An ambush! (R, DE)

Play This.

A clock in the distance rang midnight as Zeich sat awake in his room, sitting on a small chair that was one of the few pieces of furniture his modest room had. As a seated officer, he could have had a nicer room, but he preferred it sparse, simple; a nightstand and bed, a desk and chair, and last but not least a chest for his uniforms and clothing made up the furniture. It was all he needed, after all; Zeich was not one for modern entertainments such as books or newspaper, and instead preferred to use the time he spent in his room either for rest after a long day or meditation, a chance to visit his Inner World and speak with Haiiro and commune with the wolf, learning more about what changes had come about with the alteration in self-identity. The number of differences was surprising; Zeich had been startled to discover his Zanpaktou itself was completely different; no longer did it form the chakram that was Ventus’s original form, but instead his weapon simply turned into ash, which could be reformed into a sword with a bit of concentration and Reiatsu application. There was still much to be learned about his new Zanpaktou.

Right now, however, Zeich was neither sleeping nor speaking with Haiiro. It was late, and he should be in bed resting, yet the Shinigami could not convince himself to go back to sleep. He had awoken from another nightmare, reliving the Shadow’s destruction of Polaris. The howls, the smell of burning fur, the feeling of something being ripped out of his soul… it was too much, too painful. The Fifth Seat shivered, feeling a chill dread fill him as he recalled Polaris’s death, and wondered if he would go that way too. He wasn’t going to give in to the Shadow by a long shot, but at times Zeich wondered if he would even be able to stand up to the dark being. It had killed one of his Zanpaktou spirits with ease, and it wanted his body; when the Shadow came for him, would he even be able to resist?

It was for that same reason Zeich had not yet gone back to his Inner World, despite the fact that communing with Haiiro usually managed to calm him; he could feel the Shadow’s presence rather distinctly tonight, and he didn’t want to draw its attention by going into the Inner World. The Shinigami was sure that this dark being that existed within his soul was responsible for his nightmares, and was likely trying to draw him into the Inner World in order to further its own malicious agenda. He had no intention of giving in however, and because of that, Zeich found himself sitting awake in the darkness of his room, not even bothering to turn the light on. The Shadow never came for him in darkness; it preferred the light, so that he could see it, and fear it.

Sitting there did not help calm Zeich’s nerves, however. The Shinigami found himself drumming his fingers along one leg, unwilling to delve too deeply into thought while trying to avoid sinking into a meditative lapse. Every second seemed to take an eternity, time slowing down to a crawl while he was paying attention to it. With a sigh of disgust, Zeich grabbed Haiiro from where the sword lay propped against the wall near his bed, tucking it into his belt as he donned his jacket, which was lying across the back of his chair. Zipping it shut, as the nights had been cold lately, the Fifth Seat turned and headed out the door of his room and down the hallway, unsure of his destination. He just had to walk for a bit, work off some of this restless energy; anything to clear his mind and ease his thoughts was preferable to just sitting in the darkness, waiting.

What do I do, Haiiro…? Zeich had found himself talking to the wolf often lately, discussing the Shadow, but neither of them knew its origins or its nature. It was a part of his soul, that was for sure, as there was no other way it could appear within Zeich’s Inner World. The Zanpaktou Spirit theorized that there had been some evil in his master’s heart, some darkness that had grown and developed at the end of his life, and it had been given its own manifestation as his spiritual powers had grown. Zeich doubted this, though; he somehow remembered it as a distinct being, though he couldn’t recall it in anything besides nightmares. Those golden eyes were the only thing that remained after he awoke, however, and he couldn’t say for sure what was around them, what the creature was that possessed his soul and threatened his very existence.

…I don’t know, Master. Ever since Polaris’s death, Haiiro had been quiet, distant even, constantly mourning the loss of his mate. Zeich respected that sorrow, as he felt it too daily, that hole in his soul that could not be filled. It wasn’t painful, but it felt so alien, so wrong. It was like missing a limb; one felt that absence every day, unconsciously, in the corner of one’s mind. The sensation never faded. Maybe it is time to talk to someone, tell them about the Shadow. Surely someone within the Research and Development Squad can figure something out. Or at least you could talk to one of your officers; Captain Enma seems like he’s a man of many secrets himself, and may not judge too quickly.

