Arc 3 Preview: Not Knowledge, Merely Data [PG13, NDE, Hard]

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru stood there, head lowered slightly in respect of the Female Head of her house. She waited, somewhat patiently and somewhat nervously. She had no idea how Aoi was going to respond to being told no. The I see she got from her was bad enough. The waiting was now just getting to her. She meant what she said to her. She wanted to find her beloved Asmoskon on her own, with no help. She wanted to prove to herself that she could do it. She just really hoped that Aoi understood what she was talking about. She had no idea how her relationship was with Sozen, or how he even found her, but she hoped that she knew just a little of what she was going through.

It seemed like she did, because she completed her answer. It seemed that Aoi respected her for not taking the help offered and was willing to hunt him down on her own. At least now, Hotaru showed her devotion to Asmoskon and when Aoi said that he was lucky to have someone like her to show that kind of devotion to, she nodded her head towards Aoi, raising her eyes slightly. She still didn't meet her eyes, out of respect for her authority, but there was something different about her. Hotaru only told one person in Soul Society about her lover, unless Aoi knew when Asmoskon was in Soul Society last, when he almost got found out as a Quincy. Thankfully, they were able to run out quick enough so they weren't found.

But, they had only run into one other shinigami of note when he was here last and that was Harle, the Vice Captain of the Second Division. She assumed that she didn't spread the news around, since she hadn't heard anyone else talk about it, so how did Aoi know? Maybe she had used this vast information network that she mentioned to Hotaru earlier to find out about her...but why? To be quite honest, there really wasn't much of note that she's done. She climbed the ranks to that of a Third Seat, but she hasn't really defeated any great enemy on her own or anything like that. She had made good friends and trained hard to climb the ranks more.

But, honestly, that was it. She never thought she had enough strength of note to actually be worth looking up like that. When Aoi actually told her to seek her out if she needed someone to talk to or any help to not hesitate to go to her for help. She nodded and replied with, "Yes, Aoi-sama." Then, she looked up at Aoi and actually saw the same kind of care in her eyes. She then quickly adverted her gaze to look a little bit down from her eyes. She honestly didn't understand why she was so surprised with the care she was showing her. She then thought back to all of the other family members she had met so far, which wasn't many.

Takashi was the first. He was nice enough to help her through some basics of combat. They talked fairly often and she was happy to be the Third Seat to his Vice Captaincy in the Eleventh Division. But, when he betrayed them, she felt that a part of herself broke. She tried her best to hide it, but it always nagged at her, reminding her that it was there. Then, she got to meet the Head himself, during the secret training she underwent with him. Through all the sessions and everything he did to her, she could see care in his eyes. Not a lot, but she could tell that if something happened to her, he would help her if he could. He hand picked her to join his family. HAND PICKED HER. She knew it stood for something.

Then, she met Hokori. He seemed a little stiff, especially after he learned she was not technically a Kuchiki by birth. Her procedure ensured that she was a blood Kuchiki, but the records proved she wasn't one. Hokori has been making her study the history of her family and honestly, it was quite interesting what the Kuchiki have gone through in the past. She didn't mind it too much. She then thought on Aoi, the only other female Kuchiki that she's met since Ana disappeared. Maybe because she was a woman like her, she showed her emotions easier than the others. Hotaru would honestly have no way of knowing, but she was still curious all the same.

What Aoi said next surprised her to the point that her mouth almost dropped open and her eyes bugged out of her head. Aoi told her not to worry that her lover is a Quincy. What? WHAT?! How in the hell did she know that? When she said that, she looked Aoi straight in the eye. She knew that she shouldn't do that, but she couldn't help it. She told no one, not even Kagami, that Asmoskon was a Quincy. She purposefully avoided talking about his race in case someone thought ill of it and would say anything against their relationship. For her to know didn't seem possible. Aoi continued, saying she would support her love no matter what, even if there were others against it.

What she added at the end of that line of thought was also surprising to her. She said that all of the naysayers to the relationship would start to support it once Aoi would guide them to it. What? She was pretty much telling her that she had enough influence in the house that if anyone would go against Hotaru's relationship, Aoi would make them see it her way. She knew that she would have power, but not the kind of power where she could do that. It was impressive to state that kind of power, but she is after all Sozen's wife. She would assume that the Head of her family wouldn't pick a weak woman to stand next to him. It seems like he hadn't.

Aoi then changed topics to her husband. She told her to not fear Sozen, since he understands the difficulties of forbidden love and that you can't help who you love. She continued by saying that if she truly loved him, they would both welcome him with open arms. She was just surprised. She honestly thought that she would have issues with her family. She was going to cross that bridge once she found Asmoskon again, but it seemed like she didn't have to. Next, Aoi gave her word that there'll be no personal biases for when you do finally find him and bring him home.

Honestly, she still really couldn't believe it. She realized that the entire time Aoi had been talking about Asmoskon, her mouth gaped open a little bit and she was staring Aoi in the eye, with her eyes a little big. She immediately shut her mouth and looked down, breaking her stare and feeling a blush form on her cheeks. She had never done something like that before. But, how in the hell did she know? She answered the few questions that she had about hers and Asmoskon's relationship. Her family was the only real hurdle between them and now she hears that the hurdle was non-existent. It seemed a little too easy. She knew that Sozen himself was crafty and was wondering if Aoi was doing this for a reason. "Thank you, Aoi-sama. But, you have to tell me. How did you know? I've told no one about my lover's race. I kept it my own secret for obvious reasons. Did you read my mind? Sorry if I'm speaking out of turn." She lowered her head again while she waited for another answer.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play this now}

Aoi's face took on a perturbed expression when Hotaru asked her question. Outside, thunder rolled in the background, almost ominously. Somehow, Soul Society was one of those places. Just when you thought things couldn't get any more ominous, the weather made it ominous. Maybe that was just how it worked in a spiritual world like the Soul Society. Maybe one's emotions could affect the weather. But then, who could be sure that it was even Hotaru's emotions affecting the weather, and not someone else's? Or maybe it was Aoi's. Or maybe Aoi herself had the ability to control weather. Okay, that was unlikely. There were no x-men in this scenario.

