Those that Linger in the Dark [Joint Training]

[Ippin]

Turn left....Turn right. Gotta keep going. Gotta keep flowing. Don't stop. If the Cecaelian had stopped for a moment then the Humans would finally have a grip on her. How did she get herself into this mess? From what she could remember Ippin had continue her hunt for meals from time to time. Utilizing the Karakura's manholes, and drainage canals, the Beastclan girl coiled and roped individuals that she could get her tentacles around in order to bring them back into her area of expertise. From dry land to wet land, this was the best way that the Squid girl actually had a chance in gathering her meals in peace despite the screaming in the Sun light time constraints. While it was best for her to keep to night raids of the surface the issue quickly came about when there weren't as many people around where she could nab them. More or less they were clinging inside the heavy fortified structures that expanded as far as she could see. Sometimes watching from drains on the streets, Ippin would see the Humans drink with no care in the world while she remained in the shadows, hungry.

The Beastclan girl shifted her activities towards the day time where life was more active, yet, full of risks. From people screaming to heart felt struggles, Ippin was too dumb to even realize the repercussions of her actions that would soon draw the attention of those that would come to persue her. The people in black cloaks, Shinigami from what she could remember what they referred to themselves as, soon came for her. Tracking her movements, sealing off water ways with their magic that caused her skin to blister, and tingle with electricity. Ippin had to move as fast she as could bobbing down one canal into the next. Twisting and turning she could only hope that she was creating more distance between herself and them without realizing that their bodies were not physical. Being out of the spiritual plane of existance the Shinigami could phase through physical materials in the Human world. Meaning no obstacles.

Despite her best efforts the Cecaelian couldn't keep herself ahead as they next joint pipelines brightened with electrical nets, sealing the new set of directions that the Beastclan member could have taken. Her eyes bobbed left and right looking for an opening that wasn't there, turning back to jet to where she once came. Another blip of light shined behind her, cutting off Ippin's means of retreating; she was boxed in. The more she turned about, swinging herself beneath the current of rushing water the girl frantically shifted side to side at the enclosing net with rough muffles of what could possibly be the Shinigami talking over head. Their black garbs melding into poorly dim lit area of the sewers, making it more difficult to make out, let alone to lash out at. Ippin could only see the light of the nets around her closing in until she could feel their burning material singe her magenta colored skin. She couldn't move.

From what the Cecaelian believed to be the end she continued to kick out recklessly, tugging and pulling on the reiatsu strands that forged the make-shift net that bounded her. She pulled, yanked, she struggled to feel some leniancy give towards her own desire to escape. Ippin couldn't see what was going on as the light that narrowed her eyes was engulfed by another, and one that would slide open beneath her and her capture party. From the rotting smell of the undercity of Human society to the brisk open air that Ippin was familiar with, the Beastclan member was repelled down into a large body of water, where she could only skim the surface of it as she continued to whip her body about.

Ippin couldn't see how many Shinigami there were that kept the net formed only with the single that she saw come into view beneath the cresent moon's light. A single male Shinigami that drew his blade over his head, seemingly to bring it down upon the girl. Ippin lashed out, jerking her body with tossing and turning to shake off the net. It only drew a few more moments of time for the Shinigami to decide as to when to strike. She was making it difficult to keep still. All she could do was pull with all her strength against the electrified net until she found the moment to set herself free.

[Rafael]

Moving throughout the wilderness, perhaps his favorite hobby, allowed him the quiet he really needed to ponder what was going on inside his heart and head. When he had awoken in this strange new world he hadn’t ever really thought that he would have made a new family for himself. One that was far better than his father had been to him while he had been a human. It really was strange that he couldn't believe sometimes when he woke back up in the morning that everything he experienced in the last three years was real. The overwhelming abilities that this second life granted him, Zadora and Lolth and now the humans that followed him, that looked to him for protection and guidance. Almost everything was better. Except he still couldn’t heal from those that he’d known and now we’re gone.

Rafael could deal with physical pain that had been most of his human life suffering constant beatings from his father. Still he was suffering emotional pain he couldn’t fathom. Friends, family members were either missing or dead. Lisa, the most recent who had only been with them for a few short months, had been found a while ago dead. Rafael couldn’t find any sort of evidence to tell him how it had happened or what had done it to her. Nesr the female eagle that he’d found had disappeared almost as fast as she’d shown up, Skoll, a strange friend, hadn't been seen in almost a year. All the same though he just couldn’t heal this emotional pain like his physical.

