Arc 3: Canon 3: Eaten Strawberry [Complete]

[Zou ۞]

Ken Lao exhaled. Obviously, he'd expected the first question to be "WHAT WAS THAT?!" or something similar. Even an Espada had been forced to recognize that he was no match for that giant beast, at least not without knowing what it was, and what it did. Ken Lao had been able to win because he'd gone in prepared. It wasn't a matter of strength, really. Though, it also helped that his ability was well suited for such a thing, that task that he'd been assigned. Even fine members of Death Inc had been killed by that monster, though Ken Lao had still said something about revival. This implied that Death-Sama could revive the dead, like a God would. How shocking.

"That was an illegal drug." Ken Lao declared. "Surely, you must know of the spiritual black market by now. In recent years, it's been getting bigger and bigger. One of the items available in our world is a drug called DEVIL. It's typically a liquid, black, but it freezes when it contacts air. It is typically sold in a syringe which injects the liquid into the bloodstream, though as you saw it can be eaten as well, when in an ice form. The substance grants the user immeasurable power for a time, enough to take down even a high level Espada or a Gotei Thirteen Captain. The physical capacity maximizes, while they gain the ability to use many invisible "hands" to fight telekinetically and obliterate everything in their path with this invisible strength. Normally, the effects only last for ten minutes when injected. It lasts for hours when eaten. Either way, the side effects are huge, and it becomes impossible to live without the item. The effects don't distort the body the same way when injected, and the strength is probably larger. You saw someone using 50 hands. Injected, it can probably go up to three hundred, and with longer reach. The withdrawals and side effects on health are enormous, and typically once you start taking it, you'll die maybe a month later anyway."

That was rather informative about what it was. That should probably tell people simply not to even attempt to take it, though Andrea would then know where to buy it. However, Ken Lao did indeed have further information after that, which he told to them with great earnest. It was only natural that he'd tell them this, for he did worry about the safety of others. He was a more normal human than one might let on. Strangely, this could be counted as giving information to an enemy, though. With that, Ken Lao delivered the information, speaking to Andrea and Kiyomi about DEVIL even further than he had before.

"DEVIL. I don't know how to make it. Very few do. But it is not something you should ever take, if that's what you're thinking about doing. There is no method of recovery. Once you take it, you will not have long to live. The withdrawals are incredible."

[Kiyomi Toki]

[/color] The words traveled swiftly into to the lavender haired woman ears, carrying some sense of confidence, a sound, strong voice. It originated from a few feet away to her right, though she was more focused on the fact the man she clung to traveled in such a distance in what, a second? Maybe even less, that in itself was frightening. Scary! How were all these things happening all at once? First people were suddenly becoming corpses and pools of blood gathered, and now there were guys who could teleport; something of that sort at least.

The beast certainly was making its way towards them pretty fast, albeit nothing but carnage laid in front, behind. . . No, all around it! This was crazy, this was madness! "You two. . . An Espada and a newbie. . . That sure does bring back some wartime memories." Said the voice once more. She forcibly peeled her eyes away from it, hoping it would impede its arrival. Espada? What? She hadn't heard of such a word before. Was it Italian or something? She thought hastily and foolishly, mainly because more pressing matters were at hand. She came to a sound, and yet frightening realization. Truly, if death were to have a form. . . This was it, full glory and all. How weren't people screaming, not even a stammer in their voice! Hell, the reasoning for her was this want to live, and even then she barely kept a lid on it.

But that was when she had hope that she'd live, hope that she could get past all this. But it seemed that just getting close to this thing was dead. Unless they could shoot it. . . But it seemed no one liked fire-arms intros town, at least. Now, as she looked at the situation, helplessness filled up inside of her once more. The feeling grew in the pit of her stomach, and fear clenched at her throat. She wasn't able to formulate any words, and yet. . . Despair hadn't found its way into her eyes. No, nothing had ever changed the way those eyes saw the world. Nothing would, perhaps. That's only if she managed to go on living, that is.

The voice was definitely a man; confident, the right amount of bass, and 'strong'. It had that sense of strength which she lacked at the moment. How could be he so stern, unmoving! Did he not realize that people were dying so easily? There wasn't a way for this to be real and yet, it lacked that surreal sensation. . . This was definitely happening, and this guy was stepping up to get slaughtered like the rest of them. He walked up them, Kiyomi and the man she stood next to, who he was an 'Espada'. But he gave her a card, "You can have your questions answered there." He said wisely, probably could tell that everything was piling up in her head; things didn't make sense though! What kind of business could EVER[/b] explain what was transpiring before her?