"I must confess my surprise," Aoi admitted to Hotaru. "I am honestly taken aback that you have not yet encountered someone like me, with all the experiences that you have gathered." Aoi was implying that she wasn't the only one who could be so perceptive. If that meant that there were more, however, then it meant that Hotaru's secret wasn't exactly safe, was it? In fact, no one's secrets were truly safe if people could exist like that. Well, actually, Aoi herself was an amazing individual. There couldn't be many on her level around, so it was probable that despite Aoi's surprise, Hotaru was less than likely to encounter someone of Aoi's type.

"I believe, since it seems you are nearly Captain level, that it is appropriate for you to know," Aoi told Hotaru. "As I am sure you're well aware, there are sensory types who exist. Normally, their ability to detect your reiatsu only extends insofar as reading if you are using a spell or not, or otherwise what spell. Some, you might have found, can even determine your Zanpakuto's abilities." Thunder continued rolling in the background as bulbous gray clouds grew large and riled up in the now evening sky. What had been calm, even a clear day earlier now had an affinity for chaos and for a somber note expected of the somnambulatory dreams of the fearful or the wicked.

"There are some sensory types however that are much stronger. Some are so powerful that they can even read your thoughts. Some can learn everything about you with a glance. Sozen in fact had a relative with the ability to read not only you, but all of the most prominent figures in your life through you, and all of the most prominent figures in their lives, and so forth, up to six chain links away from you. For that reason, just by meeting one person, she had the ability to read hundreds. The information that she obtained was a mighty Kuchiki weapon during the years of Sozen's grandfather's reign. Be weary about your secrets, Hotaru. Though rare, these sensory types do exist, and the stronger you grow, the more likely you are to encounter them."

"I myself am capable of a special kind of sensory. I can read all things associated with love in your heart. As long as you possess the feeling of love, then to me it is as if your mind is naked." Aoi was capable of a rather sinister feat, if she could do even that. "If you would like, I can teach you ways to guard your mind against types such as us, if you value your secrets that is." Aoi offered. That would be useful, actually. Considering that Aoi, who had never once conversed with Hotaru, had known the young girl's secret so easily... Maybe it was better that Hotaru received a block training. "You may need it later," Aoi offered. "There are also some sensory types whose ability isn't to read you, but to read how best to hurt you..."

---

She loves ME now...

Elsewhere, in a small hut shielding them from the rain, there stood two, and one lay on a bed. Kagami, with blood all over his face, was before Adalo De-Mona, who looked so big... And Kagami looked just so tiny. How a mere Lieutenant could have found himself face to face with a big fish like the Primera Espada was unfathomable. How their fates could even be so intertwined was beyond even any reasonable speculation. Somehow, they had come into being in that moment together as a result of the same woman. And it was somehow so tragic, that Kagami found it impossible to believe. It was mind numbing to the Squad 1 Lieutenant, who in this narrative was capable of only sadness, and a voice echoing in his mind.

She loves ME now...

See, that's the problem with love stories. For it to be truly interesting, there needs to be a hint of tragedy. A dash of pain. For readers to be engaged, problems must arise. That, in fact, is the basis of any story, especially when love is the main topic. That was why it had to be so hard, with such a huge monster standing in front of Kagami. They may have appeared to be facing each other, but Adalo was the one who clearly had dominance over Kagami. Kagami, however, professed to not understanding. He wanted to know why a fake Manami was there. Why was there someone poised to hurt him? But, how naive he was, to be so easily placed in denial...

She loves ME now...

"Oh shut up," Manami said to Kagami. "You think I'm not the real thing? You think just because you found me with another man that I'm a fake? What, did you think you had a patent on a woman's love after you changed my mind about our engagement a long time ago?" She was speaking of how she had refused to love Kagami despite their marriage...and had gradually fallen in love with him, and he with her. She knew. She knew their story. Somehow, for her to know it, didn't she have to be real? Logically, if Kagami could think rationally anyway, wasn't it true that Saeki was imprisoned, and could have orchestrated none of this? And, after all, it was too unbelievable to have been orchestrated. Who in Soul Society could have had Adalo De-Mona on their side?

She loves ME now...

Adalo's smile widened too, and he took another step up to Kagami, so that their bodies were touching. Adalo's chest pushed against Kagami's... and Kagami would finally experience just how much bigger... and how much stronger... Adalo truly was. The mighty Arrancar King was on the verge of just forcing Kagami to topple over onto his butt just by occupying the same space. There was something so messed up about this scene... Something truly horrible. And the whole time, the same voice kept echoing inside of Kagami's mind. No, wait... That last one... That wasn't in Kagami's mind. That was out loud, from the mouth of the immortal Arranar King, Adalo De-Mona.

"She loves ME now..."

And then, all sounds gave way to the Primera's cackle.

[Douma]

SPOILER: Click to show

{To Set the Mood}

Who is Kagami Murai? That question had always seemed to be popping up. At one point of his life, he was a careless heir to his the throne of his dying noble family. From there, he transitioned to being Manami’s devoted, caring lover. Then, he was an indifferent Shinigami that cared more about getting drunk and meeting women than doing his job. Up until recently, Kagami had been the dashing, debonair, powerful Vice Captain of Squad 1. No woman could resist his charms and no enemy could withstand his strength. Even those who could didn’t do so truly, for there couldn’t be anyone stronger than the great Kagami Murai, the devilish Mirror Master, the second-in-command of the leader of Soul Society.

But there was a new Kagami Murai that emerged. One troubled by his past, one plagued by regret. One who would do anything to revive the life that was taken from him so suddenly. One who would take his own life if it gave him a few more days to love Manami like he used to. One who couldn’t be stopped by the Kuchiki family, an legendary mass-murderer, or even the Primera Esapda, the King of Arrancar himself, Adalo De-Mona. That Kagami was the most powerful to ever exist. He had honed his reiatsu and developed his powers in a matter of days.

What happened to that Kagami?

Kagami is dead.

Manami killed him.

"Oh shut up. You think I'm not the real thing? You think just because you found me with another man that I'm a fake? What, did you think you had a patent on a woman's love after you changed my mind about our engagement a long time ago?"

Kagami’s violet gaze was blank. There was no light of life behind his eyes. The wind itself stopped blowing, and silence loomed like a weight paralyzing him. His breath didn’t come. His mouth couldn’t move. His mind was stunned. The only activity in his body was the hateful adrenaline pumping through his veins, slowly building up and waiting to explode. And that explosion was coming, but not quite yet. Not with this Kagami. He was dead. Manami killed him.

Kagami is dead.

The Vice Captain looked back at Manami, the pieces of his mind slowly starting to put themselves back together. He was beginning to understand now. “You’re right, I changed my mind. I wasn’t good enough for you, Manami. I never could be, and you had the chance to do better.” Kagami’s hands fell to his waist and his grasp tightened tightly around his swords. His right hand grasped the dark blade while his left held onto the sheathed katana. He was inches from Adalo, but he took his time as he drew his weapons. His now indifferent eyes didn’t budge from Manami’s gaze. He couldn’t possibly disappoint those beautiful magenta gems and pull away.

“But then you go fuck Adalo…” A dark smile pulled at his lips and grew to a wild grin. He couldn’t resist chuckling, but the laughter was heavy with insanity and malice. Kagami was furious. “You were supposed to be smart. You were supposed to be able to do something with your life, but you decided to fuck Adalo. I thought you were worth more than the Primera’s bitch,” Kagami said, the words composed of a vile venom that he practically spat at her. He was furious.

“Hey Manami, guess what. I love you. I fucking love you. I really do, and being the selfish bastard I am, I wanted you back. Oh God, there wasn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you. So FUCK YOU. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO. THIS IS WHO YOU’RE WITH. THIS WAS YOUR MISTAKE, NEVER FORGET THAT. FUCK YOU! AND FUCK ADALO!" Kagami was furious, and he wasn’t going to be held back. He unstoppable. Adalo had no chance at this point, for he was against the Mirror Master himself. Kagami was charging headfirst and he was planning on coming back on top. His eyes were arrogant, but they were also calculating. He knew what was going on. This wasn’t about him being the best, but it sure as hell made it easier to see things in that light. Kagami was going to fight Adalo and he was going to win.

Kagami is alive.

From the ashes of the old Kagami, this new one arose out of nothing but plastic. The old Kagami was real. He loved Manami, and his last words told her so before he was consumed with rage. The old Kagami meant something and had motivation. And this new Kagami was utterly fake. He spouted bullshit. He refused to try to tame his mouth and consider his actions. Kagami only cared to pulverize Adalo, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen. He knew he was a dead. He wanted to die. He lost all motivation and drive. Manami didn’t love him. He couldn’t go back to being plastic and empty. He needed Manami to live, but she refused him. He wanted to die. He wanted Adalo to kill him.

The Vice Captain drew both his blades, his arms moving accurately and almost in slow motion. He knew Adalo didn’t feel threatened at all. He knew that the Espada could end the Vice Captain then and there, but he knew that Adalo wouldn’t do such a thing. Kagmi wanted to kill Adalo, and Kagami wanted to die. But what did Adalo want? Adalo just wanted Kagami to suffer. The Vice Captain spoke slowly and quietly after nearly an eternity of him drawing his swords had passed. It only took a few seconds, but everything took centuries. Life slowed down when you knew death was approaching. "Unveil all atrocities, even those unseen. Reveal their Souls, Shinkiro Mai!"

Kagami’s blade glowed and took on a green form in his left hand, but Adalo wouldn’t see the light emit from the weapon. The instant Kagmai’s blade began to transform, a mirror was create in the tiny space between Adalo and Kagami. Adalo wouldn’t only make eyc contact with his own gaze for a split second before a jade blade shot out of the mirror aimed directly for his head. He didn’t need to flinch though. After all, his Hierro would stop the point of the sword at his temple, and Kagami’s attack would be halted with no effort.


On the other end, Kagami had a sword shoot out toward him as well. It was met with the flat end of the black blade he held in his right hand, and by shifting his weight to his right side, Kagami allowed the blade emerging from the mirror to push him back a full meter with just its force, his feet sliding on the ground of the shack. As he slid, he spoke once more in a hushed whisper. “Observe in darkness, Kagebokkusu.” That phrase was created with the intention to act as the death sentence of his enemies, but somehow, Kagami felt that it applied more to him as the weapon took on an empty, void appearance. It reflected no light. It was a black hole of color. It was nothingness.

The instant that Kagami made it a meter away from Adalo and created a small gap between them, he retracted the blade and simply stared ahead. The mirror obstructed their vision of each other, so Kagami ended up speaking to his an image of himself in the glass. His hatred didn’t discriminate between Adalo and his own reflection. He wanted to kill and be killed. “Your move, fucker. Get ready to die.” The mirror would shatter, spreading miniscule shards around the room. The microscopic glass wouldn’t reach Manami, but Kagami wasn’t quite far enough to avoid being engulfed in it. His gaze was reunited with Adalo’s evil eyes. Kagami’s contemptuous eyes could only be complimented by his signature devilish smile. Other than that, however, he didn’t move. His chest didn’t rise or fall, for he wasn’t breathing. Time was at a standstill.

Adalo De-Mona, KILL ME.

Reiatsu Remaining: 6200/7000 (-200 for Shikai, -200 for artificial Zan release, -300 for Shard Shatter)

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru missed Aoi's expression, since her face was looking at the ground. Hotaru honestly had no idea how she was able to do that. She met a lot of strong fighters in her travels around Soul Society and the Human World. But, she had never met anyone that could do what Aoi has done just now. When she thought about it, maybe she never gave someone with the gift the chance to use it to tell her anything, or maybe they just didn't want to read her that way. Another theory could be that they didn't know they had the power.

When she heard Aoi speak again, she looked up at her face. Aoi seemed surprised that she had not met any other sensory types on her travels. It was then that Hotaru noticed the weather outside. A storm had rolled in and it was starting to rain outside. She looked out the window with the lull in conversation and thought about things. Where was Asmoskon now? Was it raining where he was? Did he have a good place to stay? Did he still think about her? She wanted to just ask him everything, but knew she couldn't, not yet.

Aoi continued to speak, so her attention was drawn back towards Aoi. Aoi told her that sensory types do exist, with their normal ability to be reading if you're using a spell or even determining Zanpaktou ability. Hotaru had a look of surprise on her face. In all honesty, she had met no sensory types on her travels, at least any that made their abilities known. She knew that people could sense reiatsu, she could do that on the most basic level. But, for sensors to actually know a zanpaktou's abilities? It seemed to her like it wouldn't even be possible.

Thunder from the storm broke up Aoi's speech and then Hotaru thought briefly on Kagami. She knew that he was doing what she was, searching for the love of his life. She knew that the man they had found had to be a link, but she was wondering how he was doing. She hadn't seen him since that day, and he was a close friend. She hoped the best for him, but knew she could only help him so far. He had to do the main part of the journey on his own. Aoi continued, saying that some sensors could read thoughts, or learn everything about you in a glance.

What she was saying didn't even sound possible. When she mentioned that Sozen had a relative that could read not only you, but all the most prominent figures in your life through you, and all of the most prominent figures in their lives, and so forth, up to six chain links away from you. She heard that and almost froze. How could someone be that powerful? To see that far into the past and reading so many people? She had no idea how strong sensors could be. Aoi then warned her to be careful with her secrets, since she was growing stronger, she is more likely to encounter stronger sensors.

Aoi then explained that she can read everything that was associated with love. Hotaru thought it was interesting how specific her ability was. Though, now, she knew how easy it must be to see all of the pain inside her. The pain from losing the one person she cared about more than life. What Aoi said next surprised Hotaru. She offered to teach her how to guard her mind against sensors. The last sentence that she said, about how some sensors' ability is to read how to hurt you pretty much made the decision for her.

Even if it did, Hotaru thought about it. A way to guard against a sensor. A way to guard against someone that could read everything about her with a glance, or even read the best ways to injure her. Honestly, Hotaru couldn't risk something like that happening. If she wanted to find her love, get him back and protect him from getting hurt like that again, she needed every defense possible. She steeled her gaze and looked Aoi straight in the eye. "It is true that I haven't met any kind of sensory type, unless they just didn't share the ability with me or I didn't notice it. I will be more on guard now that you've said something. Thank you for the offer, Aoi-sama. I accept. Though, have you heard anything about Kagami-fukataichou? He is a close friend of mine and I worry for his safety. I haven't seen him in a several days and he seemed very troubled when I last saw him."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music, maestro! ;D}

Aoi, clearly sensing Hotaru's worry, closed her eyes, seeking out the man known as Kagami Murai. For a powerful sensor who focused on love itself, it might be difficult to track down specific people. Many people were in love, after all. Few, however, were in Kagami's predicament. The hole of the heart shared by Hotaru and Kagami played a unique melody to listeners of love, and finding either of them would therefore, to the ears of the careful listener, be child's play, like learning Fur Elise. However, when Aoi's eyes opened again, there was a look of surprise, and perhaps even foreboding on her face. "Kagami is in trouble..." Aoi said.

Adalo was smirking, for in his black eyes were reflected a broken man. That was, after all, the doctrine of the Primera Espada. Silence, the descending curtain of death. Rebirth, the feeling emerging as a Hollow ressurected from life of minus. Destruction, for those new to power. Deception, for those understanding of it. Pride, for those who had conquered over the destructors and deceivers. Despair, for those who came to realize that even despite all their destructive ability, and all of their deceptive cunning, and the pride which drove them, they were nothing but a spec on a White Desert. And, at last, turning from their despair to the most violent of all endings... Revenge.

Kagami wanted it. What Adalo tasted in the air was likely the same as what Kagami breathed. Revenge. In Japan, one would refer to it as Fukushu-da. Revenge, the most violent of the aspects of death of the Espada. For it was in the name of revenge that man commits his greatest atrocities. We shall avenge ourselves upon those who have oppressed us, and thus here is our guillotine. I shall avenge myself upon my wife's killer, and thus here is torture. I shall avenge myself upon the world, and thus... here is the symphony of chaos led by the maestro of death, whose orchestra is the dark world's quintet and the devil's piano trickle.

Adalo's and Kagami's smiles could be seen reflected in the tiny shards scattered around the room. Adalo began to shift in place. Huge, rippling, intimidating muscles started to contract and mobilize, and an enormous, looming shadow descended upon the Squad 1 Lieutenant, whose last seconds of life came to fruition. Last seconds, until there was an interruption, and surprise mounted on Adalo's face when a voice spoke from behind him. "Oh, enough..." came Manami's voice from behind the Primera. "Step aside, Adalo." The Arrancar King, with a gleeful smile on his face, stepped back and to the side, receding into the corner of the room like some nightmarish statue.

Coming to take his place, there was Manami, her new eyes gazing at Kagami. She had gotten dressed now, and was wearing a white, plain kimono with a black sash tying her outfit together. As she stepped forth, there would be a roar in Kagami's heart, and a voice whispering inside of him. You're nothing... For Adalo had not left the Squad 1 Lieutenant unscarred. At that moment, when rubbing his own blood on Kagami, Adalo had utilized a technique called corrupt reiatsu... A technique to leave a piece of himself inside of Kagami's soul. Now, as integral a part of Kagami as his own Zanpakuto spirit, there was a piece of Adalo De-Mona's darkness.

