Chance meeting, Seared Skin

[Arcadus]

The beaten stone work of the colossal fortress often proved mind numbing enough to most hollows. Hence why Arcadus rarely traveled by foot or even cart here, enough time wandering the halls was enough to make anyone mad. Garganta was always useful, especially on hunts like this. The hunt always proved entertaining, and while the meat wasn't the delicacies that Devar would serve, but there was a satisfaction to it, like fashioning a tool with your own hands or from completing hours of wiring, with the added exhilaration of the kill. 

The waiting in the shadows, blending into crowds and creeping upon high ledges far out of sight, to the chase, dashing and leaping after the fleeing prey, cornering faster prey, and brawling with prey dumb enough and tough enough to put up a fight. Stalking now, after a striped quadriped, there was better things he could be doing, planning with Seraph or working on plans to form a steady source of ryo, but for now he needed peace, some calm and quiet. The pale lights formed long shadows as he strode out, noticing that he was far into the halls of the fortress. 

Lost in thought, the world faded away, and there was peace in the hollow's mind for a few brief moments. 

[Deleted]

Having completed his initial experiments with Luca and helping him to temporarily stabilize his inner hollow, Ken'ichi felt it prudent to return to Soul Society and gather additional information. That was several weeks previous, during which time Ken'ichi had compiled and analyzed all of the data collected on what was now filed as "Fullbring, Hollowfication Experiments; Luca - Series 01". Highly classified, and for Aramis' and Ken'ichi's eyes only. Not even the Central 46 was aware of the nature of this particular experiment at this time.

This One is at a loss, and still cannot determine how exactly the serum managed to hollowfy Ken'ichi's willing volunteer. This One detects no apparent errors in hypothesis, data collection, or implementation of the experiment. And yet, hollowification still occured, despite the fact that all the data indicates no such event should have happened. A particular quirk of the hollow used in the serum? Or perhaps a quirk of the subject itself.

Tapping the file thoughtfully with a rhythmic motion of his fingers, Ken'ichi pondered the issue at length. Ken'ichi had grown since meeting Luca, and was currently wearing more subdued clothing than the garish ensemble he was normally found wearing. Instead of the pearlescent pink and lemon laboratory coat, and clashing orange mantle, Ken'ichi was wearing a plain white laboratory coat, draped losely across his shoulders. Made of the same flame-retardant cloth as his more colorful garb, the loose-fitting garment was accented with two gold, agemaki tassles on either side of the collar. 

Beneath this simple white coat , Ken'ichi wore a more traditional black shihakusho, adorned with a simple white belt. Looped around the belt, was a second, thinner golden belt, through which his gold-accented zanpakutō was loosely held. Beneath the white shitagi that most shinigami wore, Ken'ichi was sporting an orange, patterned undershirt that exposed his rippling chest. An observant person would note that even his shihakusho was decorated with carefully embroidered golden thread in a series of diagonal lines from left hip to right thigh, but for Ken'ichi, this was very modest garb indeed. 

Sighing inwardly, Ken'ichi leaned back in his chair and rubbed his throbbing temple. There is no recourse for it. This One must travel to Hueco Mundo and gather additional data. There is obviously something Ken'ichi is missing, and going over the data for an additional week or more will not solve it without additional information.

Stretching, Ken'ichi stood up and retrieved the brass doorknob from within the folds of his clothing. Placing it firmly against a wall, he conjured the mental image of Hueco Mundo sharp and crystal clear in his mind. However, lacking any firm destination, he knew that the device in his hands which he had confiscated from Luca and Raphael several months past would take him where it wished to go. Opening the threshold between worlds, Ken'ichi stepped through the glowing portal and found himself standing before a large square structure, easily 100 feet on a side. Set squarely within the center of this bone white structure was a simple, unadorned doorway. Flanked on either side, massive grey-white walls rose impossibly high before him. 

Los Noches? Thought Ken'ichi.

Sensing around him with his meagre spiritual senses, Ken'ichi did not detect any immediate spiritual pressure in the area. From all reports, Los Noches - the fortress of the Espada, was a most inhospitable location. One that even other hollows avoided lest they draw the wrath and ire of its inhabitants. As such, it was no surprise to Ken'ichi that the immediate area was seemingly devoid of all life. With senses on high alert, and not wanting to draw unwanted attention to himself, Ken'ichi drew upon his Squad 2 training almost reflexively, and cloaked himself in shadows that rendered him nearly invisible, while simultaneously masking all sound of his movements. With Kage no Kurōku and Sairento Satsugai active, Ken'ichi stealthily made his way into the entry chamber making sure to suppress his reiatsu as much as he was capable of doing so as not to be detected, only to be greeted by five seemingly identical doors. Choosing one at random, Ken'ichi slowly, and deliberately made his way down the corridor, hoping to locate a good test subject, or better still - volunteer to aid him in his research.

