Fire's Wake, Stirring Ashes (Training, SemiOpen)

[Santa Ajora]

Training for SP

The Rukongai was always a jewel. Even if a particularly tarnished one. The Wilderness stretched on beyond unimaginable lengths, and yet this one, big, massive settlement persevered through the middle of it. And yet that gem in the rough had been plagued. In the wake of such things as the recent invasions, and with Captains occupied with other affairs than those they were bound to: The Rukongai was rife with a corpse-like scent. The scent of fear and vulnerability. And like flies to that corpse, the hollows had begun to swarm.

Santa Ajora, was one of many hollows that found themselves drawn to that deep, drenched scent. So many of the rukongai citizens were shuttered up. Sheltered, hiding, grouped together for protection. With what could barely be called weapons scattered among them. It was one of the poorer districts. Area 50. A section that had recently been under rennovation. A few of the families in the area had become successful, some of the members having recently become shinigami and having stood out. With new revenue flowing, the family was going it's best to try and move up. What was once a modest home had the beginings of a much grander abode about it.

And that very quasi-mansion, the place that would have been a symbol of their new status, the new page in their otherwise dull lives: was bleeding. It had just started in a corner. But now, the smell was immediate. The slow spread of guts, flesh, and living viscera that seemed to simply grow it's way out of the wall on the east side, as if some slow horrible plague had spread it's way across one side of the house, and black blood flowed like a creeping monster, a little pool slowly beginning to fill the first floor. The family was huddled in the upper rooms, but several f the young men watched the grotesque spread of gore through what was once their home. Small improvised weapons in hand. and a single Zanpaku'to among them. A shinigami visiting his family.

She could hear them. Those hushed voices that echoed through the area. The shaky tremble of voices that had no experience in any real fight. And of  course, that singular clean, clear voice of confidence. A man trying to calm his family. To tell them it was okay. Even as numerous eyeballs, seemingly disembodied as they grew out of the very floor, suddenly began swiveling, and several of them fixated on that black-robed figure. She saw him, and when the man realized tht so many of those 'dead' eyes were pointed in his direction, he suddenly came to freeze up, before a shak hand suddenly rose, the crackle of electricity in his palm.

"BYAKURAI!"

The shout startled the other members of the family as that burst of lightning tore it's way through several of those eyes, and the others did not even blink. Simply staring bleakly at the man as he stared at the hole he had made in the wall, his chest heaving as his family around him suddenly readied themselves, expecting a sudden attack. But what they saw, was not what they expected. The slow, steady, timid press of a hoof gently dipping into the room. The slow, tilting peek of that white, black-streaked mask looking into the home. until at long last the rest of her body slid into view.

They could not even muster a scream at the sight of her. The sight of so many chunks of flesh, dripping black blood, bones, organs, mouths, tongues, and other bits and bobs that sloughed from her body like dry skin. and the slow, dry rasp that slowly hissed it's way from the mouth of that mask, that seemed to almost creep it's way into their ears like some hissing audio parasite. Before she was even completely through that hole, the man suddenly felt a burst of courage, the need t o act. The need to protect his family. Santa watched as the man suddenly screamed out, his face red as he suddenly lurched forward, charging at her.

Three soft, sloppy squishes. Three steps into the range of her garden of cadavers, before suddenly that charge wa abruptly ended by one, loud, punctuated KACHAK! Followed by the sickening crunch of bone as suddenly, the man that had been charging, that new shinigami, not even a seated officer, felt a bone and sinew bear trap lock onto his right shin, immediately tumbling face-first into that flesh-ridden floor. Right onto a second trap, a Ligament Noose suddenly whipping upward, snaring the shinigami around his neck before it suddenly grew taut. Those ordinary rukongai citizens watched as the man they had lived with for so much of their lives suddenly go purple in the face, his hands clawing at his throat as it was stretched between the bear trap and the noose about his neck. Eyes wide, bugging out.

But it did not last long. A disembodied arm grew it's way slowly out of the floor, a hand rising like some sickening flower, fingers twitching, slowly opening as it came to position right over the man's face, terror written on every inch of his features before the ligament-tripped spike in the forearm suddenly shot out, tripped by a twitch of the skinless arm's fingers, the spike sinking with a wet, soppy KACHUNK through the front of the shinigami's face, his body suddenly going limp as he stopped being afraid, forever.

