Guardian Angel (Social)

[Androxus Sekenomi]

There was a semblance of frustration that carried over the hallways of Las Noches, a whisper that nibbled at the earlobe, an individual whom was not permitted to be within this most sanctified place was loose, scrambling about, lost in an endless, vast existence which was Hueco Mundo. Many would see this smaller creature as prey, some may perceive it as a slave to be taken, yet only one felt like they’d be able to exploit such an auspicious situation to their advantage. -He- would seize it.

The piercing moon above, consistently hanging over in the veil of darkness that draped the realm of Hollows provided but a bit of ambience to one of the only structures within the hellscape of bonedust, layers upon layers that shifted in dunes, akin to a serpent across the sahara, ever changing and simply more dangerous, as there lurked monsters that not even the Espada had truly recognised. It was in this scope though that the small Shinigami wandered Las Noches, unaware that his presence hadn’t simply gone unnoticed but was curiously invested in as time would tell whether he should die to an angered creature of some form. Vast walls of marble, perfect in their pearly hue would surround him at all sides, feeling this encompassing energy of constriction due to the darkened shadows where lanterns did not dare bring their light, the place pulsating with a horrific energy that’d cause even the most sane to feel unnerved if not outright terrified, each howl of the wind that should not be, carrying whispers of fallen, shrieks of monsters that licked at the earlobes of the un-adapted.

Inhabitants truly weren’t welcome within these parts.

Hastey footsteps broke through an aerie silence, away from the Shinigami as the Lord Exequias had been informed of this Shinigami’’s presence residing within the halls of Las Noches, overcoat flapping lightly with the brisk stride of a patient man whose patience had been strained this day. A lack of tea perhaps? It was uncertain. Silvery locks wafted due to the hasty approach, lips parting to address a bull masked Arrancar who walked just behind. “Inform the Espada to be on alert for potential Shinigami incursions, three scouting units shall begin immediate patrol. Your priority is the gate, upper dome and surrounding sands. I shan’t have such cockroaches coming to this place without forewarning.” Yet a simple yet respectful dip of the head followed their response. The crack of a sonido indicating their disappearance.

“Rizer, I hope you’re aware of the situation you’ve brought us into the forefront of.” Androxus exclaimed to the shadows which concealed his form, within the neverending halls of the labyrinth that the Exequias utilize to traverse the areas with relative ease, yet it did come to his attention that the possibility of a rescue squad already being deployed was on the higher end. A problem. Should the Shinigami get wind of this, depending on the interrogational methods: They’ll be waiting for us. Left hand darting up, tugging at the cuff of his pearly glove whilst thoughts raced faster than light into his cranium, ways to divert, subvert, bring this situation to heel.

The door slid open, a small rectangular shape that receded back as Kazuhiko would wander this place, though no doubt unable to sense him, hear, smell alike. A rather useful skill he’d refined to the epoch of his capacity as an infiltrator, though utilizing this advance did the man begin to stride ahead with a squint, a glare behind golden hues before returning to a soft smile across pale yet smooth features. A tone that matched such warmth would radiate out to Kazuhiko, a humble one which despite confidence, still soft to the ear. “Sir Shinigami, I’d like to thoroughly apologize for your recent experiences within Las Noches.” Hand moving over to the other breast, a dip of the upper torso. “You’ll find our hospitality has been lacking as of late, I’d dread for you to bring about any thoughts that’d indicate malicious intent. As such I shall be your guide to departing this realm, less you find yourself surrounded by vipers and devils alike.”

Androxus stood about 5’11ft, pearly trousers that matched a pair of boots accompanied with a blacker shirt that popped due to the aesthetic choices, a tie that held a darker hue but the aura, presence even indicated warmth, acceptance, embracing even as he’d take a simple glance over Kazuhiko’s build, form, zanpaktou if it was cusped within their side at least. There was a flick of his wrist though, bringing out a handkerchief for any blood stains or tears that were claiming his eyes, offering it out. “Oh, pardon me. Where are my manners? I’m Androxus. Do you mind divulging a bit of your name? It’d help with the progress of getting you back home, I’d hate to perpetuate this stereotype that my -kin- are anything like those who forced you here against their will, I recall a time that I had to smack an angry Arrancar with a rolled up piece of parchment.” He cackled a little. “
Perhaps I should invest in a spray bottle of some form?”

There was methods of dealing with this, to gain an individual's trust, to garner their respect and forge a relationship whilst their emotionally distressed, allowing for a method of integration at a faster pace, blackmail isn’t useful when most of their kin are indoctrinated to believe in comradery.

