Werewolves of Rukon [Tsubine/Kazu]

Tsubine knew he wouldn't be the only ones making moves in the Rukongai. He did, however, expect to be the only one in the furthest reaches—out beyond what many in the Seireitei called "civilized." Even his home district was in that classification, and that was part of what allowed him to operate for so long. It wasn't bringing in income, so the nobility paid it no mind, and the Gotei United only really responded when it was a big enough Hollow. By the time they got there, it was usually dealt with anyway.

The people out here were closer than many thought. So when someone else started to edge in from the outside, Tsubine was keenly aware of it. Such things needed to be addressed in one way or another. The horses took him deep past 66 and into the 70s. It was Tsubine, Kohaku, Sazanami, and Suzukawa along for the ride. J had Mayumi duty today. It didn't take long to find where his informants said this new group—some kind of alliance—was taking up residence.

Tsubine had worked through a variety of intermediaries to secure safe passage to meet with the leader of this alliance. He hadn't been told much about what to expect, except that she was definitely different than the other people he'd dealt with before. Was she like that Captain? Worse? Or was she more like some of the people he had heard about in the Gotei? Either way, it was set up to be a tense meeting.

The setting sun darkened most of the path, but sporadic lanterns lit most of the way. It was almost eerie how it looked out here. Tsubine was keenly aware he was being watched and possibly followed despite not seeing anyone. His gut told him to be ready for an ambush, and yet none came. Approaching the scheduled rendezvous point—an old inn set back from the main road—Tsubine called out to the seemingly-empty courtyard. "Hello there." His voice carried well out here. "I am Tsubine Shirazumi, and I represent the interests of District 66 West. I have an appointment with your leader, a Miss Kazura Yukiyama."