We Are the Same: Zeich v. Adalo

[Zeich Yajuu]

Thread Title: We Are the Same: Zeich v. Adalo

Participants: Zeich Yajuu, Adalo De-Mona

World: Soul Society

Death Setting: Death Enabled

Rating: R

Location: The battle takes place on the outskirts of the Rukongai; the area is still technically in the wilderness, though the outer edges of Soul Society are within sight. Buildings are visible in the distance, maybe a quarter mile away, and the walls of Seireitei rise up beyond that. The area itself is rather flat, but also lacks cover, an open plain in the middle of the wilds.

Special Conditions: Zeich, being a Class 1 Vizard Hopeful, is now struggling severely with his Inner Hollow, and to keep it under control he has to keep his own strength reduced. This reduces his stats to 25% of their maximum as long as he is focusing on keeping his Inner Hollow contained. Additionally, circumstances that will be detailed in flashbacks have kept him from sleeping well, so he starts off with a heavy stamina cut, about half of his maximum.

Circumstances: A powerful sense of Reiatsu has permeated the area outside the Rukongai. Zeich, who happens to be nearby, goes to investigate it. After the events of Conflict of Interests, he is worn, battered, and broken; his sense of pride is gone, and he is deeply hurt emotionally at the betrayal of his former Zanpaktou spirit. Yet despite that, his sense of duty remains strong, and it is with that in mind that he goes to investigate this Reiatsu source.

Little does he know that the darkness he faces now is only a prelude to the darkness he is about to discover...

[Kashmir De-Mona]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play this}

Something was watching. Something was watching from afar. Something was watching from afar, yet it was also so close. Something evil. Something evil, which had no boundaries. Something evil which had no boundaries was watching, and insanity was closing in. Insanity was closing in because something evil which had no boundaries was watching from afar. Its eye was focused on the Shinigami from Squad 7. Its eye was focused on the Shinigami from Squad 7, who even now approached it. The Shinigami from Squad 7's approach brought a large smile to the face of something evil. Something evil had a hideous grin, for something evil indicated not a man, nor a rational existence. Something evil indicated not a man, nor a rational existence, nor anything logical like greed or hatred. It indicated only chaos.

Let me tell you something of myself. I was born in the darkness. That is, to say, I had no light in my eyes even from the day I was born. When children referred to red, I did not know it. When children referred to the sky, I did not know it. So I wondered to myself, what is the sky? What is a face? What is beauty? And as I grew older, I learned these, but differently. The sky is a ceiling from which cold water falls. Water is a substance which is fluid and makes me wet and uncomfortable, but which satisfies my thirst. A face is the top of a person's body, and it feels smooth along the center, but for the nose, which pokes out. Oftentimes faces will have hair, and others will be bare. Women's are softer. What then, is beauty? As I became a teenager, and then an adult, and then began to approach middle age, I still did not know...

The Shinigami continued through the forest. The Shinigami continued through the forest, unaware of what he rapidly approached. Unaware of what he rapidly approached, he would experience a dawning sense of familiarity. He would experience a familiarity of something from the past. It was a spiritual presence he had detected before. It was a spiritual presence he had detected before, when he was far weaker and less experienced. That same spiritual presence was ominous and powerful, far moreso than Zeich ever had been. It was overwhelming. It was overwhelming, and still all too familiar. It was that familiarity which might begin to scare him. It was that familiarity which might begin to scare him, for the presence felt a great deal like the monster inside of him. It was as if he had been drawn to monstrosity like himself.

As long as I lived, and grew up, I did so in isolation in the darkness. You might think the patronizing of those of authority around me might have made life easier, but it only made me feel like an outcast. I felt helpless. And more than feeling helpless, I also felt cut off. Everyone else played sports, but I could not. Everyone else played games, yet I was never invited because it would do no good. I couldn't go to the movies, or drive to dates, or find a room without assistance. I was useless. Would it have done me well to find others who lived in the darkness as I did, and thus could empathize with me? Yes, that would have been nice... One day, on my fortieth birthday, I met someone like myself, of similar age, and for the first time, had a meaningful connection. For the first time, I was happy.

As the Shinigami reached the open area, he would see it. He would see it, that being the evil something. He would see the evil something, that being the monster. He would see the monster, with skin white as the moon, with black eyes, and with a hideous smile. Now at last he might notice from the turmoil of his heart that it had been raining this entire time. It had been raining this entire time, drenching the Shinigami and the monster and soaking their clothes to the bone. They were both standing with water dripping from their bodies, but they could see clearly. They could see clearly, and the Shinigami would be able to see himself reflected in the black eyes of the well dressed Arrancar in the pointed hat. He might even be able to see himself in the smile too, who knew?

And then...she died in a car accident. Why, oh why, would she let her stupid, drunken brother drive? Why, oh why, did he have to be the one to survive, and not her? No, how could I accept that? How could I accept that? I could never. I could never accept that. So I was born in darkness, but I could still see in another way. From steps I took I could determine where I was. From sounds I could determine people. From their breathing. From their heartbeats. From their motions. I could determine where to find the knife, and her brother, and how to fall on her brother in his apartment three weeks later and stab him again. And again. And again. And again. And again. Again and again and again until oblivion. It was then, when I cut open his chest and I felt the hot, wet, sticky mess of his blood, and held his heart in my hands as it stopped beating at last, that I understood...

THIS IS BEAUTY...

The monster stood before Zeich, a monster he had met before. The monster he had met before was called Primera in the group in Las Noches called the Espada. He was called strongest in Sonken Kouhai's army. Adalo De-Mona. The Primera Espada. The Primera Espada, whose presence was chaos and death. When Zeich arrived, he would hear them. He would hear dozens of voices in his mind which did not belong to any part of him. Adalo De-Mona... Adalo De-Mona... Adalo De-Mona... All simultaneous. All cacophony of dread and fear. It was the symphony of death. It was the symphony of death which Adalo so loved. The monster with the hideous smile stepped forwards out of the shadows and spoke first in a voice which played as the most sinister note of a violin. "So it's you again... It is ever so good to see you... MY KIN...."

When they found me and arrested me, I tried to kill them too, but they shot me and I was dead. That was it. But I was already swallowed by blackness, so all that happened was I grew cold. Until, that is, I looked around, eyes open once more, and found...an odd sensation. What was this? Something I couldn't explain flashed before my eyes. You who can see might call it wisps of gray smoke. That was what I was seeing. I was seeing. For the first time, I could see. I recognized it immediately, and then recognized pain. I recognized something... I was all alone again... in darkness... All because of them... All because they denied me... All because of a cruel world I could only ever hate. And this is why I have changed loneliness to desire... All I want is chaos and death... All I want is...

REVENGE.

Adalo De-Mona took a step toward the Shinigami. Adalo De-Mona took a step toward the Shinigami, and then another, and another. Confidently, he walked, until they were but a yard apart. He walked until they were but a yard apart, and he could seem to tower over the Shinigami, and cast a baleful shadow over Zeich Yajuu. There, regarding one another, they would see one another reflected in one another's eyes. Frail, broken Shinigami in the black eyes regarding. And in the eyes of the Shinigami, reflected a true monster who could never be broken, and could never be overcome. A true monster, who existed only for the purpose of hurting others, because while others in the Espada talked of despair or of destruction, this one could talk only of the music that pain brought to his ears. Because this was all it knew. This was Adalo's revenge.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}

[Weapons: Sword] {3}

[Battle Analysis] {3}

[Street Fighting] {3}

[Pain Tolerance] {3}

[Strength of Will] {3}

[Battle Focus] {3}


Strength - [400] (1000) Points

Speed - [350] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [300] (150) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [300] (600) Points

Light Aura - [0] Points

Dark Aura - [100] Points

Instinct - [200] (100) Points

Senses [100] Points

Energy sensory - [250] (500) Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: 1900

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play This First}

----------Begin Flashback----------

Three Days Prior...

The door to the Squad 4 Barracks closed behind Zeich as he left the building, his arm fully healed from the damage inflicted on it by the Vizard he had fought only hours before. The wound had left a scar, the Hollow energy having burned the flesh in an unusual manner, and as a result two thin lines ran down his arm from shoulder to elbow, along the inside of his bicep. The Shinigami was fine with the marking, however; it would always serve as a reminder of the creature that caused it, a reminder for what fate lay in Zeich's future should he lose control to his own Inner Hollow. A monster of darkness, consuming the human body it possessed until nothing was left but a shell to be used as a marionette for the Hollow. Zeich shivered as he pictured it again in his mind, the draconic being ripping itself from the former Vizard's back.

There was no denying it now, either; Zeich was a Vizard. His own Inner Hollow had been revealed to him during his last mission, exposing itself for what it was. The Third Seat had long since considered the possibility upon discovering the dark being in his soul, but there had always been a sort of denial there, an unwillingness to accept it. But now, he knew. Worse, Zeich knew not because of any action on the Hollow's part; rather, the Shadow had simply shown itself after being revealed. The one to reveal it had been Haiiro, Zeich's Zanpaktou spirit. No, former Zanpaktou spirit; in that time, not only had the wolf revealed that he had played no part in aiding Zeich in combat, but had in fact been concealing that his powers had come from the Hollow. The wolf had known for some time that his master had been harboring a Hollow in his soul unknowingly, yet had said nothing for the sake of his own survival. A betrayal, in Zeich's eyes, letting the seed of darkness take root and grow in his soul.

It was for that reason that his temper was frayed. Walking away from the Fourth Division, the Shinigami's eyes were cold. No, to say they were cold was an understatement; his old, distancing glare from before was a warm summer day compared to the darkness in his gaze now. People literally moved themselves out of his way upon meeting his eyes, wary of what lay there; something feral, something dark, filled that gaze. Emptiness stared back at those who looked into the depths, and emptiness of the heart and soul. And it was exactly what Zeich felt: nothing. Well, calling it nothing was again wrong; the emptiness and hollow feeling inside of him was laced with bolts of anger and jags of emotional pain. Betrayal, hurt, rage, and hatred all boiled within him, threatening to overflow. Yet despite the turmoil in his heart and soul, the Shinigami's eyes were blank, mirrors of amber ice that would show nothing of the fire burning within. But it was felt.

Haiiro was silent, as he had been since the fight with the Vizard. The wolf knew what he had done, knew the price he would pay for his betrayal; he had been cut off, ostracized. His right to speak was nonexistent, and any of his earlier attempts had been shot down by an angry growl from Zeich, coupled with the Shadow's mocking laughter. The Zanpaktou spirit, mocked by the Hollow and shunned by his master, had retreated into depressed silence, not even rising to the Shadow's taunts. The creature took advantage of his fellow tenant's silence to continue to beat Haiiro down verbally, reminding him of his betrayals and failures. Zeich mentally blocked the two of them out; they could harass each other as much as they wanted, as long as they left him alone.

The Hollow's reveal and Haiiro's betrayal were two legacies of Zeich's encounter with the possessed Vizard, but the final one hung at his hip. A slender sword, one that was once a simple longsword but had converted into a “sealed” katana form once the Third Seat had taken it, rested in a loop on his belt. The weapon had been “given” to him by the Vizard upon his defeat; in a moment of pity or sympathy, the monster had left its sword behind, claiming it as a vessel without a “resident.” Zeich had been given some time to think about that statement while he had been treated for injuries, and had determined that the sword was once a Zanpaktou, especially given that it had changed to a sealed form once he had taken it. Conjecture suggested that this was the Vizard's original Zanpaktou, before the spirit that resided within it had been consumed.

Zeich didn't know why he had taken it with him. He didn't know why he thought it mattered, but he had kept it with him. In the meantime, he had other issues to worry about; his own status as a Vizard, the Hollow within him that threatened to take control, the possibility of an antidote or a purging; these were all major matters. And then of course there was Haiiro; how did one accept a betrayal from their own soul? Would he ever be able to forgive the part of “himself” that had supported the dark Hollow within him, even reluctantly? And then finally there was the issue of Zeich's status as a Shinigami; if the Inner Hollow was somehow removed, he would lose his Zanpaktou's powers, as Haiiro had revealed that the Shadow was the source of them. Would that mean his life as a Shinigami was over? What, then, was left for him? To keep his Hollow and constantly keep it contained?

What would he do...?

----------End Flashback----------

SPOILER: Click to show

{This Song Next}

Zeich's thoughts were broken apart as a surge of Reiatsu rolled over him. He was not the only one to notice it; two other Shinigami, both unseated officers if their lack of uniform markings suggested anything, also looked in the same direction. Both of them looked uncomfortable, but the Third Seat was not; the Reiatsu was dark, sickeningly so, a howling abyss in the distance. It was swollen with power, suggesting not just any creature, but something deadly. The other two Shinigami looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to do; being unseated, they were not used to beings of such power. Zeich, on the other hand, didn't slow in his pace; what had been a patrol of the Rukongai district had changed to a new mission, and all he had to do was walk to the edge of town, rather than around the district.

His pace was measured; he was walking faster than before, but there was no hurry or urgency in his steps, more a resignation to deal with whatever was causing such a malevolent source of energy. He was tired, the lines under his eyes suggesting a lack of sleep, yet despite that his gaze was clear and he never halted in his advance. His body ached, his head throbbed from the concentration required to keep focused and awake, yet each step followed the last. Many in Zeich's current condition would have been thought suicidal, walking towards such a powerful energy source despite their weakness; indeed, the Third Seat was aware that he was potentially being foolish, that he could be walking to his death, but what could he do? Wait around for another officer while that dark Reiatsu drew closer?

Three things in life had or currently defined Zeich's mind: his pride, his duty, and his will to survive. Despite his cold nature, he had always been proud of his skill in combat, of his position as a Shinigami, and of his capabilities. His sense of pride had not quite been shattered, but had been damaged during his last mission; discovering that the Shadow possessed his Bankai, and having to get down on hands and knees to beg it from the Hollow, had been the first blow to it. The second had been his failure; though he had halted the Vizard long enough for its strongest form to wear off, he hadn't been able to stop it, and many lives had been lost that day. Zeich's pride was in a fragile position, one that he held up through sheer force of will, not allowing that small fragment to be extinguished.

Though his pride had been badly damaged, Zeich still had his duty and his will to survive. As a Shinigami, his duty was to protect Soul Society and ensure the cycle of souls by purifying Hollows as possible while escorting lost souls from the World of the Living. This dark presence, this Reiatsu that somehow felt familiar, was a potential threat to Soul Society. And though Zeich was weakened, his body worn and his thoughts scattered, he still pushed himself forward, towards his duty. Duty and will to survive did conflict here, yet his desire to be a Shinigami, the only role that ever truly defined his life, won out over common sense. No matter how tired he was, no matter how weak his body felt, he would take one step after another, making his way towards that dark presence.

The woods were dark, suffocatingly so; the sense of eyes around Zeich made his head turn one way, then the next, yet his pace never slowed. It was as though he were being drawn forward by the familiar Reiatsu that lay in the distance. He couldn't remember feeling something so overpoweringly dark, yet something in the back of his mind told him that he had felt this presence before. The Shadow chuckled, suggesting that it knew what was going on, but Zeich ignored it; interrogating the Hollow would earn nothing but mockery and further disrespect that he didn't care to deal with. Instead, he laid his hand on his sealed Zanpaktou, hand closing on the grip as he made his way towards the far end of the woods.

Emerging out into the plains, the Shinigami paused. It was not for a lack of reason, though; he had found the source of the Reiatsu. Amber eyes that seemed more gold than brown now widened briefly, a small hint of the shock he felt as he recognized the creature before him. Though it had been only a short time, maybe a few months, since he had last encountered the being, Zeich had been through a lot in recent weeks that had made him forget about that last meeting. Still, one glance was all it took to confirm his memory, both of the Reiatsu's sensation and the creature's face, and the Third Seat stiffened, clutching at his weapon and preparing to draw it. He wasn't sure how much good it would do, given his last encounter, but it was better than nothing.

SPOILER: Click to show

{And then finally, this!}

Adalo De-Mona. Primera Espada, leader of Sonken Kouhai's forces. Zeich had read files on the Arrancar, but none of them had any concrete information. All the Third Seat knew was that this man was the elite of the elite, the strongest Arrancar, or at least one of the strongest there were; Shinigami intelligence reports lacked information on others. The two had met very briefly in a previous time, when Zeich was taking a few days off in the Human World to try and relax, to combat the influence of his Inner Hollow. Back then, the Hollow hadn't been revealed, wasn't anything more than a dark whisper in his mind. It should have been so obvious then, though; Adalo's presence had drawn the Hollow into a fury of bloodlust, a cry that should only have been answered by one as deeply in the darkness as the Primera Espada himself.

Gahahahaha! Kin! The Primera called you kin! What does that say about you, boy? It paints the picture of your own desire for death, the blood on your hands; if a presence as dark as the Primera's can recognize you as kin, you're barely a step away from damnation!

The accusation struck Zeich hard, caused him to freeze in shock again, and his knuckles turned white as he clenched the hilt of his Zanpaktou even more tightly. He was not the same, he was not kin to any Arrancar! Arrancar were monsters, former Hollows that had taken on the mockery of human forms in order to grow more powerful, in order to consume and cause death and destruction on unimaginable scales. No, Zeich admitted that he was no saint, but he was no kin to the Primera Espada, the highest among all Arrancar. That acceptance and resolution allowed him to draw his sword with a metallic hiss of steel on steel, the blade emerging to be held in a backhanded grip. Primera or not... he was an Arrancar, an enemy of Soul Society.

Even if this kills me... I will do all in my power to protect this place...

It was raining. When it had started, Zeich did not know, but he could feel the cold liquid trickling down his weapon and across his hand. His soaked hair lay flat against his body, yet he hardly noticed it, the bangs pushed aside so that they didn't block his vision. The rain meant so little to him, yet for some reason, it stood out in his mind. When had it started raining...? Lost in his thoughts, dwelling on his darkness, the Third Seat had never noticed it. Yet given that the ground was soaked, that mud was forming and that both opponents were drenched, it had been going for some time. It was meant to be such a minor thing, the fact that it was raining, yet something had twisted Zeich's notice, the suffocating darkness around him redirecting his thoughts inwards.

This... this was Adalo De-Mona. This was the embodiment of darkness. More than that, though, it was a symbol of the same bleakness that existed inside of Zeich. It was a symbol of the Hollow, and at the same time, somewhere in the darker corners of the Shinigami's soul, it was a punishment. But for whom? For Zeich, who had failed to protect those he had sworn to stand guard over, letting many fall to the clutches of a Hollow-possessed Vizard? For Haiiro, who had betrayed his master, concealing a cancerous darkness that should have been cut away? Or for both, the Primera Espada appearing as a materialized version of the damnation that both deserved?

Zeich didn't know what it was supposed to be. Was this real? Was this a dream? The world had become disjointed, disorienting; his vision blurred even as he prepared himself for battle, standing scarce feet from Adalo. Exhaustion washed over the Third Seat in waves just standing next to the man, his lack of sleep starting to catch up to him. Yet he kept his grip firm, narrowed his eyes to focus them, and slowly the world clarified itself. The Primera came into focus before him. And in that moment, in that brief moment of complete consciousness, Zeich stepped forward to attack, his sword swinging from left to right. Not even releasing, the Third Seat simply attacked, his exhaustion making his first move a poor one, yet his blade would slice towards the Primera's stomach. It was the first move of many that would be made, yet it had the potential to be the last.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats}Stats (Rank 2: Seated Officer Class 2+):

Stats

Strength – [300 x 0.25] (75) Points

Speed – [400 x 0.25] (100) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [(400 x 1.75) x 0.25] (175) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [(200 x 0.6) x 0.25] (30) Points

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct – [200 x 0.25] (50) Points

Senses – [200 x 0.25] (50) Points

Energy sensory – [100 x 0.25] (25) Points

Healing Expertise – [0 x 0.25] (0) Points


Total SP: [1800] points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Skills}Current Skills: (16 SKP)

• [Weapons – Katana] 3
  
  
• [Strength of Will] 2
  
  
• [Martial Arts - Hakuda] 3
  
  
• [Stealth] 2
  
  
• [Calm Mind] 3
  
  
• [Acrobatics] 1
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] 2

[Kashmir De-Mona]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Know fear}

Zeich's blade rushed forwards. Zeich's blade rushed forwards, but of no avail. Of no avail, Zeich's blade struck Adalo's body, where it shattered. Zeich's blade shattered completely as it struck Adalo's body, for it cracked from tip to base and splintered so only a damaged hilt remained. It cracked into countless pieces and lay there broken and completely destroyed, and Adalo made no movement to prevent the hit. Adalo made no movement to prevent the hit, however he made movement to instead ensnare Zeich. Adalo made movement to ensnare Zeich, after Zeich's blade had shattered, and Zeich would be left unable to defend. Zeich was slow. Zeich was slow because he was weak. He was weak minded, weak spirited. He was weak minded, weak spirited, and a broken shell of a Shinigami.

Mona. What is Mona? We have been hearing the name Adalo De-Mona for years, now. Adalo Of Mona. Mona is the origin place of Adalo. However, Mona is not a real place, but an inner world. It is the interior of Adalo's soul. Mona is the accumulation of the tens of thousands of souls who formed Adalo. All of the souls, all of which desired revenge and destruction, were left with barren and scarred inner worlds, which merged into one great giant inner world called Mona, which resides within Adalo's soul. Adalo himself is not any of the souls that make him up, or a combination of them. He is a spectral personality created by the merging of the inner worlds and the creation of Mona. Adalo is therefore not one of the souls that made him, or a combination of them, but a personality created by them. And they, who are what make him up, are voices eternally tormented in Mona.

Adalo grabbed a hold of both of Zeich's wrists using his full speed. Adalo grabbed Zeich's wrists using his full speed, and held them tightly with his full strength. Holding them tightly, Adalo started to squeeze, but not enough to break the wrists. Not enough to break the wrists, but at least enough to keep Zeich there so that Adalo could speak to him. Adalo opened his eyes wide and he stared at Zeich. Yes...Zeich. That was the Shinigami's name. Zeich. Zeich Yajuu was the Shinigami's name. When had Adalo learned it? When had Adalo learned it? No, he had no idea. He had no idea, but he knew that he knew it. Zeich Yajuu. Yes. Zeich Yajuu was the Shinigami's name. Adalo could sense something else, too. A darkness. A hunger. A blood lust. An inner specter. A feeling not different from the feeling of Mona. Smaller, but there.

Mona, the inner world of Adalo, is pictured as a desolate wasteland of black sky, inhabited by barren villages where creatures of the night torment other souls within. That is Mona. Some have said that it grossly resembles Tartarus in Hell. Any soul devoured by Adalo goes to Mona. All the souls in Mona are what create Adalo's personality. They make him up, but do not combine to form him. Their will creates his personality, and his will. He is a bog of evil things. He is something evil. He is monster. This is why reading Adalo's soul is terrifying and hideous. All you find is Adalo's will for revenge, and all of the pained souls inside of him. All you will find is Mona, which is hideous to behold. Adalo De-Mona. The Primera Espada. Adalo De-Mona. The agent of revenge.

