithead.” Kaneko muttered, yawning as Sugimoto cracked his knuckles while he took light jabs at Kaneko’s open palms, ducking and weaving as she took lazy swipes at him. They waited in an alleyway that stretched behind a dingy restaurant. While they were shadow-boxing, Kaneko continuing to be crude and Sugimoto chuckling, Shuu waited out by the street entrance. There was an occasional passerby but they quickly moved on when Shuu made eye contact with them.

It was an odd sensation to be feared, Shuu feeling a tinge of pain and remorse as it happened more than once. Today he’d have to prove himself, despite them saying it was going to be a nuisance. Despite Hotaka’s words digging into him. I can do this, I’ve done repairs in the tunnels and sewers, I know how to navigate it. I think. I hope so...it’s fine, Sugimoto will lead. I just need to follow.

A figure approached them, different from the usual citizens of Rukongai. The shinigami uniform was unmistakable. Was that two katanas? Before the violet-haired Shinigami could say a word, Sugimoto brushed passed Shuu and crossed his arms.

“You Jin-hwan Sun? Name’s Sugimoto Kei. This is Kaneko,” He threw his thumb back to the other shinigami who was busy picking at her teeth after getting confirmation from Jin. “You’ll be following my lead. Let’s go.”

Sugimoto whirled around without another word spoken, ignoring any protests or greetings. He may look to be in his forties but Shuu found Sugimoto to be as rude as a child. As they rounded the corner behind the restaurant, Shuu offered a formal bow to the new comer.

“I am Katsuragi Shuu. My apologies for their behavior. Please, after you.”

[Jin-hwan]

"What a pain in the ass," Jin-hwan muttered to himself. These interdepartmental ops were always trouble. Jin had a good record for getting his work done, but despite years of steady service, he hadn't risen much higher than desk jockey. He watched his coworkers promote above him, move on to bigger and better things while he remained where he was, and it wasn't by accident. Jin cultivated a carefully stable life. He liked his job, well, he didn't, but he knew he wasn't going to like it any more with additional responsibilities. He had found a good balance, but it was a delicate one. Too diligent and he wound up with a promotion he couldn't turn down.

And on the flip side, piss off enough Shinigami in other departments and suddenly he was busted back down to the menial patrols or other endless chores that Shinigami outside of the division with appropriate ranks could foist on him.

Worse yet was the fact of how transparently internal this investigation was. Nobody liked a cop, but if there was something Shinigami seemed to dislike more it was the cops investigating their own division.

Jin did his best to pass off the investigation as some routine sweep, but given the necessary jurisdictional issues it wasn't like that would have needed to wound up on the desk of someone in the 10th. But it did, and that means some bureaucrat had to deal with the fact that Jin was being forced to stick his nose into business he didn't want to stick his nose into in the first place. He was sure if anything on those forms would stick out it was 'Lead Investigator: Jin-hwan Sun'

And if he actually managed to find what he was looking for? He exhaled sharp, guess he'd just have to hope fortune was with him today. Nnn...

Even worse as the trio assembled before him. He was certain a trip through the sewers didn't require a squad of four people which immediately raised his guard an equal amount that his expectation for an easygoing day lowered.

He didn't mind casual, the airs that Shinigami put on really pissed him off, but he knew what was really going on here. It was a shit check. He hated posturing and flexing, but he wasn't going to let someone bulldoze him out of his own investigation. He wouldn't have really cared if it wasn't his ass on the line. And besides, he had the sense whoever had enlisted the help here already had it in for him, however the hell that came about. So it wasn't like he had to worry about burning bridges.

He watched as they turned their back and spared at glance to Shuu and away before he even finished speaking.

"Hey shitheads, don't take another fucking step." He called out, in a low firm tone. He took a step forward, hand dropping idlely to the hilt of his katana in a practiced gesture that was too clear not to be intentional but vague enough to skirt any kind of direct callout. At least for now.

"Jin-hwan Sun. I'm the guy who's in charge of this little investigation. You take another step without my direction you can get your ass out of this detail with a reprimand and I'll find someone else to help me out, like this guy, Shuu you said?" He spared a glance over at him then back to the duo. "This is an internal investigation which means whatever rank you two flunkies might pull in your division I'm in charge of this outting. If you've got a problem with that, head off now, I won't breathe a word, but jerk me around once we get going again and I'll have you mopping up shit in the Central 8."

He wiggled a finger in the air in a slow circle and then pointed on ahead. "If we're clear, let's stop wasting time," he said as he made his way expecting Shuu to follow and indifferent about the others.

[Shuu]

Apparently Sugimoto’s attempt to railroad the patrol under his command wasn’t viewed favorably by their fellow Shinigami. Jin absolutely radiated authority, his introduction more than enough to keep troublesome bravado from Sugimoto in check. Shuu was about to make a comment about mopping being one of their normal duties but thought better of it. Grinding of teeth could be heard from Sugimoto as Jin passed him, Kaneko muffling her laughter.

