[BitP:R] Soul Society 2

[Callos_DeTerran]

Genoveva vs. Lots of People

It feels as if Michiko's hand had slammed into a steel wall, but only for a moment before the sensation faded and the after images faded around the 11th Division captain. The blond arrancar stands with her feet against the kido barrier, stilling smirking even as she reaches up to feel the large red spot where Michiko's hand had briefly connected.

"Heh...hehe..hehehehehe.. the Primera chuckles, straightening up long enough to swing the haori about her own shoulders to wear it herself before crouching down, "Ah can't believe ya haven't gott'n it yet. Ah mean seriously, if mah goal was to kill, there'd be tons more casualti's then what there have been. Why'd ya think dat is?"

Bam. Gone. No image left behind in her wake, she simply was on the opposite side of the pyramid from where she had been. Legs coiled once more.

"Srsly, i win bi keeping u all here." The abrupt shift in 'accents' was likely out of place for someone who didn't 'know' Genoveva, but there was a different problem as the Primera seems to lose her mind. She explodes into motion, bouncing off the sides of the bakudo with stone-shattering force again and again, showing up for just moments at a time before disappearing again. The kido-pyramid shakes with each impact, even as the glowing arrancar flashes close by to all those within the pyramid at least a couple of times before careening off to another point.

Ripples are sent through the blue barrier as weak spots are found, ignored, returned to seemingly by accident, while strong points were hammered again and again as she blurs past the combatants and those attempting to stay out of the way on the ground below, though a far more...drastic effect was over taking them...

Spoiler

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Ping-pong ball from hell!!! Also known as ricocheting off the walls and introducing everyone to her Lunacy aura.

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Boabone vs. Damara

The unnaturally thin arrancar woman certainly seems surprised when Damara abruptly flies towards her, as if expecting greater resistance from the Vice Captain, and it goes without saying that she's rather surprised when the man's feet slam into her face, sending her careening back through the air.

Her garganta's wind-tunnel twists with her, sweeping a trail of devastation across the largely abandoned streets of the Rukon beneath her. The twin Byakurai catch her at this time, burning a hole through her left shoulder and the other through the small of her back, though only the first emerges from the other side. With a quick spin, Boabone twists to bring Damara back within that vortex of suction, even as she releases the barbed spear point once more and haphazardly launches it at him. The pain must have dulled her aim because it flies wide with no effort of his own.

Until she yanks on the chain to change it's trajectory and bring the spear within the same vortex Damara is in, where the weighted spear-tip twists about to aim straight at Boabone...and Damara's back as it succumbs to the wind-tunnel as well, plummeting towards him silently from behind.

================================================== ======

Parasito vs. Goro

The arrancar-beast had just begun to cast back it's head in a feral roar when the red glow began to emanate from the wounded shinigami's hands. It draws a morbidly curious look from the bestial creature only moments before a red glow turns into an explosion that burns and buffets it's body, flinging Parasito back from Goro to lay in a smoking heap upon the ground. For a couple of moments silence reigns...before the noise of metal clacking against metal is heard as the four metal-clawed hands press into the ground and lift the charred body up into the air.

Four tiny voices, that surprisingly come from behind the lupine monster, call out in an ominous tone of voice.

"Tear the world to shreads, Parasito!" and a white flash envelops the arrancar, leaving a swirling sphere of dust about it before an animal-like shape explodes from it to stand panting but a couple dozen yards from the wounded Goro. The four bladed arms remains, though those scythe-like blades have become wickedly serrated and, if anything, longer then before to wave menacingly over the head and back of the newly released creature. Smoke and blood still drips from Parastio as it hunkers down on it's squat four legs, flicking out a forked tongue from a furred, but saurian, muzzle. It's mouth open in a hiss to expose needle-sharp fangs that drizzle poisonous looking spittle as it digs bird-like talons into the ground. A thick tail sweeps the ground behind it, a knot of solid bone at the very end of it studded with spikes and twisted horns. Parastio's newly scaled bulk looks...slower then the lupine monstrosity had been before, but the thickly matted fur that had resisted being cut before was now armored underneath with hard, bone-white scales layered atop one another in one of nature's most successful defensive patterns.

Not that there'd be a long time to contemplate these changes as it's colorful muzzle opens wide in a ululating roar before it heaves itself forward in a rumbling charge towards the wounded Goro.

[KnightDisciple]

[Mid Rukon, Genoveva Fight

Even as Genoveva was rapidly moving around the huge, blue, two-layered pyramid, Masaru was carefully watching her, his eyes slowly adjusting to the speed and seemingly random course she was plotting. At first, it had seemed random, but as he continued to observe, patterns emerge. Even as he chanted, he shifted his stance slightly.

"-The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired! Hadō #91. Senjū Kōten Taihō!"

Suddenly, a series of pink energy bolts manifested in front of Masaru, 10 in all. They hovered there for several moments, his eyes still tracking...before one by one, they began to fire. Not at where Genoveva was, but rather at where she would be. Each bolt had a slight attraction to the target, further increasing their chances of hitting.