"What's the matter, brother?" Adalo asked Zeich. Brother? Yes, brother. Yes, brother because they were the same. They were the same, agents of chaos and death. Comrades. They were comrades. They were comrades in arms and mission, and therefore brothers. Adalo could sense this to be true. Adalo could sense this to be true, and also sense that his brother did not wish to be called brother. This was the worst thing to say right now. But Adalo said it anyway. Adalo said it anyway, because his brother was feeling dirty. His brother was feeling dirty, and had to become clean...No, not clean. Not clean, but dirtier. His brother had to learn to embrace and love the dirty, dirty filth. His brother had to learn what it meant to be a denizen of Mona.

"What's the matter, brother?" Adalo repeated. "You're shaking, and your attack was so weak. Why do you hesitate? You love killing. You want to kill so bad, even I'm a little impressed." Adalo laughed and threw Zeich at a tree with full strength. Adalo hurled Zeich away at full strength, with enough force to shatter and dislocate Zeich's arms. If Zeich hit the tree, Zeich would also feel his body shatter. He would be injured horribly if he hit the tree. He was going to at least come out bruised and shaken with dislocated shoulders anyway either way. Either way, he was going to be injured. But Adalo wasn't going to kill him. No, Adalo wouldn't kill a brother of Mona.

"WHY DO YOU HESITATE?" Adalo asked. "When we're so...the same? To us, the voices of pain are music. A symphony of death. Aren't I right? Don't you love hearing screams? Don't you love seeing blood? I know you do... I know I'm right..." Suddenly, while approaching Zeich, Adalo disappeared into the shadows. When he had thrown Zeich, Zeich had landed in a dense forest because of flying so far, and though now the rain was blocked by trees, Adalo was able to disappear. Adalo was now able to disappear, but his reiatsu was not. He was still there. He was watching. He was waiting. "WHAT'S WRONG?!" Adalo asked. "FIND ME, BROTHER..." Two heads dropped next to Zeich. Two heads dropped next to Zeich, with open mouths, and bloody necks. The heads of the unseated from earlier.

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{This Really Does Make for Good Flashback Music}

----------Begin Flashback----------

“What's wrong?”

Zeich looked up, his eyes heavy. Lines were visible around them, deep pockets that suggested the lack of sleep he had been suffering lately. The person speaking to him was an unseated officer in Squad 7, a recent recruit who had not yet acclimated himself to the Third Seat's personality. Amber eyes stared back into brilliant blue ones, the two gazes meeting before Zeich's made the other turn away. There was something fiercely intense in those eyes despite the exhaustion visible on the Shinigami's frame, something that made anyone uncomfortable. Still, he had to credit the young officer for not simply walking away, standing his ground with that same look of concerned curiosity. Zeich simply sighed and stood up slowly, his body responding sluggishly, and turned to walk away.

How did he explain how he felt? How does one explain the pain of self-betrayal? The soul was, to most people, a part of the self, an intangible force said to exist within all living things. Many did not think of it as having its own consciousness, its own independent self, yet Zeich had two such beings within his soul. To be betrayed by one's own soul, and tormented by another part of it, was enough to make even the stoic Shinigami stagger under the pressure of the situation. He felt sick to his stomach, emotionally pained, and angry atop everything else. He felt hopelessness rising at discovering he was a Vizard, yet he also was stubbornly determined to keep moving forward, to find a way to fix things.

It was with that in mind that he stood in the Twelfth Division Barracks less than a half hour later, discussing information with one of the lower-seated members. Zeich had inquired simply, without any subterfuge or attempt at subtlety, whether there might be someone present who specialized in Zanpaktou, particularly Zanpaktou spirits. The Shinigami had an idea in mind, one that might solve at least half of his problem before it became too much, but he needed an expert before he could go through with it. Unfortunately, the expert in question was not present at the Barracks; the man was said to have a workshop of his own in another part of Seireitei, one where he reforged and rebuilt Zanpaktou for a price. It wasn't the same as crafting the base Asauchi, something that no one knew how to mimic, but he could take the pieces and change them, if nothing else.

Genjo Utako; this was the man that Zeich would seek out. As he left the building, it was notable that the Shinigami was holding a sword besides his own Zanpaktou, a longer blade that did not seem to suit his style of combat. Indeed, though only the Third Seat knew it, the sword was the one that had formerly belonged to the Vizard he had fought before the Inner Hollow had taken over. It was remarked on as an “empty vessel” of sorts, one without an occupying spirit. Thinking back on that day, Zeich had come up with an idea to rid him of at least one traitor; the other would have to be figured out over time. Still, it was a step in the right direction...

----------End Flashback----------

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ok, so I like these albums in general...}

Back in the present, shards of glimmering light filled the air as lightning flashed. Zeich's Zanpaktou had shattered upon striking Adalo; it hadn't just failed to cut the Arrancar, crashing against Hierro and stopping there; no, the blade had actually shattered from hilt to tip, leaving shards of metal to scatter over the area. Zeich stared at it in shock, remembering Polaris's death; her Zanpaktou had shattered completely once the Shadow consumed her, leaving nothing but fragments behind. That had been worse, though, an internal loss rather than the breaking of a blade; the sword could be repaired, and quite easily; Polaris could never be restored. Thus, shock lasted only for a split moment of surprise, and time sped up again for Zeich.

Shadow! I need my Shikai! What is your Release command?

Another bout of amused laughter came, the hissing sound beginning to grate on Zeich's nerves. That's rich... you know the Release command, it's the same one you've been using all along!

That, of course, meant Haiiro. You are not Haiiro, and I will not use that tratior's name. Give me your name, or just Release my Zanpatkou, now!

You'll have to use my Release command... hahahaha!

Zeich shoved the mental conversation away as he prepared himself for Adalo's counterattack, but he was far too late, distracted by his exhaustion and the Hollow's torment even during a life-or-death battle. Suddenly, both of his wrists were caught up in the Primera's hands, and his arms were brought above him. Indeed, the Shinigami was held just above the ground, his toes able to reach if he stretched his feet out. He was completely immobilized by such a simple gesture; he couldn't quite brace his feet, and with his arms stretched above him, the additional strain on his torso and shoulders to hold him up began to build into cramping pain. Worse, Adalo's grip on his wrists were causing the bones to creak, pain lancing through Zeich's arms as he struggled to free himself, to escape from the prison of iron strength that held him in place.

And then, the word was spoken. “Brother.” Zeich hated the word, hated what it meant when spoken from Adalo's lips, but it was not because of the cruel nature of it; he hated the word because it was true. In a way, they were brothers; Shinigami and Hollow, fused into a single being, formed both Arrancar and Vizard. They were mirrors of the same being, one remaining human and containing their Hollow powers, while the other became a monster who abused both human and Hollow traits. They were brothers, in a manner of speaking, yet Zeich would never accept such a title. He would never allow himself to be compared to someone like the Primera Espada. Even with his Inner Hollow's bloodlust, with the creature's rage and destructive desires, Zeich was nowhere near the level of evil that Adalo was. They were not the same.

Even as Adalo repeated it, laughing at Zeich's supposed “desire to kill”, the Third Seat's amber glare narrowed, and he spit in the man's face. There was little else he could do, but a spark of stubborn defiance would not let him go without displaying that he would not give in. This earned Zeich retribution in the form of being hurled into the forest, his shoulders dislocating and creaking with the strain on them. Adalo's strength was not to be underestimated; the Third Seat was lucky that while he hit a tree, it was relatively small compared to the others. His back and left shoulder still impacted it, leaving a long line of dark black bruises down them, but the tree itself cracked and toppled under the force of the throw, splinters of wood flying up in the air as Zeich simply collapsed on the ground, gasping in pain.

He needed his Zanpaktou. Zeich hated to admit it, but he would have to give into the Shadow's demands this time. He needed his weapon's ashen form to defend himself, to fight the Primera Espada. No, he needed his Bankai, truly, but he doubted that his Inner Hollow was willing to give it over just yet. The fight was too amusing to the creature, watching Zeich being beaten and battered without being able to fight back. But pride could be swallowed for a few moments, and as much as the Shinigami hated giving into the Shadow's demands, there was little time for his own stubbornness. With a sigh, he pushed himself back up, his arms feeling leaden and broken, yet the bones were intact—barely. “Alright Shadow, you win this one... Suppress, Haiiro.”

Zeich held one arm up, wincing at the pain running through his limb, expecting his sword's ashen form to appear within it. Nothing happened; the hilt that had laid nearby had not changed, staying solid rather than dissolving into ash. What was going on? The Release phrase that the Hollow had demanded had been given, yet nothing was changing. An internal query only brought a laugh from the Shadow, a condescending tone in the Hollow's voice. I'm sorry, but you already declined my generosity before! If you want your Zanpaktou so badly, you're going to have to come in here to beg! And I don't mean like with your Bankai, as I let you off easy last time. No, I want you to truly convince me this time!

They stood across from each other, shadowy lupine towering above the comparatively puny Shinigami. The world was empty, a land of shadows, with only the disc of light that they stood on giving any definition to the world around them. The Shadow simply smiled, sitting patiently as it waited for Zeich to give into its latest demand. The Shinigami had to wonder how far this game would go for the creature; as long as it had control over his Zanpaktou, it could make any demand it wanted in high-pressure situations like the one Zeich was in now. Yet right now, he had no time to negotiate; Adalo was still out there, and though time seemed to halt in these internal conversations, the sense of urgency never faded.

“Is this really the time for this? You can't torment me when my body's not at risk? You know that if I die, you'll die too. And if my body gets broken up, that's all you get to look forward to.”

“I've decided that I don't care.” The blunt reply set Zeich back a moment as the Hollow settled into an idle position, resting lazily on its front legs. However, the Hollow didn't deign to explain either, waiting patiently. “So, with that out of the way, are you going to beg, or are you going to die? I expect some grovelling in there, perhaps a “Master” or two, before you're going to get your Shikai.”

“Forget it, I'd rather die than beg a Hollow for aid!”

“Very well, then... this offer will remain standing, however.”

Time resumed, and Zeich pushed himself up from the ground, but not without a gasp of pain; the muscles in both arms, while not quite torn, were heavily injured both from the way he had been held and the force of the throw. His wrists had dark bruises just from the force of Adalo's grip, and his shoulders felt like they were ready to pop out of their sockets. Pain ran up his back and left shoulder, as though he had been beaten savagely along them, and his entire body ached regardless of how it had been hit upon the landing. Truly, the Primera was powerful, if a single throw could do so much damage. Or rather, truly Zeich was weak, given that he had not been able to recover with his exhaustion wearing him down.

Adalo had vanished. The Shinigami's gaze darted from one side of the woods to another, that sense of eyes on him more present than before. Though he did not have his Zanpaktou at the moment, he was not without the ability to fight. Given his lack of strength at the moment, however, his Hakuda would only do so much good in direct combat; instead, he would have to use more subtle measures, his mind more effectively than his body. Closing his eyes, he used one of his familiar techniques, Gigei Mikon: Douzen Heisei. A sense of absolute calm surrounded him, emotions such as anger and fear cut off at the source. His ability to think clearly was restored, and with emotion completely cut off, rational thought surged through anew, allowing his mind to adjust to changes much more quickly. He would need every bit of it to survive this battle.

Thus, when the heads of the two unseated officers were dropped next to him, Zeich only stared at them blankly. Some part of him might have reeled back in disgust, or reacted in anger, but the Third Seat's technique prevented them from being felt. Instead, he simply shook his head and looked around carefully, watching for any sign of Adalo. The Primera could come from anywhere, with the area wrapped in shadow as it was. Zeich took a leaf out of that book and let himself slip into the shadows as well, the darkness hiding him as he moved quietly, carefully through the brush. His skill at stealth was helpful here; with luck, even the Primera wouldn't be able to find him, cloaked in darkness and masked by the woods around him. He needed time to think, to plan.