---

Several uneventful hours passed before Ken'ichi detected any semblance of life within the imposing structure. Ahead of him, Ken'ichi could make out the distant echoes of footfalls. The clacking of what sounded like claws tapping against stone coming from somewhere nearby. Slowing his approach so as not to be detected, Ken'ichi came upon the most curious of sights.

Ahead of him, a striped quadruped had entered a Y-shaped intersection from a different branch of the corridor that Ken'ichi found himself within. Being cloaked in shadows as he was by his technique, Ken'ichi did not fear being easily detected by the hollow before him, but at the same time he was not taking any reckless chances by approaching it until he could fully study its movements. The creature's stripes appeared to shift and change color with the available light. Traversing various shades of purple and red, the creature's hide gave off an almost hypnotic quality to it, but one that Ken'ichi's iron will resisted with minimal difficulty.

Having detected a presence that Ken'ichi had yet to identify, the hollow growled a low, throaty growl as it sniffed the air before it. Turning suddenly, it growled once more as it stared down the corridor from whence it came. Something, or someone else was approaching, and the adjuchas was not at all happy to sense its pursuer. Who, or what might spook an adjuchas, Ken'ichi had no idea. More data was required, and so Ken'ichi jumped stealthily into the rafters, and silently observed the situation unfold.

[Arcadus]

It had noticed him, wonderful. A clean kill was practically impossible now, at least without shredding his outfit. In any case, at least he'd get to play with his food, and maybe salvage that pelt. Its hypnotic quality was certainly useful to it, if the property could be preserved, it would serve him as well. Perhaps used to make some kind of stealth gear or play into the stereotype and go with something to hypnotize people, an amulet or gods forbid a different bodysuit. 


Maxamiliom would practically salivate over a color changing hide, likely claiming it would make for a incredibly verstitile outfit. Signing, Arcadus could guess the bear sized, panther shaped hollow would certianly be an appealing garment, but only if they were able to salvage its properties. Even then a red and purple rug would do well in his quarters, though it would clash with either of the guest rooms. In either case, he'd have to actually deal with it now, so it was best go move this charade of stealth along. 

Stepping out into the lamplight Arcadus didn't even think to go for his sword. This would have to be blunt, hopefully he could just burst its heart with a punch or something to that effect. The huge thing reared back, bearing its teeth, the pulsation of it coat increasing in speed and intensity. Enough to distract the arrancar, though the dull rapt against his skull snapped him out of it. Glaning at its leg, shattered against his physical build and heirro, practically shattered its arm on impact. Falling to the ground in a thump, the creature struggled up, now leaning on its right to stay upright. 

In the pale light, Arcadus gazed at what he had hoped to at least be entertaining, though a prey that had so easily defeated itself was amusing in its own right. A smirk flashed across the Arrancar's face, and with a brush of his hand, flowing more like mist over water than flesh through air, the back of his fist connected with the already shattered limb, sending the flesh and skin flying as vapor and giblets against the back wall, bones, practically dry clattering to the floor. 

Unforunate to lose that much of the pelt, and it had already shedded so much of his black vest, practically leaving him topless, barring his body glove. In any case, the beast was still kicking, and with a swift kick to the chest, it flew into the wall, crumpled, dead, but intact. No bones ripped out of its pelt and it seemed in proper condition. Now, for the presence that had been watching him. Likely either an assassin, or some lost soul hiding from the beast, or from him. Stepping under the lamp light again, he called out. 

"The beast is dead, if thats what your hiding from, and if you're hiding from me, I know you are here. Save us both some time and show yourself, I don't bite." The arrancars words were meant to be reassuring, warming even, but his instinct wasn't quite sated from the disappointing prey that he had been tracking. Maybe this new creature would prove stimulating enough. Perhaps new food, or even someone worth preserving under him. Either way, this would be fun. 

[Deleted]

From atop his vantage point high in the rafters, Ken'ichi watched the scene unfold with mild interest. Assessing as he did the combat abilities and apparent intentions of the two individuals below. The Adjuchas was not at all pleased to detect the presence of the Arrancar, but did not appear to give any indication it had similarly detected the shinigami. Or at least, if it had detected his presence, it gave no outward sign that it perceived him as much of a threat as the swiftly approaching arrancar.

The Arrancar himself presented an imposing figure. Square shouldered, and with an equally square jawline, he strode out into the intersection with an air of confidence, and purpose. Easily 7 feet tall, and with well defined muscles, the blonde-haired figure eyed the quadrapedal hollow with what appeared to be a mixture of mild amusement, and what Ken'ichi thought was perhaps a hint of glee. 

Clean shaven, the arrancar accented the typical uniform worn by the espada with a pair of brass bicep bands that glistened in the lamplight, and a black braid which synched the robe of his uniform together at the waist. Ken'ichi's heart skipped a beat at the beauty of the deadly creature before him, and he gulped unconsciously. 