Thankfully, Masaru had been far enough away that any traces of Genoveva's aura were minor, and thus comparatively easy to squash down, especially for one with so strong a mind. Still, he frowned, not liking the implications...

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Onmitsukido - Just a bit earlier]

Sigint finally noticed something. This saurian-lupine creature was standing menacingly over a Shinigami Officer. And it looked like the officer was in trouble...

Sigint soon found a team near the area. A simple message was relayed: find the creature and attack it. Shoot to kill, and if at all possible get the officer out of there.

The message soon buzzed through the wires, carried on the wings of urgency. Meanwhile, Sigint assembles a team to dispatch to the location

[Parasito vs. Goro]

...The creature will probably get a horrible surprise, as it suddenly gets smacked upside the eye by a ball of red energy, probably breaking his charge as the ball explodes.

The message had reached two 2nd Corps. members in the area, one good with Kido and the other more combat-based. The Shakkahō had come from a man with long hair and a face that hadn't seen a smile in quite some time.

As for the other one..."Bakudo 9: Hōrin!" A blur appears, a strand of orange light trying to wrap around one of the creature's legs, attempting to trip him up.

[Kayne650]

Genoveva vs. Lots of People

It feels as if Michiko's hand had slammed into a steel wall, but only for a moment before the sensation faded and the after images faded around the 11th Division captain. The blond arrancar stands with her feet against the kido barrier, stilling smirking even as she reaches up to feel the large red spot where Michiko's hand had briefly connected.

"Heh...hehe..hehehehehe.. the Primera chuckles, straightening up long enough to swing the haori about her own shoulders to wear it herself before crouching down, "Ah can't believe ya haven't gott'n it yet. Ah mean seriously, if mah goal was to kill, there'd be tons more casualti's then what there have been. Why'd ya think dat is?"

Bam. Gone. No image left behind in her wake, she simply was on the opposite side of the pyramid from where she had been. Legs coiled once more.

"Srsly, i win bi keeping u all here." The abrupt shift in 'accents' was likely out of place for someone who didn't 'know' Genoveva, but there was a different problem as the Primera seems to lose her mind. She explodes into motion, bouncing off the sides of the bakudo with stone-shattering force again and again, showing up for just moments at a time before disappearing again. The kido-pyramid shakes with each impact, even as the glowing arrancar flashes close by to all those within the pyramid at least a couple of times before careening off to another point.

Ripples are sent through the blue barrier as weak spots are found, ignored, returned to seemingly by accident, while strong points were hammered again and again as she blurs past the combatants and those attempting to stay out of the way on the ground below, though a far more...drastic effect was over taking them...

Spoiler

Show

Ping-pong ball from hell!!! Also known as ricocheting off the walls and introducing everyone to her Lunacy aura.

Michiko noticed the music beginning, and glanced at Seiko. Yes, he had started it. Good, too. It gave them both something to focus on besides the insanity of the Arrancar. Her foot began to tap in time to the music, and her eyes locked with Seiko's. In a flash, they both vanished simultaneously, the dance beginning.

"You win by keeping us here? No, Arrancar. By keeping us close, you lose!" Seiko's voice rang out in the pyramid, though his movement kept him obscured. Suddenly, as the music began in earnest, both reappeared, Seiko's staff twirling around him and twin longswords flashing in Michiko's hands. The two moved in perfect sync, perfectly in time to the music. Each beat brought a different movement, though the movements were never the same. It seemed that the two were everywhere and nowhere at once. Wherever Seiko wasn't, Michiko was, and wherever Michiko's blade flashed, Seiko was on the opposite side, disrupting Genoveva's concentration.

The music was everywhere, pervading all of their movements and the entire battlefield, and the two Shinigami moved with absolute grace and precision. Despite their incredible speed, they never crashed into each other or misstepped. They even threaded their way through Masaru's Hado, keeping its path clear as they continued pressuring Genoveva. The two moved in perfect sync. The aura of Lunacy seemed to have almost no effect, though if you looked closely, Seiko's steps were just ever so slightly off-beat.

[Frozen_Feet]

Michiko is not the one to notice Seiko's stumbling, though, because she's become utterly entranced by the song. The music truly is a blessing - dealing with the feverish dream images mockingly jumping across her vision each time she got within striking range of the Arrancar had begun to get on her nerves.

But that's over now - now, there's only her, Seiko, and their target. Everything outside the pyramid might as well not exist - Masaru might not exist, as they fade from her mind as she focuses on the dance, making the various strikes, weaves and dodges from memory.

Briefly, she wonders how beautiful the scene must look to those outside. Indeed, it might be hard for them to even think of the combatants as enemies, just as three dancers flowing from one step to another in perfect harmony amidst a peaceful rain of cherry petals.

Then, she finds the opening they've been waiting for. As Genoveva tries flying past her in another mad dash, Michiko braces her sword and prepares to sever the Hollow's neck...

Cherry petals?