Remaining Reiatsu: 1650/1750 (-100 for Natural Calm)

Natural Calm: 1/5 posts to mental trauma, 1/10 to emotional burnout[/i]

[Kashmir De-Mona]

SPOILER: Click to show

So, Zeich was hiding? Zeich was hiding, and Adalo was amused. Adalo was amused, but not because Zeich was hiding. Not because Zeich was hiding, but because the Shinigami was running. The Shinigami was running from Adalo. From himself. From himself, and a monster before him who resembled himself. Yes, Adalo laughed inside at this. And outside. Adalo laughed inside and out at this. His voice carried throughout the forest, and Adalo continued to laugh. Adalo continued to laugh, because it was funny. Because it was pathetic. It was pathetic, so Adalo continued to laugh. His voice echoed through the forest and carried on it a chilling note. It carried on it a chilling note, for this was what would be considered a symphony...of death. Adalo De-Mona's true music, his symphony of death.

"I'm not trying to find you," Adalo's voice beckoned. "There's no point in preparing for me. I can sense it in your heart... You're tensing up for battle. But, why? It's obvious that you're not at my level. And you're too smart to be suicidal. What could it be, that makes you want so badly to fight me and capture me? Is it duty? No, it's not duty... And it's not because you want to prove that you aren't like me. You already know how this is going to end. You just want the thrill of battle and of blood... My blood, your blood, any blood. As long as blood spills and there's some kind of chaos and some kind of death, you'll be satisfied. It feels good when you get to kill things, I'll bet. Isn't that right? Isn't that right, Zeich Yajuu? Because, in the end, you're the same kind of person as I am. The same monster who isn't even really a person."

Trees started to fall and collapse around. Trees started to fall and collapse around, for Adalo was moving around and using his strength to knock them over. Adalo was using his strength to knock them over, for it reduced the shadows and the cover. It reduced the shadows and the cover, and soon neither Zeich nor Adalo would be able to hide anymore. They could not hide, for there was nowhere to hide. There was nowhere to hide, for Adalo had destroyed all cover. More light filtered in continuously. More light filtered in continuously, and more rain as well. No fear? No fear? There would be fear. Yes, there would be fear. There would be fear, for Adalo demanded it. But it was good luck to meet Zeich Yajuu again. Fear wasn't the strongest feeling that Zeich would feel today.

"You need to step into the light, Zeich... The darkness is great, but if you want to taste blood on your lips, you need to reach from out of the shadows, into the light, and grab your victim whole. You need to pull them in, and crush their eyes out with your own two thumbs. I know you know this, and I know that you know you know this, and you might even despise yourself for knowing it, and even moreso for wanting it. So come on... Let's do something fun today...Let's do something sexy." Adalo finally appeared from out of the shadows, in a clearing in the trees he had made himself by knocking them down. Adalo finally appeared from out of the shadows, and his eyes were wide and black. His eyes were wide and black, for he had in his soul menace. "Come on, baby... Beat me til your knuckles bleed..."

Adalo started to walk toward where Zeich was. He started to walk toward Zeich was, for he had suddenly the urge to truly torture Zeich. They were both the same. One was Arrancar, the other was Shinigami. One was Arrancar, but this meant only Hollow with Shinigami power. One was Shinigami, but had Hollow power. They were the same. They were the same, and Zeich knew it. They were the same, and Zeich knew it, and he knew that he knew it, and Adalo knew that Zeich knew it and that Zeich knew that he knew it, and Adalo knew that Zeich knew that Adalo knew it. So as he approached where he thought Zeich might be, Adalo smiled. Adalo smiled, for Zeich was just like him. Adalo smiled, for Zeich was just like him, so today was going to be a truly fun day.

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Flashback Music}

----------Begin Flashback----------

“...You want me to do... what!?”

“You heard me.” Zeich crossed his arms as he stared down the Shinigami that was staring at him incredulously. The Third Seat had made a rather unusual request, one that could be taken very badly if considered in the proper light. “I'll spell it out for you, make it a bit more simple. I would like you to tell me if you would be able to extract the Zanpaktou Spirit from a Shinigami's soul and place it into another weapon. Namely, my Zanpaktou Spirit, Haiiro. I know it's an odd request, but I have a reason for it. If you can't, though...”

Genjo frowned, sitting down at a bench near the forge where he shaped Zanpaktou. Zeich's Zanpaktou, as well as the blank Zanpaktou he had been given by the Vizard from his previous mission, both sat across an anvil nearby. When Zeich had laid them down, the other man had initially thought that he had wanted two Zanpaktou reforged in some way. But no, Zeich had explained quite clearly what he had wanted to do, and that had left the smith stunned, unsure of how to respond. The Third Seat could understand the issue, as he had essentially requested that part of his soul being ripped out and attuned to another weapon besides his current one. There were lots of questions that could come up as a result of such an inquiry, perhaps ones that could get uncomfortably close to the truth that he did not want known.

“It's not... impossible, per se.” Genjo rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, fingers brushing through the thick beard that rested across the upper part of his chest. The smith was a heavy-set man from all of his work, nothing like the typical researcher from Squad 12, but the intelligence in his eye showed that he was well suited for the division he was a part of. “You'd use a technique similar to removing yourself from a Gigai, though it'd have to be altered to go further, separating a part of soul from a spiritual being. Think of it as a layer within a layer. It's a very precise technique.”

“...Do you think you could do it?”

“Only if you tell me why you're doing it.” Zeich paused, taken aback at Genjo's sudden directness. The smith's brow was furrowed in suspicion, and a dagger of icy fear shot through Zeich; had the man guessed at his true intentions? The Third Seat forced himself to maintain a neutral expression despite the dread building up in his stomach. “I know it's an odd request, and normally I don't mind helping people despite their reasons, but you are essentially removing the part of your soul that contains your Zanpaktou's powers and placing it in a weapon. You should, theoretically, be able to make use of a Zanapktou with the spirit in it as long as you maintain contact with it, but if my data on your Zanpaktou's abilities is correct, once it takes its ashen form you lose contact with it and thus would lose control. At that point, your Zanpaktou would probably scattered, unable to be reclaimed until your Shikai duration ends. So why would you do such a thing?”

Zeich was silent for a few moments, weighing his answer and considering the best words for it. Finally, he spoke, albeit quietly. “...I wish to be rid of the spirit. I do not want to explain further, if you understand. It is a painful situation.” He left it at that for a few moments, letting the shocked look slowly fade from Genjo's face, followed by a look of dawning comprehension, which soon shifted into an expression of pity. “I wish to have Haiiro put into this weapon... and then I wish to leave it with you. Maybe he will not betray a new master as easily as he did me.”

“You do realize that this will end your career as a Shinigami, don't you?”

“...If you will not do it, then I'll look elsewhere—”

“No.” Genjo sighed, looking down for a few moments, lost in thought. Then he stood, towering a good foot over Zeich, a determined expression on his face. “If you're sure about this... then I will do it. Better me than some amateur who knows nothing about such a delicate art.” The smith headed over to his forge, grabbing a hammer glowing with spiritual energy. “Let us get started, then.”

----------End Flashback----------

SPOILER: Click to show

{Combat Music}

Zeich waited in the darkness, practically holding his breath. Amber eyes scanned the trees, looking for some sign, any sign of where Adalo had vanished to. The Primera Espada was truly a daunting foe; Zeich was not afraid, his technique preventing him from feeling such a thing, but there was an objective trepidation, too; logically, he knew he could not win. Exhausted as he was from little sleep and the strain of keeping his Inner Hollow contained, the Third Seat knew that he had no chance of defeating the strongest of the Arrancar. Indeed, logically, he knew he should escape, retreat to Seireitei, and gather the Captains to fight this menace. Remaining would only cost him his life. Of course, that was not necessarily bad; retreat could lure Adalo towards Seireitei, and lead to much destruction before he was killed or driven off. Such a simple victory might even bore the Primera, and cause him to leave behind something “unworthy of his time.”

It seemed like a very lose-lose situation if he thought too hard on it. Instead, Zeich focused more on what he could do, the ways in which he could either discourage Adalo or at least escape him temporarily, buying him time to call for aid. A Hell Butterfly wouldn't be hard to send, but the time it took to send a message would be fatal. In the night, the butterfly would easily be able to escape, be able to get his message, but there was that window of time he needed to create it. And with Adalo hidden in the darkness, much as Zeich was, there was no chance to let his guard down long enough to craft his plea for aid. No, all the Shinigami could do was sit and wait, trying to detect his foe.

The man—no, the demon's words came from the shadows, filling the air. It was a booming presence, like one might expect from a wrathful god, or rather, a devil. Zeich could not pinpoint their exact location, and his ability to sense energy was weakened with his exhaustion. He tried, without success, to use the Kagura Shingan technique to improve upon his weakened sixth sense, but he couldn't bring together the concentration required. The technique sputtered before it even started, leaving the Third [Seat feeling particularly vulnerable; not only could he not find his foe, couldn't detect him with sight nor energy sensory, but even his techniques were falling apart. It was a wonder that his Natural Calm technique was holding up as well as it was, though that was partially due to a fair level of practice; it came almost as second nature when stress started to take hold.

In the darkness, though, Adalo's words struck to the core of Zeich's thoughts. It wasn't so much that they affected him, with his emotions blocked out; he could objectively deny the Arrancar's words. Duty was indeed the reason why the Third Seat was fighting Adalo, even against all odds; he had to protect the people he was charged to watch over. And admittedly, he did want to prove that he was not like Adalo. A Shinigami with a suppressed Hollow was not the same thing as either a Vizard or an Arrancar; he didn't revel in the darkness in his soul, but instead hid it away, buried it beneath layer after layer of cold emotion, trapping its bloodlust and destructive nature beneath walls of ice. He was not the same; he was in control of the darkness, and didn't let it make his decisions.

Adalo's words made those walls tremble, though; the Hollow within lashed out at them, demanding freedom to be let loose, to taste the promised blood. Zeich could contain the creature with ease in his calmed state of mind, though he could feel its rage growing. That was troubling, as already he was having to negotiate to even access his Shikai; if the Hollow truly did not care about the Shinigami's life, it could lock away his Zanpaktou completely, letting him die. But short of letting the beast out, and causing further problems, there was nothing he could do. Maybe, if he survived this, it was time to retire; if his Zanpaktou was at the Hollow's whims, then there was no way he could consistently serve Soul Society.

Let me free, so that I may revel in the blood promised! Let me out! Release my claws, that they may tear through flesh and bone! Unchain my fangs, that they may be dipped in blood, that they may taste the fading life once more!

The Hollow's words joined with Adalo's in a dark lullaby; one offered death, blood, and violence, while the other desired it, the two joining in a sinister harmony that made it hard to concentrate. Zeich fought to keep his focus while containing the words, keeping them out of his subconscious. He struggled to keep the Inner Hollow in, and to keep Adalo out of his head, unaware of the trees crashing down around him. The struggle for sanity blocked out all reason, all input from the outside; all the Shinigami could do was crouch in the brush, hidden temporarily by the darkness, Adalo drawing closer.

As the rain closed in around him, Zeich thought he could hear the beginnings of a dark symphony in its falling...

Remaining Reiatsu: 1650/1750 (-100 for Natural Calm upkeep)

Natural Calm: 2/5 posts to mental trauma, 2/10 to emotional burnout

[Kashmir De-Mona]

SPOILER: Click to show

The trees were falling one after another. One after another, the trees fell from Adalo's visceral strength. Adalo's visceral, inhuman strength. Was Adalo even a proper being? Was Adalo merely not a proper being, but a force of nature given sentience? Given sentience, any force of nature could be terrifying. Hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes. Given sentience, any force of nature could realize its natural duty to destroy. Was this then the product of what Adalo was? The urge to destroy? Was this then the product of what Adalo was? The composer and maestro of the symphony of death? The composer and maestro of the symphony of death was somewhere here, seeking out his partner in a musical duet. It was a musical duet composed for the sake of anguish, and not of music.