“Shit, Sugi, I think he’s got our number there.” She remarked with a smirk, shouldering past Sugimoto who seemed to be trying to keep his anger in check. Not wanting to see the situation escalate further, Shuu walked up to him and cleared his throat.

“This is a joint-task at the behest of the 6th. It’ll be less of a hassle if we cooperate, Sugimoto-san, and will look better on you for future assignments. Either we find something and handle it, or we complete a simple patrol which is all Hotaka-san wanted anyways. You’ll win either way.” His voice was soft, low enough for just the two of them and his compatriot just looked at Shuu for a moment, something akin to surprise and speculation on his face.

"Just...shut up, Katsuragi. Come on." Swallowing his pride, the red in his face fading, Sugimoto turned to follow.

Shuu let out a breath, blinking a few times. He had tried to diffuse situations in the past between him and the others of the 10th but it usually ended with him on the ground or picking up extra cleaning duties. Not sure what had gotten into him lately, Shuu followed quickly as they rounded the alleyway behind the restaurant.

Kaneko had already moved aside a crate and was kneeling down. Reaching under a panel on the building, there was several audible clicks as though she was turning a mechanism. Knowing that this was one of their many different locks on the lower tunnel and sewer entrances, Shuu took this moment to observe Jin as they waited for Kaneko to enter the right combination.

He seemed well put together, very sure of himself and his surroundings. Shuu’s eyes lingered on the dual swords for a moment, both wondering how Jin managed to get two Zanpakutos and wondering if he could wield two of them if given the chance. He hated using just his one weapon so the thought was dismissed almost instantly. A bit rough around the edges, Jin seemed irritated. The violet-haired recruit wondered if Jin was just as annoyed to be here as his compatriots.

Smuggling wasn’t unheard of in the lower levels but not many had the access codes or keys needed to enter them. Didn’t keep criminals from finding ways or simply making new entrances but Hotaka had mentioned that this area had already been cleared not long ago. I wonder where the 6th got their tip from? Or is this just an example of division leadership trying to waste each others’ time?

Metal let out a smooth pop as a handle cropped up next to Kaneko who pulled the lever and lifted the hatch door all the way open. Exaggerating a bow as she presented the opening, Sugimoto raised an eyebrow at Jin, expecting the investigator from the 6th to hop in. Not wanting another war of egos, Shuu approached the brown-haired Shinigami before he could make a move.

“Ah, Sun-san, I understand this is your investigation but it would be better to have Kaneko-san or Sugimoto-san take the lead, act as our guides. They’ve worked the tunnels many times before and each sector is like a maze you can quickly get lost in.” Shuu offered, trying to smooth things over with both parties before egos clashed again.

[Jin-hwan]

Jin lingered at the corner for the others. He kept his gaze in the trio that he'd been given for the assignment and considered briefly if any of them were involved in the matter. He tried not to let his bias affect his judgement but sometimes things just fit together, like the pieces of a story. Still, reality wasn't a tale, it was often the things you were most certain of that surprised you.

What was unsurprising was the effort of peacekeeping from Katsuragi, Jin couldn't hear what he was saying but the gist was obvious, an attempt at mollification. Almost a shame, but Jin checked himself. No sense getting riled up too. He was content to have it be over and get on with the task at hand. He gave a polite nod to Kaneko as they went by and turned to follow at last.

He had seen such entrances before, they were numerous enough that they no longer stood out as he went about his business in the Rukongai and the Seireitei. He watched closely as it was opened, seemingly deeply interested in the process then turned his gaze to Katsuragi as he realized he was being observed. He said nothing, just wore an idle expression now calming from the previous altercation.

He had expected a fight, Sugimoto looked ready to draw and he was content to settle it that way but he had to admit he was glad to not have to make the effort, leaving it out of the report would be even more of a pain in the ass than including it. Still, it took a moment to let go of that intention to draw a blade and use it. He flexed his grip a few times, settling it at last, for now at least.

His gaze was pulled away by the pop of the lever and listed hatch and didn't turn when Shuu approached them.

"Why not you, Katsuragi?" Jin turned a gaze. "Are you just here as the morale officer or something?" His tone was light and teasing but it might have come across as cutting. Jin didn't wait for it to land, just addressed the group. "You've all been invited for a reason, I don't mind who takes point, but highlight the route we take, I may have deviations in mind." Simple and to the point, he had no interest in twisting the knife.

[Shuu]

“Well, n-no, not really. I have only been assigned to working parties, so my knowledge on the underground is broad at best.” Shuu put simply, letting out a nervous but disarming laugh that seemed more an apology in of itself. Again Jin-hwan carried himself with an air of authority, Shuu wondering if the man had any idea he was behaving to the utmost sense of professionalism. Rough around the edges, to be sure, but the concise and frank use of his words was impressive enough to have the other two seemed to resign any notion of taking charge.