Santa tilted her head just in time to see those family members bolting for the stairs, heading up to the second floor to escape her. Luckily for them, the ceiling was actualy quite tall, high up enough that her gargen had only barely begun spreading upstairs. But she didn't mind. Slowly, arms and claws began pulling the dead shinigami's body apart, carving him up, pulling him to pieces as she casually approached and simply settled down, and began to munch on the body.

---

It was panic. The news of what had happened to ne of their own shaking the entire family. All of them were shivering, trying to keep it together, unable to believe the sobbing story told by one of their eldest sons. ' We must keep it together!' 'We must be strong, like Kijoshi!'. A sudden peppering of hear-hears peppered the room, and for just a moment there was a spattering of hope. Resolve in the death of their beloved, and the idea that he may not have died meaninglessly. They began to feel confident. Until the soft, frightened voice of one of the women suddenly squeaked out.

They all Turned. They Stared.

And the spreading garden stared back. The slow creep of horror that grew along the ground as Santa moved along the lower floor. Eyes, partial faces, ears, all manner of sensory organs seemed to be spawning, as those items of information gathering began sweeping the room. Eyes locking onto the family's horror-stricken faces. Ears locking in the direction of their heavy breathing. And slowly, arms beginning to reach their way out of the floor, a slow grinding, twisting crackle sounding as bone and flesh and sinew slowly formed long, protruding hollowed tubes of bone from the centers of those palms, almost like little chimneys sprouting from the palms. Little chutes that pointed at the frightened group.

KLAKLAK!

Suddenly several of those members were slumping to the floor, staring at the sharp spikes of bone protruding from theid bodies, among them one of the women screamed as her brother closed his eyes forever, and the smell of sulfur and acid filled the air, several of the family members galvanized into action and suddenly attacked, charging and attacking those disembodied limbs, mowing at them like weeds, at least until the soft squish of hooves was heard, and they all turned to the door leading to the stairway. Completely covered in flesh, slowly sliding wetly open as Santa's head slowly peaked in, and all of those that had charged into the garden screamed out as snares, tripwires, and other traps and surprises sprung onto them, only to reach a higher-pitched crescendo as those traps and limbs began to pull them apart, an even easier task than dealing with the one downstairs.

Santa casually tip-hoofed her way across the room, and one by one, visited each and every member of the family. Normally she would be talkative. She might have asked a few questions, been more...accomodating. But she was starving. How long had she been waiting for a real meal? How long since she'd been able to actually sink her teeth into something real? It was not a question of civility. It was a necessity. She needed to eat. Niceties could come later, with new people she met, with new faces she ran into.

But these.....these few.... received only horror.

1 class 8 Shinigami consumed
5 class 8 'Humans' consumed (Theyre rukongai citizens, more or less human souls, so theyre being counted as such)

[Angel]

Training for TP

Angel had been within the 50th district of the Rukongai to try her best to defend the land. The situation was dire, as Soul Society was so understaffed, that they had to send her the newest of the recruits to the battlefield immediately. As she ran through the streets, the sound of howls could easily be heard all around. The first thing she would see were several souls running down the street as a masked figure around twice the size of a normal human was running down the street. It was bipedal, and it's face was like a vertical crescent with the back part of the mask arching and connecting to its back. It's eyes were red and it most certainly was hungry as it ran towards the Shinigami. It seemed she was going to have to get involved immediately with the situation, and she was without help in this battle.

The Hollow had rushed towards her as it raised its right fist up high to slam it down on the young girl. However, the movements were highly predictable and so she swerved to the right as the fist cracked the stone where she was previously standing. Quickly drawing her Zanpakutou, she had slashed at the face of the monster while leaping. She had released a grunt as the blade had sank deeply into the face of the monster before it would disperse upon being purified. The black particles had floated into the air before seemingly blowing in the wind. The monster before it was fully vanquished had howled one last terrifying howl. This was only the beginning of the battle to defend this village.

She had ran by, as she saw a flying masked being looking much like a vulture of sorts flying through the air, before it was swooping down to a running civilian. using the Shunpo, she would flash in front of this winged beast as she held out her right hand. "Hado#1:Sho!" The bird like beast was pushed, and sent skidding into several barrels and crates. The beast's weight had crushed the wood under it as it would attempt to scramble onto it's two feet. However, it was far too late as by that time, Angel had swung her Zanpakutou vertically, delivering a strong and deep diagnol slice across it's body. The beast had cried out before it too vanished into black particles. Chaos wasn't going down easily, and she knew she wouldn't be able to take care of this all by herself. Help would come sooner or later, maybe...