I think so too, but… what do I say? “Help, I’ve got a dark spirit in my soul that’s trying to devour me! Help, it’s killed my Zanpaktou!” Zeich winced at the wash of sadness that came at the last part, and he regretted his choice of words immediately as he thought them. …Sorry Ven—er, Haiiro. I didn’t mean to sound flippant about it. I know how you feel; it still hurts me too. The Shinigami continued his walk in silence, letting his eyes instead roam about the area, focusing on minor details rather than the state of his unbalanced soul. There were few distractions though, and the everyday scenery of Seireitei did nothing to keep his attention.

Maybe a change of scenery will help… Zeich always found himself walking within Seireitei, his feet following the familiar trend of his usual haunts, and as a result it was easy to fall into his habit of contemplative thinking rather than letting his mind relax. Maybe it was time he went somewhere else in his nocturnal strolls, perhaps out into the Rukongai or the area surrounding it. Without thinking, the Shinigami went out through the North gate, making his way through the Rukongai districts and letting his feet take him where they would. He was unlikely to get lost, considering the size of Seireitei and its silhouette even in the dark night; such a landmark was hard to miss.

It was only when the light fell further that Zeich realized his wandering had led him to the outskirts of the Rukongai, right at the edge of an enormous forest. The Fifth Seat hesitated, wondering if he should go into the dark depths. The shadows could hide anything within them, despite the silence of the unmoving trees. Even with the moon in the sky, he could only see somewhat well, and his night vision wasn’t of any particular note. However, a little walk in the unlit paths would be good for keeping his mind off of his internal troubles for now; with too much to worry about from the outside, what time did he have to be concerned with his fears of the Shadow? That alone was enough reasoning to encourage Zeich forward, and so he began his foray into the darkness.

((OOC: Stop the Music))

The path itself was uneven, was more of an opening through the trees rather than a beaten trail, and the Fifth Seat found himself watching his step carefully after his toes caught an upturned root that threatened to leave him sprawling. The ground was bare, with what few leaves remained on the ground too damp to crunch as his boots ground them into the muddy soil, though there were a few twigs here and there that cracked underfoot. One such branch let out a loud crack like gunshot as he stepped on it, startling Zeich as he froze, all of his senses alert as he looked about him, as if that one noise would draw enemies upon him from all directions at once. His heart beat rapidly, his breathing quickened, and adrenaline rushed through him for a moment as he tensed up.

When the silence remained undisturbed, the Shinigami let out a sigh and shook his head at his fear. The Shadow had twisted his mind worse than he had thought; while Zeich would have been wary and cautious in such an environment before, his misstep would have simply had his weapon out and at ready, his mind calm and his breathing even. Now he was expecting demons in the darkness, creatures of hate and fire bearing golden eyes as they advanced on him only to reveal the mirror of his fear beneath a monstrous mask. Shivering, the Shinigami put his hand on Haiiro anyway, the grip of his weapon’s hilt beneath his fingers somewhat soothing, allowing him to slowly relax his body, to break free from the adrenaline rush that had his mind moving a thousand miles per second. It was fine, everything was alright.

Master, look out!

Play This.

There was no warning when the attack came; suddenly a figure leapt from the trees, weapon flashing in the moonlight even as its sword came forward, attempting to slash at Zeich’s shoulder. The Fifth Seat reflexively sidestepped, letting the weapon whistle by just to his left. Still stunned from the sudden attack, he didn’t take advantage of the brief opening given, instead just jumping back and making some distance between himself and his attacker. Haiiro was drawn from its sheath, and out barely in time to catch a dark shape moving through the shadows at Zeich’s throat. The weapon let out a metallic rasp as it impacted something hard and was pushed back thanks to the immense strength behind it, the attack barely parried to the side even as the Fifth Seat stumbled back, trying to regain his balance. He was not prepared for this sudden barrage of attacks!

Even as he altered the path of his opponent’s swing to prevent injury to his throat, Zeich reflexively leapt back, as if he was almost following a choreographed play. He recognized this fighting style, though he couldn’t recall where; at one time or another he had fought with another Shinigami, one who had made use of a dual-wielding style like his old one, only using a sword and sheath rather than two blades. It was strange, but Zeich didn’t even have to see the attack to know that there was a blade coming from his throat, as if he had played through this all before. A sword blade cut through the air where his neck had been only a moment before, ensuring that Zeich had made the right choice in dodging, avoiding a fatal blow.

