The Beginning! The Hell Games Arc Begins!

Night had fallen on the Rukongai. A soft, cold wind blew through the small village on the outsides of a Rukongai forest, carrying the scent of death and decay. Tonight was not a peaceful night. The howls of Hollows could be heard in the distance. A giant, brutish, bat-looking Hollow stepped out from the shadow of a tree, sniffing the air as it hunted its prey. Behind it were several other normal Hollows. All hungry for the spirits that were in the village ahead. The Hollow saw a woman who had come away from the village to collect water from a nearby well. It took its opportunity.

Leaping from its hiding place, its gaping maw poised to eat the defenseless woman, the Hollow roared in triumph. The woman, now seeing her stalker, screamed in terror, dropping her water bucket in the process, and spilling its contents throughout the area. As the Hollow neared for the kill, it was suddenly cleaved in two; bifurcated, before dissolving into black, spiritual, dust. The woman looked up in shock, noticing three new arrivals. The one that had killed the Hollow had black hair, piercing black eyes, was wearing Shinigami garb, and to to top it all off, was wearing a captain's haori.

"Captain," said one of the men that had accompanied the Shinigami, "There are at least three more Hollows in the vicinity."

"Interesting." the Shinigami replied. "One for each of us."

"You sure we shouldn't just take them all out together?" said the other man with the Shinigami.

"Where would be the fun in that?" the Shinigami replied.

The man sighed, and drew a sword; perhaps he was a Shinigami as well. The three men then disappeared, leaving the woman in shock.

Several hours later, the three men find themselves sitting around a large boulder; a campfire lit nearby them.

"Another uneventful night for us, eh, Raian-taichō?" Kujaku asked.

"Meh, it's better than sitting back at headquarters doing paperwork." Raian replied, using a toothpick to pick gunk from his teeth.

"I enjoyed it." Tōshi spoke up.

"You enjoy any conflict." Raian retorted. "Sometimes, I think you should've been placed in the Eleventh Division."

"You're the one that made me your third seat." Tōshi replied with a smirk.

"Whatever," Raian said standing up, "Let's go back to Seireitei. I've got a captain's council meeting tomorrow. Got to get some sleep in."

"Right behind you, captain." Kujaku replied.

The three then vanished, heading for Soul Society's center; Seireitei.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Raian, a feminine shadow watches silently from the shade of the nearby woods. After the three Shinigami leave, she herself vanishes in a flash of light.

The wheels are set in motion...!