Akashic Arcana Hollow's Den

JessieJames

Dream as if you were dying.
Wind whistled through the bars that covered the upper windows of the once abandoned warehouse that had been refurbished to become a hive of scum and villainy. The warmth of the midsummer day was just starting to fade with the setting sun that hung in the far western sky painting the heavens in it fiery glow. Fading golden rays danced over the mask that sat on the large desk before a young teenager with long ivory hair. In this lighting the pale strands appeared orange in nature. His eyes stared not out at the setting sun but at the mask. Horns protruded from the temple and extended forward with slight angling towards the center.

Long black lines ran down the center over the eyes from crown to chin. The empty sockets glared back into the eyes of the boy who had just won it. He had already heard the whispers from the men whom he now lead about him being a demon of the greatest order not just for beating the previous leader of the street gang Hollows but for his very inhuman eyes. From black pools golden irises stared out at the world from a fairly colorless body.

Black cargo pant hung off his slender hips. Sitting bare chested in the heart of his domain Shirosaki Kuro thought about what he would have his men do from this day forward. Painted black nails of one his hand reached up to trail over the tattoo he had gotten a month or two ago. A chain encircled crown over his heart. Sitting up he reached for the mask remembering the event of gaining it like it was yesterday.

Minato Hasa had thought himself forever undefeated and his gang unbreakable. The boss had ordered Shirosaki to murder one of the other men simply for the fact of him disobeying an order to steal food he had plenty of money to buy for instead. Minato was known for being a ruthless sort and often went too far in the eyes of many when it came to getting what he wanted. Shiro had refused only to have Minato attack him outright. The much younger male had won breaking the old boss’ neck as if he truly felt nothing about taking a life. So at the age of 16 Shirosaki rose from being a lackey to being the crowned king of the Hollows.

Shirosaki envisioned his gang to take after the morals they were raised on and if they hadn’t been they would learn from him. He gained both his nicknames in that one night. Blanco Diablo for being so merciless in his killing of the previous head and for his moral values Chained King. Yes even in his mind he knew both name fitted him like tailored gloves. His attention was drawn from his memories and to the present at the shouts of men from the lower floor of the warehouse. Standing he made his way to the railing to look down, “What’s all this about?

His voice carried without effort on his part causing most of his men to turn and look at him. Except his second in command. Wild blue hair unmistakable from any distance. Grimm Black was a man Shirosaki knew he could trust no matter what. His gaze moved from the tall half American-Japanese to the woman who stood not far inside the entrance to the warehouse.
 
The warm summer day called for her outfit to be made out of pure red silk, the delicate patterns traced on the waistline of her summer dress matched the color of her lipstick. Her long ink coloured hair hung loosely down her back, just below the curve of her spine.

It was not often she found herself doing her own dirty work, more often than not one of her men would be the one shaking down some poor bastard for the debts owed... but it had been way too long for this particular one. Minato Hasa had no clue just who's toes he had been stepping on and for just how long, and unfortunately for him, Midori did not deal with with inconsistencies very well.

Four men followed, their tall frames dressed in black contrasted with her not just in size but in the lack of color; She stood in front of them, right at the entrance of the warehouse that once used to be in proper working conditions - only to have been ran into the ground by Hasa's reign of restless buffoonery. The air felt stuffy and hot, making her snarl only slightly in discomfort.

At the echoing of Shirosaki's voice, Midori could not help but to cock her eyebrow. "I'm looking for Mr. Hasa," she said loudly enough that her voice would be heard, but would not echo nearly as harshly as Shirosaki's had momentarily.
 
Shirosaki chuckled softly as he tilted his head staring down at the woman. He didn't have a clue who she was but any one looking for Hasa had come to the right place, "You won't be finding him unless you get the sudden urge to deep sea diving, Queenie," He scoffed slightly as he straightened slightly before moving to head down to the ground level with the others, "I suppose that makes your coming quite meaningless."

There was one thing people tended to notice about the albino like male when they first met him. His gaze was one that had already stared death in the eyes and laughed. His eyes were animalistic as they trailed over each person who came with the woman as he slowly got closer, "I suppose also with no business with anyone else here means you will be able to show yourselves to the door."

Shiro's long white hair was unbound and danced slightly behind him as he walked. His steps were sure and purposeful unlike the man he had taken down. Even the very magic that wrapped and coiled about his form held something one might call wild within it. He met her eyes for a moment before Grimm nudged him in his ribs causing the white haired man to growl at him, "I wouldn't run off at the mouth too much, Shi. That woman has connections that could stamp us out if annoyed," The words were whispered into his ear.
 
The men that stood behind the lioness, almost as if it would've been choreographed, let out a small gasp in unison at the way Shirosaki addressed her, comically enough that it made her lips curl up into a smile. "Look child, I had no business with you before, but I take that you're now the top dog," she said as she gestured quotation marks around the words, "of this miserable excuse for an organized crime sect."

She took a step forward, crossing her arms as she caressed the innermost part of her arm, a small tattoo that perhaps seemed meaningless for anyone that did not deal with Midori Sagawa in the past; But as soon as she did so, the men behind her took a small step back, almost out of shock as their leader moved forward. "Your boss, or ex boss," she said softly, "owed me quite a bit of cash that I doubt any of you even knew about... but nevertheless, if the king goes down so will the whole kingdom, right?"

"Let me introduce myself," she took a small bow almost to ridicule the way the ivory-haired boy carried himself, "My name is Midori Sagawa, owner of Noro's Sleep and leader of The Plagues."

She opened her arms, displaying the series of tattoos that covered her upper arms as well as the team of men that stood behind her. Their stoic faces otherwise demonstrating just an ounce of fear as their leader spoke.
 
The boy stared at her with unemotional eyes that seemed to spark to life after a moment. A murderous grin slipped across his lips as he stepped forward and bowed slightly in return, "Shirosaki Kuro leader of this unruly band of Hollows," He glanced at her mark but didn't care really what it stood for. His kingdom needed still be be purged of the rats that poisoned the granary. Pushing a hand through his hair he grinned at her, "Where does that leave us, Queenie? I've got a kingdom to finish rebuilding."

He noticed the behavior of the men behind the woman but figured showing cowardice was a crime when dealing with another leader. Shirosaki didn't need a turf war on his hands and kept reminding himself that off and on as he patted Grimm on the shoulder. The blue haired male huffed at him but said nothing as he turned around and headed towards the back of the building.
 
"I don't care how you do it, where and or why," she proceeded to speak, "But a debt is owed and you, along with your cats, will need to pay up."

Her eyes looked over the place, in taking every visible gang member and surface available within the warehouse. It was but a precautionary measure, but it was something that needed to be done in case the boy before her decided to be difficult... Which she hoped was not the case, the boy appeared to be at least coherent enough to have earned his spot as the leader, but the boy's tongue could also very easily cost him.

"That is of course, unless you can think of a better deal?" She asked, more interested in what he had to propose than what the ultimate outcome of the interaction would be.
 
He rubbed the back of his neck slightly. Clearly someone should have stepped in earlier if Hasa's debt was going to be passed to him and his crew, "How much did you owe you in total?" Shiro asked after some thought. He didn't miss her gaze moving over their little home, "They aren't part of this. Most of them didn't have a choice in being under Hasa's thumb. Don't go looking to collect from them. I will pay the debt if there is no other choice."

Shirosaki had promised not only the men and women in the gang but the few who's parents and family members kept an eye out for them that the gang would be cleaned and reformed into a new respectable organization that held values. He believed he could do that and wouldn't turn tail because the first obstacle happened to be deadly in a pair of heels, "We have no desire to fight with you or your boys. If we can see to a peaceful resolution, I'm sure we can all profit."
 