She flicked her blade as blood would splatter onto the ground. As she ran, she noticed a hideous mass of blood, gore, and flesh wrapped around one of the low tier mansions of the district. Something about this screamed trouble. She had heard another howl as a large centipede like beast was rushing from behind her. It's legs were replaced by blades as it's teeth were sharp and meant for killing. She decided to lure it into the vicinity of the mansion grounds. The beast would howl as it had followed her at relatively human speeds. She would deal with it here, and then investigate what abomination things happened in this area. The blood and flesh disgusted her, but the centipede seemed relished at the sight of it.

The centipede had stood tall, almost bipedal as it had aimed to slam it's scythe appendages into Angel. She had leaped backwards as the body slammed, and then rushed to the Hollow's face before delivering a sideways kick making it stagger and go to the right closer to the goop. "Hado#1:Sho!" She had blasted it into the mess before then calling out another Hado. "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!" She had blasted a bit more of a powerful blast into the Hollow as it cried out in pain with it's body pierced. She had pierced it's lungs, and it had rapidly coughed blood before slumping backwards and dying. However, for some odd reason it didn't disperse on her observation. Why? 

Santa Clause was most likely aware of Angel's presence now, and Angel was aware that something wasn't right. She had witnessed her Hado slice up some of the bloody mess that was Santa's power when it pierced through the Hollow. She waited outside with her Zanpakutou in her left hand as her right hand was close to her side. She was ready to move at any movement and made sure she was nowhere near that red goop. Normally when a Hollow is killed, they vanish when using Zanpakutou or Kido. What was this goop doing so that the corpse remained? Was this goop a Hollow? It was the only logical explanation in all of this. 

[Santa Ajora]

Strangely, when Angel was done working on that centipede, not only did the thing not fade, as for one she hadn't killed it with her zanpaku'to, but the ground immediately began attacking it. That mush on the floor reached out, suddenly springtraps of blades anbd spikes sank into it's body, and she would see the centipede being hacked apart and pulled into pieces before her very eyes before they were dragged into a hole in that flesh-covered house. But she did make one mistake. True, Santa Ajora had control over that mass of flesh. But that didn't mean she was close by.

In Soul Society, she left a massive wake. But she didn't have to stay close to it to maintain control. Proven when suddenly, the air behind Angel opened up silently, and Santa Ajora simply seemed to emerge from the air using an Ulcera. And in that instant, everything in a ten meter radius began to grow that flesh. Except for Angel and her personal effects of course. But the ground beneath her feet instantly began filling up with gore and viscera. Immediately Santaja tilted her head silently. She was supressing her spiritual pressure, and her presence. She was a creature of stealth and subtlety. And despite her sudden appearance, Angel would have really no way to know she was there behind her.

But she was not cruel. Nor was she mindless. She had just consumed a large number of souls. In fact, Angel would even hear the ripping and crunching of that centipede being chowed down on. Designated mouths that she had grown inside in order to eat the hollow without having to involve her main body. Just like she considered doing with Angel. It would be fairly easy to do would it not? But she wasn't going to. She didn't just sneak up behind the shinigami and end them. Instead, she let out a slow, rattly whisper through the air as she stood behind them.

"What's your name?" Blowing her cover, she asked softly, and if Angel spun around she would see what Ajora was. A deer. Dripping with bodyparts and black blood. Everything around her was not red. It was black. Like some sort of horrible ooze. Santa was constantly bleeding. Constantly sloughing off flesh, meat, and all sorts of disgusting stuff. Just like how everything around her seemed to grow that very same stuff. And of course she was careful. The area between herself and Angel was filling up with traps. Specifically barb traps. Long spikes of bone braced with ligament tripwire. And with Santaja's stealth skill, Angel had no chance of avoiding them.

All it would take was an attack, for Angel to try to close the distance between Santa, and those traps would go off, and fire those barbs of bone upward and likely pincushion the woman. So the hollow felt rather safe. And confident. "What is your name?" came that secondary rasp. Even as the sudden gasp and scream of those around them would be....distracting. Three shinigami nearby had been moving toward the house, having seen that black growth from afar, and wandered a little too close to an area that Santa had been through. Those eyes in the ground had locked on, alerting Santa that they were in the area. Unfortunately.