He was in control of his own life this time around so he’d have to make a better effort at protecting everyone he cares for. He didn’t know what he’d do if they were lost as well. At the same time though Rafael knew he couldn’t keep them from doing what they wished. He had no desire to turn into the control freak that his father had been. Though he had come close to death facing off against Beast, Hollow and Shinigami alike he wasn't going to let that keep him from living a life of adventure. Walking alongside a river he allowed the pleasant sound of the river to wash over him like it actually did to the stones beneath its body.

A sound that he actually enjoyed quite a bit, one that felt like home now due to a small river moving through the mountain that he had been living on since his life started until recently. It’d been a hard move and one he in truth wasn’t sure had been right, but the new location was one he believed would suit them all better. Another thought provoking topic moving around inside his thick skull when his attention was diverted away from his own thoughts by a series of heavy splashes in the river and then the sounds of thrashing.

Executing shunpo to reach the origin of the noises immediately Rafael sees the hunting party of Shinigami stringing up a squid? Octopus? Cthulhu? Beast. He honestly couldn’t tell what animal specifically, but that didn’t matter; this was the West of the wilderness and what he was seeing wouldn’t be permitted in his territory. A downward slash from a zanpakuto was about to cut the fishy head apart when Rafael would move forward at full speed closing the distance in a moment and holding the arm from the side. His massive size and black fur gave him an aura of intimidation as he met the shinigami’s eyes.

“Leave now and I’ll forget what I’ve seen otherwise you can return to your white wall Broken.”

[Ippin]

His form made it so difficult to see, like a borderless silhouette. Only the eyes is what Ippin could see within the confusion that she was in, stirring about wildly within the net. Her tentacles whipping at the hands that kept the opening of the large thick sack closed, wanting nothing more but to move freely and away from what was ongoing. A darker image seemingly painted into place among the black robed Humans blended into the small crowd effortlessly as the Caelian's eyes wandered. She tried to make sense of the situation. She knew a bit of the Human tongue, but couldn't really form beyond mere gurgles and bubbling groans from her mouth. The Beastclan member of the Sea whimered franctically as the net was slowly inching away whilst the Panther held one of the Shinigami in his firm grip. Immediately, they stared daggers as much as they were bunching up to shroud the sight of the net, pulling away by the pair.

"This is Shinigami business. W-we have a mission on removing this particular creature." the Shinigami groaned as his hand remained siezed. The Human's weapon dropped as he figited with further emphasis on clinging to his grasped arm. "Humans in the World of the Living were killed, and as such a termination order was issued. We are here to fulfill it." the female among the group rose up to speak from behind the Panther. "If this is concerning territory, or of some matter relating to it, then we will remove our presence altogether, and execute it outside of the domain. Either way...the order needs to be carried out." she spoke up with the sack being hauled. Ippin's arms whipped again at the shuffling enclosed walls that made up her current dwellings, whelping with a low pitched shriek as the barbs of electric jolts seared across her jelly like flesh.

"We will remove ourselves from here, and return to the 'White Walls' as you call it. But the creature will be coming with us." the blonde haired Shinigami stated. Three others began to disperse as to flank the woman behind Rafael, with hands and fingers curled around the hilt of their Zanpakutous. The shrieks of pain only became lower with each passing second, forcing the pair to haul Ippin more quickly as silence was forgone. The woman turned towards one her teammates, nodding to him as if to give the man a silent order. In return the man offered the same gesture, looking to flee from the area, and towards the general direction of the Seireitei. "With this our business has been concluded, so you can release man squadmate and we'll be on our way." she uttered, with her tone growing only more stern as time passed.

[Rafael]

“I don’t care what happened or where. This is my territory. Was she stuck in the human world? Did you ask or just attack right away?”

Rafael having his own experience with accidently getting trapped in the human world, Japan if he remembered right knew what it was like not just being stuck somewhere but being stuck in the human world as a Beast-Clan specifically. It wasn’t something easy to handle and when it had happened to him he’d been involved with a handful of humans stronger than himself. Ultimately he’d been able to get back the same way he got out, this sea Beast though wasn’t so lucky.