"I'm not some hungry hound ready to bite you and all your men to ribbons," she pouted as she spun around on her heel to look at her men and giving her back to him, "we'll do this, boy, I will stay clear off your turf if you stay off mine. At least until we can come to an agreement on how stuff will end up benefiting both of us..."

The men nodded in agreement with her before she turned around once more, to face Shirosaki, her dark eyes meeting his once more, "I'm not a merciless animal, but I'm also not a saint... I suggest we get this straightened out as soon as possible as to ensure there is no future issues."

Midori stepped a couple steps forward, lifting her arm as if waiting for some sort of handshake from the leader of the Hollows, perhaps more to test her boundaries than to seal any sort of deal. Her lips curled up into a thin smile as she looked at him.
 
Shiro laughed slightly at her. Midori was amusing in that cat eats the canary sort of way. They could see eye to eye easily enough it seemed. He gripped her hand, "Care to come up to my office. I'll have Grimm bring us some tea as I am always one who believes in leaving no loose ends."

He motioned for her to walk with him to the upstairs area where he had been earlier. It would be much more comfortable than hashing thing out down there in the belly of the warehouse, "I'll tell you of my plans for the gang and you can tell me how that works for you. As I understand it the lines have been fucked with since the last discussion between yourself and our head."

Shiro was anything if not a gentleman with a foul mouth. He could go through the motions of being polite and kind but his tongue was an object that had a mind of its own even on a good day. This often lead to him letting Grimm be his mouth when they needed something. For once he felt it better to just do it himself. The blue haired male shouldered the back door open as he brought out a tray with a pot of tea and two cups, "Shiro, your tea will be upstairs."

"Thanks," The white haired man called back.
 
She smiled at him and followed, the men that would usually follow remained in place waiting patiently for their leader to return. The office was fairly large considering the location of their main headquarters; taking a seat right across from him she awaited for him to serve the tea but not before she would ask curiously, "Were you eager to lead your very own reign of crime or why the sudden change in leaders for the Hollows?"

Her eyes following him like magnets, mostly as a way to comfort her absolute paranoia that he would suddenly turn and attack her... it wouldn't be unheard of, but she still did not want to risk it.
 
The white haired boy sat down in his earlier seat and smiled slightly as Grimm poured their drinks. Mostly out of habit due to Shiro having an unsteady hand when handling the pot. After he finished he removed himself from the room leaving the pair to talk about matters.

"I took over not because I enjoy crime but more because this place was becoming to dangerous for everyone who live in Karakura. I'm sure you saw some of the overflow due to him allowing others to simply take what they pleased. The Police were under his belt as well. Plus asking me to kill someone who simply bought something instead of stealing it rubbed me the wrong way," He sipped his tea lightly, "I'm not going to just reign in our gang, I'll destroy any others who decide to involve civilians that want nothing to do with us. A child shouldn't have to fear what lives down the hall in his own home much less what walks the street."

Shirosaki had a heart of gold in all honesty. He sought to do what was right and what would benefit the most people not just few. It was through this vision that he had taken over and kept control without anyone demanding a match against him, "Now to pay off the debt we currently owe I will offer 5 percent of the current revenue and the future profits that we will gain due to the change in how business will be run from now on. I will seek to eliminate the other gangs in Karakura they will either join us or they will be forced to disband. This city is too small to have 12 low pole gangs ripping it apart every time a man's woman is hit on. Does that suit you? And what is our current amount we owe you?"
 
Mido lifted the cup of tea enough that she could take in the smell of the tea before taking a small sip of it as Shirosaki proceeded to answer her question. It was rather impressive to run across a leader who wasn't absolutely selfish using his men for personal gain, it made her raise her eyebrow at him almost in surprise.

"Hasa was a man hungry for power," she said softly, holding onto the cup with both hands as she crossed her legs, "he kept coming back for more and more each time, it is pure courtesy to never ask what for... but it had gotten ridiculous. If you wouldn't have taken over I would've had not just his head but this whole district's.."

