Lost on a Field Trip [Ashland, Kane, JTT]

[Kane Coo]

Norway had been good to Kane. After all, it was all he could remember. It hadn't been bad so far, though not having much in the way of communication ability. The living folks couldn't see him, so he just mainly stayed out of their way except when they had something shiny for him to steal. He had collected quite a few baubles in his last few weeks here in the small village he'd been staying near. His favorite, today, was a shard of a mirror that had been thrown in the trash. Oh how he loved to look into it, though his face was still unfamiliar to him.

Today, he felt hungry. It wasn't often that he did, due to being such a weakened soul from the experimentation by the Kasumi'Oji. But, today he was hungry, so he would do something about it. He started to head into town, looking for something that appealed to him that he could snatch and consume. The smell of lamb roasting on a spit caught his attention, so he meandered that way. When he got to the main square, he saw the roasting meat, but it was not roasting on purpose. There was a fire at the shepherd's pen, an unnatural one.

Standing behind the pen, with a sheep in one hand and a villager in the other, was a creature made of black flesh with a bone mask. Kane just tilted his head in curiosity at the creature who seemed to ignore the rogue for now. As it went to eat the sheep, suddenly a flash of light split the mask from behind. A black-robed figure landed daintily on a fence post and turned around as the creature dissipated into nothingness. Another figure caught the villager and placed the unconscious woman on the ground.

The one on the fence post started talking in a language that Kane could understand! This was new to him. He listened closely. "And that's how it's done, class. Please look around for any other Hollows and meet here first thing in the morning for extraction." His mind parsing through what had been said, Kane started to turn away when he bumped into someone behind him. He'd apologize for doing so, but the words wouldn't come to mind. Nothing the fence post standing woman had said had any purpose here, so he just said, "Please and gone, Worthless."

The phrase was bound to be unnerving, coming from two different voices in the same sentence. One, the woman teacher, second, a deep male voice.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}
Strength - [50] (x1.25) {63} Points

Speed - [50] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [50] (x1.5) {75} Points

Reiatsu Strength - [50] (x.7) {35} Points

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct - [50] Points

Senses - [100] (x.75) {75} Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [350] Points




Abilities


[Mental: Imitation] {1}


[Utility: Stealing] {1}


[Battle: Weapons: Axe] {1}


[Utility: Other: Guitar] {1}


[Body: Acrobatics] {1}


[Body: Stealth] {1}

[ashland]

Ashland had actually been dragged to most of his classes if any. It was all just facts being drilled in and so many of them he didn't see the need for. Tactics and a history on distinguished division members. They had guest teachers from the squads here and there...and he was learning that those usually yielded something. He had even been told one of the captains was an instructor there on a more semi permanent base. Though he hadn't met them yet. However this class was special. Because this class was a field exercise exterminating a lesser hollow. Granted it was for his upper classman with the better scores and grades....but it was his whole purpose for being here. Perhaps it was over his head but he slipped into the field trip group and kept his head down. Attempting to mingle in. However this failed and though he received another lecture...the squad member leading the team saw no harm in letting him just watch. So long as Ashland stayed out of the way and in sight the entire time he would be fine. Especially with classmates looking out for him. This suited Ashland fine as it was too interesting to pass up.



Still the class had been a great deal more lecture and no real action at all. The instructor put the hollow down without any fight and Ashland could only enjoy the sweet death of a hollow for a brief moment. He would watch with a golden gaze from his one good eye. His iris gleaming in the light of the human world. His eye shifted up through his black hair as he breathed in the air. It tasted and smelled crowded here. Like the slums but everywhere. The air was almost sick in nature. Oh well. Coming from the slums this was nothing new to him so he shrugged it off. The students were told to go look for other hollows and split off into groups. Ashland however would shift to walk down the street. His left hand resting on the hilt of his Zanpakto. The blue ribbon attached to the base seemed to move to curl over his knuckles. As if holding his hand. However his right hand would dig into his pockets on his school robes in the inner breast pocket. Pulling out a candy sucker and putting it in his mouth. Enjoying the sweet flavor as he looked around.