The first shinigami had stepped on a tendon noose and immediately had screamed wen the wire tightened, slicing into his ankle and suddenly dragging him up into the air, flinging him up before slamming him into the ground, right into a tight little cluster of bear-traps made of bone, the sudden series of CRUNCHES that filled the air caused a spurt of blood as several pieces of him were separated from his torso, or other sections of his torso. The other two shinigami backed off, Ajora not even sparing them a glance as one of them shouted and tried hacking into those traps. The third simply turned tail and ran, shouting over his shoulder. "I'LL SEND FOR HELP!"

Santa simply continued to watch Angel, even as that angry sobbing behind her suddenly stopped in reaction to a skinless arm that had grown out of the ground rising up, some sort of weapon built into it's hand, a long extension showing as a crude gun was leveled, and then fired, a wet slish sounding as a spike of bone was fired, burying itself into the other shinigami's chest and cusing him to drop, crying out as more limbs would rise up out of the ground and begin pulling him apart, and dragging him towards one of Ajora's feeding mouths.

"I want.... to know your name." Santa repeated herself, staring very intently at Angel as everything within thirty feet of her continued to grow that black gore. Certainly the shinigami would probably feel like it would not be very safe to remain near the hollow. Even though she was so very tiny compared to most of those enormous monsters. Those glowing eyes behind that deer-skeleton mask seeming never to look away. She was transfixed by the sight of Angel. She hardly seemed interested in relocating.

1 class 8 hollow consumed
2 class 8 shinigami consumed

[Angel]

She saw that the centipede even before it was pierced with lightning was being torn apart by a mass of blades and spikes. She analyzed it closely and in worry thinking that living mass of glob was the hollow she should kill. She in fact hadn't noticed Santa sneaking up behind her as she was too busy staring and listening to the gross sight of the centipede Hollow being devoured bite by bite. However, that moment when she heard, "What's your name." She froze. Quickly she turned with her sword pointed to the abomination, and her eyes widened at the grotesque sight she saw. It was most certainly a Hollow, but she didn't expect to see such gore.

The Hollow was bleeding a black mess of flesh, blood, and other disgusting sights. As the goop spread between them, and eventually surrounded Angel, she could guess that escape would be improbable. She shook at the sight of this monstrosity, but yet it was human in some way. It had the ability to speak, and it had asked her a rational question almost as if it were a human. Hikari had stood tall and tried to remain calm in this situation. The screams of those in the distance made her freeze as she wanted to help, but then she heard the call of the Hollow again. "What is your name?"

She had not expected three Shinigami to be attracted by the situation, and it seemed they were going to rush to her aid. However, it seemed that one had been reckless as he had fallen for the traps of the Hollow. She analyzed them to find them versions of hunter's traps. Very fitting seeing that the creature in front of her resembled the deer. However, the sight was disgusting, and Hikari found herself freezing up before she began to mutter a very short incantation. As the skeleton hand had raised to kill the second Shinigami whom had the guts to slice at the gore, Hikari had decided to do something.

"Hado#1:Sho." Releasing a invisible force of wind, it would attempt to slam into the skeleton hand to divert the aim of it's projectile causing it to miss, if not destroying the hand entirely. "Get away! I can take care of myself!" The young Shinigami did not feel safe anywhere near the deer creature, but yet found herself unable to move from her position. It looked at her intently as the deer skeleton mask stared at her continuously. It looked fascinated with her before it asked a third time, slower this time. "I want...to know your name."

The young girl had opened her mouth staring back into the face of death before she spoke. "My name is Angel. What is your name?" The young girl had prepared to use Shunpo in case any threats would be nearby. She had mastered the skill, and so she could perhaps save herself. The distance based on Angel's observation was ten meters. It would be a challenge to get out of this field radius what with the grotesque traps and appendages lying around. She either had the option of attempting to escape and or waiting for help to arrive. Of course, she didn't know the Hollow could come get her anytime she wanted with her odd form of transportation. Thankfully, she was going to wait it out.

[Santa Ajora]

The slam did indeed cause that arm to miss. But only to have two more arms form and fire on the shinigami. They died regardless, and their body was hacked apart, torn to pieces. Shredded. Eventually. But the deer did falter slightly, shifting in response to Angel's....strange fixation. It did take mental concentration to focus on so many appendages to cut down the shinigami, and in the end.... when the shinigami was dead, and eaten, she was able to focus back onto the shinigami before her. The one named Angel.
And she chuckled...