"I can hear it...." Adalo's voice resonated, even in Zeich's mind. "I can hear the voice of the monster inside of you... The monster who makes you so like me, and whom you fear because he IS your true form. You're afraid of him. Hiding from him. Trying to suppress him. But why? Why suppress him when he's the truth behind who you are? A Shinigami's Zanpakuto, after all, is the key to his power, and the beacon of his soul. The fact that he is the source of your power is indicative of who you are.... You've already realized it, I know. You've already realized that you can't fight me without your Zanpakuto, and you can't do it without your blood lust, and his cooperation. You NEED him. He is you, and he is your strongest form. He is everything that you desire."

The rain became heavier as trees fell more. As trees fell more, and darkness began to dissipate, the storm grew more torrential. The storm grew more torrential, and the black aura of Adalo further impinged on the corners of Zeich's mind. The black aura of Adalo further impinged on the corner's of Zeich's mind, trying mercilessly to claw its way through into the recesses of his quickly blackening soul. Adalo's voice and the monster's were so similar. Adalo's voice and the monsters were so similar, becoming nearly one, nearly impossible to tell apart, nearly impossible to keep out of Zeich's head. Then, Adalo spoke yet again. "Fine, then, I realize now what I have to do... You won't realize it until I fight you more seriously, and you see that without your monster, you're nothing..."

Trees fell more. "I'll fight you, then, and show you that you ARE the monster, and that it gives you strength, and makes you better. You ARE a killer. I'll show you, Shinigami..." Tree after tree after tree fell. Then, as one last tree fell, there was a blue flash in the sky. There was a blue flash in the sky, for lightning crackled across it. Lightning crackled across the sky, like a large, momentary scar, and lit up the area. Suddenly, Zeich was not in darkness, but was illuminated. He could see. And so could Adalo. And Zeich could see that Adalo was right in front of him, face inches away. Adalo was right in front of him, face inches away, hands wrapped around Zeich's wrists, squeezing. And Adalo was grinning as rain fell from his face. "You are ME...."

Just this



The sound of thunder followed after Adalo's voice. The sound of thunder followed after Adalo's voice, an unforgiving growl rolling in the clouds. Roll of thunder, hear my cry. Adalo pushed Zeich down. Adalo pushed Zeich down as if in a scene of rape. As if in a scene of rape, Zeich's arms were pinned down and Adalo's eyes bore into his with an evil, sickening smile. The pressure from Adalo's grip would break Zeich's wrists. Adalo's knee would be on Zeich's chest. Adalo's knee, on Zeich's chest, would be pushing down slowly, applying more and more force. More and more force, until Zeich would feel his rib cage begin to crack and his ribs in actual danger. Harder, harder. The longer Zeich waited, the more likely it was that an indent would be in his chest that caved all the way to his heart.

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play This First}

Memories began to blend with reality as Zeich clutched at his head, hearing the twin voices entwining in a ghastly harmony of darkness and destruction. Adalo's, the Shadow's... he could no longer differentiate from them. Yet they served as a background to his soul, rather than the main attraction; their song became the frame for a memory that floated to the surface, a recent and painful one. A parting, a farewell that would never be forgotten. The pain of it broke through even Zeich's forced calm, the shattering technique and the welling emotion exploding outwards, causing him to cry out. He didn't even think that it gave away his location, that Adalo would find him; the pain that filled his heart and soul was too much for thoughts to find any purchase, and the Shinigami collapsed to the ground.

“It's done.” Zeich looked at the smith with hollow, empty eyes. The process of extracting Haiiro from his soul had been... jarring, to say the least. His hands still shook, and his mind reeled from the feeling of emptiness within him. It was as though his heart had been torn out; he could still feel it beating in his chest, the physical manifestation of his life, but the spiritual aspect was gone. The vibrant feeling of living, not just functioning on a physical scale, but truly living, was gone. There was a void there, one his mind would not reconcile, and it left him feeling hollowed out, as though he were but a shell supported by thin strings. For a moment, he wasn't even sure he could respond; he just wanted to lay down, close his eyes, and stop breathing.

“You okay?” The words snapped Zeich back to attention, and he shook his head, trying to clear the fog of his mind. Genjo's expression registered concern, but there was also resignation there; he had accepted that Zeich was going to be stubborn enough to see the process through regardless of the consequences, and that this was an inevitable result. “You're going to be out of sorts for a few days while you recover; losing a portion of your soul isn't like losing blood or running out of Reiatsu. It's a very trying process for your body, that runs the risk of exhausting you both physically and emotionally...” Genjo's voice began to taper off as Zeich closed his eyes again, dizziness returning...

White broke through closed eyes as lightning flashed across the sky, cold rain bathed already-chilled skin, and Zeich's gaze jerked upwards; he shouldn't have been able to see the sky or feel the rain. Yet even as he did, his amber eyes widened at the open canopy of gray-black clouds above him; where had the trees gone? Had he moved, lost in the dark lullaby of voices, or...? No, he had not moved, the plants around him were the same as before. Where then, had the sheltering branches gone? There was no way that trees would simply move, cease to exist—

And then the shadows moved. The darkness took form above him as lightning flashed, and a sinister gaze stared back at Zeich. Hands clutched at his wrists again, and the muscles and bone screamed out in agony at the pressure forced upon them. A loud pop came as one of Zeich's wrists broke, and then the other, and he let out a strangled gasp as pain jolted through both arms, down to the shoulder. Suddenly his back was slammed against the ground, the pressure on his wrists unyielding. Pressure on his chest grew rapidly as the demonic Primera drove his knee forward, pressing into him with insane strength, crushing him down against the ground. The Arrancar could have killed him with a single blow, but he was toying with him; even through the pain, Zeich could tell.

Come on, beg for death, beg for me to end it! Abandon hope as you've abandoned everything else! Your heart, your soul... what's left to abandon in this empty shell? Just give in. What do you have to live for!?

I... What did he have to live for? He was just doing his duty, surviving, protecting Soul Society as he had been taught. There was no conscious decision to it, just an automatic habit that he followed without thought. He was nothing but a mindless sentinel...

Face it! You are nothing without me! I am the sole thing that defines you! You have no feelings, you have abandoned the living portion of your soul! You are nothing but a monster, because a monster is the only thing that defines you! You and I, we are the same being!

Zeich found himself running through the darkness of his Hollow's Inner World, running without direction. Running was all he could do, woven into a web of futility. All of his denials were just that, running away from the truth. He truly was nothing, an empty vessel with a programmed directive. The Shinigami did as he was told to do, with little thought of his own. He could feel the darkness, the cold truth, drawing up behind him. Tendrils of shadow emerged from the nightmare black that filled the Hollow's world, stabbing towards Zeich as he continued to run. He evaded quickly as one stabbed at him, twisting aside, but another jabbed into his arm, and he could feel the chill creeping beneath the skin towards his heart. It held him fast, his arm unable to move once it had been penetrated, but worse yet was the sensation that came with it.

Fear. Fear struck with icy certainty towards his heart, the crippling terror filling him from head to toe. He fell to the ground, the depth of his unbridled fear turning his legs to rubber. The fear that he had kept so long had emerged from the Shadow's darkness, and had finally taken root where he had never allowed it to before. He could feel it spreading roots throughout his body, feel the corruption of his soul as darkness began to overtake him. The Shadow's presence was everywhere at once, surrounding him, closing in on him like a pack of wolves to weakened prey.

Another tendril stabbed into his shoulder, this one sending dismay through him, a feeling of hopelessness descending. A third tore through his back, and as it clamped around his heart, dismay became despair as sorrow and loss were added to the mix. Zeich found his skin turning black, the corruption of darkness spreading through his veins, through the muscles and nerves. He was falling into the hatred and bloodthirst of the Shadow, descending into the dark shadows of its evil nature. And worse, the Shinigami's will to fight back was beginning to fade; what good would it do for him to struggle free? This was just another fight in the never-ending war between Shinigami and Hollow, one that could only end with corruption as a Vizard.

Slowly, but now without any further doubt, Zeich let himself slip into the darkness. An image of his last moment with Haiiro rose to the surface unbidden, a memory of letting something else go. He remembered leaving the sword in Genjo's hands, feeling the emptiness in his very being, staggering out the door. The Shinigami remembered looking back one last time, staring at the sword that held the one who had been his soul's companion for countless years. And then he remembered turning away, saying goodbye as the sight faded into the distance. Zeich remembered, and then that memory began to fade into darkness, just as he did.

In the last moments of consciousness, he whispered words that he had held in his heart, but had been too cold to ever express. “Goodbye, Haiiro...

Goodbye, master...

((OOC: Let the music fade, and silence.))

---------------------------------

SPOILER: Click to show

{And Now This!}

Zeich suddenly went limp in Adalo's grip, no longer resisting or struggling. His cries had stopped, his breathing had halted; had he died? Was that it? It seemed as though there was nothing left in the Primera's hands, just a corpse. There was no spiritual signs, no pulse, nothing. Even the Shinigami's soul seemed to be gone, devoured into the darkness that had grown within him. But that darkness was dormant, still; it seemed that despite Adalo's efforts, the monster had just not come out in time, and he was left with nothing but an empty husk.

And then the first pulse hit. The darkness spread, a flame that had ignited in the dark oil of hatred and bloodlust that had soaked into every fiber of Zeich's being, a flame so black that even the night seemed bright. It spread throughout the fallen body, causing it to twitch with new life. Fingers curled slowly, uncertainly; even with both wrists broken, motion did not seem impaired. A soft shudder, and a slow gasp as the pain of the injuries flowed through the body came next, followed by an even slower exhale, one that was more pleasure than pain. Slowly, pallid, thin lips turned upwards in a subtle curl; that grin began to stretch itself across a pale, sweat-slicked face.

And then the eyes opened. Black sclera and golden irises slid about as they took in the area, scanned the rain-filled skies. Then they slid down to Adalo's face, locking onto the Primera's gaze. Those eyes widened briefly, and then narrowed again as the ever-expanding grin reached its peak, a maddened expression of utmost glee. The mouth opened, ever so slightly, hesitation and unfamiliarity holding back any words. And then, as though suddenly coming to his senses, Zeich spoke.

“Greetings, brother!” No, it was not Zeich. Adalo would have known, having resonated with the darkness in the Shinigami for so long. The Shadow, the lupine Hollow that resided within the man's soul, was the one in control. His dark aura practically oozed out from his body, a shadow that threatened to consume all that it touched, yet in the shade of Adalo's presence it was but a mere fragment of the darkness that lay before it. “Forgive me for my absent-mindedness... it's been far too long since I've felt anything... this pain is exquisite, no matter how much it hurts. The rain falling on my skin, the cold and the wet, is almost overwhelming in its sensation. It has been far too long... but now...” Suddenly the Hollowfied Shinigami began to laugh, a cackling sound, one that did not belong in a human throat. “But I am alive again! This body is mine, and it will remain mine! And it's all thanks to you, my brethren... even if you did break it in a bit roughly for me.”

Suddenly, the laughter stopped. “Now let me go! I want to take you up on your offer, to beat you, to draw blood, to taste your life on my lips. And if you do not...” Suddenly, a wall of dark substance rose up around them; ash, the Shikai form of the Zanpaktou that had been lying in pieces a short distance away, surrounded the two combatants. “Then I will take it for myself!” With that, the ash closed in, forming three long blades that would attempt to stab into the Arrancar's spine, shoulder, and neck.

“Now die, that I may live!”