Now that he was starting to regain his balance, the Shinigami started to slip into a calmer mindset, the familiar routines of battle coming to him. Two quick motions, an inhale and an exhale, both of them even and smooth, slowed his heart to a more efficient pace, the adrenaline once more coursing through his body but being put to fight purposes rather than flight. Haiiro was held in a one-handed grip overhead as Zeich turned his body sideways, his left arm free and held before him, palm open and facing downwards while his fingers were loose, relaxed. His whole body spoke of liquid motion, of quiet dexterity that would allow his motions to flow into one another in a dance of death.

“…Who are you? What do you want, and what do you gain by attacking me?” Wrapped in the confidence of his calm, peaceful mind, Zeich spoke quietly, his tone without emotion. His eyes were narrowed with concentration, his body still, without unnecessary movement. The Shinigami was in a state of focus that allowed him to settle every part of his body, to slow his heartbeat so as to avoid dizzying himself, to tighten his muscles without straining them. It was a meditation of sorts, but for the body rather than the mind, finding harmony within the parts that made up the physical aspect of his existence and using that balance to move effectively in battle.

At that moment, the clouds moved, and moonlight streamed down from above. Slowly it illuminated the attacker’s face, and Zeich’s eyes widened slightly. He knew who he was fighting, now; he recognized the student from not so long ago. “…I know who you are, Itou Kasui. What do you want, and why are you attacking me?”

Zeich stood patiently as Itou explained his motive for this attack, or rather his lack thereof. Though the boy tried to be mysterious, tried to be vague, his attitude stank of the typical cliché; he was there for blood, and to avenge a slight, a blow to his pride. It was amazing that the Academy even let such a bloodthirsty boy into their ranks, but it wasn’t the first time; there were plenty among the Shinigami with such attitudes, such callous cruelty, and in the end it just was to be expected. Personalities ranged among the various squads, with different ideals and thoughts required for different duties. For example, Squad 7 tended to contain individuals with an attachment of sorts to justice, while those in Squad 11 tended to be battle-minded, ready to slay any who stood before them.

So Itou was out for revenge. Zeich could make use of that, should he choose to, as it also meant his opponent wasn’t thinking clearly. Revenge clouded the mind, filled the heart with hatred. While it improved focus on the target, making them the centermost thought on the attacker’s mind, it also narrowed their concentration, meaning that they were more oblivious to outside influences and attacks that ranged beyond the simple mindset of revenge on the target of their choice. This made them less flexible, less creative, and as a result, more vulnerable. Zeich would easily be able to exploit this weakness, and he would show Itou the error of his ways. Simply put, the student would find that he had made an enormous mistake.



The instant Itou finished his little speech, Zeich replied with ice in his voice, his whole bodyd prepared for battle now. “Then as an officer of Squad Seven and a Shinigami in charge of law enforcement within Seireitei, I hereby place you under arrest, Itou Kasui. Forfeit your Zanpaktou and come quietly, or I will do so by force. Do you comply?” The student’s answer came quickly in the form of a knee towards Zeich’s stomach, a blow that was made in an attempt to stun the Fifth Seat for a follow-up attack. This was an open act of hostility and resisting arrest, in the Shinigami’s eyes, and as a result he was authorized to capture the man and bring him in by force, or kill him should it be necessary in the defense of his own life.

The knee was a simple move to dodge, and Zeich did so by performing a slight sidestep to the left. However, he was not without his counterattack; even as Itou’s knee came up, the Fifth Seat’s sword hilt came down, smashing the skullcap into bone. Normally the attack would only have been bruising, merely an interruption to the rising strike, but there was more to it than a simple swing. Partway into his swing, Zeich performed a new technique, a Shunpo Karin, moving only his arm at a blurring speed equivalent to a full Shunpo, and as a result his weapon came down much harder on the sensitive point right above Itou’s kneecap, where the bone wasn’t as sturdy. With the student being partway through his strike, his balance would not allow him to simply dodge aside; with only one foot, any such attempt would be foolish and would probably cause him to fall. In all likelihood, the blow would probably break the bones of his knee, leaving him crippled.