"Angel so I see before, me all to try and stop the gore, you shinigami... so very poor, please understand... I can't ignore this hunger..." She rasped, her voice dipping into a rhyming, rasping melody as she casually stepped closer, inspecting the shinigami as they seemed so very edgy. The mess grew higher, more than two feed deep of that viscera had grown, some of it beginning to creep up and cover Angel's feet. It grew a foot at a time(per post), and it was continuing to grow more and more. Though even so, it DID seem ro not actually be able to grow off of her, or her clothing and other personal effects. So it was not all-encompassing.

"I really should eat you. I don't like shinigami." She mused softly, before turning away, turning her back on the shinigami as she seemed to ponder the merits of doing something to them. Something....rash. Violent. And yet she had no real drive to do so. There was a soft raise of a hoof, before Santa would gently aim to bop Angel on the forehead with a hoof, just a gentle little boop, assuming she didn't run away of course. "You're so very weak.... perhaps I should feed you too.." She mused, as the sound of a trap going off would be heard nearby. the screams. Three rukongai citizens had wandered far too close to her garden.

The sudden SNAP of a bear trap closing shut, breaking a leg as the other two rukongai tried to help them out. Unnoticing of the arms that reached out of the viscera, aiming spikes of bone at their faces. The bone would crackle, muffled by the surrounding flesh as the loud slicing noise of bone bring force through flesh could be heard. One of the citiens was downed, but the other two immediately let go, beginning to scramble off, leaving their comrade behind. The man whimpered piteously. And Santa visibly moved this time... unlike the shinigami, the sound of this one was just sad... She actually turned in it's direction, and aimed one of those bone hands to the man's head. OF course, this wouldn't be seen by Angel.

The actual man? Was on the other side of a wall. Santa was operating using the eyes and ears growing out of the ground. So all Angel would be able to sense were the audible cries and vocal distress. And the sudden, sickening silence as that whimpering suddenly stopped. And the crunching began. And then Santa's head swung right back to look at the shinigami, as if considering her options. "You certainly seem like you want to save them. But most of them will probably be eaten, even if I don't do it myself. Why don't you come with me? I'll let them live. I hate shinigami... but I also confess to not knowing much about them." She pointed out.

"Or.....you can try to kill me. If you think you can." That rattling voice hissed, and those glowing eyes in those hollow sockets seemed to narrow. As if to dare the shinigami. That black blood continuing to pour off of her body, as chunks of her flesh just fell off her, only to grow right back again. Like some ridiculous regenerating monster. She definitely did not look like she would be very fun to fight.

1 class 8 'Human' consumed

[Angel]

She had succeeded in stopping the odd arm like apparition from killing her fellow Shinigami, but it was a futile notion as soon, two other hands had appeared to pierce the Shinigami nonetheless. She saw her fellow Shinigami get devoured, hacked to pieced, ripped apart as she was unable to help him at this point. He was dead, and the only sound she could hear other than the grotesque consumption was the chuckle of the Hollow in front of her. Soon, she had heard the Hollow talk to her in rhyme, each breath it took was with a raspy gasp. It explained how it had no way to ignore the hunger deep within it’s soul as the black gooey mess had begun to crawl over Angel’s feet. She had simply allowed the odd feeling goop to crawl over her feet before kicking the mess off of them. She looked on guard, perhaps a little nervous. However, she was serious and tried to look as calm as possible. There was fear deep in her heart, but she would not feed it.

Santa, the deer abomination had then mused about killing her as it thought about it’s options. Based on the voice, she wondered if it was a female Hollow or a male. She stayed where she was, and soon she felt a small bop from the hoof of Santa on the top of her forehead. It was cold, but she showed no sign of resistance. She was interested in the creature, and knew that she was in no position to attack this fearsome creature what with the abilities she had witnessed already. Besides, it showed no intent to hurt her as of yet. It mentioned feeding her, and at that time she wondered what it meant. Did it mean it wanted to feed her the flesh of the innocent? If that was the case, she knew she would never eat another human being.

Angel had then soon heard sickening crunches, cries and screams, whimpering, silence, and then finally munching as the deer seemed partially distracted. It was then she realized the deer could kill people from farther and farther away. Angel stared into the eyes of the Hollow as it looked back down at her. A cool breeze would blow between the two as Angel’s black hair blew in the wind. The hollow gave her a curious choice as it mentioned it knew she wanted to save the people around her. If she followed the Hollow, the other people would be spared it said. The Hollow did not know much about Shinigami, and apparently hated them. That wasn’t a surprise, but she was given the alternative of trying to kill the Hollow. The hoof resting on her forehead gave the notion she could quite literally be killed anytime, so if she was going to be killed...why not save some lives in the meantime?

