Practical Exam (Iroka) [JT]

[Aramis Tezuka]

Hmm... Hmm.... What an irritating project this was turning out to be. Devoid of a Gigai, and standing on the roof of Karakura Public School was Captain Aramis Tezuka of the Gotei 13. Below him was a mass of yellow tape, as several police officers attempted to cordon off the crime scene. A student was on the ground, utterly pale, and Aramis was here to oversee it. This was the third one this month. An individual of moderately potent spiritual pressure was feeding on the students at this school. While its strength paled in comparison to a Captain, at this time Aramis did not have anyone to deploy of the caliber needed for the project. And while he'd argued for some time with a few of the other divisions, ultimately it had fallen on him. The Gotei 13 was relatively certain the attacks weren't Hollow or Arrancar, and so who better than the 12th Division to determine who the real culprit was.

Well. Who better than the 12th Division or the fourth as Aramis had pointed out in the meeting. So for expediency's sake, and just to get the 12th Division Captain out of there, it had been arranged that he would receive the assistance from a representative of the Fourth Division as well. While Aramis was very, very good at deductions, he admittedly was lacking in particular medical knowledge. Certainly he could likely identify wounds, and in most cases, cause of death (in this case, Aramis was fairly certain it was exsanguination, judging by the pallor of the corpse).

However, that could easily be a ploy. One of Aramis's weaknesses-- one he was acutely aware of, was overanalyzing a situation. Occam's Razor was a useful tool, except when it wasn't. Aramis aimed to run through all the possibilities to reach the best, and most likely outcome. The corpse's current state, suggested a Bount. That was Aramis's first guess. But it was possible it was Hollow after-all and merely imitating the tactics of a Bount. Or even an arrancar. This is why he wanted a medical aid for this assignment.

Of course, it helped out greatly that Aramis was not in a gigai and therefore could not be seen by the officers down below. Only one other individual could have seen the spiritual figure right now-- and that individual was conspicuously absent. There was no Plus down below, though the girl had almost certainly been dead less than a day. One did not Hollowfy so quickly. Her Plus had been attacked. That was also certain. Once the medical officer-- Iroka, if Aramis had been advised correctly, the Captain could begin his investigation. Since the officers couldn't see him (and hopefully could not see Iroka either-- Aramis did hope the girl wasn't coming with a gigai), the Captain was certain he could check over the crime scene with impunity.

Aramis glanced up at the sun briefly. "Five minutes before late." He mused aloud before immediately snapping his attention back to the active scene below him.

[Munemasa Iroka]

Today had started off interestingly. Iroka had been minding her business (much of which was attempting to steal the Denreishinki of a rude Division 11 punk; it had been getting increasingly difficult to steal Fuuko's device for a while now), when she had received an unexpected summons. Turned out that she had been assigned on a mission to Earth. Also turned out that she would be tagging along with a Captain of the Gotei, and none other than the Captain of the 12th Division. Even though she had initially been interested in joining the 12th, Iroka had eventually fallen in love with the 4th. Still, good manners were imperative here.

From the reports, it seemed that there was some kind of strange murderer on the loose in the human world, Karakura Town no less. That wasn't all that surprising. As one of the largest spiritual hotbeds on Earth, it wasn't incredible that such strange things would happen here from time to time. What irked Iroka was the waste of human lives. Why couldn't people go about their own businesses without destroying the lives of others? Hopefully her presence would help put an end to the issue.

Apparently, Captain Tezuka was supposed to meet her on Earth. Hoping she was not wasting his time, Iroka got ready, headed to the Senkaimon and stepped through it. Crossing the membrane between dimensions was always peculiar to her. But she enjoyed the strangeness of it. She wondered whether others did too. The gateway between worlds opened to a sunny day, with the humans below going about their businesses. All seemed peaceful in Karakura. Iroka knew this was not the case.

Apparently, the Senkaimon had opened a few clicks from the scene of the crime. That, however, wouldn't be a problem for one who had Shunpo. Utilizing Flash Step, Iroka quickly made her way to Karakura High School, where she saw the crowds and the police fending them off. Above, standing silently on the roof of the main building of the school, was the form of the 12th Division Captain. Hopefully, she was not too late. What was his name, again?

With one final Flash Step, the carrot-top appeared a little distance away from the Captain and giving a jaunty salute, before thinking better of the gesture and bowing formally. "Hajimemashite, 'Kusamura'-sama!" she greeted rather enthusiastically. Of course, that was not his name, but he had green hair, yes? It reminded Iroka of a thicket, and so he would be the Illustrious Thicket, as long as she lived... okay, nothing that dramatic, but 'Thicket' did seem apt, as far as her unwittingly irreverent brain was concerned.

The Shinigami girl straightened and saluted again. "Munemasa Iroka reporting for duty." There was a pause, as she stared at him with a rather (almost too) bright smile on her face. Then the smile faltered. "Em... you're not very tall." She actually sounded disappointed. Which was very hypocritical of her, seeing as Aramis was obviously taller than Iroka was.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis's ears perked up as he heard the tell-tale sound of a Shunpo, and turned to face Iroka. Not entirely-- that would have been a waste of energy. Aramis turned quite precisely and the exact amount that he could see Iroka out of the corner of his eye without turning all the way around. "Early. Not excessively so. A." Aramis stated. From here he could take Iroka's measure well enough. She seemed the exuberant sort, cut from the same mold as Erika. The sort that nicknamed everyone and generally was amenable to most. A person easy to get along with. She looked attractive enough as well, and so Aramis presumed this woman probably had a number of close friends in her division and out. As well as probably more than a few "friends" on top of that.

Her particular choice of name didn't even warrant commentary; Aramis wasn't particularly huge on honorifics or titles. He was the Captain of the 12th Division, so long as his authority as such was respected, what he was specifically called was irrelevant. Besides. He'd been called worse. If that was what Iroka wanted to call him, she was welcome to do so.

While Iroka introduced herself, Aramis was performing his own evaluation of Iroka herself. Besides her appearance and personality, he could sense the woman possessed immense spiritual power. It was slightly unfortunate, as Aramis often found he was better complemented by physical specialists, but in fairness, pursuit of the spiritual arts was far more common. So while less than perfect, it was no surprise and perfectly rational that his aid would be a spiritual specialist. She did not look especially strong, but Aramis did acknowledge looks could be deceiving. Since this was going to be a hunting trip of sorts, he did need to account for how she might be able to fight, and find his own ways to support that. For the sake of efficiency and to keep their odds of success as high as possible, he had to ensure they wouldn't get in each other's way in a fight.

He allowed her to make her introductions, and then gave a half-second pause as she commented on his height. "Inaccurate assessment." Aramis replied. "Shinigami Standards; Height is average." His brow furrowed a hair. "Unless assessing for plan?" He inquired. Perhaps her statement as to his height was due to her already having formulated some plans, or perhaps she was contemplating how their abilities would complement one another in battle. Perhaps for whatever purposes, her abilities had greater effect on individuals of prodigious height? Alternatively....

"Or assessing compatibility? If so, flattered, but will decline." Maybe she was assessing his height because she had an image of the Captain for romantic purposes? That was.... unpleasantly common throughout the Seireitei. One would think with all the problems that Soul Society faced nowadays Shinigami would have better things to focus on than their libidos, and yet Aramis still had to deal with these sorts of things on occasion. Well. Not exactly. More along the lines that people tended to be very disappointed once they actually met him. They probably had an image of the Captain built up in their head. The mysterious, brooding type, shrouded in questions. Tall, dark and silent. And instead they got this. A disheveled mess of a person, with deep shadows under their eyes from lack of sleep who clearly didn't get enough sun, with unusual dress sense, if the uneven sleeves on his Shihakusho were any indication.

Presuming pleasantries were out of the way, though willing to engage if Iroka continued them, Aramis turned back to the crime scene below. "Review findings. Deceased target. Female biology. Fifteen years old. Cause of death: Exsanguination. No Hollow activity reported recently. No Plus available for questioning. Personal preliminary assessment: Prey of Bount. Welcome further investigation from medical expert." Aramis stated, his voice clinical and monotoned as if he could not find the energy to spare to provide inflections in his voice.

The Captain stepped forwards, dropping off the rooftop to the crime scene below, completely unnoticed by the non-spiritually sensitive police officers investigating the crime scene, to take a closer look, now that his backup had arrived. Unfortunately for the Captain, Aramis was wrong in this case. Although his assessment that it had not been a Hollow was correct, someone actually trained in medicine would quickly find that the kill was not merely exsanguination but that the target also appeared to be missing several key vital organs, despite no sign of wound on the body. Additionally, about the bite marks on the neck, there was small acid-burns suggesting some manner of powerful chemical had been involved in the death-- potentially a venom or acid of some sort.

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka paused and blinked twice as the gears of her mind worked. A? Was he grading her? Alarm registered on her features as she drew back slightly. "W-- wait! Is this an exam?" the ginger-haired girl asked nervously. She didn't like exams. The questions were never straightforward. It was as though those who set exams wanted to deceive or confuse those who were writing the exams. And why ask questions to which one already knew the answer? Exams just didn't make sense.

Aramis informed Iroka of the incorrectness of her evaluation of his height. Perhaps he was right, perhaps Shinigami were not that physically imposing on average. But Iroka could argue with that. She had seen quite a number of rather tall Shinigami, and he was probably the shortest man (maybe aside Kazuhiko?) that she had interacted with so far. She was about to defend her assessment, when he asked if she was assessing because of a specific plan.

Iroka was not sure how his height would factor into a plan, but then he presented another possibility: that she was assessing his height because she was considering him as a love interest. Her face reddened as her mouth slowly dropped open. "Ah! Not at all, Kusamura-sama! That isn't what I had in mind," she denied vehemently, albeit honestly. "I had simply thought you would be taller than this. Because you're a captain. And grown up. And-- and--" She made a distressed sound and covered her face with both hands.

Aramis would note, though, that her discomfort did not stem out of shame that her motives had been guessed, but embarrassment at talking about things she was not used to addressing. That would shed some illumination on the paradox that she was: despite being physically attractive and having a congenial nature, she seemed to have so little experience with romantic matters that she got flustered merely talking about such topics. "I'll stop talking now, Kusamura-sama..." she said quietly, still covering her face with her hands.

As the captain evaluated the dead body before them, Iroka's hands slowly strayed away from her face, as she studied the unmoving corpse. She did not seem bothered by the monotone of his voice. As a matter of fact, it wasn't too unfamiliar to her. Her parent, Kimyō, talked like that on occasion. She wondered how the oddball was doing in the Nest of Maggots. But she was sure that Kimyō was thinking about her. Her visit with Fuuko to the Nest of Maggots had reconstructed her relationship with her parent, something Iroka was grateful for.

But it was her thoughts turning to her parent that made her realize that this girl probably had parents of her own, waiting in vail for her to come home. The carrot top sighed dejectedly. "Poor child," she said sadly, before following the captain's lead and dropping off the roof. She did not attempt to touch or move the body, as that could freak some people out, but she did notice a number of things that were quite unnatural, to say the least.

"I don't know, Kusamura-sama, but I'd say that while exsanguination did occur, it may not have been the cause of death," Iroka replied. "For instance, while I might not be certain unless I took closer inspection, the folds of her school uniform seem to suggest that her abdominal cavity is more hollow than it should be. Which means she's probably missing some internal organs. Difficult to say which came before which, though I'd venture that due to the strong contortion of her fingers, she might have suffered muscular cramps possibly due to multiple organ failure, before she died, which suggests that the loss of her organs killed her."

The orange-haired Shinigami changed her position to look at the body from another angle. "It's definitely just a few hours since she died, judging from the quality of her skin. And look, she's got bite marks on her neck. Two punctures, narrow and deep, suggest our culprit has fangs. The burns around the bite marks indicate a little bit of necrosis, which suggests that the bite was deep enough to penetrate to a blood vessel, and the blood carried the toxin, which I would assume to be a neurotoxin, as a cytotoxin would have caused more damage, evident in the discoloration of larger amounts of tissue, which we do not see here."

Iroka looked up at Aramis. "Also, see the positioning of her head? It suggests she was bitten when her neck was turned; she was attacked from behind. The lack of dust stains on the side of her uniform facing up, and lack of drag marks on the ground suggest that she was not moved from where she fell, which means that her attacker likely came from that direction." Iroka pointed somewhere southward. "Of course, all these are simply speculations, and I could just be very very wrong."

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis's head tilted ever so slightly at Iroka's question. "Everything is test." He replied. "Life. Series of evaluations. Proof of aptitudes. All living things excel. Or fail." He elaborated for a moment. "In battle. Most effective choices, most effective "answers" bring most desirable outcome. Answer opponent's move... inadequately, and put at disadvantage. Answer opponent's move terribly, and will not live to regret it." The Captain continued. "In work-- perfect answers to problems result in exceling. Promotions. Bonuses. Prestige. Average answers cause stagnation. Poor answers. Potential punishments. Terrible answers; loss of work. Loss of prospects. Loss of respect." He paused only so he could take a breath. "Socializing. Good answers-- push relations in desired direction. Poor answers, push relations in undesired directions. Terrible answers; may shatter relations."

The Captain turned a little bit more to face Iroka so that he may make his point clear. "Everything is exam. Everything has better and worse answers. Finding the best answers, should be everyone's goal." He noted. Granted, he didn't have to grade everyone's responses. That was just a habit that he'd picked up over his (for a Shinigami) relatively short life.

Aramis was difficult to read at times. He didn't emote very much, and even the slight turning of his head and body were more than he usually gave to other Shinigami as far as addressing them. His eyes didn't reflect excitement, anger, disappointment or anything of the sort. They weren't empty eyes, but they seemed... focused. Concentrating. On what? On everything. As if the Captain was picking apart anything he was looking at in his mind. Iroka's explanation of her statements caused no change in Aramis's expression, only an acknowledgement in words. "Understood. Arrived with expectations. Did not meet expectations. Expressed surprise verbally." He responded to her clarifiction, before turning back to the crime scene.

"Do not stop talking. Assigned to work mission for medical expertise. Personal expertise limited. If you stop talking, cannot benefit from your knowledge." He noted. Taking Iroka's statement too literally perhaps? Was Aramis presuming that when Iroka said she'd stop talking, she meant it altogether?

And indeed, as soon as Iroka began her examination of the body, Aramis watched her in rapt attention, clearly taking note of every single word she said, and considering the consequences. Removal of organs without surgical or violent (relatively speaking) removal. "A." Aramis responded at the end of Iroka's evaluation. "Input valued. Revised cause of death, analagous to starfish or species of arachnid; liquify internal organs with acid or venom and draw out through bite wound. Not certain. Possibilities still open. Possible culprits expanded. Beast Clan possible. Mod Soul, unlikely but plausible." He noted, kneeling to look at the body more closely.

"Southwest?" Aramis turned his head to look in the direction Iroka indicated. It was clear enough that the Captain was continuing to perform several calculations in his head. He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed his spiritual senses to sweep outwards. While Aramis wasn't necessarily the greatest in Soul Society when it came to sensing reiatsu, he was still very capable, and far beyond the abilities of the average Shinigami. He felt for the presence of potent reiatsu's visualizing the spirit ribbons in his mind, in an attempt to follow them to their sources. Karakura Town was a hub of spiritual activity, but with Iroka's information he could at least rule out certain locations. This wasn't XCution, and they weren't the type to broker rivals, so their territory in Karakura, Aramis mentally cut out. There were a few Hollows that he could sense. Although not exhaustive, he decided that for the time being their quarry was not likely to be around an active Hollow, either through killing it, avoiding it, or the Hollow avoiding their target. He closed off the areas he could sense Hollows. Uzaki Enterprises was naive, but not so naive to allow a killer in their midst with such an obvious calling card. He closed off their territories.

With so many blacked out locations in Karakura, even in such a spiritual hub, it was not difficult for Aramis to isolate a small pocket of areas in which he could detect strong spiritual energy that was not tainted by Hollows. Such a creature would likely hide out there, for it would be easier to blend in. And when Aramis finally moved his focus towards the south of their location....

The Captain stood up and looked to the South. "Narrowed down location. One primary area to search. Speculation good. If wrong, learn from mistake. Best time to make mistakes, when life is not imperiled. Allows correction. Allows refinement." Aramis stated. He then leaped over the caution tape to the other side, and started towards his target. "Expertise appreciated." He added, as his own strange form of gratitude.

[Munemasa Iroka]

Ooh, this was an interesting one, with his consideration of everything as a sort of exam. Iroka was sure she would like to pick his brain, but she was also certain that people such as he had very little time for socializing and attempts of others to satisfy their curiosities. "Well, you aren't... wrong..." was all she could say. Finding the best answers should be everyone's goal. A noble aspiration.

Aramis' quick understanding of Iroka's less-than-optimal greeting words was a relief to the ginger-haired girl. Many others would have tried to read more meaning into her words, find out if she was lying or trying to hide her true motives, if she had any. He did not. In a way, the fact that the 12th Division Captain was not at all a social person worked well for Iroka. Two social mishaps were less likely to create social troubles for each other. She did miss the fact that he had interpreted her words literally, when he asked her not to stop talking, a similar quirk she was known to often exhibit.

The Captain's high evaluation of Iroka's assessment left her beaming. She still wasn't used to receiving commendations from people, especially higher-ups, so it really felt good to hear that. She was not too eager to meet whatever had been the cause of this poor girl's death, though. A creature with such a complex mode of hunting was likely to be very problematic to fight. But that was the reason both of them were here.

As Aramis closed his eyes to sense, Iroka could guess what he was attempting. As her own ability to sense spiritual signatures was rather low, she was quite pleased that here was someone who had such an ability which she lacked. And it seemed that her speculations had been, to some extent, correct, as the man now faced a southward direction, having sensed something worthy of investigation in that direction. There seemed to be a single area in which to search. Hopefully their quarry would be there.

Following the Captain's lead again, Iroka jumped over the police demarcation, and got in step with Aramis, though out of deference for his office, she kept a little behind him. He really seemed to have been pleased with her analysis. "Many thanks, Kusamura-sama," she replied happily. "I will keep trying my best!" There was the sinking feeling that she would eventually disappoint him, having impressed him initially, but Iroka forced the feeling down. She had to be confident that she could do what was required.

Still, on the issue before them, it was very likely that they wouldn't be getting any extra assistance. It was best to begin figuring out how best to engage the enemy when they arrived. "So, if I may ask, Kusamura-sama, since I suspect we're both going to have to deal with Hitode..." yes, the culprit of this crime had officially been labeled 'Starfish', "...may I ask how you prefer to fight?" Normally, she would have guessed that he was a more spiritual type, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. That would be basing an assumption off a banal stereotype.

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis didn't respond to Iroka's commentary about his statement. It was unnecessary. That section of the conversation had concluded. There were better uses of his mental faculties and attention, like the matter at hand. He could tell that the fourth division officer was pleased to receive his compliments, though that was, perhaps to be expected. Praise from a superior officer was usually well received. The way Iroka was acting, perhaps Erika really would get along with her.... Who was Aramis kidding? Erika got along with everyone. It was one of the reasons he had her manning the front entry of the division.

As the two left the crime scene for parts unknown, Aramis's analysis hadn't ceased. He took note of Iroka's deference, but intent on keeping pace with him. Her posture, body language. Everything he could. Her assessment of trying her best was all Aramis asked of her. Anyone looking into Aramis's methods would find him a... paradoxical individual. His demeanor, his curt phrasing, his monotone speech patterns and his hyper-efficiency might lead many to believe him to be the stern, unforgiving type, but that was anything but the truth. Aramis actually forgave most mistakes quite readily, provided the individual could prove something was gained from the mistake. Some mistakes, certainly, could not be easily overlooked, but Aramis had a relatively gentle hand all things considered, so long as it wasn't forced. If Iroka's evaluation was wrong, that was fine. They'd come back, find out why she was wrong, and re-assess. It was information Iroka could then bring with her into future missions, and she would never make that mistake again. After-all, Aramis himself had already made several errors in his initial judgement, which Iroka had corrected. He had learned from those mistakes already, and would be mindful of them for future events. Even if he had no medical expertise as she did, Iroka had taught him a few signs he had overlooked. In any future cases of a similar nature, Aramis now would have this day in his mind to check for the things Iroka had caught.

Iroka continued to do well, as she asked him for his combat tactics. "B." Aramis stated. It was good that she was inquiring as to his preferences. An "A" response, as far as he was concerned, would have been to have done her homework beforehand and have had a rough idea going in, which could then be further refined by specific questions. There was, of course, nothing wrong with her question inherently; B's were above-average, passing grades. But there was simply room for improvement.

"Apt query. Favor close quarter combat. Effective at mid-range. Some options at long range. Long range not preferred. Zanpakuto ability requires contact with opponent. Fatal when connects." Aramis paused for a moment. "Revise previous statement. C. Zanpakuto ability incapacitates when connects with target's head. Fatal in most instances; "double tap" is standard practice." Aramis corrected, clarifying that the lethality of his Zanpakuto came from him executing the incapacitated target, rather than the ability killing outright.

B Aramis thought in answer to his next statement. "Own preferences?" He asked Iroka. Truthfully, he hadn't expected Iroka to be capable of combat. At the outset he had anticipated Iroka to exist purely in an advisory role, as the fourth division was not renowned for their combat prowess. It seemed he was mistaken, and that an assessment of Iroka's abilities was in order. It seemed very clear she planned to support him during the battle with, what she appeared to think would be a starfish type enemy.

Aramis then paused in mid-step and looked towards a nearby park. Something had piqued on his radar. He wasn't making an effort to hide his reiatsu, but he had been suppressing it at least partially to appear weaker than he really was. And something had reacted to it. Was it their target? Maybe. Maybe not. But it was worth a look at least. Even if it wasn't, if it was another spiritual entity, perhaps Aramis might be able to gather information from it if this area was its home. Aramis turned abruptly and began to venture into the park, filled with footpaths amidst trees, park benches and series of ponds and little bridges. He felt no need to notify Iroka as to the purpose of his shift, he presumed she would understand, and if not, that she would ask.

The reiatsu seemed to have realized Aramis had detected it, for it winked out of existence as quickly as he had sensed it. Whatever it was, it was trying to hide itself. The park looked relatively large-- sweeping it might be a challenge. Now, Aramis determined it would be good to advise Iroka of what was going on. "Adversary concealed. In area. Possess advanced senses?" He asked of Iroka, scanning for his target. Aramis's own physical senses were good, but nothing truly extraordinary. He didn't want to have to attempt a grid-search of the entire park if he didn't have to. He was thinking of other more effective ways to flush or seek the target out, and welcomed Iroka's input.

[Munemasa Iroka]

As someone who had been raised under a very critical eye, a B wasn't something Iroka found pleasant to receive as a grade. She made a sound of consternation, but did not enquire as to why she had not been graded an A, or what a better question would have been. She dared not. Even though Aramis had not shown in any way that he would be as heavy handed as her parent had been those years ago, Iroka had been taught to fear superiors. Despite her apparent irreverence with giving everyone nicknames.

Aramis was a close-range fighter, but had arrangements for longer distance fighting. It did seem, though, that his combat effectiveness reduced with distance. Unlike hers, his zanpakutō seemed to be a swift killer. On the one hand, Iroka was eager to see the thing in action, so she could make guesses at how it worked. On the other hand, the description Aramis had given, though laconic, was rather unnerving to contemplate. "You're scary, Kusamura-sama," was all she said.

The Captain then turned Iroka's question on her. "Well, I was designed to be cannon fodder, so I was made to take a beating," she answered. Aramis would note that she spoke of herself as being 'designed' and 'made', terms the average Shinigami was unlikely to use. "I was intended to be a support unit, so the idea was for me to soak up the attacks, while the more important members of my team made their own attacks or got away. My effectivity is much higher when I'm fighting in a team.

However, I have a few long-range techs, and know a bit of hand-to-hand fighting, although I'm soft and squishy, unfortunately. My utility shines in my medical expertise. Even my zanpakutō has no true attack ability. Otherwise, I'm not sure I'm that good in a fight, because I'm not even very fast, either. For this reason, I practice Shintenken, which allows me to incorporate reiatsu into my unarmed strikes, allowing for me to deal much higher damage than is expected for my frame."

The Captain paused suddenly, causing Iroka to do the same. She followed his gaze to the supposedly empty park. So far, nothing to see. But even as Aramis headed into the park, Iroka suspected it was because he had sensed something there, so she followed silently. The information of a concealed enemy was not soothing. The carrot-top shook her head in reply to his question. "I'm afraid I'm not very useful. I'm so sorry," she replied.

She could sense her zanpakutō spirit's displeasure. Shugyoku Hirenaga was displeased when she talked down at herself. It was probably even the reason its Shikai took on a form that Iroka did not find very useful, as she hardly had any skill with using meteor hammers. "But I will do my very best!" she added hurriedly. That was more for Shugyoku Hirenaga, than it was for Aramis Tezuka. Still, the context was not strange.

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis raised an eyebrow at Iroka's statement. "Why?" He responded. It wasn't necessarily a criticism of her observation, or complete obliviousness as to why she thought so. But Aramis was curious as to the specific reason she found him scary. As the somewhat reserved Captain of the 12th Division, Aramis had attracted some semblance of a stigma, this was true. Was that why? Was it related to what he'd said of his fighting technique? Or maybe she was indicating his power as a Captain of the Gotei 13? Aramis was curious indeed as to what specific trait Iroka found frightening about him-- a trait he could choose to cultivate or discard depending on which better served his purposes.