"Who are you to discriminate based on race, Kagami?" Manami asked her former fiancee. "Look at you. You can barely keep it together. Are those tears in your eyes? Is that a wiggle on the corner of your lip? If it's so wrong to fuck him just because he's Adalo De-Mona, then it must have been far more wrong to fuck you... You're pathetic." Manami's words were hard, and they were cold, and they hit home. What Kagami might not even notice was what was at her side... What it was that she was holding. "I chose him because he is everything that you're not. You can never even hope to be of the same caliber as Adalo De-Mona...."

That thing at her side... A sword? No, a brilliant flash of light. Blinding light, and suddenly, as if Kagami had no power to stop it, none at all, there was a large gaping hole in his chest. Steaming, cauterized, hot. It might surely hurt, if not for the shock. Had it been Manami's attack? Adalo's? Who knew? Somehow, it had just happened. Kagami was lucky. It had taken his chest, but not touched his heart. He wouldn't die, if he got treatment. But... Could he fight? With that huge wound? That gaping hole? He was a Soul Reaper with a spiritual body. Hypothetically, he should be able to last just a few seconds more to keep fighting.

...And that was when Hotaru and Aoi would arrive.

OOC Note: Hotaru's post should assume that Aoi and Hotaru agreed to track down and help Kagami, and that they have now arrived, and are seeing this situation unfold. In other words, they arrive in time to see Kagami with a hole in his chest, facing down Adalo De-Mona and some mysterious woman with unusual eyes.

[Douma]

Kagami’s opponent was to be Adalo. The Vice Captain was just another puny Shinigami in the eyes of Adalo De-Mona, but that detail didn’t matter. In Kagami’s eyes, Adalo was just another Arrancar. He was an Arrancar that Kagami had every reason to hate. And wasn’t it only natural that Kagami sought a fight to the death with him. Isn’t it only right that he give into the voices in his head whispering, Kill Adalo De-Mona, begging, Kill Adalo De-Mona, shrieking Kill Adalo De-Mona. And there was one voice desperately crying, Adalo De-Mona, kill me. If all was in Kagami’s favor, neither of them would survive.

Life was at a standstill for Kagami. He stood motionless, absent of even the rising and falling of his chest. He wasn’t breathing, the anticipation in the air was too heavy for that. His hate was reflected in Adalo’s eyes, in Adalo’s smile. In fact, they wore the same expression. Adalo had seeded and fed something in Kagami, a small piece of himself. Adalo had become a part of Kagami, but that very thought didn’t scare the Vice Captain. If anything, it drove his objective of mutual destruction. If Adalo was a part of his soul, then they would both die. It was a fitting end for the Arrancar King to be killed by someone he helped create.

And then… "Oh, enough... Step aside, Adalo." Kagami’s smile faltered and his eyes softened as Adalo complied with the feminine voice. He had heard that same voice use a much softer, warming tone. That same voice had lulled Kagami to sleep on countless nights. But now, this voice was malicious and hostile. It was his enemy. Not Adalo. Kagami’s opponent was Manami, and that was a fight he knew he couldn’t win. He knew he wouldn’t let himself win.

"Who are you to discriminate based on race, Kagami? Look at you. You can barely keep it together. Are those tears in your eyes? Is that a wiggle on the corner of your lip? If it's so wrong to fuck him just because he's Adalo De-Mona, then it must have been far more wrong to fuck you... You're pathetic. The Lieutenant heard her words, but they didn’t make any sense to him. She thought he was discriminating by race? No, that wasn’t it. He at first believed that he was angry because Adalo was the ‘bad guy,’ but he realized that it was much more than that. Kagami was a villain as well, but so it wasn’t a matter of ethics and morals. He hated that she picked Adalo for the sole reason that he was someone other than him. Manmi picked someone other than Kagami, and that tore him apart. He thought it was what he wanted, and it may be what Manami deserved, but Kagami was too selfish to let her be happy without him.

There was one more account with which Manami was completely wrong. He wasn’t crying. Kagami’s eyes may have been bright red and water may have collected, but those weren’t tears of sadness or self-pity. They consisted of pure rage and nothing more. Anger directed toward Adalo, anger directed toward Manami, and anger directed toward himself. He was more angry than he had ever been in his life, even more angry then when Damon was killed right before his eyes. That shows both how furious the Vice Captain is and how selfish he is. He didn’t deserve Manami, but did Adalo? Maybe more than Kagami did.

A bright light directly beside Manami caught Kagami’s attention. Reiatsu was being channeled, and it was by her. What was she doing, though? Preparing an attack? Yes, that had to be it. There was no alternative. She was getting ready to kill Kagami, but that wasn’t apart of the plan. Adalo was supposed to kill Kagami and Kagami was supposed to kill Adalo. Manami wasn’t part of the equation, and Kagami was helpless to fight her.

The Shinigami staggered back one-step after he felt searing pain spread through the center of his chest. The light blinded him, so he couldn’t tell what exactly happened. Looking down revealed that there was a gaping hole in the center of his torso, a clean hole made by a blast of energy, not a physical weapon. Manami had attacked him and he took the hit, but it wasn’t fatal. Kagami was still alive, for his heart had narrowly avoided the blast. He looked up at her with disappointed eyes, his mouth forming a cold and unforgiving smile. “You missed…” he said quietly and kindly, although he was forgiving her for her mistake. She didn’t kill him. Not yet, at least. She missed.

“But I won’t.” There was one factor that Adalo and Manami hadn’t seemed to consider in the situation. The pieces of glass in the air hadn’t disappeared. A many of the pieces were large enough to be visible to the naked eye, but there were thousands of tiny grains that would go undetected. Kagami would inhale some, as would Manami and Adalo. And with Kagami’s release active, he had the ability to cast Kido through the microscopic mirrors in Adalo’s lungs. This was his final hurrah, a Hail Mary. “Hado #40: Gouzen Demizu.”

Water would suddenly fill Adalo’s lungs, quickly taking up the space he previously had to breath and replacing it with the heavy liquid. He would soon suffocate, and that would have been more than enough for Kagami. However, he wasn’t done. No, that wasn’t enough revenge. He needed to make this as painful for Adalo as possible, so he cast one more technique. “Hado #42: Amimono Shimokumo.” The water that had filled Adalo’s lungs in less than a second would suddenly freeze and turn into ice, weighing down his chest and sucking the body heat out of him.

Kagami had minutes at most to live, for blood was spilling down his back and chest. After casting the two techniques, he submitted to a fit of coughs that let out blood, and the strain of the coughs only made him bleed out faster. His legs found his body extremely heavy, and it was only a matter of time until Kagami wouldn’t be able to support his own weight. He was vaguely aware of the reiatsu signatures of two people behind him, but that didn’t matter at all. One was Hotaru, and the other was incredibly powerful but unfamiliar. But that didn’t matter. What did matter was that Kagami was going to die, and so was Adalo. Kagami Murai’s only regret was that Manami was the one who dealt the blow.

Reaitsu Remaining: 6000/7000 (-50 for Hado #40, -50 for Hado #42, -100 for using two Kido techs through the mirrors)

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru listened to what Aoi had said and she was a little in shock. He's in trouble? It was true that she didn't know the extent of what he was actually involved in, only knowing that he was doing something top secret, if she remembered correctly. She knew that with something top secret, it would be pretty obvious that he would be put into danger. But still, the way he left her, running off and seeming almost to put a fake smile on while he left, it just didn't sit well with her. She just needed to figure out what was wrong.

She couldn't say that she knew Kagami extremely well, but she trusted the man enough to tell him about the love of her life. He also told her that he was in the same boat, hunting for the one that he couldn't live without. She assumed that he hadn't told a lot of people about that, but she could be wrong. Though, based off everything that she already knew about him, he seemed like the kind of person that wasn't really caught in a lot of trouble. She had always assumed that Kagami never ran into trouble, but she knew that he had to every once in a while.

This was obviously one of those times. She looked towards Aoi, hoping that she would say something else about it, but she didn't. She was now concerned for him. She hoped that he wasn't in dire need. She took a breath and then asked Aoi where Kagami was. She told her and Hotaru was actually surprised that she hadn't seen him around if he was that close. Though, she had horrible energy sensing, compared to a lot of shinigami and to Aoi herself. If they used shunpo, they should be able to get there rather quickly.

She talked to Aoi about it and after a minute, they had agreed to go help out Kagami. She didn't know why Aoi wanted to come along, maybe she was concerned about this man herself. She had no idea what she could actually read from Kagami, but if what she could read from her was any indication, she was pretty sure that Aoi knew more about Kagami's condition right now than most other shinigami. Also, Hotaru honestly didn't know what else Aoi was capable of, so she might be able to help them if something bad was going to happen.

So, it was decided that they were to head off to where Kagami was located. Hotaru and Aoi made their way outside. Hotaru had so many scenarios running through her head about what could be happening right now and she hoped that he wasn't hurt too badly. They Shunpo'ed towards the Rukongai district that Aoi had told her he was located. Once they stopped Shunpo-ing, she found herself in a small hut. It wasn't as small as she thought it would be, but the first thing that she saw made her freeze in place. Kagami had a hole in his chest.

She honestly didn't pay attention to anything else at that moment. The sight of him, the first teacher she ever had, broken with a hole in his chest on the floor in what she could only imagine as extreme pain floored her. The pain it brought with it was the same pain she felt when Asmoskon left. It was so much despair. She ran towards Kagami's side. Her eyes were started to fill with tears before one spilled over. She hovered over his body, having no idea what she could do to actually help him. While she was there, she saw the blood leaving his body.

"Kagami-senpai...I told you to call me when you needed help. Why didn't you say anything?! Why did you have to lie to me?! Kagami-senpai..." She was lightly shaking Kagami back and forth towards the end and that's when she looked over and realized who else was in the room. The first person she noticed was Adalo De-Mona, the Primera Espada. Her eyes widen, completely surprised that she hadn't noticed him first. Why in the hell was he here? Also, if he was here, did that mean the other Espada were on their way? Why wasn't he attacking Soul Society?

It was then that she noticed the woman standing across from Kagami. Hotaru looked her over, noticing that she had something in her hand, but not what form it actually was. To Hotaru, it just looked like she was holding light. She glared at the woman and then looked back on Kagami. She knew that he was dying from the blood loss, but she herself couldn't help him. She looked to Aoi, hoping that the woman might be able to help him. She then slowly got to her feet, hands shaking at her side, while glaring at the woman.

Hotaru was angry now. "I don't know you, but I have a good idea of who you are. Kagami-senpai told me of a woman that he was once engaged to that he loved above everything. He said that to find his fiance, he would do anything, even give up his life in the endeavor. For him to be here alone, I can only assumed that you are the one he was looking for. I don't know why the Primera is here, but why? Why would you kill someone that would give you everything? I would kill to find the one that I lost and try to fix things."

Hotaru was now crying fully, the position of this woman reminding her so much of Asmoskon, and how he looked when he cut himself and turned his back on her. Her arms were shaking harder now, holding back the fury she held for this person. Why would someone do this to the person they once loved? Even if things wouldn't work out, if you loved someone enough to want to marry them and be with them for the rest of your life, why would you hurt them this way? Hotaru took a deep breath and put her right hand on the hilt of her zanpaktou. "You can leave now, woman. I won't let you hurt him anymore."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: One of the techniques used in this post is one Adalo doesn't know, but which I've suggested to Royce before. I'm taking a cinematic liberty and using it. It's a non-combat technique, anyway, so no real effect.

They had arrived just in time to see Kagami with a hole in his chest... Smoking, steaming, cauterized. Eyes white but not from death, rather emptiness. The ubiquitous feeling of cold despair proliferated by the strange woman's gaze, a hand on the hearts of all in the room like death come to clench greedily what was his. They had arrived just in time to see the Squad 1 Lieutenant, facing the Primera, thinking that victory was upon him, but discovering that, to attempt to kill Adalo De-Mona, there would be a much more grievous price than Kagami had intended, for the Arrancar King was a monster, and now by his lonesome side, he was lonesome no more, and had taken on a wicked bride.