“This female Shinigami had a lot of confidence or perhaps it was ignorance of who Rafael was, the massive panther tightening his grip on the Shinigami he was holding at bay. Careful not to break his wrist nor the end of his forearm Rafael put enough pressure that the Shinigami would feel as if his arm was caught between two iron walls. “Can’t listen huh. You take her . . I take him. She in my territory so she belongs to ME!” Rafael screams, his savage voice growing more vicious as his command of language declines.

Although the Shinigami may see themselves as having the upper hand Rafael had no doubt just looking at these ones that he could break all of them in mere moments. These weren’t particularly strong, they didn’t have the white cloak nor the wooden badge which meant they likely were weaker than the others who’d given him a decent fight. The nerve on this Shinigami though was enough that Rafael had truly lost his patience. Still these ones dragged the water Beast against the ground to be hauled off and killed.

Rafael was ready to just break this one’s arm then start breaking the rest of them. He was confident that even if the ones holding onto the net and dragging the girl enhanced their movement he’d be able to find them. He could smell them all over the area already and in this situation they were sweating a lot, almost like putting on a light. His senses were the best but right now it was starting to smell like a high school locker room. They didn’t know it yet but they’d already lost it just wasn’t certain how badly yet.

[Ippin]

Eyes wandered frantically through the webbing of strengthened knots and fabric. The burning of muscle and flesh skimming against the surface of what kept the girl nearly immobile, separated from the outside world that she knew of. The pair of Shinigami continued to haul their capture away from the bickering bunch despite the commotion stirred about inside, recklessly whipping at the sides, and tangling herself within. Gurgled growls and panting echoed further out as Ippin's evergrowing frustration took its toll, and pushed her body into the direction of where she was being pulled. A quick, loud yelp was let out as the pair of Shinigami nearly toppled over completely at the sudden jerk, setting the pair onto their knees with one partially in the water. It was a moment of opportunity that the Cecaelia took full advantage of, and threw herself once more into the net that burned her skin.

The Shinigami that stood before the Panther took only a moment to glance back to witness to the hassle ongoing towards their rear. Gritting her teeth the lead of the pack issued but a single order; "screw this.....Kill it!" she uttered aloud, with but a single motion to scrape the edge of her Zanpakutou from its sheath, and towards Rafael in a single fluid motion. All that was needed for the single Shinigami towards the back of the group to rush over, scampering to assist the duo with their capture, drawing his own blade as the remaining two began chanting. Hands directing towards the Beastclan, with crackling of sparks emitting from their hands, their chant coming to a close as light was built up in their open palms.

Water thrashing about that was followed shortly with the muffled grunts of two distinct races clashing. Tentacles were pounding against the ground, vibrating the immediate area with soft tremors. Pushing and pulling against the three Humans that were growing more weary on dragging the Beastclan girl back onto dry land as each moment was that of a tug of war, with Ippin finding more ground as she struggled to return to her area of expertise. A single Shinigami was pulled in as the result leading to that of a single blood curdling scream from him. Ippin's short fangs muzzled through one of the of many small gaps between the tethers, and sinking them into the man's neck as the remaining pair drew their blades, and ready to stab down.

[Rafael]

What came next wasn't something that Rafael was surprised about, with his experience in regard to Shinigami they didn’t listen, always believed themselves to be in the right and didn’t care how they treated others. Whether it be the people they were supposed to protect, those that now followed him or Beasts like himself. Right now, this squid girl was in trouble because they weren’t willing to listen. They were going to put their belief of Justice above the situation that Beast had been in. He wasn’t going to allow it. His decision came in response to their own though as the female took the lead ordering the beginning of the end for this little exchange.

The moment that she drew her zanpakuto and swung in on Rafael the massive hand of the panther pulled at the forearm of the shinigami he’d been holding onto. It had been made very clear that Rafael could break this arm without a second's hesitation, the bone that made it up was like straw to him. That was a fact that wouldn’t change nor was the fact that the weight of this male shinigami was little more than a pillow by comparison. Swinging him forward to use as a counter to the zanpakuto directed at him. The female shinigami would have to either stop her blade and change its angle or cut into her ally. Rafael though couldn’t wait and wouldn’t even be standing there as he made two large steps towards the Squid and was upon the others.