That being said, regardless of her answer, it wouldn't affect how Aramis listened to Iroka on her own abilities (though it might have informed his opinions to an extent). And although it did not register on Aramis's face or even in his eyes, which remained focused, as if staring right through Iroka, there was an element of surprise that flickered through his mind at Iroka's ready acknowledgement as "cannon fodder". It was an unusual declaration to say the least. Her explanation was... weak. She didn't place an emphasis on any particular field; indeed even her statement that she was made to endure damage was questionable when she declared herself "soft and squishy".

"Understood. Based on assessment will assign you task most comfortable with." Aramis stated. "Will split up. Capable of tracking with sensory abilities. Target, likely below Captain-class. Will not attack with Captain present. May be attracted to spiritually rich individual of weaker ability. Present self as target; "Cannon Fodder" as phrased. Will intercept before innards are liquefied." Aramis stated, as he entered the park.

The Captain then gave Iroka a curt nod of farewell and stepped away from her. He was going to search independently of her; at least for the time being. The Cannon fodder route aside, this was, he suspected, an effective way to broaden their search area, if nothing else. Perhaps he'd be lucky and encounter the target en route. Most likely he wouldn't. It seemed the target was too timid to come out while he was present. But if what Iroka said about herself was true, then she would be very, very tempting bait for most creatures that preyed on spiritual beings.

[Munemasa Iroka]

At Aramis' question regarding why she thought him scary, the ginger-haired girl replied, "Because your zanpakutō's ability makes killing sound so easy. Practically, it has the potential to convert a single strike into a kill. I find that rather frightening, especially because the 12th is not known for having killers, and that ability makes you sound like a prolific one." She was imagining trying to play a weird game which involved her trying to heal the victims of a violent opponent. Certainly not against Aramis.

Iroka was glad that the Captain had some good level of reiatsu sensing working for him. That way, both of them would not be completely blind to an enemy which was good at hiding. And so far, it did seem as though this Hitode thing liked to do a bit of hiding. As Aramis stated his plan to have her draw out their quarry, the carrot-top saluted, a cheerful smile on her face. "Right-o, chief!" she stated merrily.

Then the smile wavered, as her brain fully processed the Captain's words. "W-wait! I know I said I was designed to be cannon fodder, but-- but that doesn't mean I want to be cannon fodder! Being a punching bag is not something I'm comfortable with," she protested, although she soon gave up on trying to complain, instead sighing and drooping her head. "Well, it's not like I could refuse, Kusamura-sama. But I'll hold you to your word that you'll return before I lose my innards. Someone once told me I have a beautiful heart. It would e a horrid shame to lose it."

Of course, having a beautiful heart was figurative in its meaning, pointing to Iroka's natural inclination to be kind. Still, as someone who took most things literally, and was still clueless when it came to metaphorical statements, Iroka felt it would be really bad to lose something that had been described in such glowing terms. Anyway, if Hitode attacked, it would be her responsibility to hold out until help came. Hitode would have to reveal itself to attack, so while the plan wasn't a favorite of Iroka's, it seemed effective enough.

As Aramis nodded his farewell, she said, "Here's to staying alive." Then with apparently not a thought for the danger she seemed to have been worried about mere seconds ago, the girl began to hum the Stayin' Alive song by the Bee Gees. "Ah ah ah ah, staying alive, staying alive...." Iroka sang as she skipped to the tempo of the music, heading off in her own direction to search for Hitode, though it didn't look in the slightest like she was doing any searching.

After wandering a bit in the park, Iroka came across a lightly wooded area. Not a bad place to hide from people who were looking for one, it seemed. Altering her trajectory slightly, the Shinigami headed for the cover of the trees. The shade felt good on her skin. Walking for a bit under the hot sun had started to get uncomfortable. Iroka had walked for about a minute, when there was a sudden flurry of motion behind her, as something lunged at her, as a spike of reiatsu flared. Even as it tried to grab at her, she flung her elbow backwards into the creature's head, while wriggling out of the tackle. Without skipping a beat, she dashed forward a few paces, spinning on her heel to face whatever had attacked her.

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

”Most combat Zanpakuto abilities expedite death of enemy. Exceptions to utility Zanpakuto, or abilities favored by Fourth Division.” Aramis rebutted Iroka’s claim. ”Revenant. Effective tool. Serves purpose adequately. Do not consider own abilities particularly deadly for Captain-class individual. Destructive capacity inferior to past Captains, example: Captain Wycliff.” Aramis mused as a furtherance of his answer.

”Reasonable assessment.” Aramis contemplated after Iroka’s further statement that the 12th was not known for their combat prowess. ”Combat ability still required to some extent by 12th Division. Especially leadership. Some projects, volatile. Containment procedures required. Division leadership must personally contain dangerous specimens if no others available. Ability to fight at high level mandatory. Effective combat Zanpakuto, asset in such case.” Aramis pointed out. But it was still a reasonable point, and he did not begrudge Iroka that. Still. Regardless of the division a Captain of the Gotei 13 had to look out for their officers at the end of the day.

Aramis raised his right hand to adjust his glasses slightly as Iroka protested his plan of operation, coming to a complete stop, and turning on his heel to look at the woman directly. ”Objection noted.” He paused for a moment. ”Do not intend to sacrifice you. Flare reiatsu if suspect danger. Will arrive promptly. Will not permit death.” Aramis stated. And although his voice had no change in inflection, there was still somehow a certain weight to his words that indicated he meant it. A strange skill Aramis had picked up in his years.

It seemed that Iroka was prepared to accept the risks regardless and so Aramis parted ways from the carrot-top, venturing off the trails of the park and into the treeline, where an ambush seemed plausible. That was Aramis’s assumption of his quarry. An ambush predator that would aim for opportunistic strikes. And while Iroka was certainly the more likely target, he was doing what he could to make a tempting target of himself as well.

---------

As for the attack on Iroka, well. The identity of her assailant would certainly confirm the method. They were being attacked by what at an initial glance appeared to be a human, but only if you gave them only the most cursory of glances, and disregarded the four, massive, brown, segmented limbs emerging from their back. There was also the matter of the four additional eyes arcing up to their forehead and a mouth full of fangs.

This appeared at least to be a Mod Soul, with arachnid themed abilities. It was far too human-looking for a Beast Clan or a Hollow, there was no mask fragment to suggest an arrancar. Fullbringers rarely had powers that blatantly altered their bodies as this one seemed to. So Mod soul seemed probable. A mod soul that was currently reeling from her elbow strike to its jaw.

”Ow! Bitch!” The assailant shook its head, clearing its cranium of the effects of Iroka's defensive strike.