Aoi's face drained of color when she saw Adalo, saw the darkness in his heart, and saw in Kagami the darkness in his...And experienced in an instant all the events that were about to unfold. See, that's the trouble with love. It causes horrible things to happen when it goes wrong, and yet that in itself is what makes it so interesting. Aoi and Kagami had arrived in time to see the Squad 1 Lieutenant at his worst. They would see as Kagami looked up with a grin, hoping to cast onto Adalo a horrible punishment for sleeping with Manami, and taking her heart away... But the Primera was not to be trifled with, as Kagami would find out momentarily. Aoi, who had arrived before Hotaru, would see the worst of it all...

"KAGAMI, DON'T!" Aoi shrieked, but it was too late. Here came an attack.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music}

The Arrancar King cackled madly, drawing right arm onto his left. Black reiatsu exploded across his arm, and suddenly, his left hand shot into his own torso. Adalo stuck his own hand into his body, deep within. What? Why? Blood, a deep carmine color, dripped onto the floor. Adalo De-Mona's blood. A blood sought by Kagami, but not in this way. As Adalo reached into his own body, and black reiatsu formed a pentagram on his arm, he cast a technique. And only then would it became clear. Adalo had reached into his own lungs as the water began to appear. No creature could do what Adalo did, and yet the Primera did it so casually... Was he really just another Arrancar?

The technique that appeared was called Cero Gravita, a black marble of reiatsu that worked almost like a black hole, with the black marble as the event horizon. The water touched the Cero Gravita almost immediately, and even as all of it formed, or at least tried to, it was instantaneously pulled in by Cero Gravita. The mirror shards, which were part of the water, and lost within it as the proliferation which would spread the liquid throughout all of Adalo's lung space, would also be absorbed. In an instant, Adalo drew in all of the water, and all of the mirror shards, and within that instant not even the ice would be able to form, for the water was gone long before Kagami even cast the technique.

The water gone, and reiatsu wasted over an ice technique that no longer functioned, Kagami would fall to his knees, just in time to see Adalo, drawing his blood-covered hand out of his body, clench a fist. With a mad cackle, Adalo punched toward Kagami, releasing a huge blast of powerful air at the defeated Lieutenant. If that hit, it would kill Kagami. It didn't matter where it hit. It was so big and so powerful that it would kill him. Of course, that wasn't going to happen with Aoi Kuchiki in the room. Immediately, she appeared in front of Kagami, blocking Adalo's attack with some kind of deflection technique from a Zanpakuto she drew forth... Ha, so who knew? Aoi was a Soul Reaper too. And strong enough to block the Primera's attack.

But only so strong. Bloody scratches appeared across Aoi's arms, wounding her, and she hissed from the pain. Adalo appeared immediately in front of Aoi, his own Zanpakuto drawn, trying to bring it down on her body. Aoi managed to block, but a sickening crunch indicated that whatever technique she had tried to use, probably a Hakuda, to negate the forcde of Adalo's strike hadn't worked as well as she wanted, and she had lost an arm to the Primera. It was in this moment that they were polar opposites. One who could sense love, and the other who could sense only hurt... But while they were locked in engagement, they were only a mere two feet away from Kagami, barely conscious, who by misfortune of position would be able to see them.

...And, seeing past Aoi's back, he would be able to see Adalo's face from over her shoulder. The Arrancar King's face, which seemed to beckon to him. And, maybe it was because Kagami was delirious. Maybe it was because Kagami now bore some of the Primera's darkness. Or maybe it was something else. Suddenly, however, Adalo's face seemed to split at the center, and peel back. The flesh seemed to melt away. No one else but Kagami would see it, but he would see the face peel away to reveal.. Manami's. Underneath Adalo's. And yet when the face spoke to him, it was in Adalo's voice, and with Adalo's eyes. But somehow, Manami's face...

"She's mine now..." the face would say to Kagami alone. "She belongs to me, and you're too weak to do anything about it... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" That was Adalo's voice. Adalo's laughter. The Primera Espada... The Arrancar King. The scariest of the Arrancar of Hueco Mundo. A voice boomed inside of Kagami's head, too. Adalo's voice. Destroy... Slaughter... KILL. Destroy. Slaughter. KILL. DESTROY. SLAUGHTER. KIIIILLLLLLL! A voice that urged Kagami to kill. A voice that could overpower even his desire to be killed by Adalo. See, that's the problem with love. When it becomes this messy, there is no such thing as fixing it...

Then, as Kagami began to pass out, Aoi performed some sort of technique, and she and Adalo exploded through the rooftop of the building, allowing some rainwater in through a small hole in the ceiling, and disappeared out of the room. Their fight was being taken somewhere else. It was lucky, because that had been the sort of battle which would have killed everyone else in the room, if they were present. Kagami, Manami, and even Hotaru. That was probably why Aoi had taken so much damage against Adalo. Unable to use her best techniques for fear of harming the others, Aoi had incurred tremendous damage against the Primera... And now fought him while wounded.

Stop the music.

---

Moments later...

Drip drop splash. Pitter patter drip drop drip. Shhhhhh! Rain. Soaked in rain and in tears, Hotaru would arrive just in time to see Kagami collapse, and see Aoi and Adalo suddenly engage. Then, when they disappeared, Hotaru was left with Kagami, consciousness now fading, and Manami, who seemed to have inflicted that damage upon her former lover. Manami stood there with a vacant expression when Hotaru appeared, and draped herself over Kagami protectively. The two women faced each other here, now with rain pouring into one part of the room through a small hole in the ceiling. And then, Hotaru said it. You can leave now, woman. I won't let you hurt him anymore.