“I’ll go with you. Please do not kill anyone else however. I’ll do what you ask of me.” The deer would soon find that her hoof was grabbed by the hands of the young Shinigami, and then hugged inbetween Angel’s chest and her arms. “Let’s go. End this violence and destruction, and at least try to end the suffering of others. Even if they may be tormented in the future, I am sure the other Shinigami will be able to care for them.” A selfless sacrifice. She felt warm, and seemed submissive enough to be swayed by the Hollow’s offer. Angel cared not if she were to die for the sake of others, for that was her purpose as a Shinigami. It was not specifically meant to kill Hollows, or purify souls, but it most certainly was her job to protect the souls of the innocent.

The Shinigami sheathed her blade before walking off with the Hollow to who knows where. She figured they might to to the wilderness further and then she would be eaten. If that were the case, she’d fight for her life. If not, then she would wait for the first chance to escape. This Hollow was deceptively intelligent and its powers were not fully analyzed by Angel yet. Angel would have to wait for that right moment to finish things, or else she would probably be devoured much like the normal citizens and Shinigami. The hollow in front of her was disgusting, it was constantly dripping blood and flesh. Angel would just swallow her pride however and would follow, not speaking unless addressed to.

[Santa Ajora]

That was much easier than she expected. But she was hardly dissappointed. Those emtpy eyes just continued to stare at the shinigami as that flesh continued to creep around them. And she was...pleased. The crunching stopped in the background, and Santaja gave a slow nod of satisfaction to the woman. "Then you have one more task to perform, before the lives of those aruond here are guarenteed." She rasped softly, stepping forward and gently pushing the shinigami onto the ground, the flesh growing there immediately wrapping around the woman and beginning to move her along like some sort of conveyor belt, Atna moving alongisde them as she escorted the shinigami a good ways away, to a separate area, where four shinigami were being restrained. Each of them only barely conscious, on the floor and with their heads to the side so that they could see and breathe.

"Cripple them. Cut their legs and their arms. So that they pose no more threat to me. Do this, and I will not kill them." Ajora instructed the shinigami. And Angel would SEE the bear traps poised over each shinigami's neck, ready to snap down and decapitate them if the shinigami refused to comply. "For the next week. You will belong to me. I need to be sure that you are not lying to me. That you will do as I say. So you will maim these shinigami. Or they, and you, will die." She stated firmly, her head already throbbing. She had overworked herself to be certain. Making so many traps and such, she had not really tested her abilities before. But she did not jostle herself. She was more than capable of at the very least, executing these shinigami. She'd have to retreat of course, and kill Angel later, but the shinigami, at least, she could be sure would die.

"I'm waiting." She added, and of course, the shinigami themselves had nothing to say. Their nostrils were free to breathe, but they had been gagged beforehand.Originally they had encountered Santa a ways ago, on her first introduction into the area. She had still been getting the hang of her ability, and one of them had managed to attack her, but thankfully, her real body had gone unmarred. Even so... she had not forgiven them. And that...petty nature of hers, had formulated this revenge. She was going to make them sit there as a comrade decided their fate.

[Angel]

Angel did not resist as she was swallowed by the putrid flesh that carried her to another area. She was wordless as she just simply tried to remain calm. However, when she saw several Shinigami restrained and hardly conscious, she grew worried. She outwardly would try to be calm, but she was nervous. When she was ordered to cripple them and slice their arms and legs, Angel spoke out to the beast. “That goes against the terms of our agreement. If I were to cripple them and slice both arms and legs, they are as good as dead anyways. The Hollow in the nearby area would find them easy pickings and they would be devoured alive. I might as well let you kill them now or else I would be killing them myself. However...I am willing to make a compromise with you. I will slice one arm and one leg each so that they may have a slight chance of escape. Allow me this and I will complain no further. I will also scatter their weapons so that you have nothing to fear from them. These men and women are half dead already.”