But even if the break didn’t happen, Zeich was still far ahead of Itou’s thought process, making use of the boy’s desire to kill and maim and thus his shortsighted planning. With his leg injured, Itou’s step to the left would lead into a partial stumble despite his pain tolerance. Though he may be able to fight through the pain, that particular skill did nothing to promote the stability of his leg, causing it to buckle and fall beneath his steps easily. Itou’s biggest mistake had been in taking his leg off of the ground without any bracing or means of changing his direction should a counterattack come. Thus he had overcommitted himself, a mistake Zeich tried his hardest to avoid, which was the reason that the Fifth Seat often kept both feet on the ground rather than jumping unless something like air ground was present.

That stumble was Zeich’s signal to begin his own offensive. As soon as Itou’s balance shifted, the Fifth Seat switched the hand that was holding Haiiro to his left hand. Though Zeich was technically ambidextrous and could use a weapon in either hand quite well, he was very slightly more dominant with his right hand, and thus tended to switch when he was holding back. Right now the Shinigami was not going to risk killing his target; though he was a member of the law enforcement squad, he was not Itou’s judge or executioner. Zeich was going to do his job and incapacitate the boy long enough to take him in for trial, where he would at least be healed before being sentenced by Central. Unless it became necessary to take Itou’s life as a matter of self-defense, the Fifth Seat would have to be careful not to harm the Academy student too much.

Perhaps my power can be of use in your endeavor, master.

Zeich considered that for a moment; he had not yet gotten the opportunity to use Haiiro’s new powers in serious combat yet, and they were indeed suited for weakening an opponent without killing them, wearing them down in a battle of attrition. With the ash sapping away Itou’s spiritual energy as well as wearing down his body, the student would go down in no time. However, there was one problem. I’m not sure if this is a good time to learn to use your abilities properly, Haiiro. We’ve only had one real chance to try them out against another person rather than training, and this boy is seriously intending harm.

It’s your decision, but this may be a better test of my abilities than against a Hollow determined to devour you… Zeich had to agree with that logic; against this student, he had the ability to win without use of his Zanpaktou. However, the weapon also gave him the advantage in allowing him to completely incapacitate Itou for capture without actually causing too much bodily harm to either combatant. This was indeed a more ideal time to use it than he had considered… Alright, you win.

“Suppress, Haiiro.”

Play This.

With the spoken command, an enormous rush of Reiatsu surged forth from Zeich, filling the area as his Shikai was released. Its form was odd, however; rather than the weapon changing or shifting to another appearance, the sword simply seemed to dissolve and fade away into dust, leaving only a cloud of the dark particles floating about in the forest. It would be almost like an obscuring mist surrounding Zeich, not really thick enough to completely cover his area but enough to make him seem to blur against a constantly-moving environment. The particles in the air weren’t dust, however; instead, they were made of ash, a form that had come when the old Ventus’s powers were burned away, leaving only the scorched remains behind. And there was more to the ash than met the eye.

Once the Shikai was released, Zeich simply held one hand up and willed his weapon to form. Ash quickly converged on one point, forming a solid object against the Shinigami’s palm. After a moment, the weapon was revealed as a long katana, light and meant for one-handed use. A long gray blade slid out as long as Haiiro’s sealed form, but instead of having a metallic sheen it was just a pure, dim gray with a black spiraling line going upwards towards the tip. From the hilt end of it, there was now a long chain as well, designed after the weapon he had seen a female Arrancar use before. The chain was covered in blades that allowed it to be whipped around with deadly effect should it be necessary, though when Zeich used his Haiiro Ken technique this time, he had the blades blunted so as not to harm Itou unnecessarily. The blunt force from the chain alone would be enough to suffice.

As his weapon was formed, Zeich leapt forward and swung the chain about; though he wasn’t particularly skilled in chain-fighting and thus couldn’t use it to its full effect, it was easy enough to whip the heavy metal around to crash into Itou’s body from the right side. It wasn’t the fastest attack, but that wasn’t its purpose; Zeich was merely trying to keep Itou busy, keep him moving and further aggravating the injury to his leg. The more the student moved around, the worse his injury would become, until he either collapsed or became more and more distracted by the increasing pain. Atop that, between focusing on the heavy chain swinging at him along with the pain in his leg, it would be easy for Itou to miss the ash that was converging around him until it was too late.