Ashland would follow the rules though and not wander too far off. However his golden gaze would shift over to and odd sound. Trying to identify what had caught his attention that was so odd. The sound of two voices sliding into the same sentence had been the cause but just on the edge of his senses. Still it would give him pause as he looked around more carefully. He knew at least one hollow was here. Even if it died it could have attracted others. His memory of that first hollow creeped in and made his missing right eye sting from a phantom pain. He felt fear welling up in him at the idea of falling prey to something already. Well shit he would decide before fully turning towards the sound and rolling the sucker between his teeth. He intended to look tough. Intimidating even with his casual yet tough guy look...instead what Ashland managed to blurt out was a hesitant.



"Hello? I...Is someone out there?"

 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}Stats

280/280


Strength - [50] 33



Speed - [50]



Spiritual Pressure - [35]



Reiatsu Strength - [20] 30



Instinct - [50] 33

Senses - [50]



Energy sensory - [25]



Healing Expertise - [0]


Skills

15/15

Battle Skills

Weapons - 1
Battle Analysis - 1
Pain tolerance - 1
Bleeding Tolerance - 1
Battle Focus - 1

Body Skills

Mental Incantation - 1
Damage Recovery - 1
Anti-Stealth - 1
Stealth - 1
Heat Tolerance - 1

Mental Skills

Memory - 1
Analyzing -1
Illusion Resist -1
Calm Mind - 1
Strength of Will - 1

[Kane Coo]

The person Kane bumped into couldn't even see or hear spirits, so the villager just felt a sudden shove from nowhere and chalked it up to the one too many drinks they'd had today. However, someone did hear Kane and called back out to him. "Hello? I...Is someone out there?" Processing the words felt good to the rogue, like he was finally getting a foothold in his recovery from... whatever had happened to him. He called out to the shinigami student that had heard him previously. Hello? Other someone is Kane Coo out here

A combination of both the female teacher, the deep male voice from before, and Ashland's own voice would echo back to him. The rogue stepped out into view of the student, revealing himself though he really hadn't been hiding on purpose previously. Kane was a strange sort of man, if you could call him that. Until just recently, he had been a Beast Clansman in the service of the Gotei 13, but now he had been cast out against his will and lost his Zanpakutou. He couldn't remember this, so it didn't bother him to see the student. When Ashland saw him, though, it would be up to him how to react.

Kane wasn't tall by any stretch of the imagination, especially with his hunched over posture. At full height, he was just over five feet tall. With his posture... probably about five feet even. He also didn't look like a normal soul, as his appearance was that of a walking, talking Bird man. What could be seen of his arms and legs underneath his cloak was covered in blue-tipped feathers, and his legs and arms culminated in spindly talons. On his long beak that stretched from the cloak's hood were blue spiral tattoos.

The rogue carried no weapons, nothing threatening, and had no real indication of hostility. The only thing in his hands right now was an iPod and a shiny coin that hadn't been there at first. A villager walking through (that couldn't see Ashland or Kane) was suddenly one shiny coin poorer. His hands withdrew into the cloak and came back out empty of both items that had been there. His head tilted curiously, like a bird would do, and he just stared at the student. What would happen between them first?

[ashland]

Ashland would watch as a beastman of all things stepped out from where he had been standing. Not really hiding but not clear to see at first. However that eliminated the initial thought that this was some spirit or gifted human. The fact that it was someone from home was almost relaxing. The golden gaze settled on the short bird like man with a look of surprise for a moment. Certainly not traditional robes of the shinigami or academy. If anything it was like the clothes back in the slums. Of course beastmen had been more common in the slums where Ash was from. Still they all seemed to be on the same level of intelligence as any of the human souls. The way this one spoke felt odd. As if it were a parrot mimicking voices he had heard up until this point. The instructors voice mixing with his own was unnerving. However perhaps that was some condition of his race...he wasn't certain he had ever seen a bird beastman like this one before though. The race seemed to be primarily around predators from what he had met. Of course actually attending a class about it would have been beneficial.