SPOILER: Click to show

{ Androxus's outfit for the thread:}

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

"Just a little... Farther!" He panted the words as he turned a corner, his momentum carrying him to the floor in a slide. It wasn't a graceful maneuver, but rather a loss of balance that saw him dashed against a wall. His tabi slid along on the floor, struggling to find traction on the marble of the Las Noches tower floor.

He'd lost his waraji sandals earlier in the week. A particularly ambitious hollow would have taken off his whole foot had he not made clever use of Advanced Air Ground. It had earned one of the previously noted pieces of footwear as a reward.

He'd chosen to take apart the other sandal for its straw rope. He'd unwoven it, until it was a single bundle and tied it around his waist. He'd had no idea what he might face in the week that had passed, nor the weeks that might be coming. And there was almost always a use for rope.

His eyes leveled on a door at the end of the hall! It's white light slightly brighter than the already sterile white of the marble walls and floor that housed him! He pressed his palms to the floor and used his bare skin to grasp the surface beneath him like a beast! He pushed off of it, sending himself forward and allowing his legs to pump him forward!

With a great roar, whatever had been pursuing him announced it's presence. He didn't look back. He'd not looked it at the start of the chase, why should this moment be any different? "C-come on!!!" He bolstered himself, flailing his arms as if grasping at the air would increase his speed!

He heard whatever it was behind him. Gaining and snarling! Four steps to every one of his! it was closing in! He swore he could feel its' breath on the back of his neck. And he leapt! Reaching for the doorway! His small body tumbling top over teakettle! He went head over heels what felt like a hundred times, though it was only thrice. And when he finally slid to a stop, he was relieved to see that the doorway behind him had slammed closed, sealing him off from his pursuer... He'd escaped again.

"J-just how big is this place?" he lamented as he pushed himself up with his only arm.

Kazuhiko hardly had the appearance of one might have expected of military personnel. He was only five foot two and hardly weight over a hundred and twenty pounds. His golden blonde hair was a mess. Dirty from many days and nights without the opportunity to bathe. One of his brilliant blue eyes was hidden behind a the lens of his glasses. The other exposed, as the glass within the frame had shattered. He was a mess.

The rest of his shinigami uniform was of similar repair. The oversized robes were tattered. His sleeves fully covered up his arms and hands and came down past his hips, like that of a Chinese ghost. His right sleeve looked far less full than the left one. But even that left one had been torn up. He'd ripped some of the fabric to use as dressing upon the ankle of the foot that had nearly been made a meal of.

His zanpakutou however, remained intact. His sheathe was pushed through his belt. It was long, nearly as tall as he was. And it jutted out behind him like a stiff tail. The hardened leather was a little scuffed. But it looked otherwise pristine. Almost as if he'd not drawn his blade at all.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kazuhiko, pre survival game}

Kazuhiko hadn't noticed the door opening to his right. At the moment, he was only able to hear his heart pounding in his head and his gasping pants for breath. But he heard the man as he addressed him. The words 'Sir Shinigami' cut through his consciousness like a knife! And with a start, he spun over on his backside to boldly face the person approaching him!

"Uwaaa!" ...Well, perhaps not that boldly.

"G-guide?" He spoke the word as if he'd just heard it for the first time. It was surely not something he'd expected to hear. He braced himself with his palm and observed the tall, slender man as he bowed apologetically toward him. He flinched at first. He'd misinterpreted the motion as the start of a lunge... But the tension left his little body as he confirmed that it was, in fact, a bow.

Kazuhiko backed himself against the wall with his feet. And then found it with his palm. He needed it to climb back to his feet. He was weak... Not even able to muster the strength for a shunpo, hence his difficulty in escaping his last pursuer. His stomach grumbled. He'd eaten the last of his spare rations. And though the high concentration of reishi allowed him to survive, it'd done nothing to alleviate the pangs of hunger that roiled in his belly.

The man flicked his wrist. Once again causing Kazuhiko to flinch! His hand came up, in front of his face. It was worth noting that his reaction was this, rather than descending to the hilt of his weapon. Perhaps he'd simply reached the end of his will to fight?

His eyes locked upon the handkerchief, but he didn't reach for it. The man spoke with a proper tongue. Like nobility. A contrast to the bestial roaring or villainous chiding of some of the other things that had pursued him. His appearance was in line with his proposed alignment. He was clearly a denizen of Las Noches. But he held no weapon and presented no threat. Any port in a storm. And after this week-long survival game, Kazuhiko's ship was near wrecked.

"S-satoshi K-Kazuhiko." He said, his voice raspy with thirst. The cackling man seemed gleeful about his joke. But all it conjured from Kazuhiko was a plea. "Water... Please!"