Michiko's eyes widen as she snaps back to reality and realizes she's strayed too close to one of the pink fireballs from Senjū Kōten Taihō. Much too close.

"Bankai!" is the last thing Masaru and Seiko hear of her, before a blinding magenta explosion hides good part of the battlefield from view, the blue pyramid around them trembling under the strain...

[Dorizzit]

Spoiler

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"Awww, he does not like me!", Jin wails, toying with its hair. Hachirou does his best to ignore it.

"Do you really?", he asks, "Let's put that to test, then. What you see here is my zanpakuto spirit - what can you tell of me based on it, what you didn't already know?" He beckons towards Jin.

"Maybe he likes boys instead?", it wonders aloud, seemingly oblivious to Hachirou's words. It remains in its female form, though. Hachirou sighs.

"You're not really helping here..."

[Hachirou's Inner World]
Jin's Prison

Allan seems to be doing his best to try and not look at or listen to Jin, but judging by his expression he is having little success. He looks over at Jin briefly when Hachirou tells him to think about the connection between the two, but quickly returns his gaze to the other Shinigami. He thinks for a minute.

"Well...Jin is about as opposite from you as possible...so...you either suppress your own facetious tendencies or lack any in the first place...but you have to have some kind of bond with Jin, since you can talk to it...?"

Spoiler

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Boabone vs. Damara

The unnaturally thin arrancar woman certainly seems surprised when Damara abruptly flies towards her, as if expecting greater resistance from the Vice Captain, and it goes without saying that she's rather surprised when the man's feet slam into her face, sending her careening back through the air.

Her garganta's wind-tunnel twists with her, sweeping a trail of devastation across the largely abandoned streets of the Rukon beneath her. The twin Byakurai catch her at this time, burning a hole through her left shoulder and the other through the small of her back, though only the first emerges from the other side. With a quick spin, Boabone twists to bring Damara back within that vortex of suction, even as she releases the barbed spear point once more and haphazardly launches it at him. The pain must have dulled her aim because it flies wide with no effort of his own.

Until she yanks on the chain to change it's trajectory and bring the spear within the same vortex Damara is in, where the weighted spear-tip twists about to aim straight at Boabone...and Damara's back as it succumbs to the wind-tunnel as well, plummeting towards him silently from behind.

Rukongai
Middle Districts

Damara is not surprised when the Byakurai that hit part of Boabone near the Garganta does not reemerge. Still, the two Byakurais had been more effective than he had anticipated. Something to keep in mind for the future. He pursues Boabone immediately, once again using the force of suction to increase his speed. When the barbed spear comes towards him, he doesn't even move; he can tell that the trajectory was far off. Odd, but the pain could have caused her to miss. Ignoring it, he points two fingers towards Boabone.

"Ye lord. Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man. Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado 33: Sōkatsui."

A powerful blast of energy begins coalescing at his finger tips, when suddenly Damara realizes Boabone's strategy. Half spinning and trying to dodge, his side is still badly raked by the wickedly sharp spear. He tries to fire the Sōkatsui at Boabone, but his aim is off and the Kido is disrupted by Damara's injury, sending it wide off course and weakening it significantly. Damara dives to a nearby rooftop, kneeling and clutching his side as he watches Boabone for her next move.

[tgva8889]

At Hayashi Goro's location...

Following the 2nd Division spells, a 10th Division Execution Squad member appears on the roof opposite the allies. "Bakudo 4: Hainawa!" The strand of yellow flies outward, grasping a leg opposite the Horin in the hopes that the both of them could slow it down further. Another 10th Division soldier runs up from behind Goro, chanting quickly with a hand pointed outwards. "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo 9: Geki!" The red light begins to envelop Parasito, restricting its movements ever so slightly.

A third 10th Division member runs up beside Goro. "Are you alright, Officer Hayashi? We're Execution Squad 5, here to provide support against the invaders."

Meanwhile, somewhere in Sereitei...

Taiki Takahashi saw the red flashes. As he was about to disappear, however, a scream caught his attention. "Captain!! Captain!! There's an invader at 4th Division!" Taiki looked at his messenger, then at the location of the flashes, then towards 4th Division. His mind was made up.

No one was touching his wife or his child.

[Frozen_Feet]

[Hachirou's Inner World]
Jin's Prison

As it hears Allan's words, Jin bursts into hearty laughter. "Opposite? Really now? My my, you must have a short memory."

This time, it's Hachirou who changes - his Shinigami attire vanishes as he redons the outfit he had in the outside world - that of a mime in striped shirt, black vest and a baret. He crosses his legs and pretends to lean on thin air.

"Suppress would be the correct answer. We aren't that different - unlike someone, I just grew up and learned to behave myself." Jin sticks its tongue towards Hachirou - he responds to the gesture by steadfastly ignoring it.

"We used to be pretty close, actually", Jin picks up where he stops, turning to look at Allan. There's a hint of... sadness?... on its pretty face. "We worked together, and when he was in doubt, I whispered advice to him. But then he stopped trusting me! Can you imagine?"

