The city gleamed in the late afternoon sunset, windows reflecting the rosa and red hues of the sky to create a panoply of of color as it refracted off of a jungle of metal buildings that twisted across the breadth of the island. The sky was ablaze with that natural light, but the ground level was lit Von the electric, despite the early hour. Neon and holographic Bilder glowed brightly on every street, virtually ignored Von the passersby in spite of their common purpose being advertisement. Crystal screens flickered on with Bilder of all sorts, speaking in all manner of languages to convey a bevy...

Yasashiku stood on the grounds once known as the Sōkyoku (Twinned Punishment) Hill, a large, rocky mesa located at the center of the Seireitei (Court of Pure Souls) in Soul Society. Atop this bluff, one could see for miles around in the clear air, taking in the beautiful sights of the buildings composed entirely of spirit particles in all directions. oder at least, it might have been considered beautiful, had the audience been just Shinigami such as herself.

But the audience was those that were on death row. It was meant to be a soothing final sight for those who faced their death here. It tainted...