The adjuchas responded rapidly to his approach, rearing on its hind legs as it challenged the arrancar. Leaping forward, it struck the arrancar a solid blow, shattering its leg against his defensive hierro in the process. While the adjuchas roared in frustration, and pain,  Ken'ichi was not at all surprised at the result. The hierro of an arrancar was well documented, and known to be as strong as, if not stronger than spiritually-reinforced steel. 

With a single backhand, the unknown arrancar sent the creature flying against the wall. Motionless. Most likely dead on impact. 

"The beast is dead, if thats what your hiding from, and if you're hiding from me, I know you are here. Save us both some time and show yourself, I don't bite."

"This One means no disrespect, and was merely searching for test subjects for his research. He did not expect to happen upon an Arrancar so soon after entering Hueco Mundo, but means you no harm."

Hopping down from the rafters, but still cloaked within the flowing shadows that obscured his features and made him all but invisible, Ken'ichi addressed the arrancar as an equal.

"This One is known as Ken'ichi Shihoin. Fuku-taichou of Squad 12. And who might you be? From your attire, and the ease with which you dispatched the adjuchas - might I hazard a guess that you are an Espada?" 

Ken'ichi stood motionless, making no outward gestures of hostility. His stance was one of curiosity, not that Arcadus would be able to tell from beneath his shadowy cloaking technique. 

[Arcadus]

"This One means no disrespect, and was merely searching for test subjects for his research. He did not expect to happen upon an Arrancar so soon after entering Hueco Mundo, but means you no harm."

Hopping down from the rafters, but still cloaked within the flowing shadows that obscured his features and made him all but invisible, Ken'ichi addressed the arrancar as an equal.

"This One is known as Ken'ichi Shihoin. Fuku-taichou of Squad 12. And who might you be? From your attire, and the ease with which you dispatched the adjuchas - might I hazard a guess that you are an Espada?" 

Looking at the lean figure floating down, Arcadus was surprised. A vice captain, here? On research no less, likely on some kind of way to better manipulate hollow essence or some similar errand. Well, fighting was unlikely to be successful. No obvious zanpakuto and a willingness to come to los noches just to study hollows presented them as incredibly powerful, bold, or foolish. Arcadus had never known someone to be foolish in such a position as vice captain. Their archaic reference to it as well could be an affectation to sound intimidating, but going off their stance and tone, likely just an artifact from thier elite position. 



Stepping to be between the figure and lamp in an attempt to backlight his golden mane and to get the most out of the gold trim and his  tapered frame, Arcadus's stance shifted into an even more relaxed stance. Practically leaning against an invisible wall, he looked down to the figure, he spoke in his best attempt to be soothing. "A vice captain? and so far deep into Los Noches no less, how long have you been here? If its test subjects your looking for, I'm sure I have something that could interest you, I'm actually in a similar search myself. This creature's pelt fascinated me, among other things." His left hand fluttered out over to the corpse behind them.

Taking a step forward, halving the distance between the two and narrowing the shadow cast over the vice captian, Arcadus allowed a mote of his aura to float out over the scene. "Though, I don't know if you'd want to come along to see it. I was under the assumption that Vice Captains of the Soul Society weren't supposed to fraternize with us, even on subversive missions. Though, maybe that's just a suggestion." Turning to pick up the corpse of the tiger, hoisting it over his shoulders like one would a sheet, muscles rippling under his robe and loose pants, his shredded left side clear and visible. 

This was an important oppurtunity, a vice captain was a trove of information if they were looking to research hollows, not only for what was being looked into at the Soul Society, but as well personal details on a Vice Captian was a huge advantage. There was little risk in showing them his own palace, as most of his projects were of personal interest, and outside of that, would at least let him gauge the shinigami's level of knowledge and expertise. Though, there was a risk that they too were on purely self propelled projects. 

A black maw of teeth and darkness opened in the path of the Arrancar, and striding towards it, prey in tow, Arcadus turned to look back. "you're free to join me if you want"

Seeing the SHinigami would not follow him, Arcadus decided to keep the portal open, taking a step forward into his home, before casting Sonido, blitzing behind the shinigami captian, and swiping thier wallet. If they were going to stand there slackjawed, he was going to atleast get something out of this encounter. Stepping again into his palace, Arcadus took out the Ryo from it, tossing it on the counter next to him. What a strange person, to show up and speak so confidently, then disappear into thier own minds. 

Arcadus rolled his eyes. Sometimes people were just like that around him, and sometimes he was too much to handle. In either case, it was time for a meal, and atleast he'd gotten the entertainment out of it, even if they were leaving him feeling a bit disappointed. In terms of beauty, they were certianly in his top one hundred, but maybe not on social graces. shrugging off the tattered rags of his coat, Arcadus walked half naked to his shower to was the blood off of his hair and hands. 

[Kitai Yoru]

34 paragraphs, 10,200 Ryo awarded.