The mime outfit flickers away like a mirage of heat, and Hachirou stands straight again. He draws a simple tachi and holds it between his hands, one hand grasping hilt and the other, covered in cloth, supporting the blade. He offers it towards Allan... when did he get it?

"Initially, nearly every spirit takes on the form of a sword", he says. "One might take this as a sign that Shinigami are, first and foremost, warriors. What else could we be, with our internal power taking on such a shape?"

"However, we also call this state of Zanpakuto 'sealed'. In most cases, the spirit of a Shinigami first inhabits an Asauchi, a mock Zanpakuto, handed to them in academy. This is a sing that they've completed their training, that they are indeed warriors - but in such a case, does the sword really reflect inherent quality of the wielder? Or is it just a sign of acquired skills? One could say we force, out of tradition, our spirits to take on such a shape."

"This is why Shikai is sometimes referred to as a 'true from' of a Zanpakuto - it reflects the ability and nature of the wielder much better than the sealed form. This is why many Shinigami have much easier time learning to fight with their Shikai, than they have learning basics of Zanjutsu."

"But, as you might have noticed, not every Shikai is really suited for combat. You have been to the 4th, right? You must have seen some medics with Zanpakutos other than weapons." It's Jin speaking now - it has sneaked behind Hachirou and is now hanging from his neck like an overly affectionate newlywed. "They aren't very warlike, are they? You must have thought of it once - they'd be as much at home healing the sick in Rukon, as tending those wounded on the battlefield."

"For a long while now", Hachirou continues, and his impassive exterior is starting to crack as well, "my goal has been to be as good a soldier as I just can. I've studied ways of spirits and mortals alike to find ways to improve our age-old organization. I've examined qualities people find desirable in military leaders and tried to assume. I've heard it said that a leader should should be neither too distant or too close to his underlings - he should listen to their desires and know them inside-out, but it's not his place to be their 'friend'. He should not grow attached to them, as to avoid favoritism and letting love and grief cloud his vision." There's a definite hint of conflict and disappointment in his voice - but towards what?

"If you can't guess, letting you in to this place is a direct violation to that principle, and the kind of a leader I've been striving to become."

"There was once a time", Jin continues, looking mournfully at Allan, "when not every God of Death was a warrior. Before there was Gotei, before there even was Seireitei. It might be just a legend now, but it's worth remembering nonetheless." There's strange longing in its posture, as if it's reluctant to let go of Hachirou - and based on its prior behaviour, it'd be easy for Allan to imagine himself in Hachirou's place. Maybe the sword spirit doesn't want them to leave?

"Jin is not a combat type Zanpakuto", Hachirou says dryly. "We've grown so distant in the past few years because the Way of the Warrior, and the way she represents, take into different directions. But useless as she might be, I can't just deny the part of me she represents, which is why I can still hear her, no matter how much I'd rather not."

Hachirou is still offering the sword towards Allan, but now, starting from the tip, it starts crumbling to dust. If he doesn't take it, it'll soon be gone completely! "I hope this insight will be useful to you, Crossdale-kun. Who are you? What does your heart yearn for? What is your way forth as a Shinigami?"

[Sucrose]

Were Hayashi Goro from a different division, or in a different state of mind, he might be aggravated to have his duel interrupted by support. However, neither sharks nor lawmen have any need for honor.

He turns to the questioning officer with a smile that just doesn't look right on any human's face, least of all his own. However, with a visible struggle, he returns to something slightly resembling his normal demeanor.

"I am...acceptable. Please continue to provide bakudo support. Bakudo 8: Seki."
A targe forms around his left arm, which he maintains with nary a thought.

"I'm going in."

With that, he smiles again, and begins to rush into the maelstrom of blades that seemingly have a mind greater than the beast they control.

Impressive defenses. Only one visible weak point... I'll just have to hit there, then!

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone!"

Within the confines of Goro's skull, Murderous Shark laughs hysterically.

[Kayne650]

"...I'm going to make sure the corpse is burnt myself. Outside the hospital. You're able to carry him with the least contact with the body itself, so please do so."

4th Division

The body remains still.

Do not read mon.

Spoiler

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Naraku exits the body through the rear exit and hides under the skirt of the shihakusho.

Daisuke nods at Natsuko's orders, lifting the body with his tails and moving to follow her. He moves with the body in front of him, so in case it starts moving, he'll notice. He's taking no chances with the "dead" body.

[horngeek]

Natsuko follows, Karinmaru out.

[Draken]

Naraku falls from the shihakusho, dashing down under Daisuke's and then past Natsuko's, only stopping moving one he is safely hidden underneath Kagome's shihakusho.

[Kuroimaken]

Soushi rolls his eyes for a moment. He's not a freaking toolbox on demand!

Note time.

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Could you at least PRETEND you're casting the Kidou yourself?

He complies, though Officer Karashi might just smell something burning.

It smells like barbecued hindquarters.