[Arulilo Meja]

Arulilo hated the way the moonlight invaded the stone windows. It's luminous essence covering everything like a blanket doused in gleaming intent. His mind had been pondering over the last few weeks sinse Charlotte and Serenity decided to step down as the Primera Espada. He was just getting to know them and it seemed so short lived. He stirred with the idea that they could be long gone from these cold, stone walls. Their story ending so soon.

He began to think of someone else who would have been worthy of that spot. Nothing came to mind as began wondering if he should March up to the very top and try his luck at killing enough arrancar to become Primera. He would quickly dispatch this idea as peace and quiet seemed to allow him more time to get lost in thought. Or so it seemed. 
A member of Arulilo's fraccion walked silently Into the main chambers and spoke with his head bowed as if to signify absolutely zero disrespect. 

"Sir, it appears there is an alert for shinigami incursion on the lower levels of Los Noches"
He paused and then spoke again with haste.
"It appears this is only a verbal alert to Espada ranked 4 or higher as the threat level at this time is low"

Arulilo rolled his eyes as he sat there in his palace throne looking into the ugly bright moonlight.
"A shinigami wants to sight see?" Arulilo spoke loud enough for the fraccion to hear him but was primarily speaking to himself.
He saw no reason to leave.
"If it was really an issue then I guess Rizer and his ugly attitude would handle it"

Arulilo recounted the last time he spoken to the left hand of Los noches. It was when the entire Espada aside from a few missing ones came to introduce themselves. Arulilo could not recall a single one of them that stood out. And for Rizer? Arrogant and rude was all Arulilo could think about as he got up from his chair and looked down at the ground before speaking in a blunt, monotonous tone. 

"I'm fairly bored as it is and seeing as I was informed of this matter, I may as well grab a peek" Arulilo walked over to the white wood dresser, grabbed his high collar robe and set off down the levels of Los Noches. 

---

Current Location: Lower Levels: Los Noches

The air was cold and dense as he walked through the halls of Los Noches. Who knew when these halls would get a cosmetic upgrade. Their dusty appearence stood out and the tales of time binded within the stone told stories of battles past.
He could sense 2 spiritual pressures, one that was faint and weak and another like his own. Arulilo could detect the energy from here. "Androxus"
Arulilo thoughts grew dark and evil and for a brief moment his mind spoke out loud.
"He must be making friends with that nasty shinigami or he's taking to long to kill it"
Arulilo kept walking down the spiral stair cases until he could sense the spiritual pressure even more. It was not in his intent to just show up and murder intruders. Arulilo was not the kind of arrancar to kill and ask questions later. He tried his best to have more sophistication when it came to hunting those who wished to hunt him.

Arulilo came down the steps to see two individuals standing near by. The shinigami dressed in black was panting and reaching out to Androxus as if to ask him for something. Arulilo was disappointed with the sight of a shinigami thinking mercy should be shown to them at the hands of an arrancar. 

As Arulilo walked closer, the gravity and spiritual pressure became thick and heavy. He appeared behind the distraught shinigami with lighting speed and looked down.

"Who are you?" His delicate white eyes beaming into the shinigami's own. 

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko needed sustenance. Anything. He'd managed to sustain himself by siphoning off the abundant reishi of Hueco Mundo, but it wasn't enough. Not to survive. And especially not while being pursued nearly constantly. He hadn't known it at the time, but his inability to contain his great spiritual pressure had made him something of a beacon. He couldn't hide, because they could always sense him. He could only run.

This was the first time since waking up in the interrogation room that he found himself face-to-face with something that wasn't all teeth and hunger. And so of course, he begged. What other choice did he have? Besides. The strange denizen of Las Noches seemed jovial enough. His grin showed a certain amount of intelligence, even if there was something ominously malicious about it... His brilliant blue eyes beseeched Androxus... 'Please!' They said.

But his pleas were answered by another before Androxus could offer his reply!

The world became heavy... Chokingly so! He knew this feeling... It was similar to the one Rizer had used in the 80th district to kill all of those innocents. The very presence of Arulilo caused his knees to buckle and his dry throat to constrict. He steeled himself and whipped around to face whatever it was behind his back. It wasn't that he was brave... No, it was that he was cornered. Like a mouse cornered by a predator that far outmatched him. He felt the shroud of death creeping over him. It would be better to look it in the eyes than to die a coward.

"S-satoshi Kazuhiko!" He answered in a dry, raspy voice. His eyes met Arulilo's. His face was pallid. His body was weak. But his chilling blue eyes were luminescent with life and fire... And a need to survive! "W-water... Please!"