In an instant, the gray cloud would close in on the student, surrounding his right arm and attaching itself firmly to the limb. Itou would immediately feel pain stabbing through his arm, as the ash caused a level of agony that ignored even the boy’s pain tolerance. Atop that, the ash wouldn’t come off merely by being brushed away or Itou’s movements; rather, it drew upon the student’s own Reiatsu, absorbing it and using it as a sort of magnetic force that allowed the ash to cling and keep feeding on Itou’s Reiatsu. Over time, that would draw out all of the boy’s spiritual strength and leave him exhausted to the point where he wouldn’t be able to stand, let alone resist capture. The ash forming on Itou’s arm alone would drain out a significant amount of Reiatsu over time to keep itself attached, and it would also suppress his Reiatsu use, forcing him to use more to gain the same effects. It was a deadly combination that would leave the student wiped out in a short time.

“Prepare yourself, Itou. I will not let you get away from the consequences of your actions.”

Remaining Reiatsu: 1650/2000 (-100 for Shunpo Karin, -200 for Shikai, -50 for Haiiro Ken)

Shikai: 1/10

Ash Portions Remaining: 1/3 (one in use for Haiiro Ken, one in use for coating Itou’s left arm)

((OOC: Note that with one portion attached, you lose 100 Reiatsu per post and techniques cost 10% more than usual. You can remove all ash from your body at the cost of 200 Reiatsu, no matter how much has accumulated.))

Can you smell his fear? It’s delicious, isn’t— Master! Be careful, he’s still dang— Kill, rip, main, bleed him to death! Don’t listen, master! He’s trying to— Kill, kill, KILL![/I]

The wave of voices rushed over Zeich for a moment as he spotted the fear, the uncertainty in Itou’s eyes. The release of Haiiro had startled the student, who had seen Ventus before the change, and had expected something far different. That expression was enough to drive the Shadow screaming at him for blood while Haiiro tried to speak over him, to keep Zeich’s mind calm and collected. The two conflicting voices fought for dominance for one moment, driving the Shinigami to distraction for a brief moment. That gave Itou time to recover from his own shock, to start hobbling away by using his sheath to support his injured leg. It was a desperate attempt at flight, and Zeich’s instincts kicked in as he began to give chase, to ensure the capture of the young man who was now a criminal.

Haiiro’s chain whipped out, not excessively long but certainly enough to reach across the gap of a few feet. Itou’s response was the same as any Shinigami’s, and a Shunpo had the student darting away, attempting to make distance between the two of them. It was a foolish move, and Zeich knew it even as the young man vanished; with an injured leg, Itou would have no balance, and would fall after the first step from the strain put on his leg. It was no wonder that the move had the criminal falling down a small hill, rolling and smashing into objects as he tumbled. Zeich was quick to pursue, and his footwork was far more secure as he closed the gap. With ease he made his way down the slope, with no injuries or loss of balance, unlike the injured Itou.

As he gave chase, the Shinigami sent off a Hell Butterfly towards Squad Seven’s barracks. The Butterfly contained a simple message: “Fifth Seat Zeich Yajuu under attack in attempted murder. Aggressor injured and crippled, but is fleeing. Attempting to give chase. Send a containment unit to the listed region and keep an eye out for Itou Kasui. Capture him on sight.” The Butterfly would eventually be received at Squad 7’s Barracks and, despite the late hour, they would act swiftly to get prepared and into position so that Itou could not get away. Zeich would try his hardest to capture or at least slow the student in that time, allowing his backup to get in place to stop the young man should he somehow slip away from the Shinigami.

Even as Itou managed to get himself to his feet, the Fifth Seat was already at the bottom of the hill, and darting towards the student. There was no mercy in the Shinigami’s eyes as he struck. The first attack came with no warning as Zeich’s Shunpo carried him past Itou, his weapon held sideways so that it would slice into the student’s side. However, the sword would never strike the student, as the Fifth Seat released his Haiiro Ken technique, letting the sword explode into the ash that had made it up. The ash would immediately cling to Itou’s body, holding itself there through the student’s own Reiatsu as it stuck to his torso, coating it in gray that would be unable to be removed through simple motion; Reiatsu would have to be expelled to remove the covering, and it would have to be a significant amount. Zeich had purposely released his technique at short range just for the accuracy; it would be nearly impossible for Itou to dodge it with his injured leg, meaning that he was bound to be hit by the ash. Thankfully there was no physical damage involved, or else the student would have been far worse off.