[Frozen_Feet]

Shishimaru was about to respond to Kazuo when he felt a sharp tug on his collar pulling him away from the scene, threatening to strangle him as it pulled him away. Once Natsuko let him go, he stood and attempted to regain his composure.

Just as Nasumi collapsed against him. She didn't push him back to the ground, but she came darn close. Shishimaru struggled to hold up the six-foot woman as he answered. "Um, I think that Koishima-sama wanted us to help evacuate the Rukongai. Perhaps we should go look for our squad?" He asked, just short of pleading. He wanted to get her back to Koishima before she saw something else that interested her.

"Ah, that's right! Evacuate the Rukongai! Um..." Nasumi jumps up, almost shoving Shishimaru to the ground as a side-effect. Then, her eyes widen and her enthusiastic smile freezes on her face - Shishimaru can almost see the gears in her head slowly grounding to halt. "Um... um... which way in the Rukongai?"

Soushi rolls his eyes for a moment. He's not a freaking toolbox on demand!

Note time.

Spoiler

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Could you at least PRETEND you're casting the Kidou yourself?

He complies, though Officer Karashi might just smell something burning.

It smells like barbecued hindquarters.

The stranger rolls his eyes for the moment. Of course Soushi's a toolbox on demand! His insistence to contrary just serves to prove he hasn't quite grasped how the villain game works, and it's getting on the stranger's nerves.

He doesn't say anything though, just taking some time to extinquish his flaming behind again. Then he picks up the candy bar and, once again, offers it to Officer Karashi, who's now bound by a thin glowing chain and arranged in a (relatively) comfortable upright sitting position.

"You there pal?", the stranger asks. "Okay, lets rewind our discussion a bit... back to your Captains. You know how some of 'em have been 'round for centuries, some even for the better part of the millenium. It ever struck you as odd how some of 'em still retain youthfull appearance and mannerisms."

There's a fair bit of queasiness in the stranger's voice, as if the subject is horrifying him. "I've been thinking of it, and it really shouldn't work that way. Because, it either means they never learn, never grow up and get anything useful out of th' experience, or it means they're content with how they are... were ages ago. Does the thought scare you? I know it scares the hell out of me!"

"Think of it - many of the old guard, they're from times when it was a-okay for a superior to cut heads of his underlings at slightest provocation. When it was a-okay for a warrior to treat peasentry and women like dirt. I can't help but wonder about that each time I look out in the Rukon pal. I mean, what the heck is wrong with this place!?! Tis supposed to be Heaven, but outside... it's like some Happy Medi-evil Theme Park, for the whole family! 'Come 'n' witness an authentic public beating!', 'See how fires spread in a traditional city all made out of wood!' "

"Must be quite a shock for the modern folks who come here - it's like going back in time. But why's that? Why's that my friend?"

[Kayne650]

Naraku falls from the shihakusho, dashing down under Daisuke's and then past Natsuko's, only stopping moving one he is safely hidden underneath Kagome's shihakusho.

Natsuko follows, Karinmaru out.

Daisuke fails to notice the mod soul scurrying around and behind him, given his focus on the dead body in front of him that he's sure will attack any second now. He experimentally shook the body, hoping to elicit a reaction. He continued to walk out of the building, the anticipation of an attack killing him.

[horngeek]

Natusko looks at Daisuke. "Okay, place it down there."

She points a significant distance away from the hospital.

[Kayne650]

Daisuke nods, still not trusting himself to speak. He walked to the spot that Natsuko had indicated, placing the body down, though each of his tails still twitched in anticipation of an attack.

He looked back at Natsuko expectantly.

[horngeek]

Natsuko holds out her blade. "Bring down the fires of heaven, Karinmaru!"

A dragon of flame flies out of the blade. "Step back, Daisuke."

Waste disposal? Really, Natsuko?

You saw what that thing was like.

[Kayne650]

Oh. Right. Her Zanpakutou was perfectly suited to this sort of thing, wasn't it? But wait, hadn't she just given birth? Didn't that tend to leave people kind of tired?

"Um, Natsuko-taichou, would you rather I did this? I...I mean, are you feeling up to it?" He was really worried about saying things like this to a Captain, but if Taiki-taichou found out that he had let his wife do work after giving birth...he didn't want to think about it. Nonetheless, he still stepped back while talking. He didn't want to get caught up in that dragon.

[horngeek]

The dragon crashes down on Naraku's body, probably burning it to ash.

Natsuko shoots a withering glance at Daisuke. The message is probably 'you're worrying about that now?' "I've had time to recover. Besides, after the fight, this doesn't take much."

[Draken]

(First things first.

In the benefit of keeping things moving, I will consider that Feyan took the baby and fled some time ago, before saying the post we were forced to disregard, in fact)

4th Division

A low voice rings out from the building above, audible from Natsuko's and Daisuke's position only by those of truly exceptional hearing.

"Crush, Tsukihime."

This is followed by a pair of barely visible air blasts flying down from the building, aimed at the two shinigami desacrating the body.