Still Ash would cast his gaze around himself. Taking in the fact that they were alone. The human couldn't see or hear them so that was fine. The population was scarce out here which was lucky. If the hollow had fed enough...if it had evolved. He didn't want to think about what he would do if he were trapped in that situation. He had Kido and his katana but the truth was he just wasn't strong. He wanted to be but if a hollow appeared he would need help. He wasn't a fool to think otherwise. The rest of the class had spread out considerably but he could still escape into view of the instructor from where he was. However curiosity drew his attention back to the random beastman in front of him. Kane Coo appeared to be their name. Well he wouldn't wish to be rude despite wondering how they ended up here to begin with. Travel to this world was restricted right? If this was a civilian did they have their own version of dimensional movement? Or perhaps the beast clans had their own methods and rules. He found that to be more likely due to his ignorance and lack of education.



Still he would have to ask he supposed. His golden iris settling back on Kane in front of him. He wasn't as formal as offering a last name to a stranger. So he would go with what people called him in school.. however he would assume Kane used his full name in all instances for the time being. So he spoke in return with more confidence. After all he was bigger than this beastman so he shouldn't be intimidated. "People call me Ash at school. I happen to be here on a field trip and our shinigami instructor is watching nearby.... What brings you here Kane Coo? To the human world." He was being cautious still. His left hand still resting on top of the hilt to his sword as he rolled the sucker along his teeth. This wasn't something he was expecting and it was odd right? Out of place even. However he was trying not to sound accusatory while still informing the beastman he was not alone. Don't talk to strangers wasn't something he fully grasped as a child but he understood the need of it. Strangers were unknown and the unknown was dangerous.

[Kane Coo]

The student, Ash he called himself, placed a hand on the hilt of his zanpakutou, a sword, and said the word "Shinigami" which caused Kane to get defensive. The image of the flat of a sword repeatedly beating him burned in what little memory he had. The word triggered him too for some reason. There must be trauma he was forgetting. Maybe involving the swords? Either way, he wasn't sure he was comfortable with the questions he was being asked. me here Unloved and world gone. The rogue sighed, for he didn't know any other words to really convey that he was alone, he had no idea how he got there, and had no purpose as of yet but hoarding shiny things that he saw.

An aura of malice would be able to be felt by Ashland surrounding the pair. "What do we have here... two yummy souls to eat." The mask of a Hollow could be seen behind Kane, spearheading a long serpentine body that snaked out of sight. If Ash opened up his awareness to Energy sensing and focused, he'd probably detect easily that the Hollow had them surrounded, its entire body looped around the pair. It was a bit too close to Kane, though, who spun around at the sound of its voice and in a panic struck out with his clawed hand, scraping the mask of the Hollow but otherwise doing very little more than annoy it. The Hollow hissed at the bird-man, reeling back and then snapping its scaly neck towards him to try and bite his shoulder...

[ashland]

It was a sad thing the bird said. Unloved and alone. His world gone. Ash's thoughts flashed to his lost family. Not by blood with any of them but all of them had been close family. Siblings of his that he had held dear. Consumed before he could save them...and even when he had arrived it was too little too late. It was only through a man in squad 3 that had saved him that he even found the will to live again. Even that left his life filled with resentment and emptiness. He could feel for Kane on that regard even if it didn't explain the how. It wasn't likely that a criminal from the afterlife would reveal themselves at a school outing after all. Even if he did seem defensive Ash simply accepted that he didn't have enough knowledge to think otherwise. Instead he would force himself to relax. A hand on his weapon was rude after all. As if he was ready to engage in violence if he didn't like something. Bullying someone for answers also wasn't much his style. So he was just going to try and change the subject to something else. Until the voice that is.