Anger began to swell up in her chest. Why? Her heart was still clenched with fear, yet such a new burning emotion tip over and set her insides aflame. This anger was tipped over by what? Because the man gave her a card?! Even she hadn't understood what made this occur. . . Was it because of his lack of fear in the face of this thing which caused her to cower? Was she that proud of a person? Again, she didn't even know. But this new surge of rage was strong, and her eyes narrowed at the man, not even bothering to take a quick glance at the card. "It was nice of you to rescue a human, Espada." Now the man made it seem that the guy next to her wasn't human! Kiyomi turned to look at the 'Espada', giving him a once over. He certainly looked human, at least. . .

"This is sure odd. I would've thought you'd be smarter than to take it raw." The mans voice echoed out far enough for Kiyomi to catch, though he was much further away than where he once stood. Again, a person mysteriously traveled quite the distance in no time at all! Could they teleport? Was that what it was? "If they are, then this is definitely a drier;--" She thought aloud, only to see a staff birth itself into existence in his hands! That definitely peaked her interest. Another obvious display of the impossible, right before her eyes. . . More than likely this was a dream. The man continued to talk about arms and powers, she wasn't quite into it all at the moment, despite her watching it all unfold before her eyes. The battle, as mysterious and supernatural as it was, ended briefly. "It's better to let yourself be captured by us without resistance." He said in a fairly smooth voice. He was very suave, that man. Did he ever lose his cool?

"Death-Sama, I'm done. The thief is subdued and ready for capture. Also, six guys died against him. I don't think they've used up their pass ability yet. If you wouldn't mind, please revive them too. Thanks." The man hung up the phone and looked back at Kiyomi and Andrea, once more stating, "I'm sure you two have a lot of questions. My name is Ken Lao." Yes! Hell yes! Questions were whizzing around in her head so fast she couldn't even remember them all. Though her eyes were stuck on the beast, even as Ken Lao talked to them. Why did it stop? Did it actually listen to the man? Her eyes looked into Ken's, still narrow, though they only showed a cold baleful gaze. It was fueled by no reason she immediately could think of, though. But perhaps it was the fact the man dealt with the beast so easily.

Easily enough to hit it once and tell it to sit, like it was some kind of pet! That's pretty much what he did. Did he know this thing? Or. . . "I can see that you're a Fullbringer, and I also managed to make out that you spoke directly to Death-Sama. I can only come to the conclusion that your rank within Death Inc. is rather high. I also imagine that you know quite a bit about that substance the man consumed. So if you don't mind my asking, what was it? And how is it created?" The 'Espada' chimed in, bringing her out of her own little world once more. Truth be told, it was hard to stay focus with these things going on. They were talking about. . . Random things! At least, things that held no meaning to Kiyomi. "Oh my, I forgot, where are my manners. Andrea Follia, Sexta Espada." There was that damn word again! What did it mean? Perhaps it was an abbreviation. . . Extra Speedy Protecting Aliens Defending All! Espada. Maybe? It definitely seemed to fit. . .

But that man, he said something about how it was 'nice' of him to save her. Did these Espada folk not get along with Humans? Or maybe Human was a term used for regular people, since this Ken guy was most definitely not to be classified as an ordinary Human. "That was an illegal drug. Surely, you must know of the spiritual black market by now. In recent years, it's been getting bigger and bigger. One of the items available in our world is a drug called DEVIL. It's typically a liquid, black, but it freezes when it contacts air. It is typically sold in a syringe which injects the liquid into the bloodstream, though as you saw it can be eaten as well, when in an ice form. The substance grants the user immeasurable power for a time, enough to take down even a high level Espada or a Gotei Thirteen Captain. The physical capacity maximizes, while they gain the ability to use many invisible "hands" to fight telekinetically and obliterate everything in their path with this invisible strength. Normally, the effects only last for ten minutes when injected. It lasts for hours when eaten. Either way, the side effects are huge, and it becomes impossible to live without the item. The effects don't distort the body the same way when injected, and the strength is probably larger. You saw someone using 50 hands. Injected, it can probably go up to three hundred, and with longer reach. The withdrawals and side effects on health are enormous, and typically once you start taking it, you'll die maybe a month later anyway."

"Wow." She suddenly spoke up, in a bit of a louder-than-usual voice. Still a bit frightened, she took a gulp, attempting to catch her bearings once more. But the man continued. "DEVIL. I don't know how to make it. Very few do. But it is not something you should ever take, if that's what you're thinking about doing. There is no method of recovery. Once you take it, you will not have long to live. The withdrawals are incredible." He said, finally finishing. But from that, once more she just said. "Wow. . ." She was getting redundant, but, all this talk of Captains, Espada, drugs! What was she getting into?