Her dark eyes met with his again, "3.5 Figures in pure american currency," she said bluntly, "an impressive amount to spend on nothing in particular..."
 
Shirosaki pinched the bridge of his nose to keep from asking if she was sure. A heavy breath escaped him. That was more than all of Karakura's citizens made in one year. Likely only a third. He had a feeling he knew where that mich money went. Women and cops.how often had he come into this very place only to find some of the most beautiful women lounging about in various states of undress. And there was that strawberry haired boy he had seenin here a few times.

And the warehouse wasn't on any police officers' patrol route. Hell if anyone called in the Hollows it tookhours for the cops to come by and by then they were long gone. It sickened him to think about it. Enough so hedowned his tea and poured more, "It will take 5 years or more to pay you back that amount. I will do it because I hate owing people money even if I wasn't the one to rake in the bills."

Leaning back Shiro suddenly wished his fix wasn't fighting when he was stressed or needed to think. He ran a hand through his hair, "
I will have to tell a few people we are broke but we will fix this even if I have to sweet talk a bunchof idiots into making a calendar."

He laughed at the thought. Grimm would surely be Mr. January with that blue hair of his. While Shiro would thrive in October. He scratched his chin it was possible.
 
Upon watching his reaction she couldn't help but feel sorry for the boy, he had just taken over and she was already after him... It wasn't ideal; but money is money and its needed to help the business around her grow.

"Look," she leaned forward, her elbows resting on the top of her knee, "If you were Hasa, you can bet I would've already gutted you by now, but you appear like someone I can rely on. You have five years, in that time you can pay back and get me out of your hair or become my ally. I see potential in you, kid."

She straightened back on her chair, "I've seen plenty of good and bad men in the business, and you are one of the few good ones... or at least it feels like you are; especially if you're willing to.... make a calendar to pay me back" she giggled softly with an eyebrow raised at him.
 
His gold on black eyes focused on the woman before him for a long moment. She seemed sincere in her offer which made him relax some, "What does be coming an ally of your entitle?"

Shirosaki was curious after all she was the first to come to him about debts owed and certainly hadn't shown and real desire to attack him or his men over it. But he wasn't a fool either. He didn't take over just to be taken out by a shark that waited till the current king had been eliminated and the conqueror too tired to actually fight off an outside attack. Not that he would have considered her that right off the bat. He fiddled with his hair a little as he thought for a moment. Shiro didn't know about being a good guy or not perhaps he would just let her believe what her eyes told her. The calendar comment had him grinning though, "It would make at least 12 unlucky soul very popular and easy to identify."

He chuckled lightly as he relaxed in his seat. A buzzing of a phone drew his attention to his newly acquired desk. A picture of a tiny child grinned up from the screen. Her hair was a beautiful dark green. Her large brown eyes twinkled with her joy. Above the picture read 'Yuu'. Shiro frowned, "Sorry about this but I need to take that."

Quickly he plucked the cell phone up, while swiping a thumb over the green button, "What is it, Yuu?" He questioned quickly. A tearful cry cut across the speaker loud enough he had to jerk the phone from his ear. Those eyes of his showed fear for a moment, "Yuuki?"

Garbled cries told him something was wrong as he cursed and ran to the door of his office, "Grimm! Find Yuuki now! She just called and," His voice shook as did his lithe frame, "Something isn't right just find her please."

The reply was the sound of feet running out the door. Taking a deep breath the young boy gripped at his hair with one hand while dialing with the other. Clearly trying to get his sister to answer her phone, "DAMMIT!" he roared as he slammed his fist into the aluminum siding that covered the outside wall of his office, "I'll have to cut this short. I have to go find my sister."

Shiro had figured that something would have come up to cause his resolve to shake but never had he thought someone would go after his beloved sister who had nothing to do with the gang. And when she was on her way home from school none the less. Walking over to the couch against the far wall he picked up his tank-top from earlier and pulled it one before grabbing his black jacket.
 