Above, hovering in front of the in the hole in the wall, is Kagome, zanpakutou draw, the blade and hilt turned fully silver, with a pair of small orbs orbiting the guard.

[Kayne650]

Daisuke cowers before Natsuko's glare while nodding in agreement at her statement. She had a point, but he hadn't been able to stop her before! He had been trying to stop a dead psychopath from destroying the hospital, and had been a little preoccupied by uncontrolled rage.

So of course he hadn't heard Kagome's quiet release command, as he was too distracted by Natsuko's glaring (and he couldn't have heard it anyway). But looking at her, he noticed something odd in the air, particularly how it was blowing the trees in the area out of the path of...something. Fortunately, Daisuke was jumpy by nature, and was still in a state of high adrenaline.

"Bakudo #39: Enkosen!" He shouted, creating a shield behind Natsuko just as the blast struck it. It didn't break through the shield, but creating the shield had caused Daisuke to ignore the blast heading for him. It hit him straight in the shoulder, knocking him down and dispelling the shield.

[strawberryman]

INVASION DAY

[1st Division Barracks]
Hirokatsu Goto (VC of 9th Div) with 1st Division members

Hirokatsu stood and waited to be heard and recognized. His thoughts and request was indeed time sensitive, but etiquette and respect to those whom deserve it was not something to be pushed aside regardless of time desires.

Goto is greeted by Ryouichi.

...Well, not really greeted, so much as "passing by in a blur". However, on recognizing the vice captain, he stops, and reels back. "...Goto-san. What brings you here?" He looks in the direction of the clashing energies of Genoveva and other shinigami...

"...If you could walk and talk, that would be best." Ryouichi waits before proceeding.

[tgva8889]

Officer Karashi

Karashi feels one set of bonds replaced by another. Able to talk, he breathes in and out a few times. Rather than exercise his new ability, however, Karashi uses his limited senses. His head turns left and right to scan the area, though the darkness and his blurry vision provide very little. Burning catches his nose a few times. Smoke blocks his taste buds too; the remains of his squad fill his mind once more.

His interegator's words wash over him, not only nonsensical but also unimportant. Even if they meant something, Karashi sure as hell didn't know what it was. Once the stranger seems finished for a moment, Karashi looks up at him. "So, do you %$#@ have a %$#@!*^ point?" A few of his words slur together, but the message remains obvious.

[Kuroimaken]

Soushi has to try really hard not to laugh at Karashi's bravado. The man was bound, blindfolded, drugged and disoriented and he STILL had the balls to swear at his captor! This guy was worth keeping around.

Soushi could use him.

[Frozen_Feet]

"Oh dear. You don't seem very receptive. I think I'll need to hurt you a little to clear your head." The stranger snaps his fingers demandingly a few times. Now, torture might not be the best way to squeeze information out of a person, but what comes to making them do what you tell them... well, that's another story.

In addition, after a while self-preservation would kick in, and the tortured person might start to sympathize with his captor in order to avoid further beatings, leading to a phenomenom called "Stockholm syndrome" by Mortals. Now it'd just be a matter of time to see what mix of pain, drugs and suggestion would finally break the hapless officer.

"Of course I have a point... the point is to make you hear my part of the story, see things from my side of the fence. Knowledge is power, don't they say? So listen closely, pal."

Seeing Karashi is really determined to not eat the chocolate bar, the stranger takes a break from talking to eat it himself. "Now, I have more of these lying about. Just say when you want some", the stranger says. "Like said, I'm not out to make you suffer... well, you will suffer, but only so much as is necessary. So lets co-operate, shall we?"

"As I hope you remember, I'm not some grand enemy here. I'm not a traitor, not really. I'm just following orders, like I guess you are at the moment." The stranger pulls out the silvery ampule again, playing with it and stopping to stare at it occasionally. "You see, two years back - you remember what happened two years back, don't ya? The ugly demise of the ol' Commander General? Akiyama Hideaki? Led to certain criminal being labeled 'Public Enemy Number One?' " There isn't a hint of sarcasm in the stranger's voice... and neither is there any explicit belying that he's talking of himself.

"Ever thought how a single man could get to do such a thing? Shouldn't such things be impossible? Well, here's the thing - it was an inside job, just like this thing here is an inside job."

"You see, this... Tsukada... Ryouichi? Yeah, that's the current Commander General, isn't it? Personally, I only recall him as a Vice-Captain. Really swell guy, him. He wanted to challenge Ol' Man Akiyama... but realized he wasn't stong enough."

"Oh, you must be thinking I'm out of my mind now, speaking **** to just mix your brain up. But that's not the case, man, I'm telling you!" The stranger grabs Karashi's head with both hands, looking deep into his eyes, his own purple eyes reflecting a mix of despair, sadness and pity... but no obvious signs of insanity, at least for now. "You see, while I've been calling your leadership with names here, they're not all such monsters. This Ryouichi guy, he saw the things that were wrong - and like any idealist, wanted to fix 'em."

