Karakura

Prelude to Destruction

Chapter 4

Prelude To Destruction

The Nekoshou had introduced herself as Jinsoku and her stay was for political shelter.

The reason for the lack of people within the administration and the city, in general, was political tensions.

On one side was the isolationists Yokai, led by Yasaka, who wanted to keep the supernatural out of the normal human world as much as possible. To Ichigo, this side was more sensible, while it is indeed frustrating to hide your true nature, the reveal of the supernatural throughout the world would cause chaos throughout.

Then there was the Yokai supremacist, a group mostly consisted of the younger generation, and their goal was in their name. They were sick and tired of hiding from the world, they wanted to rule over the Japanese as masters. They also hoped that many religions, especially the Biblical, Hindu, Buddha, and Muslim factions would take from example and do the same.

The reason as to why Jinsoku was staying with them was due to the decree by Yasaka, herself, that all near-extinct species of Yokai be hidden in shrines in the case of a civil war. The reason for picking a shrine was simple, fighting was prohibited within the grounds of the shrines that were dedicated to the Shinto Gods.

It was more or less what an embassy was to the Human nations, an attack on itself.

Right now, the Shinto Gods were remaining neutral so an attack on a shrine was basically incurring the wrath of the whole Japanese pantheon.

"Why doesn't the Shinto Gods interfere? Aren't the Yokai their children?" Ichigo asked, his anger restrained.

Souichiro was the one to answer that. "All people born in Japan are their children, especially Lady Amaterasu," he explained, "it would be seen as favoritism if they interfered."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at the answer he was given. "If the Yokai supremacist takes over, wouldn't that mean more of their 'children' would perish, especially us Humans?" he asked.

Souichiro didn't have an answer for that and thus replied, "You must as the Gods themselves if you want a concrete answer."

Asa came in with a tray of tea and cups.

"Thank you," Jinsoku said in appreciation as she was handed a cup. Asa nodded before moving to give everyone else one. "And thank you all for your kindness in housing me." She then bowed her head.

Medeia, who had a careful eye on the Nekoshou, was the first to speak. "This place is seeming more like a refugee or homeless shelter than a shrine," she said with a smile.

"I'm going to take a nap," Ichigo declared before walking out and going straight to room.

He flopped on his futon and closed his eyes, his mind trying to sort out the information he had learned. "I still have to learn more about this world..." he muttered.

Karakura

Aizen held a key, an Oken, and stood on a pile of countless bodies. Ichigo recognized the faces of the ones that weren't blurred.

Keigo, Tatsuki, Mizuiro, Chizuru, and Don Kanoji were the most recognizable of his friends.

Then he became horrified as he spotted Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin.