Post by ☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽ on Nov 6, 2022 20:30:08 GMT -5
Aevus had thought of plenty when he had left Soul Society. Such as how to plan for his mysterious disappearance after leaving - by using a mission to cover his tracks. Using the old gigai his former captain Okami had granted him as a tool for his stay to help him blend in with the humans. He had even found an abandoned clock tower to stay in free of charge. Yet one thing Aevus had forgotten, which was putting a hole in his pockets. Something he had somehow overlooked with all his planning. Even after finding a roof he still needed needed food, and clothing.
To put it plainly Aevus needed work, and ryo wasn’t an easy thing to get ahold of when you were laying low as a possible fugitive. Yet Aevus wasn’t well adjusted to the human world, and his former job didn’t seem like it’d translate well to the work the average human went through on a daily routine. No, no not at all. So he would have to rely on something more discreet. Something more up his alley. He had denied a meeting with U.E to work for a man named Kazura. So instead of crawling back to Zeich, he had become a mercenary under the Japanese Code Name Ryōshi; meaning Hunter. A direct play on the title Umbra had given him.
Because of the red district he lived in, it wasn’t hard for the former Shinigami to come into contact with the seedy underbelly of the city. Actually it was easy, barely an inconvenience. Yakuza, prostitutes, drugs dealers, and of course other mercenaries frequented the bars, and the brothels. It was easy to find work or at least hear of potential jobs. Though being new to the city, not many gave the former Shinigami reliable information. So he would have to rely on his own skills for a time to track down his marks.
He started by listening in on private conversations between an informant and another mercenary. With that info all he needed to do was get to the target first. It was a different form of work, yet it felt very familiar to the Vizard. And most of the time the job didn’t entirely consist of hits. No generally Aevus just had to steal something - usually drugs, but not always. And because of his subtly he had gained the eye of a particular information broker under the name Kuroneko, who owned a small tea shop. Though of course it was just a front for blackmarket dealings.
Aevus remembered when he had come across her. More so she had somehow tracked him down in the dead of night while he slept in his hammock. The surprise that drew across his face when he was met with a familiar pair of emerald lined irises looking down upon him atop his windowsill. Waking up almost gave him a heart attack even more so when he had realized who this particular dark furred cougar was.
He was younger then, a foreign spirit lost in a world he could barely even begin to understand. His bare feet carried him across the street as if they were hot coals. In his hands he held a burning slab of steak. Which he had previously just stolen from a grill, and ran off before the cook could even blink. His fingers and his hands burned as he ran into an alleyway. He could almost smell his own skin being cooked as he caught his breath at the edge of that alley. Using his ragged shirt as a plate Aevus would blow onto his palms in an attempt to cool them off.
His mouth watered as he stared at that freshly cooked steak. He may have gotten burned but this was well worth it. He certainly wasn’t going hungry tonight. Eagerly he would grab onto the edges of his shirt to bring that steak to his mouth. It was then that out of corner of his eyes he saw the shadow of a tail. It whipped against his burned hands, snatching forth that slab of meat. Standing atop a garbage can, a black cat with two burning emerald eyes narrowed. The damn beast clan had taken his meal...
Aevus was left awestruck before instinctively jumping to his feet in a feeble attempt to get back that steak. The black cat merely jumped away, curving around the young man. Her tail curling around his left ankle as she moved, thus forcing the him to lose his footing and trip. He would fall head first into the garbage can. Landing with a large thud, he could hear a snicker falter from the cat‘s maw. “Never will you catch me with those two helpless feet of yours, little mouse~” She remarked with a swish of her tail.
Yet again Aevus was up, tossing aside the garbage he had landed against. “Oh my, how foul, do you need a tongue bath~?” The feline would remark slyly with a wink. She danced around him as he lunged, forcing the man into a wall this time. “Give it back, you damn cat!” Aevus gritted his teeth, his fingers scratching the surface of the wall. “Oh~ Would the cook even want it back after your dirty paws have soiled the meat?” Aevus grimaced at that remark. Was this just a game to her? Anger fueled his brash and blundering attempt to get back what he stole.
“I said It’s mine!”