Remaining Reiatsu: 1350/7000 (-150 for Shikai, -150 for Haiiro Ken x3)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Unaltered Stats (Hollow's stats)}Stats

Strength - [300] (300) Points

Speed - [400] (400) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [400 x 1.75] (700) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [200 x 0.6] (120) Points

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct - [200] Points

Senses - [200] Points

Energy sensory - [100] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [1800] points

[Kashmir De-Mona]

OOC: Forgive me for taking so long. I had planned to post days ago, but I saw that you had left, and only just now saw that you had returned. Now, I bring you my post. I have taken some new writing and psychology classes this term, and today I will put them into practice.

IC:

SPOILER: Click to show

Don't worry, beautiful people of the world! Today won't be disappointing! Today won't be disappointing, because the fight isn't slow anymore. Today won't be disappointing, because the fight isn't slow anymore, because something good just happened... The fight isn't slow anymore, because something good just happened... Something good just happened... Oh, did I already say that? I did... Repetition, repetition, repetition... Why? Why, oh why, oh why? Why repeat these things that you've already heard before? Why repeat these things that you've already heard before, in increasingly redundant walls of text? It's not repetition...it's not repetition...It's echoing. Echoing...It's echoing... Because many voices are speaking.

Don't worry, beautiful people of the world! Today, Adalo De-Mona prevailed. Eyes black, hands releasing the wrists of the enemy, and stare wide with glee. Stare wide with glee, so happy, so happy... AHAHA! Don't worry, beautiful people of the world. Adalo looked upon the new enemy, the Hollow, and was happy. Yes, blood lust... Yes, blood lust... YES BLOOD LUST. Don't worry, beautiful people of the world! Adalo jumped away as the ashes began to rise, and he beat on his chest like a savage gorilla. Like a savage gorilla, Adalo was beating on his chest. Eyes wide, black, staring into Zeich's, he laughed. There was something maniacal about Adalo... There was something sinister.

You knowww...there's something beautiful about how this world may end. Of all the most likely scenarios, compared anyway to other things ending the world itself, there's the scenario of the meteor. And how great is that? One day, you're back in Tokyo... or in San Francisco, or wherever else you want to be. And you're talking to your friends, and you're getting coffee, or you're being mugged in the Tenderloin, or something else... You're having sex, or 'making love' as stupid people call it, or you're eating good food.... But you're going about your business, and suddenly, the sky lights up. You look up and see it, and you have one moment to gaze in fear. And then suddenly BAM. Darkness...

"Come on, baby..." Adalo begged. "Beat me til your knuckles BLEED..." Adalo hurled his arm outwards around himself, and wind blew away the ashes. It did more than disperse them. It did more than disperse them, for it shattered the forms that they had, and knocked the ash away. The ashes gone away from Adalo, he moved away from Hollow Zeich, moving backwards, laughing. Laughing maniacally. Don't worry, beautiful world of the people! You will soon be consumed by BAM! Darkness... Darkness... Darkness... The symphony... of death. Millions of voices crying out in fear, who will then suddenly be...silenced... By chaooosssss.... Chaos... An agent of it... A man of it... A monster of it... No, not a monster. A realist. Just ahead of the curve.

As Adalo moved away from Zeich, he was leading him... Leading him toward somewhere else... He punched at Zeich with powerful blasts of air. With powerful blasts of air, that, if hitting Zeich, would break his body apart. Yes... Break his body apart so quickly... But that wasn't the goal. His reflexes were being tested first. Adalo ripped two trees out on his way backwards and hurled them at Zeich. HAHA! Yes! Don't worry, beautiful people of the world... The trees were supposed to miss, too. He just wanted Zeich to know the battle was going to be something worth doing. A deep bass chuckle gurgled forth...A deep bass chuckle gurgled forth from Adalo's maniacal asanine throat... Hahaha...

No, but come with... Adalo was going somewhere nice... Somewhere...populated... Rukongai? Yes! The forest was finished. The forest was finished, and so Adalo wanted to go to a more populated part of Rukongai. Why? Why not? Yes, Adalo wanted to go... His black reiatsu boiled out... His black reiatsu boiled out and made the whole forest a suffocating atmosphere of deathly feelings and horrible living... Don't worry, world of the beautiful people... Adalo laughed. He started throwing more air blast punches at Zeich, especially if Zeich didn't follow. But he should. Adalo knew he would. They had the same blood lust. Adalo just wanted a better stage for combat. The new Zeich was his brother...and understood him... He would understand the sentiment.

Don't worry, people of the beautiful world...

[Zeich Yajuu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play This}

A surge of air washed over the area as Adalo swiped out with one arm, causing the trees to groan and bend under the shockwave. Even the Hollowfied Shinigami was blown back a few feet despite bracing himself, feet digging furrows into the dirt. It was just air, despite the man's strength; Adalo had not attacked with intent to kill. No, though Zeich managed to keep on his feet, the true effect of the attack became known, with the ash from his Zanpaktou scattering in every direction. Thousands of grains spread across the forest from the blast, the ashen mass completely dispersed, leaving the former Shinigami seemingly without a weapon. Even with the Hollow's instincts and brute force tactics, Zeich's body just wasn't strong enough to fight so directly; was this the end of him?

“Hah, is that it? You think a little wind can disrupt my power!? Pitiful!”

Not by a long shot. Even as Adalo sped away, releasing real shockwaves of force that shot through the space between them, the Hollowfied Shinigami raised his hand, and ash surged through the woods, gathering quickly. Moving at an incredible rate, the ash form of his Zanpaktou quickly collected itself, forming two blades that tore through tree trunks even as the blasts started to close in. The trees, toppled suddenly by the bladed masses of ash, fell before the force-laden air and were quickly disintegrated. Shards and splinters exploded into being even as another wave of air closed the distance, but Zeich was already moving forward, crouching as he ran to lower the center of his gravity. One blast of air flew overhead, nearly toppling him from the shockwave following it, but the Hollowfied Shinigami continued without hesitating, moving past the last of the attacks.

Trees were hurled next, but they were dealt with just as smoothly; the two blades that had severed tree trunks before were now stabbed into them, and the two trees simply exploded. It wasn't just the force of the blades tearing into the trunks, as Adalo's strength simply overpowered Zeich's cutting ability. When the shaped ash tore into the trees, it expanded through dozens of cracks formed from the impact, causing the trunks to simply burst. The shattered remnants fell to the ground around the Hollowfied Shinigami, who easily avoided the fallen masses. Zeich shot past the opening, leaving the ruins behind him as he chased after his prey.

Ah, prey... a word he had not used in a long time. Oh yes, the boy whose body he now owned had been his target for quite some time, but he had stopped being helpless prey up until a few days prior. Resisting, no matter how futile, had made the game far less fun and far more irritating. But Adalo... yes. Adalo was not weak or pathetic, unlike the former Shingami whose soul had been consumed. No, Adalo was a prime figure, one of such strength and magnitude that his power could not be denied. Yet he was a willing prey, a temptress to offer blood and pain on a scale that the formerly captive Hollow could barely imagine. How much of his pain would be his, and how much would he inflict? These were unknowns, yet every ounce of his captive body screamed for the release of his bloodlust, for a chance to inflict agony without constraint. Blood, death, destruction... he desired them all.

It was those base instincts that drew Zeich forward with a Shunpo even as his ash coalesced around him once more, darting forward at a speed greater than that of Adalo's current retreat by a long shot. Oh sure, a Sonido would carry the man out of range, and knowing the nature of this game, he would tease and toy, staying just out of reach and playing hard to get. But the Hollow liked a chance, loved to hunt; he would play this game, would chase down Adalo until the body he currently possessed lay broken from his efforts. A body, once owned, could simply be discarded, shed like the ungainly mass of flesh it was, left behind to rot once its use was done. And that was why the Hollow attacked so ruthlessly, without pause or hesitation; short of death, it could not, would not be stopped.

Another Shunpo had Zeich attempting to dart past Adalo, though he left half of his ash in his wake, enough to form two long lances that attempted to stab into the Arrancar at a speed twice as fast as the man was normally. On the other side, assuming that the maneuver worked, the Hollowfied Shinigami held two more swords ready as he lunged at Adalo's back. One arm would lunge forward in an explosive burst of speed thanks to Shunpo Karin, the already pain-laden limb screaming with agony as damaged bones and injured muscles were pushed anew, yet the Hollow relished in the sensations. He could feel blood start to leak from wounds that opened, injuries caused by the splinters and wounds from Adalo's strikes earlier; the warmth flowing along him was beautiful.

The thrust, if it connected, would go straight for the Arrancar's neck, right along the vertebrae. A successful hit, assuming that it did not meet resistance—and if it did, the Hollow did not care; he just wanted to hurt something—it would tear all the way through Adalo's neck. Even if the first blade missed, the second would come around, albeit at standard speed instead of one improved. Four different attacks, at varying paces and speeds; Adalo would certainly find a way to avoid them, to counter them; the Hollow counted on it, despite his berserk pace; he wanted to feast on the bloodlust on the air, to feel the sensations of life, the thrill of survival. It wanted to bleed, and to bleed others in return, no matter what it took.

Remaining Reiatsu: 950/7000 (-100 for Shunpo x2, -200 for Haiiro Ken x4, -100 for Shunpo Karin)

Shikai: 2/10

[Kashmir De-Mona]

OOC: Forgive me. I was unforeseeably busy during my break. However, I believe we are nearing our conclusion.

IC:

SPOILER: Click to show

Let me tell you all about the day I met my kin! AHAHAHA! That day... when the mask came over his face, and I ran. I wasn't fleeing. I wasn't fleeing, but he thought we were, and so he chased us. I watched him coming as he tried to catch up to us. Shunpo... But we escaped with a Sonido. I used air blasts to destroy the incoming ashes. Ashes... HAHAHA! He attacked us with ashes. I LOVE ashes. Ashes of the burning inferno that will eat the world. Yessss... Please show me the symphony of death. We love it. But he came and so we fled. I had a destination in mind. When he used that first Shunpo, I used a Sonido. When he used the next Shunpo, I used another Sonido. Each time I used my arms to create air blasts to blow away or destroy what was coming for us. Fear not, beautiful people of the world....

And then, there it was! My destination! AHAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! YOU THINK I WAS JUST RUNNING?! WE HAD A GOAL IN MIND! THAT WAS WHY WE MOVED AWAY. I saw it, then... It was a town... It was a district of Rukongai. We breathed in the scent of it. In the daytime it would have been beautiful for you... But to us it was lively and ugly. There were people everywhere going about their business. There were people everywhere going about their business, trading, talking, loving, laughing, living... It was disgusting. They were unsuspecting until they saw an Arrancar arrive. They were shocked and in horrible awe. I grinned at them, because just then, my brother in the darkness arrived once more... And, laughing, I led his ash, which chased me, into the town. It was beautiful.

Instantly, with just one time dodging, I got it to stab one of the people trading! HAHA! And we laughed at our brother. The one newly indoctrinated in the darkness... And as he approached us again, we disappeared with another Sonido. We used our speed and the strength of my step to create blasts of air around him too strong for him to go against. It just took moving around him a little. He couldn't get away except for behind. But that was where I was. I was behind. I could sense a lot of things in him. I knew that he was hateful, and I knew that he was frustrated, and I knew that he was thirsty. I just knew he was just like me. Because after the fact of sacrifice, or destruction, or fate, there is despair. But, even after despair... THERE IS REVENGE! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

And I could sense it in him.. There was darkness. We could see it! He wanted to hurt something. He lusted for blood. He wanted to taste it more than anything. Ohhh, I understand. We understand so well. I also want to hurt things. We want revenge too... Revenge revenge REVENGE. AHAHAHA. Don't worry, beautiful world of the people... Soon we will scar you as well.... That was why, when we saw him there, trapped by our wind, I reached out and grabbed the back of his head. I could sense as I did that he wanted to kill things. But it wasn't just me. He wanted to kill even more things than me. AHAHA! So I grabbed the back of his head, and then..... and then... You'll never believe what we did next. WE THREW HIM INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWDED AREA! AHAHAHAHAHA!