Spiritual pressure pressed against Ash as he stiffened. A shiver running down his spine as the hairs on his neck stood on end. The smell of blood in his nose from the vivid memory. The screams echoing in his mind as malice filled the air. The voice seemed to echo against him as he felt the familiar nightmare. How had it gotten so close? He could feel it all around him. In every direction it had coiled around them. Such a large hollow would be noticed in moments by the instructors...but Ash didn't care. His golden eye would glow with rage as he had his answer. Glowing with power it would shine in defiance to the question. What would you do when faced with opposition such as a hollow? Would you run? Retreat? Leave someone to die and run? He could have flash stepped away of course but no...all he felt was the desire to fight. To kill this damned hollow. Even as it hissed at Kane. Ash would speak in a cold tone. Empty with rage.



"Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!"


With that his left hand would grip his right wrist as he braced himself. His index finger on his right hand pointed at the hollows mask. From his fingertip a brilliant white beam of light would lash out even as it moved to strike at the birdman. Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning) had been chanted and used immediately. Catching the hollow in the eye with just enough force to blind one of its two eyes and send it reeling but not nearly enough to break the mask. Still Ashland snarled as he drew his sword and marched towards it. Its screaming and thrashing meant others were coming quickly. But he intended to fight it all the same rather than hide until they arrived. His golden eye glowing with power. Muttering as he walked passed Kane without breaking his gaze from that of the Hollow.



"You should run and hide Kane Coo. I am not very strong so I can not protect you. The others will be here soon."

SPOILER: Click to show

{325/350 }
Technique Name: Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning)



Class: 7



Technique Type: Kido



Technique Element: Thunder



Technique Description and Effects: The user fires a concentrated, powerful lightning bolt from their finger that pierces a target.



How to use technique: Speak the spell and point hand at the target.



Incantation and Effect: "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!" When the incantation is spoken, the Reiatsu Strength used to determine the power of Byakurai is increased by 10%. (i.e. 100 Reiatsu Strength is treated as 110.)

[Kane Coo]

With Ashland's kidou spell striking the Hollow in the face, Kane was saved from immediate devouring. The bird man quickly ducked out of the way of the lightning bolt, grabbing at anything he could find that would make a good improvised weapon. He had no intention of hiding at this time. He felt the need to have an axe in his hand, knowing instinctively that he'd be better with that than anything else, but he didn't see anything like that so he opted for grabbing a chunk of cobblestone. He was stronger than your average human, by a slight margin, so it wasn't impossible for him to free the rock from the ground but it wasn't easy either.

Getting that rock in his hand, Kane turned and was about to strike the Hollow with his stone but the tail of the snake-like Hollow whipped around and hit him square in the chest. Although he was hit in the chest, he felt more pain out of his shoulder that was covered by his cloak. He felt weaker, not physically, but in a more general, spiritual sense. The parasite that had been forcefully embedded in his shoulder had been shaken by the blow by the Hollow and some of Kane's Life Force had been lost through it. The Bakoto parasite had yet to give up any of its power for Kane to use, but still managed to cause him extra pain and the loss of vital energy.

Reeling from the combination of the Hollow's attack and his parasite's hunger, Kane stumbled backwards and caught his footing as best he could with the training in acrobatics he'd picked up. The serpentine Hollow's head was once again reaching out to him to bite and consume him, but Ashland was getting closer with his sword drawn and ready. Nervous about the weapon, but trusting this man to be on his side for now, Kane ignored the fear of the sword and paid more attention to the Hollow. He hurled the stone at the creature's face, hitting it square where the Byakurai bolt had weakened it.

The rest of the class and the teacher would be near soon, but Kane wasn't particularly worried. He could blend into the shadows with his stealth skill once the Hollow was defeated. Or so he figured he could. Backing up nimbly, Kane took up a position behind Ash as the shinigami student advanced towards the distracted Hollow. Hopefully the student's blade was refined enough to cut down the Hollow, hopefully improved by the demonstration just a few moments earlier by his teacher. Kane was speechless at this time, just slightly out of breath from the lost Life Force that had never happened to him before.