Midori kept her intense stare fixed on him, "Being my ally keeps you and your people safe," she shrugged casually as she smiled at him, "you get free tattoos at my parlor and get to claim that you're associated with The Plagues... and in the long run, you may even take over my empire," she knew that the latter was to be a challenge but it was an possibility either way. Many were after her place as the head of Noro's and The Plagues already, but very few dared to even cross her path... Shiro however, was different, or at least her immediate perception of him told her he was... to prove that right was up to him.

She laughed softly at the ongoing calendar joke; Midori didn't laugh often. Unfortunately it was just not a liberty she found even at Noro's, in the lives of the men and women that formed The Plagues she was but an overlord and not someone they could joke with. It was an unspoken rule that slowly but surely worked a wedge between her and her team.

Her attention almost immediately darted to the buzzing phone, watching the expression change across his face as all she could hear were the muffled squeal. If it were possible for the pale boy to become any paler, that would've been the case.

"My men and I have nothing better to do," she said calmly after she took the last sip of her tea, standing up as she approached him, "by the sounds of it she is young, and there is nothing I hate more than cowards that target children."

She offered a solemn bow, "you call the shots."
 
The pale haired boy stared at her with a rather confused expression. No one besides Grimm and his family had ever said they would help without question. Especially help him. He blinked then glanced at the ground in thought, "It was my little sister, Yuuki. She's ten years old and has no way of defending herself," He swallowed thickly, "It would be a great help if I could get more eyes on the streets to see if any one has sighted her any where. I know the Hollows will have a hard time getting people to talk to them due to the current relations between us and the general populous."

When she bowed he bowed lower. He realized he was but a child in this moment and she might know how to help him find his sibling a lot quicker than he might, "I'm not in a position at this time to take command of any forces besides the Hollows but I greatly appreciate your generosity and hope that your generosity will help me find her safe and sound," Pulling his phone out he unlocked the screen and showed her a picture of himself, Grimm and the girl known as Yuuki, "Yuuki is the one in the middle. Her hair is currently neon blue like Grimm's and she likes to wear cat ears."

He explained in case this might help her, help him. After a moment he headed to the door after picking up his horned mask, "If your men find her please don't harm the people who took her. I will do that myself when I get there."

Those golden eyes once again held a look that was purely inhuman. It was a bloodlust that belonged to a monster. Slipping the mask over his face it became clear why the Hollows all wore masks instead of tattoos. They were scarier. With his long unbound white hair slipping down his back he looked like demon that had stepped forward from a Edo period painting only in modern clothing. As he walked down the stairs he reached into his pockets to slip his brass knuckles on.
 
She pursed her lips and nodded as she studied the face of the young girl. Her face filled with innocence that Midori could not let anyone pollute especially out of pure revenge against a new leader, "I'll have my men on it, nothing goes past our noses without us noticing," her heels clicked against the pavement under her feet as she walked behind the masked boy.

"Plagues," she called for her men, almost like statues they stood right where she had left them. The men nodded as she approached them, "We're looking for a little girl, about ten, neon blue hair and brown eyes. Cat ears. The whole kid gig." She waved her hand dismissively at the two men standing at the back nearest to the doors in which they had walked in through earlier, "get the rest of our people involved, ask everyone. If anyone refuses to help..." her eyes fell upon the two men, a grin across her red-coloured lips, "I will take care of them myself."

The men ran off, their leader rarely asked all of their contacts to get involved. The urgency of the matter even made the remaining two men raise their eyebrows in surprise at the outcome of events, they were ready to rip through the Hollows like demons right out of hell; yet there they were, looking for a kid.

"Let's check the harbors, no?" she walked in front of the men as they typed quickly into their phones, more than likely reaching out for the people that Midori had asked be contacted regarding the search. The harbors were crime central, the cliche behind it letting the reality live up to a myth created by authors and tv shows.