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC Disclaimer: This post gets a little graphic, readers. You've been warned!))

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Play This First}

They ran. The two of them ran at top speeds, a Sonido outmatching a Shunpo, a blast of air deflecting ashen blades. It was an almost orchestrated dance as the two of them clashed, and though it was obvious that Adalo was the superior of the two, the Hollowfied Zeich did not care one bit. He still attacked, reveling in the sensations of the body, drunk on the power of control and domination. The Shinigami followed Adalo without hesitation, followed his brethren as they continued their dance of death, each step leading them further through the woods and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. And though the Primera led the dance, guiding each step and controlling the flow of motion, Zeich kept up with each and every movement, never allowing himself to fall behind or falter.

The Shinigami noticed when they reached the Rukongai, though; he sensed the crowds, the voices, the people. Even the dim rain, the crashing thunder, and the growing darkness punctuated only by brief flashes of light could not deter them from gathering, from mingling. Words filled the air, sounds that meant little to Zeich as they clashed with the harmony of death that rang out between him and Adalo. Screams were better as they spotted the combatants, a tune that rose up to accent the clash of darkness. Heartbeats, hurried steps, screams, ragged breaths; slowly the people were tuned to the terror and despair that permeated the air, much like an instrument with its strings being tightened. But there were still false notes, still jarring pieces of the music.

That pissed Zeich off. Adalo was suddenly left behind as Zeich's sword stabbed into the offending citizen, the blade cutting deep into the man's chest. The Plus looked on in horror, seeing a Shinigami's robe, but a Hollow mask; he saw a monster where there should be a savior. The Hollowfied Third Seat grinned, enjoying that despair, that fading hope. And then, he simply executed the man; ash flowed through the open wound as he withdrew his sword, traveling along the man's veins and organs. Blood vessels ruptured and broke, creating extensive internal bleeding, while organs were crowded and crushed by the mass filling them. All the while, the man screamed, his pain finally bringing him into harmony with the dance of death between Hollow and Arrancar, and Zeich laughed. He laughed, enjoying the torment, the agony.

And then the man's head simply exploded in a wash of gore, ash congealing within the skull and crushing the brain before forcing its way outwards, leaving a broken corpse behind. Blood splashed againt the pavement along with mixed fragments of bone and brain. Distraction alleviated, Zeich turned back to Adalo, a grin on his face and flecks of blood splashed across his front. “Sorry about that, I was just a little distracted. Don't worry, brother; his blood isn't nearly as good as yours will be!” The Hollowfied Shinigami smiled wider behind his mask; it didn't matter if anyone saw it, they could feel the malevolent expression as easily as they felt the dark presence radiating from him.

Before the chase could resume, however, Adalo was on the move again. His strength and speed were enormous as a Sonido powered by both allowed the Primera to pass at an incredible pace. Indeed, the force was so great that the air from the motion prevented movement, the winds so strong that even the Hollowfied Zeich found himself pausing, bound in place. He turned, the only thing he could do, even as Adalo came at him. Finally, finally the Primera had stopped running! This was what the Shadow had waited for, the moment of clash that would define the life that he had reclaimed and devoured. And so, as Adalo charged forth, so too did the former Shinigami, hand outstretched as ash congealed on it, forming the fingers into long, gray claws that would rip and shred anything they met.

Adalo's hand closed on his head, however; Zeich's fingers stopped just shy of the Primera's face, claw tips a scant inch away from the man's eyes. The Hollow struggled, screaming out in mixed violent delight and fury at being halted, lashing out and trying to dig his claws into the Arrancar's flesh. It was so close; he could taste the blood, feel it flowing through Adalo's hand with every beat of the monster's heart. Yet he could not close that distance, his arm stopped just short of his intended prize. So instead he went for Adalo's arm, both hands coming down on it, attempting to tear into the flesh and eviscerate the muscle beneath. But even as he closed in on the Primera, drew closer to the prize, the reward of blood and pain, he was once more halted by a swing of the man's arm that sent him skywards, hurtling away from Adalo.

The flight was short, despite Adalo's insane strength, but it was enough to send the Hollowfied Shinigami a good way away from the Arrancar, crashing through the roof tiles of a building and out the wall. Fresh blood from deep cuts and scrapes, pain radiating from the re-broken bones; these sensations made Zeich feel more alive than ever as he rolled to his feet, one arm hanging limp at his side. The already broken bones had fractured worse than ever, and his shoulder was dislocated from the impact, leaving the limb useless at his side. The Hollow let out a roar of displeasure at the sudden separation from his victim, the pain and paralysis more of a nuisance than an actual issue. He wanted Adalo's blood, damnit, and he'd get it one way or another. Even if that meant going through a whole district.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Play This Now}

“Bankai!”

Ash filled the streets like a massive flood, a wall of gray drowning dozens of Pluses beneath it. Zeich strode through the mass untouched as he made his way back towards Adalo, carving a swath of death before him. A man emerged from the ash, coated in gray and coughing with his lungs filled, making breathing difficult. Zeich paused, silencing the annoying sound with a simple twist of his wrist; the ash coating his victim's lungs turned into a thousand daggers that stabbed through him from the inside out. Skin turned black as the ashen blades tore through flesh, converting it to more ash as the Black Death of the Hollowfied Shinigami's Bankai tore him apart from the inside out. Bones melted, torn apart and converted, crumpled inwards along with destroyed flesh and organs. Soon there was nothing left but a pile of ash-stained flesh, and that too soon became nothing but more dust in the wind as it too was converted.

The building before Zeich was obliterated as ash flooded into it, filling every cranny and then overflowing it, shattering walls, windows, and tiles all at once. Those unfortunate enough to be within it were crushed against walls, or barring that, were suffocated under the mass of ash pressing them to the floor, burying them alive. No survivors emerged as Zeich walked through the broken remains of the building, timbers crashing down about him. The Hollowfied Shinigami wasn't laughing now, though; he was becoming annoyed with being thrown about, kept from his prize. Adalo had promised him blood, and he intended to take what was promised. Bargains were always kept, whether the other liked it or not. Just like the boy whose body he had been promised, the Shadow would have what it wanted.

Ash erupted forward, clearing a path for Zeich. A civilian trapped in the path of destruction found ashen claws digging into his stomach as the Hollowfied Shinigami simply ripped the man's intestines out, letting them spill out onto the ground along with a copious amount of blood. The Plus was left to slump into the dirt, trying to scoop his insides back into him as though it would spare him from death. Another Plus felt the wrath of the Shadow's frustration as ash literally pried his mouth open until his jaw snapped, and then flowed into his head, bladed edges emerging from his mouth, eyes, and ears. Blood ran freely from the opened wounds before the neck was messily severed by further blades, tearing through the spine and windpipe, leaving the brutalized head to slump to the ground along with its body.

More died by the second as Zeich stepped forward at a casual pace, golden eyes burning with anger at being toyed with. He wanted blood, he desired it, but the blood of Pluses was too weak, too easy to obtain. It was like drinking watered-down wine, losing the delicious intoxication of the true addiction; no, the fallen Shinigami wanted what he had been promised. He wanted it. Another Plus fell as Zeich's blade whirled around, removing the woman's arms and left leg before leaving her to be smothered by the ashen walls around him. Another found himself literally cut in half from groin to chest, held together only by blades of ash that penetrated his sides before being removed, leaving a bloody, crumpled mess of blood and organ tissue to collapse to the ground. And still Zeich advanced, murder in his eyes. As he strode through the streets of death, taking lives by ash and by blade, he raised his voice, letting his voice be heard.

“ADALO! I AM COMING FOR YOU! YOU WILL KEEP YOUR WORD, OR I WILL MAKE YOU BLEED!”

[Kashmir De-Mona]

OOC: As we appear to have taken into cinematic posting, and given how long I have delayed you, I crafted a cinematic climax in this post, which will, I believe, be my last or second to last. If you would rather continue combat, however, or find some grievance with the cinematic liberties of my post, I will edit accordingly. Additionally, kudos to the player of Takashi Kuchiki, whose coding for a post I happened upon in canon 15, and decided to attempt for myself.

IC:

SPOILER: Click to show

despair demands revenge! ↡ i want death's symphony ▼ "No, you're not good enough yet..." Solemn finality descended upon the Arrancar King's brother in the darkness. In the darkness, where only those with holes in their heart were allowed to reside. Only those with holes in their heart created by pain could understand this kind of solemn finality. Languish in a world of deception, destruction, lust, envy, hunger, intoxication, and inevitable fate. Be consumed by loneliness, be eaten away by despair, give way to rage, and at last come to the final conclusion. The final conclusion: Revenge. Only then would one be set free. But they were not at this final stage yet. The final feeling of darkness would still allude Zeich yet longer. "I need you to be stronger..." Adalo said. The Primera had borne witness to the carnage around him, and had laughed gleefully in the rain as the blood spilled, as the terror screams had their place, and as people had suffocated from ashes, been torn asunder to give way to bloody red, and had felt their very veins fill with the substance which should exist only where one found fire. It had been glorious. It had been biblical. Alas, it had not been good enough. The failure was in the intent. There were those who thought of Adalo De-Mona as the mindless murderer, but this he was not. Adalo was evil, ruthless, chaotic, and most of all insane. Adalo was not, however, mindless. What Zeich or his Hollow or both lacked was maturity. To truly be a monster was to be truly human as well as truly a monster, for only humans best fit the definition of monster, rather than any other creature. Who was it but humans who turned into Hollows only to express their displeasure at their lot in life? To be a real monster, and a real Hollow, as Adalo was, required understanding. Adalo had this understanding. Adalo was comprised of tens of thousands of conscious forms, all of which desired revenge, and all of which had assumed control of the body. No one consciousness had become Adalo. A new consciousness, derived out of all the others, had become the sum of them all. Equally. The monster of revenge. Adalo was legion, for he was many. Adalo could understand his victims, and even empathize with them. Despite his insanity, he could comprehend every bit of agony which they suffered, from the emotional despair as he took away their hope to the physical pain as he stripped away their flesh from their bones. Adalo understood it all, yet he still committed horrible acts and preferred pain to joy, death to peace. He understood all that was good and evil in humanity and in his victims, and could understand what it meant to be a father dying before his daughter, or a daughter tortured before her father, and he still found pleasure in their hurt. One day Zeich would arrive there. On that day, he would be Adalo's unquestionable brother and equal. Until then, enough was enough. It was time to plant the seed of despair, so that it may flourish later into anger, and turn into the burning desire for what the Primera Espada, King of all Arrancar, craved most: Revenge. So when the Hollowfied Shinigami came to Adalo, the Primera would have no more of it. The Hollowfied Zeich arrived to grab Adalo around the neck, and the Primera grinned through the white eyes which understood evil and chose to become it. The Arrancar King grabbed a hold of Zeich's arm with his own, and summoned a technique called Electrica, which converted Adalo's Cero to electricity. IN the rain, the electricity conducted across Adalo's arm and across Zeich's body, shocking him to the bone. This pain would begin to separate the consciousness of both mask and body, and the Shinigami beneath would begin to surface as the Hollow began to dissipate and the mask began to crack. Adalo, then, exerted his gravitational pressure to push Zeich onto the ground and crush him there. Exerting this monstrous pressure and killing everyone remaining in this town instantly, Adalo, surrounded by monstrous black, bent down and wrapped cold hands around Zeich's mask, and crushed it into pieces in one motion. This would be the beginning of Zeich's return to consciousness, to see what was in ruins. Memories of what he had done would come flooding to him in mere seconds, and Adalo would speak. "Didn't I tell you that you and I are exactly alike?" the Primera mocked. "Look around you. This town is in ruins, and everyone is dead. And look at their blood. Not a drop of it is on my body. It's all on your clothes... and on your hands... And your ashes are running in the streams of blood flowing around... I've done nothing but fight you... None of this was me. It was all you. You killed everyone here. Men. Women. Children. Babies newborn and without sin. Innocents.... This just goes to show you exactly what I foretold..." Adalo reached down with a grin and picked Zeich up by the neck and held him up, and their eyes locked one more time. "You are ME." ↡ profile | notes: burn everything. STATS & SKILLS: strength - 400 points (1000) speed - 350 points spiritual pressure - 300 points (150) reiatsu strength - 300 points (600) light aura - 0 points dark aura - 100 points instinct - 200 points (100) senses - 100 points energy sensory - 250 points (500) healing expertise - 0 points total SP: 1900 current skills: (18/19 SKP spent) - Weapons: [sword] (3) -strength of will: (3) -battle analysis: (3) -street fighting: (3) - battle focus: (3) - pain tolerance: (3)

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: Made some cinematic liberties here myself, PC/PM if there are any issues. If not, feel free to report this or message me to do so if you feel it is concluded.))