Witnessing the fight in this squid was something that pushed Rafael even further, she was someone that wanted to live, and he’d help her whether she had to justify what she did to him later or not. Imposing the justice, the shinigami sought on her in his territory wouldn’t be allowed which is why as she bites down on the shinigami’s neck causing him to scream as if fingers were being clipped, Rafael rushes above her striking both shinigami as they pull their zanpakuto’s out. His size made striking people so much smaller than him an annoyance but missing wasn’t really an option when not facing someone that could at least match his size.

Knocking both of them back several feet with bruised ribs at the very least Rafael turns and picks up the squid girl by the net. Placing both his hands on the net Rafael pulls with his full strength believing that the net would snap in a single moment releasing the girl onto the wet ground beneath his feet. As for the shinigami she was biting into well that was her choice, the female that led them though would find Rafael’s colorless eyes staring at her as a sign that it was her move once again and this time, she better think about the group instead of her beliefs.

[Ippin]

Jumbling tentacles flopped onto the boundary of the lake, feeling both the dry grindy dirt of the world and that of the cool gentle touch of the water parallel to her. Both had their unique sensations of solid and liquid, freely able to revel in the open world that was made available to her once more. Though, that sensation took a back seat as the Black Panther took center stage in her eyes. All four trained on the foreign creature that shadowed over her, eclipsing a large section of the moon that cascaded over them. In short tempered breathes Ippin could only look up at the sight that mesmerized her completely, forgetting the fact that she was captured, and the taste of iron seeping down her rounded, childlike cheeks.

Green turned to red with the fresh droplets of blood fell onto the grass that she lingered over. Tentacles a bit withdrawn as her two arms remained rounding an invisible barrier that she thought that prevented her from touching the creature. She smelled him when he drew near. A bit a first as blood filled much of her nostrils, then came him once more. Ippin couldn't help but to look up in somewhat awe as she had never seen a creature like himself, as black as the night nearly camouflagued if not for the moon's light, and the beaming irises that glanced away from her to the surrounding Humans. Ippin traced his gaze, following back onto those that brought her back to the unusual world of greenery. They seemingly huddled into a small group, with a female standing in front of the pack.

The Human female bared her sword as though it were a single long fang; at the ready to lash out with it. Behind her Ippin caught glimpses of several moving to tend to the battered pair of Humans that were consoling their stomachs, wailing in pain as they didn't wish to move. The Human female spoke up, though not what Ippin could understand word for word, but merely the general idea as to what was going on when she spoke, "Fine. Keep the damn thing. But we will be back to complete the mission." The group gradually stepped back as the Human female was more keen on the creature than on her, only to eye Ippin the few moments. Ippin growled, baring the small canines within her mouth at the retreating group. Ippin couldn't allow them to get away. She couldn't.

The Cecealia's eyes wandered back to catch a glimpse of the Panther once more to look back at the moments prior. If she did attack, then it would cause more trouble for the black thing. Ippin didn't want to that after all that had occurred already. Thus, the rising tentacles that were looking for the moment to lash out at the Humans paned back, and dressed themselves in the chilling freshness of the lake's water behind them. Those that sought to end the Cecealia's life came to vanish in the shadows of the tree line, and out of her sensory range, leaving the girl to cling to soft fur of the black creature; eyes looking still at where the Humans disappeared into.

[Rafael]

Standing down the group of Shinigami here right now wasn't something special, nor was it particularly hard for Rafael. A fact that he was more than happy to confirm himself time and time again after the experiences that he had been put through when first starting his life as a Beast. It was at least to some degree why he was choosing to help this squid girl nor, but all the same they picked the right decision when they started to move away from him. Although the female made things more than apparent that she didn't want to back down and keep her squad safe, the actions of someone that wasn't quite a good leader yet at least not in Rafael's eyes. His expression was no longer one of obvious anger instead he'd appear almost stoic at the Shinigami watching as they retreat.

"The Outcasts will be waiting for you then Shinigami."