---

She stepped out of the back seat of the black car, the tinted windows and shiny coat of the car serving as a mirror for her to ensure she looked presentable. The men working on cargo and the like were immediately drawn to the black, red and white beauty Mido really was. Her long black hair flowing behind her as if it were strikes of ink in the air, her men following close behind with their hands in their pockets as they approached a massive warehouse known to be the home of The Sea Lanterns - a lowlife gang originated from the Union that had found a home at the Harbor due to their constant imports and exports from Tokyo.

The harbor was not far from the Hollow's den, and the leader of the Union was known for his short temper... something that unfortunately both Hasa and Shirosaki would ignite almost immediately, the latter just because of his tongue.

"Gentlemen," she said as she walked into the warehouse, almost immediately being greeted by guns being pulled on her, "Shoot and the bullets will find their ways right back to you quicker than you can say your prayers."

"What do you want Midori?" the tall blonde leader of the pack said from a ledge on the second floor.

"I'm looking for a child," she said smoothly, "Neon blue hair, brown eyes..."

"You're looking for the Kuro kid?" he spoke with a smug look on his face, "funny you ask."

The unspoken command communicated to the men behind her, one of them quickly reaching out to the rest of her men... and by extent to the Hollows.
 
Shirosaki was just stepping up to the front door of his apartment when his phone buzzed in his pocket. His mast had been pushed up on his head in a lazy manner. His men were scattered but the simple text that he found on his screen had him dialing Grimm, "Meet me at the docks we're going fishing."

He snatched the envelope that had been taped to his door and jumped over the railing down to the ground level. He stuffed it into his back pocket and pulled his mask into place. In a flash of movement he was gone headed towards the docks. Vehicles beeped at him as they hit their brakes while he speed across busy roads. In some cases he dove over the shiny hoods. It was dark now and with the night he became more at home. He felt more than heard Grimm Black drop into place next to him.

The blue haired man had taken on his more versatile form of a humanoid cat. Bone white armor covered the blue haired man's body while his hair hung down past his hips. Long ears twitched listening to the world around them, "They will pay," Shiro murmured, "They may very well pay with their lives."

With that he stepped into the building. His mask hid the large feral grin that spread across his lips, "Yuuki," His eyes landed on the blue haired girl instantly, "Are you hurt?"

Large brown eyes blinked up at the mask wearing man who she just realized was her brother, "Shi-nii," She whined. Her wrists were bound tightly and she was shaking but from afar he couldn't see what was wrong.

He heard a growling hiss from Grimm as he stepped up towards his best friend, "She's covered in someone's scent," The feline male whispered softly so no one else would hear.

Shiro's eyes danced over to Midori, "Thank you for your help finding her," Then to his sister, "Yuu. Close your eyes and for no reason open them till I say."

The girl whimpered again as tears trailed down her cheeks but she closed her eyes tightly and curled in on herself. In a flash of moment. Shirosaki was over to the girl gripping her jacket by the shoulders before he threw her bodily over towards Midori. His golden gaze pleaded that she get the child out of there quickly before he turned slamming his brass knuckled fist into the nearest man who tried to stop him. Grimm and several of his men were already setting forward to tear the enemy apart.
 
Midori offered a bow at Shirosaki as she extended her arm to trace the rune within her arm, the black ink on her body dimly shining as, a large, black wolf-like creature spawned in front of Midori. Swiftly running past the men in order to catch the young girl on its back. Its teeth bared at anyone that approached it, his steps traced by large ink paw-prints left on the floor as Midori and her men walked out of the warehouse. The young girl remained curled into a ball on the beast's back.

"Child, you're safe now," Midori said as she curled her arms around the girl lifting her off the beast before it disappeared into a splotch of ink underneath it.

The men opened the backseat door allowing for Midori to place the child on the seat, before untying the ropes that bound her small hands, "Your sibling will be here shortly, don't worry."

Midori's voice was soft and comforting, something that even the men around her had never heard before from their ruthless leader.
 
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