Of course, there was plenty of pain regardless of physical well-being. Haiiro’s ash had two special properties; the first was that it clung using a target’s Reiatsu rather than Zeich’s own, leeching away the victim’s spiritual energy in order to weaken them completely. However, it also suppressed their concentration, their sense of well-being, by causing intense pain in the area that was coated. The pain was so great that even those who were somewhat skilled at ignoring pain could not block out the agony, their attention shot and their body jerking reflexively, causing interruptions to any sort of attack or strike unless they were particularly skilled at ignoring their injuries.

Aim for his uninjured leg to stagger him! Haiiro’s advice was given with some urgency, and Zeich could sense the wolf’s discomfort; he could only hope that the Shadow was not attacking his Zanpaktou spirit at this critical stage. Of course, the being’s voice came only a moment later, giving the Fifth Seat some relief; if the Shadow was taking time to speak with him, then it was distracted and likely only causing Haiiro distress by proximity, rather than causing him harm. Don’t listen to the mutt, boy! Rip the scum’s throat out, tear his flesh, make him bleed for ever daring to threaten you! The Shadow’s bloodthirsty nature made Zeich blanch slightly; he was not afraid to take a life as he needed to, but he found no joy in it, unlike the dark being that haunted his soul.

Now wasn’t the time to worry about it; Itou was still a threat, even if he was a highly reduced one. Zeich knew better than to listen to the Shadow, thankfully, and without pausing he made a move towards Itou’s back with another quick step, though not with a Shunpo. Instead he lashed out even as he formed a new weapon with Haiiro Ken, a long sword similar in shape to the Zanpaktou’s sealed state but without a cutting edge. Zeich could mold the weapon once more should he need to inflict a killing blow, but the Shinigami was attempting to capture Itou, not execute him, and so he kept his weapon as one he was experienced with while blunting its edge so as not to deal any fatal blows. Haiiro Ken was truly a flexible technique.

As soon as he was close, approaching from Itou’s injured side to increase the time it would take for the student to properly react, Zeich brought his weapon about from his left hand instead of his right. The Fifth Seat was ambidextrous, so if it detracted anything from his swing speed or strength, it was negligible. Atop that, a burst of Reiatsu would improve the strike further as a Shunpo Karin enhanced the speed at which Zeich’s arm moved, increasing impact strength and force significantly with the jump in velocity. The Shinigami’s attack would come from Itou’s side and around towards the front of his injured leg, a strike with two purposes.

The first was designed should the student attempt to counterattack or block by turning his body to be able to strike, seeing as his sword was on the opposite side from Zeich and the sheath was used to keep him upright. Should Itou turn, it would place his good leg in the way of a powerful blow, meaning that his lower leg, just above the shin, would face a blow that was nearly as strong as spiritual steel cracking along it. Odds were that, if that move was chosen, the targeted region would suffer a break, crippling Itou’s good leg and leaving him unable to move, and thus perfect to be picked up by a detainment squad.

If Itou chose to dodge backwards, however, he would find the weapon colliding with his bad leg instead, and at the same level. The knee was already broken by the initial strike, but a blow at the already damaged shin would leave the student’s leg damaged beyond easy repair; it would take a long time for the limb to recover from such an impact, and it was unlikely that it would ever fully heal, leaving Itou with a permanent limp at best, or inability to use the leg at all should the nerve damage be substantial enough. A particularly skilled medic such as Captain Lorilad could probably restore function to the limb, but would he do so for a criminal? Honestly, it seemed as though the student was doomed to a bad leg should he attempt to dodge the attack.

Remaining Reiatsu: 1450/2000 (-50 for Shunpo, -50 for Haiiro Ken, -100 for Shunpo Karin)

Shikai: 2/10

Ash Portions Remaining: 1/3 (one in use for Haiiro Ken, one in use for coating Itou’s torso)

Itou went down at the sudden barrage of strikes, falling to the ground. Zeich caught him suddenly, gripping the front of his shirt, and held him up for a moment. Amber eyes met the student’s darker hues, and the former narrowed briefly. This student, this… this child had just tried to kill him. It was odd, to get so worked up about it, and yet in its own way it was almost insulting; a young man who had yet to even make his way to the ranks of Shinigami thought that he could ambush and murder a seated officer of Squad 7, which was known for its powerful members. Itou had essentially assaulted the Shinigami equivalent of a police officer, and had done so poorly; Zeich had been left untouched from the attacks that had been leveled his way, and had worked with brutal efficiency to disable and capture his attacker with ease.