Remaining Reiatsu: 750/750
Remaining Life Force: 650/750 (-100 For being Hit)

[ashland]

Ash was reeling from his rage. His vision going red as he saw the hollow before him. Flashes of his family dead and devoured. All for this thing. This creature with its endless hunger. He could not feel anything but hate. His heart beating hot and hollow within him as he took each step. His grip on his katana so hard his hand was trembling. He needed to strike out at this thing. To fling himself at it and devour his inner rage. To use it and cut down his enemy. He did not see sense. Could not hear reasoning. All he knew was he wanted this thing that had him cornered to bleed. He had suggested the bird man run and for now has lost all sense of where it had gone. Even as it was struck by the tail and sent flying Ash merely moved into a direct charge at the thing. It would have easily outmaneuvered him in its own anger had it not been for the boulder that slammed into its already injured eye. Drawing its attention elsewhere. The charge getting a chance as it moved to attack the bird again. Someone using their head over their rage.

Blind as it was Ash was merely an academy student. Not even in a squad yet. Still he charged with a yell and brought his katana crashing down on the bone mask of the large snake. It shrieked as he cut into just the top of its mask but the sword could not cut deep. It simply didn't have the power behind it. It could cut but not deep enough. Having wounded the snake hollow twice it began to thrash. Ash would attempt to hold onto his sword. Both hands gripping the hilt as he was lifted off the ground by it. Tossed left and right wildly as he tried to hold on. Only to get flung as his grip failed. His form flying to the side like a rag doll through a window. Crashing through it was it shattered around him. The hollow still shrieking with the Zanpakto still sticking out of the top of its head. Ash skidded to a stop on the floor of the room he crashed into and with a snarl gripped the floor to come to a stop. His sandals digging in as he slid. Finally coming to a stop.

He didn't care how it died. He didn't care that he lived or the squads came. His rage consumed such lesser thoughts. All that mattered was this things pain. Its shrieks like his own that night. Despair and pain. He pushed off the wall as he concentrated reishi around his feet. Utilizing Shunpo to fly out of the store at drastically increased speed. Right back into the fight against a superior opponent. Unafraid of the fact that he faced death. No uncertainty in his movements as he flashed above the hollows head. Of course it sensed him above it but it was too late. Even as it flicked its body around to attempt to knock him out of the air Ash cried out with his hand pointed at the Zanpakto in its head.

"Hado #1: Shō!"

With that a force erupted from his hand. Slamming into the top of the bone snake hollows mask and the zanpakto embedded into it. Pushing it further down as it shrieked. The katana was dug in deep now but not enough to finish it. However the tail flick shifted as it writhed. Lessening in force but still directly in the path Ash was falling in. If it hit him he was going to get knocked hard to the ground.

[Kane Coo]

Ashland had demonstrated intense hatred towards the hollow, hatred that Kane shudder a little bit. The sword that slammed down into the Hollow's mask and caused it to thrash violently reminded the rogue of a vague memory, one shred of his past that he held onto, barely. For some reason, that sword made him feel afraid especially combined with the hatred of the academy student. The rage in his eyes was frightening. But still, the Hollow wasn't yet defeated, Kane and Ash had to work together to finish it off if they both were to survive.

Even the spell that Ashland cast wasn't enough to bury the katana deep enough into the mask to sever it and purify the Hollow. As the tail thrashed and was about to his the student, Kane made the decision to get in the way. This student had been protecting him, so he was going to protect them back. Arms crossed over his body to block the whip of a tail, Kane planted his feet to give himself better stability. The hollow's desperate attack hit him instead of Ash, but he was ready for it this time. He was pushed back slightly, but he was strong enough to resist being thrown away now that he was prepared.