"Wait, wait. This isn't making sense. At all." Her voice was back to normal, for the most part, at least volume wise. But her hand rose up and pointed at the now docile creature that was on a rampaged just moments before. "Why isn't it attacking? What did you do? Why did it listen to you." She let the you slid out venomously. She was gaining a bit of confidence as she went on talking. "And just what do you mean 'revive' them? This isn't a game. . . People, they. . . People don't come back. People stay dead. Those men who charged in, dead. That jogger, dead. Torn apart, I saw it. It wasn't fake, it was too. . . Too real to be fake. But it still doesn't make sense." She took a sharp inhale of breath, looking to the 'Espada' named Andrea. "You're talking about all these things. Espada, Fullbringer, Death Inc., and 'Death-Sama'? What, are you friends with the Grim Reaper?" She directed the last part of her little rant to Ken Lao.

No. She didn't trust this man, and because of that she was coming off pretty hostile. He scared her most of all, simply because he was able to halt that thing. What if he was actually controlling it? So many possibilities, and yet she was the only one deeply effected by this! Sure, her outside appearance seemed fine. But this was truly reshaping her views on reality. And that was a big thing for most normal people. . . What was Andrea that he knew this man to be a Fullbrigner? Again, these terms! 'Ugh. Is this really reality? It's too crazy. . .' She thought, lowering her gaze to the floor. "Was the world always this crazy? This brutal. . . ?" A bit of sadness came out at the last part. Funny; only when everything was said and done, did a bit of emotion show from her voice. Nothing before had been able to do that before. . .

But this was serious. Super serious.
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[Zou ۞]

"Of course this isn't a game." Ken Lao directed. "But as for reviving the dead, as long as we make it on time, it is possible for our Death-Sama. You could indeed qualify him as the Grim Reaper, after all." He had his hands pocketed by that point. He was probably used to dealing with newbies who hadn't even unlocked Fullbring yet. It was only expected, of course. Kiyomi was unaware of the spiritual world. She'd suddenly been caught by this world, and everything turned upside down. Everything became so difficult to understand. It was so much all at once, and it was so sudden. It was a bit scary, since some monsters like that existed.

"But this kind of thing isn't hard. I subdued that man with my power. Alliance Staff allows me to persuade my enemies, and change their view of something. I made him docile, and persuaded him to wait to be captured and treated if possible. That's my Fullbring." This would probably come off as some sort of gibberish to Kiyomi, of course. Her whole world had suddenly been torn apart, replaced by a new one full of chaos and devoid of logic, and now she was being told about random magical powers and a whole magical existence that she'd previously been unaware of. Any regular human would be shocked by this sudden turn of events. Ken Lao smiled reassuringly. "You'll get used to this kind of world. Humans adapt, you know."

"Just as they die, they also adapt to survive a little longer. And it is that which brought us, and made our world worth protecting." A new voice suddenly said. All might possibly be humbled by the presence that appeared then, despite the seeming lack of emotion within the monotone voice that spoke then. Step after step brought a man forwards, with his hair black and rough, but short, and his age young. He didn't look like he was out of his teens, perhaps only 18 or 19, and yet the wisdom he gave and the voice he delivered, the look in his eyes, they made him seem far older. It was like out of a fairy tale, a person that was much older than they looked, and gave it away through mannerisms and eyes.

Ken Lao did a quick bow. "Death-Sama." he noted. The strongest Fullbringer had made his appearance. He wore a black suit, that was it. He didn't look like anything special, but what he demonstrated was certainly special enough. Taking steps to those who had fallen and died, he got on one knee, exhaling as he closed one eye. Tears of blood began streaming from that single eye as the men who were in pieces slowly pieced back together, and their blood disappeared. A glow was visible from Death-Sama's palm, and it appeared that space around him was distorting. The bodies of the men came back together, and fixed up completely, as if nothing had happened. Their eyes flew open, and they were alive again.

Quick apologies were given from each man, for they had disappointed Death Inc and their honor by dying so easily, without even getting a chance to use Fullbring. Death-Sama dismissed their apologies, noting that their opponent had been strong, and probably beyond the scope of their abilities because of that heinous drug. There, right before the eyes of Kiyomi and Andrea, men who had been killed had also been brought back to life. Death-Sama was most certainly not a man that was all talk. He stood up, turning from them. "I'll probably have to head back now." he said in that continued monotone. "There is still much to be done."

Almost on cue, a limousine drove up, and Death-Sama got into the back. It proceeded to continue away, driving and taking Death-Sama from the scene. Ken Lao watched Andrea and Kiyomi carefully. Certainly, even to Andrea it would be a shock, since even as an Arrancar he knew that technically it was impossible to revive the dead. To Kiyomi, not used to spiritual things in the least bit, it would be a massive shock. Therefore, whatever happened, Ken Lao was making sure that both in that moment could maintain their sanity, and some grip on the world. Some people did indeed go insane after witnessing the spiritual world, after all. Some lost their grip on reality.

[Zou ۞]

OOC: Skip Izuki.

[Zou ۞]

OOC: Nevermind. Too slow. You guys are done. No reward due to slowness. This canon's over.