“Now that’s a lie if I ever did hear one.” The lithely feline darted to the back of the alley. The shadows masking her until all Aevus could see was those glowing emerald lined eyes. Aevus was breathing heavily at this point. His burnt fingers curled into two fists. He’d ignore the pain as both anger and hunger fueled his body.
“Give it back! I wont ask twice.” Those burning eyes clung his blues, and in the next moment he saw a cheshire smile paint the felines features. “My how demanding~”
And like that, he was on the ground. Razor sharp teeth grazed his neck shedding just a hint of blood. She’d pull herself up and he was met with those emerald lined eyes staring down at him. “Foolish little mouse. Your instincts must have told you to run, but you’re hungry and oh~ so angry.” He could feel her hot breath on his neck and he would gulp in turn. Was she gonna kill him? Was he gonna die for a scrap of meat? Aevus expected the worst. He had no idea what Beast Clan were capable of. What they could do...
He underestimated her. But no he wouldn’t die here. He took hold of her furs, shifting his weight to the side as he attempted to get on top of her. But the cat was not having it. Dagger like claws dug into his right shoulder causing the man to scream out. That cheshire smile returned as she’d rise, her tail slashing against the air ever so lightly. Her black furs shimmering from the faint light.
“But you’re bold. I’ll give you that little mouse.” And with that she’d turn her back on him. Yet those glowing eyes still clung to his visage. Tearing but a tiny scrap of that steak she’d throw it to the young man. Aevus was so caught off guard, that he nearly dropped it. His eyes widened as the feline smiled before disappearing into the darkness of that alley.
Upon seeing the intruder Aevus was immediately on his feet with blade in hand. Even so the furred feline had already leapt to action. A single clawed hand outstretched to his throat. ”It seems the little mouse has grown up~ And is that a Hollow Mask? Such a nice trick~” The dark furred feline had said with a purr as she noticed Aevus had materialized his hollow mask to outmatch her speed - his blade now resting against her neck. It was a strange situation being met with a ghost from your past. it was even stranger having that ghost threaten your life. The stalemate allowed Aevus a moment to recognize his feline intruder and his mask would fade in turn.
Aevus had remembered her fondly. She had been the one to teach him how to move on his ‘two helpless feet’. Punishing him whenever he made a mistake or annoyed her with a nip. He would never have survived the wretches of Inuzuri without her guidance. Yet one day she had mysteriously disappeared. So it seemed she had made a home in Karakura somehow. Regardless... she still had her claws to his throat. He didn't have the pleasantry for idle conversation.
”By that expression on your face, I can see you’re surprised. Though let me be clear little mouse, i’m not here to make up for old times. No, I'm here to collect."
"Collect? You have a strange way of asking." Aevus half-joked yet his expression painted a serious demeanor.
"You’ve mistakenly stolen a job under the nose of a Merc I hired, and took the spoils straight to the client yourself." The feline replied.
"What ever do you mean? I can't be at fault if I'm faster than the men you hire."
Don't play coy with me little mouse. I've seen what you've been doing. Cleverly tailing other mercs with perked ears, and taking the job without a word from the client. Unknown to you, that was a slight to me.” The lithely feline would flash her teeth.
"Well maybe you should hire better men, or better yet do it yourself." Aevus eyes now narrowed and a flicker of black began to take them.
"Precisely what I mean to do," Her voice softened as her claws would sheathe and she would lower her arm in turn. Aevus took note of her still twitching tail hinting that the the feline had not let down her guard. All the same she was taking a risk. After all Aevus still had a blade to her throat.
"I'm listening."
“I see you’re still willing to get your paws dirty, so let us make a deal~ Us two, we have some history, so we can work together rather easily. I've made a living in this world gathering information you see. Being a middle-cat of sorts between clients and mercs alike. We could perhaps split the profits if you’re interested?”
”And why would I work with you? I don’t want to be rude, but you don’t exactly blend in. How do you even get clients looking the way you do?” Aevus asked skeptically yet he would lower his blade. "Also how did you even end up here? Last thing I remember you were in Inuzuri."
”Oh I have my ways~ I can’t exactly prowl in your world furless, but masks do wonders and cloaks hide what you don’t wish to be seen. Though I do struggle with my tail~" The cat was slightly playful with those last words. "But you’ll find many are desperate regardless of appearances.” Her eyes glowed brilliantly in the dark and she would eye Aevus with those predatory emeralds. "I also have a way with negotiating prices much higher than you've earned little mouse."