Why…? Zeich found himself thinking as he stared at the boy, whose vacant eyes suggested his mind was elsewhere now. The Fifth Seat had not struck at Itou’s head or neck in any way, and thus should not have caused any damage to the boy’s skull or brain. However, the tumble down the hill had been particularly bad, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Itou had a concussion. Still, Zeich had to wonder just what had driven Itou to attack like this. Why was the student so determined to kill him? Was he really so cold, so ruthless that he felt a simple loss from before was worth murder? Admittedly, the Fifth Seat had been a bit harsh in the lesson he had given, injuring the young man somewhat, and he had been reprimanded for his actions as a result. However, it was not enough to warrant murder, not by a long shot.

It’s pride, master. Zeich’s eyes narrowed as Haiiro spoke to him, still holding Itou up by his shirt. The young man hung limply in the Fifth Seat’s grip, his head lolling back slightly as Zeich moved. He’s a very proud person. You showed him weakness, showed him loss, failure. And then you humiliated him atop that, pushing him down even lower. When you took away his strength, took away his dignity, you created a deep anger that’s only had time to grow since then. It’s been what, five months since your last encounter? Longer? That’s plenty of time for anger to seethe, to build up. Plenty of time for drastic measures to be considered.

Zeich realized that Haiiro was probably right; his method of teaching Itou in the past had probably struck a chord, creating a deep-set hatred that had plenty of time to blossom into a murderous rage. In essence, the Fifth Seat had created this situation himself, created this child of wrath. For a moment, Zeich looked at Itou’s face with pity, wondering what would happen to him now. He couldn’t let the boy go, not so easily; a call had already been sent out, and Squad 7’s police force was already on its way. Not only that, but if Itou had been left to roam free, he would just try to attack again. It was hard to reform such a mindset, especially given how long it had been since their last confrontation. The student would have to be imprisoned, though Zeich decided to make up for it by at least petitioning a shorter sentence. It was his fault that this had happened, after all.

Zeich lowered Itou to the ground carefully, letting him rest for the moment. It would be a tense time when the boy awoke and found himself being taken in for trial and likely imprisonment. For now, it was the only mercy the Fifth Seat could offer to the fallen student. His eyes were still far away; did he know what was coming? Had he retreated into his Inner World, into the depths of his mind, to hide from the reality he was facing? If so, then Zeich could only find pity in his heart for the boy. Despite his attempt at murder, Itou was still a child in his mindset, one that retreated the instant he was faced with something he could not handle. He did not stand and take what was coming, but instead hid until it was over.

You can’t hide forever… I had to learn that as well, Itou. You’ll learn it in your own way. Sighing, Zeich settled against a rock nearby, waiting for the capture squad to arrive and officially take Itou to a cell to be held until his trial. The unit was particularly efficient, and would probably make their way to the area within a few minutes. Until then, the Fifth Seat would watch over his prisoner, keeping vigil to prevent any flight in the darkness. Thankfully his eyes had adapted in the low-lit gloom, and he could keep an eye on Itou despite the dark night; there would be no simple escape for the student, no chance to simply flee. And even if he did, the word had gotten out; Itou Kasui was now branded a criminal and would never be able to show his face without capture again should he manage to escape.

Soon enough, the capture squad arrived, five unseated Shinigami from Squad 7 who were easily skilled enough to detain an Academy student. Itou’s hands would be bound behind his back with a Bakudo, while his Zanpaktou was confiscated and kept by another officer. The larger Shinigami, the one who had made the actual arresting statements, hefted the injured boy up onto his shoulders. The remaining three Shinigami kept an eye on the boy as they moved back into the woods and in the direction of Seireitei to have Itou’s information properly recorded and the rest of the paperwork done. Zeich was given only a brief nod of acknowledgement for his efforts, but he didn’t mind; he wasn’t here for attention. He had simply done his job and that was that. Now, the Fifth Seat would return home and rest for the next day’s work.

Unfortunately, all he had left to look forward to for the rest of the night were the nightmares. He could almost hear the Shadow laughing, waiting for him to return to his continued torment.

Battle End.