”Finally.” He hissed, flecks of yellow venom flicking from his jaws. ”I was wondering when a Shinigami would finally track me down. That was my third murder this month to try and catch one of your eyes. You were probably expecting a Hollow, weren’t you? Hah! Now that the other one's left you, I can deal with you myself!” He hissed. His four spider-limbs wiggled in anticipation, each one darting out and withdrawing in a series of feints at Iroka. Each one also, perhaps, unpleasantly, tipped with a razor sharp claw, ideal for hooking and gripping, or perhaps, if a solid hold could be established-- tearing.

It was entirely up to Iroka’s call now if she wanted to summon Aramis or try to engage the enemy on her own terms. From the initial speed of his attack, and the feedback she would have gotten from her elbow strike, Iroka would be able to gauge that this enemy was probably a bit stronger than her, and roughly as fast. Its spiritual abilities remained unknown, though given its mutation-based abilities, it was likely a creature that emphasized physical might over spiritual skill. Ultimately it was her decision; Aramis was likely to notice the battle in due course anyways, but Iroka was the one who could summon him more immediately if she so chose.

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka felt her elbow strike something, and took a leap forward, while spinning her body in the air so that she would lad facing her assailant. Even before she had laid eyes on her attacker, the Shinigami recollected the dead girl at the school. Attacked from behind. It was very probable that this was the same individual that had been responsible for the murder. Aramis' plan had worked; now all that remained was to prevent herself from dying before the Captain arrived.

As her eyes fell on the creature, Iroka made a face. "Incorrect," she replied to the creature's insult. "I'm not a dog. Dogs are cool, though. Sadly, the closest animal I have been likened to was a rabbit, so if you had said 'doe', that would have made more sense." As one who ended up taking things literally at times, Iroka simply did not figure that he was insulting her. "Also, you, sir, are very ugly."

That sentence was rendered with the same amount of expression a news presenter had when reading the 'news in brief'. Iroka was simply telling the truth, not trying to insult him. However he took it was left to him, in any case. The Shinigami's eyebrows rose slowly as the creature spoke. It was certainly the one the Gotei 13 officers had been sent to investigate. Pity he did not seem too eager to just stay still and talk like a reasonable individual. Well, reasonable people didn't kill school children.

"So! You're Hitode-san!" she exclaimed, as she stepped back, trying to keep away from the reaching claws. "Except that starfishes have five arms, and you have--eight. That makes you a tick. Eww! And no, I wasn't expecting a Hollow. I was expecting a vampire, you know, with black hair and red cape, and all the turning into a rat or a bat stuff. But all I get is an arachnid parasite."

By its own confession, it wasn't a Hollow. It did not look very human either, so it was most likely a Mod Soul, or some sort of freak. Some time ago, Iroka would have considered that this creature was like her, for the sole reason that it was a freak. But she had, over time, learned to be more accepting of herself, even if she still had a long way to go. This self-acceptance included accepting the fact that she was capable. But her capabilities were not mostly focused on combat.

A claw snagged her flowing sleeve, and Iroka yelped and pulled free, the fabric ripping as she liberated herself. She was not going to fight this thing alone. Even though Iroka had considered, from the creature's motions, that it was just about as fast as, if a little stronger than, she was, she suspected she could take it on in combat. However, she did not particularly enjoy fighting. Besides, chances were that Aramis would be interested in observing it alive. She would have to call him, although as surreptitiously as possible.

As the arachnid lunged at her, Iroka thrust out a palm. "Tansashō: Kū!" she called out, as a blast of reiatsu emanated from her open palm. If it hit, unless this creature was strong enough to anchor itself to the ground, it would find itself thrown through the air from the force of the attack. At the same time, Iroka flared her reiatsu, so that even if her assailant noticed the flare, it would assume that the flare was a component of her technique. It would not do to have the murderer suspect that she was trying to call Aramis.

To make sure the arachnid Mod Soul did not decide to flee, Iroka attempted to engage it in conversation. "You do know that it's quite rude to go grabbing at women you'd just met for the first time, ne?" she chided. "And even though you have so many arms, that does not give you the right to go grasping at whatever you can. That's untoward behavior. I'm sure your mommy taught you better, Hitode-san."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Dunno if this is necessary, but...}
STATS: 700
Strength: 70 (-50%): 35
Speed: 200
Reiatsu Strength: 180 (+50%): 270
Spiritual Pressure: 400 (+50%): 600 [Reiatsu: 6000]
Instinct: 50
Senses: 100 (-50%): 50
Energy Sensory: 00
Healing Expertise: 400

Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0


SKILLS: 18/20
Mental:
Analyzing: 2
Strength of Will: 3

Battle:
Hakuda- Shintenken: 2
Battle Analysis: 3
Kidō Mastery: 2

Body:
Mental Incantation: 1
Cold Tolerance: 1
Damage Recovery: 2

Utility:
Crafting/Forging: 2



Tech used: Shintenken: Tansashō- Kū (150 Reiatsu)

Technique Name: Tansashō [Cinnabar Palm]
Technique Class: 4 - 40 TTP
Technique Type: Hakuda (Shintenken)
Usable By: Shinigami
Technique Element: N/A
Technique Cost: 150 Reiatsu
Description: Thrusting out a palm, the practitioner projects reiatsu from their hand to deal damage at a range of up to 10 meters. The beauty of this technique is its versatility, as the user can mold the reiatsu being projected in order to produce different results. As this technique utilizes reiatsu to attack, it does not require strength to deal damage, as is expected of a Shintenken technique. The varying styles with which reiatsu may be projected to perform Tansashō are as follows:
Nejire (Warp): The most basic form of the Cinnabar Palm. The user projects a pulse of reiatsu on impact with a target to deal bludgeoning damage and push the target backwards
Kū (Void): This is simply Nejire, but with the pulse of reiatsu projected so that it strikes at range, as opposed to a close-quarter strike. Effect is the same as Nejire.
Tsurigane (Battle Gong): User performs Tansashō with both hands, while clapping them together. The resultant effect is a visible shockwave of rippling air which explodes outward from the user for up to ten meters. Anyone hit by the shockwave is sent flying, though it cannot be used as a shield. The shockwave has a characteristic Buddhist bell shape, hence its name.
Each form is learned with increase in proficiency. At Learned, user can use Nejire. Kū is usable at Proficient, and Tsurigane is usable at Mastered.
How to Use: User gathers reiatsu into their open palm and strikes a target, releasing the reiatsu on impact, or releasing the reiatsu before impact, to deliver a ranged attack.
Drawbacks: The major drawback of this technique is its range, which is a maximum of 10 meters. Also can only be used by Shintenken practitioners (must have at least 1 SkP devoted to Hakuda: Shintenken as a skill).
Incantation: N/A

Reiatsu: 5850

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

Iroka's assailant paused in what appeared to be moderate confusion at her reaction. Banter and backtalk was part and parcel of battle, so it wasn't that which had confused it. It was Iroka's tone, which didn't sound snarky or anything. As if she was correcting an incorrect answer. His multiple eyes glowered at the statement. "I'll show you ugly." He snapped back.