“As for how I ended up here. Well, It's quite embarrassing. I was hunting for food one night as I always have, and A Hollow decided to try and make me it's prey you see? It realized it's mistake when it bit more than it could chew. So it tore into the air, creating a doorway of sorts like those creatures always do, and in my fury I pounced after it. I've been trapped here ever sense."
”That was rather foolish of you. You never thought to ask a Shinigami for help?" Aevus would raise a brow.
"A Shinigami? You mean ask you? You aren’t wearing their robes, but that is a Zanpakuto you hold is it not?" The feline would proceed to raise a brow of her own.
"It is. But things are well... well they’re complicated." Aevus would look askance briefly. "I’m sorry but I can’t help you go back if that's what you want."
"I have no desire to return to that squalor. And it seems neither do you~ But as a former Shinigami it seems you fit into this line of work quite nicely. Plus you have slighted me, and that has wounded my reputation. One must be reliable in this line of work you see. So I would instead hire you."
”Paint an illusion that I've been working for you this entire time? Clever. What kind of job do you have in mind?"
”In mind? I know the purrfect one. I know of a group of Quincy that operate in this town, and lets just say one of my clients would want one of them gone. One in particular with an eyepatch named Asmoskon Masurao. Worth say 20,000? We could split the profits 50/50."
Aevus’s eyes narrowed at that name. Why was it so familiar? He could swear he had heard that name before.“Quincy? Where do they operate, I need to know more before I say yes to this.”
”A ramen shop by the name of ‘The Purrfect Broth.'" The dark furred cougar would proceed to tell Aevus the street the shop was located and where to find her after the job was done.
"A ramen shop? Is it some kind of front?"
"You'll have to find that out on your own. I'm sure you have the tools needed for such a job, now are you in or not?" A slight hint of irritation overran the Feline's tone as she eyed Aevus.
"I'll need to do some reconnaissance. If I jumped in blind now, it would more than likely get me killed. I hope you understand." Aevus spoke plainly as if this was an ordinary transaction.
"Understandable, a mouse doesn't tend to have nine lives to give away, but you owe me all the same. So if not this, another job I'll find you."
"Again with mouse, you know my name." Aevus would sigh. "But that reminds me, you’ve never told me yours. Not even back when we lived together for all that time. I've always been curious, What is it?" Aevus asked as he watched the feline head towards the window.
”I never had one." She eyed him with those glowing emerald eyes atop the windowsill. "Lets just say, I'm a stray. Though I do work under the name Kuroneko, a play on my appearance you see. So you can call me Kuroneko, or perhaps even Stray if you so desire."
”Black cat? That’s not exactly subtle."
"Neither is Hunter." She would wink followed by a cheshire smile. "Be seeing you mouse~" As the Cat leapt through the window Aevus was left on his own, with only the cold chill air of night to comfort him. The next night his hunt would begin. Yet he still needed to perform some reconnaissance. After all he needed to know his hunting grounds. A gigai was perfect for the job, and he would hide his Reiatsu signature as he closed the distance. It was a shop after all, he could easily get inside to get a feel of the place. Finding it wasn’t that difficult. Asking around town led the former Shinigami straight to it. Carefully and discreetly Aevus began to circle the establishment twice, making note of all the exits; which included doors and windows. All just in case he needed to make a hasty retreat.
Brushing a curtain aside Aevus would finally head inside the restaurant. His gigai resembled his younger self. Which made sense because it was commissioned when Okami was still his Captain. Clean shaven, and the look of youth plastering his visage. He wore casual clothes. A short sleeved T shirt with the collar stretched to a v, alongside dark grey pants, and a pair of black shoes. As Aevus entered he would look lost, but he used that to his advantage. He was a new customer after all, it wouldn’t look out of the ordinary now would it? Taking a seat at the front of the bar, Aevus suddenly felt himself met with a mouth watering aroma. He hadn't expected hunger of all things to catch him by surprise, but oh it did. He didn’t even begin to know what to order, and so he would improvise. ”I’ll have the house special."
Vizard Mask (1/3)