"You see, Ol' Man Akiyama - he was holding progress down! I know, it's hard to believe, he was such affable guy, outwardly... but consider what I said prior. Consider that the man had been in power for one thousand years - he was next only to the king himself!"

"Oh, I know, he was nominally under the command of Central 43 - but think for a moment, what could they have done to keep such a man under check? They had no raw power comparable to him! Even the Onmitsukido, it's been wrapped under the little finger of Gotei for so long it isn't even funny... no, the Central 43 had no power, not really. It was all Ol' Man Akiyama calling the shots."

"That's why Ryouichi fellow had to move outside the scope of Seireitei... think outside the box a bit to arrange the incident that saw the Ol' Man's demise. Oh, I know it pained him to do it, but really, what other way was there? Akiyama was too set in his ways to hear reason, too powerful for his own good. I mean, how do you argue with someone over a millenia old? They can always shoot you down because you 'don't have perspective'. We're all just kids to people like 'em."

"That's why Akiyama had to go. It was for the Greater Good. And you, my friend, are going to help me to facilitate Greater Good this time 'round. What's your name, by the way?"

[Kuroimaken]

At the request, Karashi would feel the mother of all splitting headaches. It made it hard to think, but it finished as soon as it had started... only for his body to feel shooting, excrutiating pain from several different other places.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Genoveva vs. Lots of People

"u tak lik a ful." Genoveva snorts at Seiko's arrogant declaration on one of her passes past the Vice Captain, actually sticking her tongue out when he tries to land a hit on the ricocheting arrancar, even as the 'dance' proves effective enough that there were fewer avenues to escape then others might have wanted. For her part though, she stays on the defensive and avoids more then one chance to counter-attack that could have proved disastrous to those who had opened themselves up to her. Nor did Masaru's actions up in the corners of the pyramid go un-noticed, as proven when the spears of light appear and Genoveva's smug smirk disappears as her slitted gaze appraises the energy spears with a head tilted to the side.

"wat dat n00b up 2?" the arrancar muses aloud between hops, before the spears are sent careening in her direction. The resulting explosion envelops the target of the kido spell, even as the massive explosion from it's release and Michiko's sudden use of bankai shatter the weakened inner pyramid and blasts holes through the outer one as well. Wind, dust, and heat buffets those within the inner pyramid. Sight was blocked from the smoke and dust, as the rumbling noise from the explosion gradually fades, leaving the fate of the Primera a mystery since no sign of her can be seen through the smoke and dust yet.

"I was trying to play nice with you blokes." A voice spits from within the cloud, twisting into a vicious snarl as the speaker continued, "After all, if I killed any of you then I cease to be a diversion and become the main threat, but congratu-fu**ing-lations in raising the bar on this little brawl. Let's get dangerous, try to keep up."

A burnt arm coils around Seiko's throat from behind, yanking the Vice-Captain's back into an arch as a hot breath of air caresses his right ear. She was already there! The grab couldn't have been timed better either, curling around the Vice Captain during one of those split second lags in his harmony with the dance and his captain's movements and tight around his neck like a noose. "You first."

Burn marks cover her left arm but Seiko's body is used as a visual block to prevent a full look at Genoveva's body and the damage the kido might have caused. Hellish eyes peer out from behind Seiko's head, the face possessing them cast in shadow as the Primera's right hand stabs through Seiko's body to emerge out the other side covered in his blood. Just as quickly her hand is withdrawn, hidden behind her, likely unwilling, human shield as her arm tightens it's hold even further.

"C'mon, lets not loose momentum here!" Comes the call from behind Seiko as the yellow aura surrounding the arm changes to a fiery red one. "Come and get me!"

Spoiler

Show

Aura switched from Lunacy to Wrath, courtesy of Lalita. Seiko's injury was pre-discussed with Kayne.

==================================================

Boabone vs. Damara

Boabone's 'next move' turns out to be one that she's already done to the citizens of the Rukon but hadn't yet attempted to attack Damara with yet. She's quick to dodge out of the way of the kido blast, garganta-windstorm turned the wrong way for the moment, even as a veritable horde of black threads are sent coursing out from the stitches in her arms and legs. They slither and wave through the air towards the street below, seemingly without purpose or path even as the arrancar calls over the roar of the wind.

"Damara Shishihara? Are you still alive?" The eyeless arrancar woman calls out uncertainly as her spear reconnects to itself with a mechanical clank. However, as a few stray threads come closer to the Vice Captain's position, they pause for a moment before questing towards his position more earnestly though Boabone herself doesn't turn to face him fully yet either to bring him back within grip of her garganta once more.

================================================== =====

Blindados vs. Magatsu

The hurling sphere of arrancar and purple fire barrels towards Magatsu at break-neck speeds as various weapons clatter against the armored shell and, caught by the rapid spin of the sphere, are tugged off course and thrown away from the arrancar as it blasts into the smoke cloud and out the other side just as quickly. It takes a wide turn in the air as the pudgy arrancar's laugh dwindles to a stutter and finally ceases.