The hunger of his bakkoto parasite claimed more life force as he was hit, causing the rogue to gasp with a bit of strained effort, but he caught his breath and began his counter attack. He was above average in strength, so he was sure that he could get the katana all the way through the Hollow's mask if he could get to it. The Hollow's writhing was starting to subside though as it recovered from the initial shock and the follow up shock of being hit with the Katana and then having it pushed deeper by the Sho. The Hollow's forked tongue flicked out from behind the mask and it chuckled, long and heartily.

"That all that you've got?"

The Hollow lashed out again at Ash, recognizing him as the greater threat with his sword and kidou abilities. Again Kane got in the way, but this time with a punch. Knocking the tail aside with a wildly thrown fist, the attack should hopefully avoid the student and give him the opportunity to act or move. Kane would try, then, to use his full speed and acrobatic skill to avoid any follow up strikes from the Hollow and get in closer to the face. Right underneath the sword-embedded mask, Kane would jump up and bicycle kick the hilt of the Katana with his learned acrobatic skill. Hopefully that would be enough to sever the mask. His kick was quite a bit more powerful than Ash's sword arm, so maybe, just maybe...

Remaining Reiatsu: 750/750
Remaining Life Force: 550/750 (-100 For being Hit)

[ashland]

Ash would see the attack coming and could do nothing to prevent it other than prepare to absorb the blow. His eyes would narrow as he wondered just how much damage this would deal to him. Would he be able to fight still? If nothing else it would cost him gained ground. His katana was still imbedded into the mask but not deep enough. Without it he still had some Kido but not much in the way of strength. He would place both arms up close to his chest side by side and pressed close together. However he was shocked to see the bird man suddenly in front of him. He was fast to react and what was more....he took the blow straight on and barely slid back with a grunt. He was stronger than Ash had given him credit for. Still the Hollow would draw his attention again with its taunt and in return Ash would snarl. His teeth gritting so hard a trickle of blood escaped down his chin. That golden glow shining in his eyes even as Kane Coo knocked aside the next blow intended for him. Before charging straight ahead for the face of the beast.

Ash would raise his right hand intent to give Kane Coo cover and keep the focus on himself. He had another Kido other than sho after all. Though its power too was lacking he doubted it could be ignored. That woman had taught him to aim for critical spots harder to defend after all. The upside to the enemy being so large was the size of such critical spots. Still golden energy would flow around Ash as he began to loudly chant. His passion drawing the hollows attention a little too late to stop Ash. But just in time to have it look directly at him.

"Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!"

From his fingertip a pale bolt of concentrated lightning would burst forth. Arcing straight at the huge eye uninjured in the mask by the katana. Slamming home with a wail from the hollow as it began to thrash its tail wildly where Ash had been. Now blinded it was furious and in pain as smoke rose from its smoldering eye. The rubble from its attack began to fly out as Ash took a defensive pose once more. Only to be caught in the wave of debris and thrown hard back against a wall. Slamming into it and slumping over.

However the attack had blinded the hollow and it had no readied defense against Kane Coo's feat of agility and acrobatics. Its screams stopped suddenly as the katana was driven deeper. Lodged just far enough that the hollow would gasp before falling before Kane. Its large body already beginning to degrade as the head began to fade away into spirit energy. They had done it...by the skin of their teeth they had defeated a large but low level hollow. Even if Ash was unconscious at the end of it.

[Kane Coo]

The combined might of Ashland and Kane defeated the Hollow, even though the former was unconscious at the end of it. The Hollow dispersed, leaving the Rogue alive, for now. The student was bound to have incoming class mates and his teacher, who would only cause trouble for Kane. Struggling to his feet after landing roughly on the ground from the acrobatic attack, Kane moved to slip into the shadows. Before he got out of there, though, he retrieved Ash's Asauchi and though it made him nervous to handle, took it over to the unconscious man and sheathed it at his side. It was only fair to leave him with his weapon so it didn't get lost as he was rescued.

Hearing commotion heading his way, Kane hurried into the shadows and snuck his way out of this town, leaving the collection of treasures that he had accumulated behind.

[Kitai Yoru]

36 paragraphs, 180 TP awarded