SPOILER: Click to show

{Song #1}

You are ME.

Darkness. All around him existed darkness. His eyes were open, yet they saw nothing. His body was free of bindings, yet Zeich was frozen in place, unable to move. He had been swallowed by so many dark emotions, so much despair, hatred, rage, sorrow; he had been devoured by fear and terror and cast into the shadows of his own heart. The former Shinigami, now fallen, could do nothing but sink further down, falling deeper into the depths that he had built up, casting away everything about himself into that void. And now he himself had been thrown into it, tossed aside once his use had ended, once the Shadow possessed the body that it wanted. All he could do was let it engulf him.

It was true, really; at the moment, he was the same as the Primera. A combination of Hollow instincts and ruthlessness coupled with human intelligence and power, that was what they both were. It didn't matter that one was an evolved Hollow, that the other was a possessed Shinigami; the two had the same purpose and desires. Zeich hated to admit it, hated to see that he could be the same as an Arrancar, but there was no denying it. He had thrown away his Zanpaktou spirit, the part of his soul that identified him as a Shinigami, and had accepted the Hollow as the source of his power. Technically, that made him a traitor, one worthy of execution for risk of being a destructive threat. At very least, banishment and Zanpaktou destruction awaited him... not that it worked on a Vizard's Zanpaktou.

So what, then, was left to him? To flee Soul Society and become one of the Vizards? To betray the very world he vowed to protect? They would destroy him in a heartbeat, without thoughts for his circumstances, but given the situation he could hardly blame them. Zeich's body, under the Shadow's control, had been on a rampage for a while now, guided and manipulated by Adalo. Though Zeich was swallowed by his inner darkness, he could sense the Hollow's malevolence, its bloodlust satisfied only to rise up again moments later. The Shadow was enjoying itself while controlling the Shinigami's body, destroying and slaughtering all in its path. And even if Zeich was to get control back, what's to say that this event wouldn't happen again? He deserved to be executed, for the greater good of Soul Society.

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SPOILER: Click to show

{Song #2}

The lupine mask cracked as lightning crackled, the Shinigami's body shaking violently from the electricity sizzling through his body. A deep crevice appeared from the left eye, moving rapidly down the chin, and a fragment of bone mask fell to the ground, revealing a portion of Zeich's face. Golden eyes widened in a mix of shock and pain as the limbs tried to spasm, but partial paralysis of the nerves prevented more than just a curling of the fingers and an arching of the back. Even as the attack ended, smoke rose up from the scorched skin and burnt hair as Zeich went limp in Adalo's arms, his whole body numb from the overriding sensation of electricity through his fried nerves.

And then came Adalo's pressure. Released from the Primera's grip, Zeich found himself falling, plummeting; he struck the ground, feeling the weight of the monster's spiritual presence crushing him downwards. With no energy, with his consciousness fragmented and his body paralyzed, the Hollowfied Shinigami could do nothing but be pressed into the ground, sinking slightly into dirt turned to crimson mud. His eyes faded, losing their luster; shining gold became dim amber once more, as another fragment of mask fell off, the wolf's muzzle cracking and starting to crumble. The body was, for a moment, caught in a limbo between conscious beings; the Hollow was stunned, unable to act, yet it had consumed the Shinigami, rendering him disabled as well. For a moment, Zeich was a body without a dominant soul, not one, but both sides bound from control.

Those eyes shone gold only a moment later as the Hollow threatened to take control again, one hand slowly rising up from the ground. It was a miracle that it could even do that, given his exhaustion and the weak link to the body's control. Yet the Shadow's willpower was enormous; he had waited too long, patiently, for an opening in which to take and own the body to which he was bound. He refused to be sealed away again, to have that life stolen away. And so, he slowly raised a hand, and an arm, struggling to right himself. Inch by inch, that limb rose, fingers slowly clenching as they reached for Adalo, reached to draw the Primera's blood. Though the ashen Bankai around them was starting to dissipate with the Hollow's consciousness, there was still enough to form long, bladed claws at the edge of each fingertip.

Adalo stopped that suddenly, hands reaching down to grab the remains of Zeich's Hollow mask. With a single, brutal motion, it was shattered completely; a few fragments remained, but they were unrecognizable as anything but small pieces of bone, with no trace of the mask left. The air's latent ash vanished, the last dregs of the Bankai disappearing. Golden eyes faded to amber, and began to shine again, as though the two souls were fighting for control again. But no; one was merely trying to maintain control, the other still lost within. The only thing that remained was the Shadow, as though Zeich had vanished, swallowed by his darkness. Yet Shinigami and Hollow alike heard Adalo's words, both trembling; the Shadow was ecstatic at the death and destruction it had caused, while Zeich despaired, lost in self-loathing. All they could do was wait, sure that their own end was at hand, as Adalo lifted them up from the ground.

“You are ME.”

Eyes met, golden and crimson locking onto one another. The moment was stretched out for an eternity, the Hollowfied Shinigami not even struggling; he hung there from Adalo's grasp, his eyes defiant. There was no way to survive this encounter, no way to even resist; with his body numbed from electricity, his stamina running low, and his Zanpaktou completely shattered by the Primera's overwhelming presence, death was only a moment away. All it would take would be a bit of pressure from Adalo's hand, enough to crush his captive's windpipe, and that would be the end of it. They both knew he could do it with the barest effort; it was a matter of if and when.

An attack came from a surprising source, however; from seemingly nowhere, as though it had simply materialized from thin air, a sword blade slid through Zeich's back and out his chest, emerging soaked in blood. The weapon stopped merely an inch from Adalo, the crimson-stained tip glistening in a flash of lightning. Golden eyes widened in pain and shock, slowly lowering until they met the length of steel emerging from Zeich's chest, right in the center. His breathing grew ragged, as though he were choking; indeed, the blade had pierced his lungs, and already he was finding it taxing to simply draw breath. If that length were withdrawn, it would be far worse.

“Secondary target down. I repeat, secondary target down. Move in for primary target.”

Several Shinigami emerged from the ruins of the district, their faces masked and their weapons drawn. One of them held the sword that pierced the Hollowfied Shinigami's body, though he quickly retreated while leaving the weapon, while the rest drew in closer, ready to attack. There were at least a dozen, and though that number wasn't nearly enough to stop the Primera, short of each of them being a Captain or equivalent, the sounds of further backup could be heard as the stealth force was sent out. Whether or not Adalo could crush them all was to be seen, but the question was, would he bother? Was it worth his time? Or had he simply come for what he wanted, and accomplished his goal? Either way, he was left with a dying Shinigami in his hands, and another squad closing in on him. Flight or fight was up to him.

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SPOILER: Click to show

{Song #3 – Yes, I used Bleach OST the whole post!}

“Master.”

Zeich's eyes opened, slowly, as he heard a familiar voice. His eyes felt strange and his vision was blurred, yet he could see again, no longer swallowed by the darkness. Slowly he looked around, realizing where he was. The old plateau, the Inner World that belonged to Haiiro, spread out around him. In the distance was the forest, the trees still barren like a skeletal mass around the fallen land. But something was different about it, something that was obvious at a glance. Where the branches had once been barren, there were hints of green, of leaves growing back from the charred desolation. Where there had been death, there was now the promise of new life. It was strange, after seeing a wasteland for so long.

And then there was Haiiro. The wolf stood a respectful distance away, leaving plenty of space between himself and his master as Zeich pushed himself up off of the ground. The Zanpaktou spirit watched Zeich with sad eyes, patiently waiting as though he expected to be yelled at or sent away again. After his initial greeting, he said nothing, letting the Shinigami rise to his feet. The silence stretched out between them, neither sure what to say or do. Zeich felt conflicting feelings, anger and hurt fighting with joy at seeing his companion; even a few days apart had been painful in its own way.

Finally, he foud words, though they didn't express how he felt. “Haiiro... where are we?”

The wolf tilted his head, surprised at the question. “We're in my Inner World. The one inside the Vizard's blade, where my portion of your soul is stored. It is separate from your own soul and Inner World, the one that your Inner Hollow controls; here, you are apart from your body. It's not much different from dying, really, except you're anchored to this world rather than being sent into the cycle of rebirth. It was a neat idea that Genjo came up with.”

“Why am I here...?”

“To make the world think that you're dead.” Zeich stared, startled by the statement. “It's pretty obvious that you destroyed this whole district under your Inner Hollow's control, so rather than having you executed for treason and disposed of... we're 'killing' you ourselves. It's a means of smuggling your body out of Soul Society without the higher-ups knowing, where you will be healed and sent to the World of the Living. Banishment is better than death, after all. Plus, there are—”

“Woah, woah, slow down... Now explain slowly...”

The plan was simple, really; An enchantment had been woven into Haiiro's vessel, allowing it to absorb Zeich's soul temporarily and bind it within the blade, leaving his body as an empty husk, devoid of life. Since the Inner Hollow was part of Zeich's soul, much like Haiiro had been previously, it too would travel with him, contained in the new blade. The body, no longer alive, would be marked as dead. With Zeich “dead' on the records, Genjo would then smuggle his body out to a small clinic on the edge of the wilderness, where he would have his wounds healed; he had taken some serious damage from Adalo's attacks. At that point, his soul would be released from the Vizard's sword, and he would “live” again. At that point, it was off to the World of the Living to live away from Soul Society, hopefully to never be caught and live out his days as he chose.

Zeich took it all in, shocked by the sudden change of circumstances. Banishment from Soul Society, having his rank as a Shinigami stripped from him... those were heavy burdens. To live without his duty or his pride; could he do it? At very least, Zeich figured that he could find the other Vizards, and perhaps learn how to control his Inner Hollow... but would he have to turn on Soul Society, betray them, to do so? Though his future had opened up for him again, what choices would he face, what bridges would he have to burn?

“Master...” Zeich looked up again, but Haiiro didn't meet his gaze. The wolf's head was lowered, his body language suggesting sadness or hurt. “I know... know that what I did was unforgiveable. I deserve to be abandoned. But before you do, I just want to tell you that I'm sor—”

“Shut up.” Haiiro fell silent, lowering his head further. Zeich sighed, shaking his head. “You're right, I'm still really mad that you couldn't tell me the truth, that you had to shelter me. But...” Suddenly he approached the wolf, then knelt down, wrapping his arms around the spirit. “These last few days without you have felt... empty. I've been missing a part of my soul, and it's slowly been killing me. You're welcome to return; you have a debt to pay off, after all.”

“Master, I...”

“We both have a new start ahead of us, Haiiro. No more apologies. We've got to move forward together, and head into this new life. Are you with me?”

“Always, Master.”