Motioning for them to follow and doing his best to keep his mouth shut, Sugimoto descended the entrance and the others were soon to follow. Dim lighting dotted the ceiling and sides of the tunnel which easily cleared fifteen feet above and measured a good twenty feet wide. It stretched into the distance before twisting out of sight. A low hum from the lights around them and the muffled sound of running water could be heard. Aside from their footfalls and breathing, someone could hear a pin drop a mile away.

“I was thinking we follow a basic patrol route, loop around back to this entrance. Sugi and I will point out diverging paths and we can try to zigzag through at your discretion though there are many dead ends. Trying to cover them all with our little group is going to be a fuckin' pain in the ass.” Kaneko spat, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and offering any to the group. Shuu held up his hand and shook his head, not wanting to even think of starting up such a habit. While the breezeways were fine for the most part, Shuu sincerely hoped she wasn't thinking of lighting up when they got closer to the sewer lines.

“Well...this maintenance tunnel connects to the waterways. Doesn't this sector spiral in and then back out?” Shuu stepped away from the group as he looked down the tunnel and muttered to himself, deep in thought. While he wasn't familiar with the many, many branching paths, he had a basic understanding of how each sector was laid out simply by studying maps and diagrams.

The problem laid down was that those maps weren't inherently accurate and that was done purposely to throw off anyone who had access to those schematics, should they be plotting something nefarious. So if someone was trespassing or performing criminal activities, it would be a surprise if they managed to avoid patrols for so long. Not unless they had working knowledge of countermeasures put in place and an understanding of how the tunnels worked. A chill went up Shuu's spine and he pursed his lips at the thought.

“Yo, space cadet! We can hear you muttering, ya know. Wanna share what you have to say with the rest of us?” Kaneko finished after taking a long drag from her cigarette and squatted down while they all looked at him. Sugimoto had his arms crossed, scowling at Shuu. Looking between them and then over at Jin-hwan, he swallowed and tried to put together his thoughts.

“I...I was saying the waterway spirals towards this sector's filtration and dynamo system. It...it might be easier to follow that path and diverge when you see fit. So long as we have the waterways as our main path and the dynamo as our primary destination, it should be a little smoother.”

There was a venomous glare shot at Shuu from the duo as they were behind Jin. Keeping an outward appearance of calm, he successfully suppressed the urge to wince. It wasn't so much as undermining them as it was revealing the pathways to someone outside of the 10th. This was their domain, sharing too much with outsiders would be seen as a breach of protocol. Sugimoto sniffed loudly, nodding and Kaneko let out a sharp exhale of air and smoke as she chuckled.

“Hate to admit it but probably the better idea, honestly. Patrols didn't find shit, smarter to go off the books. What you thinkin', boss man?” Kaneko asked, taking another drag as she tilted her head at Jin.

[Jin-hwan]

The timidity of Katsuragi was irritating in a benign way. It wasn't a big deal, but Jin-hwan had a feeling he'd rather just have them here with him than the other two. Reliability was nice, but he was pretty sure there'd be no interruptions to his duty with Katsuragi. Some people existed to be ordered around, nothing for it really. "What better way to learn," Jin-hwan replied casually. It wasn't an insistence, if they didn't want to he wasn't going to force the issue. Jin-hwan followed nearby and began to focus on their descent. He didn't stand too close to any of them, kept his gaze on each of them and the tunnels, in particular looking for passages they passed that went uncommented on.

The silence was unsettling. Jin-hwan felt compelled to crack a joke but resisted the urge. Anything to keep this moving. The silence made time crawl, perceptibly dragging this out further.

It was Kaneko who broke the silence, drawing Jin-hwan's attention. "That sounds fine, seems strange to me there aren't comprehensive maps of these areas," he said in a half sincere complaint. Considering the nature of the beast, Seireitei bureaucracy, he understood why it didn't exist.

Jin-hwan accepted the offer and set it between his lips while they moved, not lighting it for a moment while he was in thought. It was Katsuragi who broke the silence next. Perhaps they knew a lot more than they were letting on? Jin-hwan had the feeling it was a lot of projected incompetence, and maybe he was wrong about the timidity? He watched him for a moment, not really sure what point he was making. He followed the barb from Kaneko but said nothing, simply snapping his finger idly to ignite the tip of his cigarette. A non-regulation use of Demon Magic.

He took a drag, exciting the embers as the tip as they hungrily devoured down the end of it a few millimetres. He snagged it between his index and middle finger and pulled it away, angling his mouth to blow the smoke away from the group. Aromatically, he could only assume, it would actually improve the smell here. He considered rebuking Kaneko but left it alone. He wasn't gonna pick fights on Katsuragi's behalf.

"I agree," he offered casually. "I wouldn't concern yourself with my purpose here," he noted. It wasn't like it was formally admitted that he was here actually looking for something. "But I think it'd be unreasonable to waste three of your division's people on the standard tour, might as well go off the beaten path, save you a trip in the future." Diplomatically offered but probably true. He studied the expressions on the three as he made the pitch. He was looking for hesitation, uncertainty. It was unlikely to be involved with any of the three but well, maybe it was his (un)/lucky day.