He seemed prepared to probe Iroka's defenses to try and find an angle to attack her, but this gave Iroka time to comment further on his appearance. "Firstly!" He snapped. "My abilities is that of a spider, not a tick! And secondly, I didn't choose these abilities you know! Insufferable Shinigami. Small wonder XCution pays well for your hides." It launched into its attack which ripped Iroka's sleeve, though failed to actually secure her. However, with four limbs on Iroka, and the long reach, her attacker was hardly going to settle for a single attack. The four spider-limbs on his back lashed out in a series of strikes and feints, swiping in from left and right. If nothing else, this enemy was used to using his reach to attack from unusual angles as his legs arched and bent to come at Iroka from both high and low angles with ease. A fighting technique that probably would be the bane of a comparably skilled hand to hand fighter, or even a weapon fighter, given the length of the limbs.

Iroka's counterattack, however, interrupted this series of attacks, slamming cleanly into her target's torso, and forced "Hitode" to dig his lower two spider legs into the ground to stabilize himself, avoiding being blasted too far back from Iroka, only losing a foot of ground. "Tch. Alright, you have some skill. I guess it was too much to hope you were a regular Shinigami officer." He glowered, trying to ignore Iroka's taunt. Now he began to circle counter-clockwise, one step beyond his own reach. An easy enough distance to close in a single movement, and his spider legs twitching and darting out, then pulling back, looking for Iroka's reaction.

....A reaction that would be largely unnecessary, as in the next moment, the Hitode's upper right spider leg, and his right "human" arm, suddenly just.... disappeared, and a dominating spiritual pressure weighed down the air. Not enough to pin Iroka, as had occurred in the battle with Rizer some time ago, but enough to announce the presence of a Captain-class "Shinigami", arriving in response to her reiatsu flare. Aramis was now behind Hitode, and from Iroka's point of view, she'd have been able to see his method of arrival. Not Shunpo, no, the Captain had literally rised up from Hitode's shadow, like some eldritch boogieman from the stories parents told disobedient children. In his right hand he carried a gleaming, golden rapier, his expression still impassive.


"Will not sacrifice you. As requested." He stated, as if his arrival was nothing more than the fulfillment of a contract. "Interest in resolving by self? Or expedient conclusion?" He inquired. The spider Mod-Soul was momentarily stunned, not just by Aramis's arrival, but by the very sudden disappearance of two of his limbs. And indeed, both limbs seem to have simply disappeared. They hadn't been severed, or disintegrated. They just... weren't there anymore.

"Shit! You were waiting for this! Screw you both!" The Mod Soul's upper left limb, displaying surprising flexibility twisted and stabbed at Aramis. The Captain, almost lazily, if not for the robotic precision of his movement, counter-cut with his Zanpakuto, and the instant his blade made contact with the Mod Soul's limb, it too vanished. Three arms remained.

Seemingly realizing his situation, the two's target grit his fangs. "Ugh. Fine." He raised his remaining human hand. "....I surrender. I'll back down on this one and submit to your judge--" And then launched into a step technique, trying to burst past Iroka and into the park's treeline, in an attempt at catching the Shinigami duo off-guard to make an escape! Aramis's eyes seemed non-plussed, and indeed, the Captain at the moment seemed more interested in Iroka's response than the quarry fleeing.

"You are unharmed?" His eyes scanned her. "Torn sleeve. Will cover expenses for repair. Should have arrived quicker. C." Aramis stated, this time seemingly grading his own performance. "Should take down quarry before effect ends." He stated, referencing his Zanpakuto's ability. "Appearance. Arachnid. Theorizing abilities. Venom. Obvious. Spiders digest prey externally. Likely how victim died. Durable, strong limbs. Potential webbing abilities. Wary of surprise attack. Additional eyes. Superior visual acuity." That last one seemed particularly poignant given Aramis was wearing glasses. Overall, Aramis didn't seem especially hurried, however, unconcerned with whatever measures Hitode would take.

Reiatsu Remaining: 7600/8000
Shikai Posts: 1/10

SPOILER: Click to show

{"Hitodes'" Stats}Strength: 125
Speed: 250
Reiatsu Strength: 50
Spirit Pressure: 150
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Senses: 150
Instinct: 50
Energy Sensory: 25
Healing Expertise: 0
Total: 750 SP

SPOILER: Click to show

{Aramis Stats & Skills}Strength: 120+80 (100)
Speed: 400
Reiatsu Strength: 200 (100)
Spirit Pressure: 400 (800)
Light Aura: 10 (0 in Saisei Oni)
Dark Aura: 90 (100 in Saisei Oni)
Senses: 150
Instinct: 180+120 (300)
Energy Sensory: 150 (300)
Healing Expertise: 0
Total: 1600+200


Skills

Analysis (3) [Bonus points as per Cunning Type]
Weapons: Sword (2)
Weapons: Chain (2)
Martial Art: Street Fighting (2)
Battle Analysis (3)
Deception (2)
Crafting (2)
Strength of Will (3)
Calm Mind (1)

[Munemasa Iroka]

Iroka frowned in slight confusion. "You have eight limbs, you hide and slink about, and you're very ugly." Again, the harsh words were delivered with the expression of someone rendering inoffensive information that was probably known to their audience. "How is that not a tick, Hitode-san?" The revelation that Hitode did not choose his powers was met with little sympathy from Iroka. "Yes, well, no one initially ever does," she deadpanned.

XCution as a name was familiar to her, though Iroka did not think she had ever had any personal interactions with them. In any case, they were not allies, although Iroka failed to see how the Shinigami being 'insufferable' would make XCution want to place bounties on their heads. "Do you think Shinigami insufferable because I told you the truth? Well, it's XCutions bad for not wanting to hear critical assessments. They should be ashamed of themselves. As should you."