At the rapid-fire kido casting though, it's rotations come to a halt as the flames sputter out of existence and the armored white ball, a lot like an armadillo's shell, uncurls to reveal the transformed arrancar. He's sweating up a storm and panting from the heat, but seems honestly confused about just what Magatsu was doing.

"Hey, idiot, what the hell is all of that supposed to accomplish?" He hollers down, putting on a show of disdain though his body language conveys a feeling of unease and trepidiation at what the shinigami was up to.

Spoiler

Show

I share Blindados' feelings, what IS Magatsu doing?

==================================================

Parastio vs. Lots of People

A lot of things seemed to happen when the saurian creature begins it's charge, not the least of which was a small, controlled explosion enveloping it's head in destructive red energy and smoke. It forces Parasito's course to shift ever so slightly to the right but doesn't slow the heavy beast in the least as it's fang-filled mouth opens in another roar. The orange and yellow 'rope' of kido coiling about one of it's hind legs was another matter though and with a ground-rumbling slam Parasito is tripped up to fall on the ground.

It's furred and scaled bulk heaves as it pulls itself back up to it's feet, mouth opening for a furious hiss as a red glow envelops it's body and freezes it in place...for the moment anyway. Oddly, that very same glow doesn't extend to it's four clawed arms though they go stock-still as well....

[HirokatsuGoto]

Spoiler

Show

Goto is greeted by Ryouichi.

...Well, not really greeted, so much as "passing by in a blur". However, on recognizing the vice captain, he stops, and reels back. "...Goto-san. What brings you here?" He looks in the direction of the clashing energies of Genoveva and other shinigami...

"...If you could walk and talk, that would be best." Ryouichi waits before proceeding.

INVASION DAY

1st Division Barracks (interior--outside conference room)


Hirokatsu's eyes opened abruptly in surprise as the Cpt General passed him. He immediately bowed as the Cpt General spoke to him directly. After hearing his succinct words, he nodded to him and spoke quickly as he began to move in the direction of the direction of the Cpt General "Of course sir" .

Hirokatsu used his umbrella as a cane as they moved slow enough to warrant it, and then would move it to his right shoulder as their speed would increase, if going outside, he would open his umbrella as he was accustomed.

As they moved on Hirokatsu spoke to the Cpt General's first question, making sure to make his words quick. "...Sir, I have deployed the 3rd Division equally within the Seretei to support the other division patrols in their reconnaissance needs...but why i have come here is to ask about potential extra-Soul Society reconnaissance... perhaps to the Earth Realm and Hueco Mundo...and while i am well aware of the immediate needs of the officers of the Gotei within the defense of the Seretei and Soul Society in general, i believe external reconnaissance may be prudent in vase..as i believe may be the case... that these attacks are but a diversion from a larger plot... while we have committed our forces rather directly to the immediate threat we seem to have taken our eyes away from other places... while my division is primarily charged with outside reconnaissance, i come here to offer our services to those ends. As we are not an internal reconnaissance division i will leave those duties to whom will keep an eye on those places within the Seretei which we may overlook in a time like this of direct assault...

Hirokatsu would pause for a moment...before continuing "...with Cpt Kiku's recent departure to the Zero Division, i am left in command of the 9th Division...and while i have no hesitance in my ability to act as such, i felt it prudent to respect your command and desires for the the direction for the 9th Division especially in a crisis such as this."

Hiroaktsu then stopped, knowing he had said much...he followed the Cpt General his eyes open only slits, awaiting his response.

This Cpt General was much different than the Cpt General Hiroaktsu was 3rd Seat under for so many years. He was young to the position, but one woudl not know it how he carried himself. While Hirokatsu saw little of the Head Cpt and the 1st Division in general since his transfer to the 9th Division as Lt, he was still well conscious of the new Cpt General and the way he conducted the 1st Division, as Hirokatsu had a few acquaintances still in the 1st Division from his time there.

Hirokatsu had little knowledge of the opinion of himself by the current Cpt General, nor if he even knew he was a long time member of the 1st Division member. It mattered little in the end, however Hirokatsu knew he would be looked to as a potential replacement for his recently departed Cpt Kiku, and hopefully the Cpt General would not just see his aged appearance and see him as unfit. Hirokatsu rarely looked to ingratiate himself on anyone, and he would not start now, he trusted his actions and demeanor would translate to respect, even by the most senior officers, regardless of their personal acquaintance.

[strawberryman]

[1st Division]

"...You make a convincing argument, Hirokatsu-san. Very well, I'll consider your request. But don't lose too much hope if it doesn't happen so, there's a lot of bureaucracy with my job." Ryouichi keeps his pace just on the cusp of a light jog, one hand resting on one of the hilts of his zanpaktou.

"Your initiative, however, will not be overlooked when it comes time for me to choose Captain Kiku's replacement." His gaze breaks from the adamant glare towards the roiling conflict to give the lieutenant a wane smile. "Is that all, Vice-Captain?"