Angel was not stupid and thought about the consequences of her actions. Assuming the Hollow had complied to her request, Angel drew her katana before looking each Shinigami in the eye. Her coal black eyes filled with tears as she let two drip down her face. “Forgive me. I promise I will make it swift.” Angel was not a girl of violence and was actually kind and compassionate not only for her job but for other people. Her blade shined as she approached the first Shinigami with her heart thumping in her chest. Her left hand shook as she held her blade, and she began to make gagging noises. She was about to gag on tears. Quickly rearing back her blade, she would slice deeply into the shoulder of the first Shinigami’s arm severing the tendon as blood flew. The black robed figure screamed in pain through the gag, convulsing before he shook...nodding at her to do the leg. Looking to the opposite leg, she steeled herself before severing the Achilles Tendon of the man. Another muffled scream that would haunt her.

She would continue this process with the other three as it would make her emotionally distraught and frightened. Who wouldn’t be after that. However her job wasn’t done yet. Taking each Shinigami’s blank Asauchi, she would throw them as far as she could in other directions. Angel had then come to the deer stag being with tears dripping down her cheeks before nodding. “I-It’s done. I did my part. Now keep yours." She sheathed her own weapon once again as her left hand shook still at the thought of harming her comrades. She looked into the Hollow’s eyes with her coal black. The faucet of her eyes would not close as she felt incredibly guilty. Wiping her eyes with her hands, she looked at her concerned. “A w-w-week? I can’t be with you for a whole week. How do I know you won’t eat me when you have the chance?” She wanted insurance other than just taking the Hollow’s word for it.

So far Angel had no reason to believe anything the Hollow had said. The only merit it had was that it had not tried to kill her yet, but that could be out of sheer amusement rather than honesty. She suddenly felt a moment of sheer dread as she wondered if she maimed all these Shinigami just for them to die anyways. She wondered if she too would die in that moment, but then she realized she could defend herself. She could try and kill this Hollow if that were the case. It was getting drained and tired and she was still decently strong...and had energy. She could do it. 

[Santa Ajora]

Santa simply watched the young woman, watching as they faltered, and did not do as she asked. She tilted her head softly, and paused for just a moment to appreciate the situation. Now normally she just wouldn't care. What did she give a damn about any of this? She was starving after all, and honestly looking for excuses to kill people. But this was still a very unique opportunity. An opportunity to do something to the shinigami beyond just having to kill them herself. And she was very fascinated with the prospect. But.....

"I gave you options." She stated softly.

KACHAK!
The sound of one of those bear traps instantly beheading one of the shinigami. His body instantly went limp and Angel would get to watch as hands, teeth, and ligament wires began slowly twisting, breaking, ripping the body apart, pulling it to pieces and dragging them toward Santa, slowly mulching, crushing, and compressing the shinigami's body into a broken little bloody ball which the hollow consumed with a single dip of her head and a swallow. Before her eyes then locked onto Angel, and glowed all the more fiercely. "You have thirty seconds before I kill another one. And then another. But I will not kill the fourth one. I will make sure he gets to the sereitei. so that he can tell your superiors about your decision. That, in fact, will be my compromise. Maim all but the one. You may even choose which of your comrades goes unmaimed. He will be able to get the others to safety. He will be able to defend them, but he won't be able to attack me or my kind without risking his injured comrades." She noted thoughtfully.

And then she glanced to the next shinigami in line, and Angel would see the bear trap slowly cranking into place, getting ready to end the shinigami's life. Ajora then looked back up to Angel, her eyes still expectant as she waited patiently, having all the time in the world. "There are plenty of shinigami in the area. I could just keep rounding them up in groups of four. How many times will it take before you decide to listen to me? I'm curious.... very very curious..." she murmured softly, thoughtfully, so very intrigued to see just how durable the girl's spirit was.

1 class 8 Shinigami consumed

[Angel]

Kachak! As one of her fellow Shinigami perished to the beast to the Hollow's beartrap and was devoured by the bits of flesh and disembodied limbs, she froze. Just for asking for a compromise, one of her comrades had lost their life and was devoured like a piece of trash. She had thirty seconds to make her decision. She had the option of maiming all but one of the three remaining Shinigami, and so she had acted quickly before performing her action. Drawing her sword, she had sliced two of her comrades Achilles Tendons and two of their shoulder tendons. Their arms and legs would not work for them as they bled heavily. She was more concerned with the preservation of lives than killing this Hollow at the moment.

Although now she decided she would attempt to kill this beast the first chance she had. She was emotionally under distress and had been put into a tough situation. She needed to know one more thing before she made her move. Did the Hollow control the flesh and bones with her will? Or did she control them with her movements and concentration. She was sorry for the Shinigami who were at her mercy. However, she bared through it and did what she had to not only for her survival but for theirs as well. The image of the first Shinigami being beheaded and devoured was fresh in her mind and would likely haunt her for some time to come.