Iroka's Shintenken attack did not push the Mod Soul as far back as she had desired, the creature's clawed legs finding traction on the ground which prevented it from being blown back. The carrot top huffed in mild annoyance, and sank into a ready stance, her arms slightly stretched out, with palms open and pointing towards Hitode. As the arachnoid creature circled her, she slowly pivoted her body in the same direction he moved, keeping her body facing his. No way was she going to let him get behind her. At least, for now, Hitode was out of range, so she could breathe....

And then, just like that, two of Hitode's limbs vanished. With the way Hitide had not screamed nor shown any expression of pain, he had technically not been injured, for his nerves apparently had been undamaged. He simply looked shocked. And he had every reason to be. Iroka herself had initially panicked, assuming that this was a new, yet unseen ability of the Mod Soul, but the creature's own alarm changed her assumption. It could only mean one thing.

Almost sooner than she had come to her conclusion, Iroka felt the overwhelming reiatsu. Like some ominous specter, Aramis rose out of Hitode's shadow, behind the arachnoid. In his hand was a golden rapier. That was very likely his Shikai. If what he had mentioned about his zanpakutō's ability was to be believed, Iroka felt she understood why a single tap to the head with the weapon would be fatal. It was simply beheading the opponent, in a different, more interesting way.

Iroka's postulation was only strengthened when Hitode tried to make a surprise attack on the Captain, who simply erased another limb. "Ara ara!" the Shinigami exclaimed excitedly. "That ability looks a lot more exciting than you made it sound, Kusamura-sama." She did not dare ask him to allow her to study the weapon, though. Superiors often unnerved her, and even though Aramis did not seem to care for hierarchies, he was still greater than she was, both in rank and in power.

Hitode seemed to pretend as though he was surrendering, but then he suddenly took off. Iroka did not even try to follow his movement with her eyes, her gaze still locked on the golden weapon in the Captain's hand, as she let the creature dash into the trees. From her body language, it was as though, for the moment, the Mod Soul had suddenly become unimportant. "Should be at least a 'B', Kusamura-sama," the ginger-haired girl answered, deducing that the C grade was for himself. "I am, after all, unharmed. And a torn sleeve is hardly an issue."

As Aramis listed the likely attributes of the Mod Soul, that was when Iroka seemed to remember that they were supposed to be hunting Hitode. "Yes, I think we should settle this quickly. Still, you could always just erase something else if the effect ends, ne? Unless there is some sort of trade-off for this ability? I would not be surprised if there was, nor am I interested in knowing such information, though I would very much like to discuss about your initial release with you, should you have the time, Kusamura-sama.."

Then she turned and called out, even as she headed for the tree line, "Hitode-san? You shouldn't just go running off suddenly like that. It's rather impolite, and I had a number of questions I wanted to ask you. Not to mention that Kusamura-sama thinks you have to die. If you come back nicely, I promise to ask him to make it as quick and painless as possible." Apparently heedless of her own safety, the Yonbantai Shinigami walked into the shade of the trees, intent on catching Hitode.

Aramis Tezuka

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis was secretly pleased to hear Iroka's reaction to his demonstration of his Shikai. In truth, Aramis was somewhat free in demonstrating his Shikai. Not out of ego though. Although it did mean that many individuals could come to the half-right conclusion that his Shikai's primary threat came only if he could land a hit on them with it, and would cause them to fight around such an ability, it also meant-- as Iroka had just proven, that they got the wrong impression of his Shikai. Aramis was a consummate liar about many things. Deception and misdirection were the Captain's bread and butter, and his ability was no exception. It seemed, based on how Iroka was reacting that she interpreted his Shikai to be able to wipe things out of existence. In fact, Revenant's power was simultaneously more and less formidable than that. Revenant was an illusion type Zanpakuto.

Hitode's three "missing" limbs, weren't actually missing at all. Hitode and Iroka just believed they were. Their senses lied to them-- even Hitode's own sense of touch, sense of balance, could not detect that his limbs were still very much attached to his body at this time. His own sensory abilities simply overlooking the existence of his own limbs. Only those with high abilities to detect reiatsu could see through this ability, and in Aramis's case, that meant that Hitode had become painfully easy to track, what with the Captain being able to follow his own reiatsu signature to follow him.

Easy enough for Aramis to have a moment to respond to Iroka in fact. "Compliment appreciated." Aramis finally responded, though noted Iroka's attempt to bolster his assessment. The Captain paused. "Fortunate opponent was not more capable. If had been later, injuries could have been more severe. Confident he could not kill before arrival. Was not certain of no injuries. Faster response time needed. Especially if earlier evaluation of target's strength, mistaken." He replied. Iroka was safe, that was true. But Aramis had possessed no means to guarantee that. Her uninjured status was due to her abilities, not Aramis's. "Results, acceptable. Potential results. Not acceptable." He concluded. "Therefore, passing grade, but could be greatly improved."

As far as the other Shinigami's prodding went though, Aramis had his answers ready. As someone who actively misled people about his Zanpakuto, Aramis had pre-prepared a number of responses as to inquiries into his abilities. Had Iroka directly asked in fact, Aramis would have immediately spun a deception about how his Zanpakuto transported its targets to a pocket dimension. Fortunately, she hadn't, so Aramis could spare her that part. "Correct assessment. Must engage Hitode first though." He responded. "Willing to divulge information for information. What is your Zanpakuto?" He countered.

This time it seemed though that Aramis was following Iroka's lead as she led onwards into the treeline, the woman taking charge of the operation. Not that he actually minded. He was curious how Iroka would operate. He listened to Iroka's comments and the last one actually seemed to legitimately puzzle Aramis. Why would I kill him any less efficiently if he came back compliantly? Could suppose that compiance would lead to quicker execution, true. But illogical request. Everything seeks to survive. No one will come back knowing they'll be killed.

The closest thing to a flicker of emotion crossed Aramis's eyes as he tailed Iroka. Ah. That was right. Most others didn't bear the curse that Aramis knew. The curse of damnation. He knew he would end up in Hell once he died. To suffer and endure agonizing tortures and torments until.... well. No until. That would be Aramis's lot after his demise. Forever. It often made him have to re-assess how easy it was for other creatures to allow themselves to die, without such a horrific fate awaiting them.

As such Aramis did not correct Iroka but instead, let her continue to take point. "Do you want to settle score? Or permit me to execute assassin?" He inquired. His bespectacled eyes turned into the woods to their right. "Four hundred feet, 2:00 position." He stated to Iroka, intent on guiding her to Hitode so that the two could conclude their mission. Aramis had certainly had a worse time, and Iroka was pleasant enough company. Still.... He couldn't forget that without his supervision some genius in the 12th Division could decide to make a barracks destroying bomb and insist on testing it.