Rafael wasn't sure about the squid girl; in fact, he knew basically nothing about her beyond what the Shinigami said she did in the world of the living. Something he was going to improve about now that she was save and owed him for saving her. All the same though the way the Shinigami were acting they needed to know the name of his pack and start to really think twice about coming onto his territory. Rafael had heard and experienced enough with the Shinigami to know they only really stopped and thought about things when it came to power. He may not know the Beast in front of him now, but he did have family and if they made a move against either of them or the humans that followed him now . . . . they wouldn't like the result. Turning his head down to look at the squid girl now that she could get out from the net Rafael smiles as gently as he can.

"What's the story? Were you trapped in the world of the living?"

[Ippin]

"Aaaaghhguu."

Is what Ippin could really muster out at the moment. Understanding the Human tongue that the black creature was using made it easier to understand the Panther as Ippin was exposed to it for so much time. Typically, looking at Rafael one would think that he wouldn't be able to respond in a clear language, even if it was basic or universal, being that of a beast like herself. Assumingly, Ippin only ever thought that another creature like Rafael would speak in his native, or species tongue, and not that of the Humans. Given, during the time of her own struggles within the net, that the two were preoccupied, how they would converse would be simple at first as they are both foreign to the Humans; animal talk and all that. Either way, Ippin tilted her head as she responded back with much gurgling and flem being toyed with in her throat.

The Human language wasn't something that Ippin took easily into learning, or possibly didn't find the right method of using her tongue. Whatever, she couldn't do anything about it now as she trailed her burns up her tentacles with her tongue to apply her saliva to them. Her whipping arms flailed about from side to side though actually pointing at from where she was dragged about into Spiritual World. The ground was muddy, sullied with foul sewer water that Ippin didn't want to be reminded of anymore, and scattered bald spots of grass removed from the ground from the small group's struggle. The area told the story of what occurred before, which only Rafael could fill in what occurred afterwards.

"Gaaahhhhgu guuuraaffffu" she gurgled more as her tentacle directed now to the dead Shinigami that she couldn't help but sink her fangs into. Bloody pulps of flesh torn away that could fill the girl's stomach with what nutrition that she needed at the moment, spending days alone without proper meals, especially in the World of the Living. One rip led into another as Ippin couldn't help but to gorge herself into the man's body, though, glancing back at the Panther did she offer the torso and above towards the beast. And although she did offer the Cecealia could not help herself but to cling to beast to rest herself partially, finding comfort in the strange warmth as tentacles would come to coil gently around the creature's right arm, looking to cling to it to rest.

[Rafael]

The shinigami were leaving that much was certain now to Rafael as he stood his ground and made it very clear that the squid girl was under his protection at the moment. Although what he could tell was happening below him wasn’t something he was exactly alright with especially with what had been happening recently in his own life. The munching sounds of the Shinigami’s flesh getting bitten off, chewed and then swallowed reminded him of the Hollows. The image of the gorilla fighter popping into his head for a moment was a bright little turn around although he had to focus on the squid in front of him now.

He could understand her being hungry having been trapped in the world of the living himself for a little bit of time although he had no clue how long she had been there. Based on how much she was shoving down her throat it had been quite a bit of time. The gray pupil-less eyes of Rafael scanned the frame of the squid taking notice of any and all injuries that she was suffering from including the burn marks from the net that was no longer a problem. Taking note of her invitation Rafael shakes his head dismissing her offer. Despite being a Beast-Clan devouring the flesh of fighters wasn’t something he embarked on.

The blood of the shinigami had dyed the river of water enough that Rafael could tell saving him wasn’t a possibility now which meant more trouble. Beating them down, taking a prisoner under his control and sending them off with their tails tucked under them was one thing, a dead Shinigami though. Rafael had a feeling he would have to deal with this in the near future whether this squid wanted to follow him and figure out her own place or not. Holding his massive arm out over the squid Rafael’s eyes burst with violet color glowing even in the daylight. “Drink.” A claw piercing into his palm to drip a few drops to the mouth of the squid. He could only hope she could feel his intentions as his blood would heal the burns across her body.

“If you want somewhere better to swim you’re welcome to follow.”

[Jeff Franklin]

I count 36 paragraphs between the two of you! Thus awarding both Rafael and Ippin 180 TP!