She quickly turned back to her Hollow demander flicking the blood onto the ground before sheathing her blade. "Now let them go. K-Keep your end of the deal." The emotional breakdown had still occurred as tears were openly dripping down her cheeks. Once again she explained that she could not be with the Hollow for a week and explained exactly the reasons why for that. The sounds of Hollow howls still filled the air and that concerned Angel heavily. Hollows were gathering now that the Seireitei was more vulnerable. What was she going to do? What could she do? She had thought of a plan, a stupid plan that might work...but then again might not.

The Hollow here didn't play around, but she was particularly honest about what she said so far. Hopefully the Shinigami would go and take the others...and then get help. Perhaps a seated officer or someone more powerful would come and save Angel and the others if she were particularly lucky. Death was everywhere at this moment and masked beings were swarming like flies. Shinigami numbers just weren't high enough to deal with them all and it didn't look like the Hollow were going to be retreating at any time. Angel closed her eyes and turned her face from the deer stag for a moment. She just hoped everyone would be alright. 

[Santa Ajora]

A slow nod of her head in response. Once she had committed the acts requred of her, it was but the work of a moment to release the shinigami, some of them matted with her slimy viscera, but otherwise alright. The uninjured shinigami immediately began the slow task of helping his comrades to the sereitei, and only giving Angel one last look before the group of survivors left. Santa watched the entire thing, fascinated with the entirety of it all. Amazed that such an interesting dynamic xisted between them.

"My promise indeed. I promised to leave....yes?" She nodded and immediately the air behind her split apart, shrieking open as the woman gave a slow, steady nod and tilted her head. "You wanted to be sure... so you will come with me. I will leave this place. And you will see. You will be there....with me..." She pointed out, sinking a single hoof into the portal as she waited for the shinigami to go first.

"This is what... you wanted. Is it not? So then... turn.... face the place you have called home. And say goodbye. And know that it will be safer. Without me. Again... I am not unkind. You said something... along the lines.... of 'no more than a week'... did you not? That shall be our deal. For one week... you will accompany me. and then. After that. both you... and myself... will return here." She explained, and continued to stare at the shinigami as she delivered her deal. Of course.. Angel could deny her. After all, those limping shinigami were still so very close. They hadn't put much distance at all, so if the woman wanted t o deny Ajora once again. She could just start killing more of them. It was as simple as that.

[Angel]

Her fellow Shinigami were released and no longer unharmed. She was apologetic for having to do such a thing, but there was no choice. The hollow looked to her and her comrades with interest as if fascinated at the concept of her sacrifice. The air split open behind the deer stag as a shriek filled the air. It was as if there was a wound in the fabric of existence that allowed the monstrous beast in front of her to travel forth from Soul Society and wherever it came from. She didn’t know if this portal was to Hueco Mundo or not, but if she were going there she was as good as dead. That was the hunting ground for powerful Hollow, and she knew that she was no match for any such beings in that world. However...her Shinigami friends were still close. She just had to go with the Hollow for one week...one week was all, but yet she had a thought. What if she were to die before that week was up?

After saying goodbye, the young girl had prayed silently that she could be stronger...to gain strength to never be in this position again at any cost. Reaching her hand out to the Hollow, she would grab the Hollow’s hoof hand for comfort of her dreadful position. What would she eat? How would she sleep in safety? How could she trust she wouldn’t be eaten? The Hollow kept her side of the deal, so Angel would take the risk. She slowly walked through the portal leading to very possibly her death. Now her greatest task was to survive. For one week she would have to survive and she would do so while praying to come back to Soul Society eventually.

Angel was going to do everything in her power to survive. She would train harder when she would return, and throw aside her fears. She could possibly kill the Hollow at this moment but then be stuck in her location. She just needed to wait out and hopefully be guaranteed protection. The only worry at the moment was what was going to happen to her and Soul Society. "Give me power...something...anything give me power. Let me survive." She felt a crippling lethargy as suddenly she felt a crushing depression and fear. What she had done was shameful and cowardly. To surrender to the desires of a Hollow, she would be disgraced possibly. At least she had done what was morally right. 

[Johnwaluigi]

63 paragraphs:

+315 TTP to Angel

+155 SP to Santa Ajora, +810 CTP for Consumption