SPOILER: Click to show

{MORE MUSIC}

Manami laughed a powerful cackle at Hotaru's words. It was wicked, and it was something more... It was the same kind of cackle that would be possessed by the Primera. It was a vengeful laugh. The laugh of the aspect of revenge. Adalo De-Mona's darkness. If you had to compare her laugh to something, it would probably be something akin to Light Yagami's crazy laugh. Huuuuuuu.... hu ha ha ha ha ha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! With her head held high, and her mouth agape in mirth, Manami laughed at the whole situation. Then, she lowered her head, and her laugh stopped, and she looked, almost mockingly, at the girl draped over Kagami.

"Are you another one of his whores?" Manami asked. "Is that why you're so protective of him?" There was a moment's silence before Manami continued. "And, does he ever whisper my name in your ear when he fucks you?" The light that had been in Manami's hand had faded, but at her side, a hint of something gleaming, disappearing behind her back, showed that maybe she had some kind of weapon. Who knew? She had been too fast to put it away for anyone to really see. She now stood with the appearance of being unarmed, but if she was supposed to be unarmed, then that wasn't right either. Somehow, she still seemed so dangerous, even without a visible weapon. Maybe that was why she seemed so very deadly.

"Listen here, little girl..." Manami told Hotaru then. "I don't really care about hurting Kagami any further. If I cared that much, don't you think I would have sought him out to kill him, rather than just greet him after he came for me? He isn't deserving of my time. What you see here is the only interaction I need to have with him. I have no interest in hurting him further, or even in seeing him again. For Kagami and I, this is the finale. After this, I have no intention of ever seeing him again, though if he seeks me out again then I will likely kill him. It's your job, as his whore, to keep him from doing that. Tell him when he awakens what I've said, and then tell him don't come back."

Such cruel words, with a horrible sting. But, there was something about those words. It wasn't just from a cold heart. It was from a changed one. From something that had changed Manami's heart. She hadn't just appeared in Soul Society and come to this conclusion. She had spent weeks on this. Months. This was an evolution of character from what had happened before. She hadn't just decided this on a whim. This wasn't a recent change in her soul. It was something that had been building. And, now, here she was at long last, coming to grips with it. Manami turned her back on Hotaru, almost as if inviting some kind of an attack from the Kuchiki girl...

Was this bait that Hotaru would take?

Here's some laughter reference

[Douma]

Every man has his demons. Some are more evil than others, and some are more active than others, but the one thing they have in common is that they exist in the mind. Demons only have power to terrorize the mind, and that is the only comfort one can take while battling them. They’re not real. But Kagami’s demons – they were playing out right before him in the most horribly orchestrated scene imaginable.

And that’s the thing. Kagami knew in the back of his mind that there was someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. This was all too perfect. After all, he walked in on Manami having sex with Adalo, and neither were surprised to find the Vice Captain. Saeki had to have some part in this. Adalo was definitely involved as well, and Manami… Kagami knew she participated as well. There was a reason behind this, but he was far too gone to even care about finding what that reason is. It was pointless, after all. He was to die and Adalo was to die. That was how the story would play out, and Kagami was never a sucker for happy endings.

So, as Kagami’s consciousness was fading, he needed someone or something to blame. Saeki was out of reach, and Adalo seemed to get way too much satisfaction out of bringing anger. Kagami hated Adalo with a burning passion that consumed him, but he didn’t deal the blow. The woman responsible for his demise was standing right before of his body as he lay gasping for breath through what remains of his lungs. She was standing above his body with a disgusting self-confidence. The Vice Captain had every reason to hate and blame her, he would flash back to that loving smile and soft touch he hadn’t seen or felt in so long. They acted as an unmovable wall, and Kagami couldn’t get over them. No matter how much she hurt him, Kagami still loved her and she was slowly tearing him apart.

Now, even before Kagami fell over, the pain and blood loss was making him lightheaded so the events that transpired before him were blurry and happened in a flash so fast that he could barely keep up or understand what was going on. Adalo had punched into himself, and Kagami’s mirror shards were suddenly gone, as was the water that had begun to fill Adalo’s lungs. Kagami had failed, for Adalo De-Mona was alive and Kagami wasn’t going to be alive for much longer if he didn’t receive any aid. There wasn’t going to be any mutual destruction, for Adalo didn’t bend. He was undefeatable, and Kagami stood no chance.

Ironic, isn’t it, how both were wounded in the chest. And there’s even more irony in the parallels between a Hollow’s hole and the wound that burned through Kagami’s torso. Adalo was corrupting Kagami’s soul with an irreplaceable darkness and evil. He would never be the arrogant, womanizing Vice Captain he once was, nor would he be the desperate lover fighting to be reunited with his soul mate. Both of those Kagami’s were dead. He was now a spawn of hate and a slave of revenge. This wasn’t the ending he wanted, so there was no way in hell he was going to die like this. Not until Adalo was dead.

As Kagami fell, Adalo had attempted to finish off the defeated Shinigami, but someone stopped the blow. It wasn’t Hotaru, for she wouldn’t have been able to withstand Adalo’s strength. This person was different. She was unimaginably strong, for her power was enough to counter Adalo and spare Kagami a little more time to live. He couldn’t get a glance at her face, and the sudden increase in the weight of his eyelids kept him from seeing. He was only half-aware of his surroundings through hearing while psychology was compromised with terrible visions.

The Lieutenant saw Adalo’s face as clearly has he did seconds ago, though the monster’s face would be isolated in the darkness of his distorted mind. "She's mine now... She belongs to me, and you're too weak to do anything about it... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Kagami hit a low point in that moment when he was reduced to nothing. He had no sanity to hold on to, no love to preserve his integrity, no value to hold onto. Kagami had nothing to lose.

The scene played out for him like a dream. He saw himself attacking Adalo visiously, one sword stroke followed by another. He wasn’t using his Zanpakuto but rather his new black weapon, and it seemed to cry with the same bloodthirst that he did. But he made no progress. Adalo’s laughter continued unperturbed, for Kagami was nothing but a puny fly. He had no real power. He was nothing compared to Adalo De-Mona.

During the vision, Kagami fell to his knees. His breath was heavy and his face was drenched with sweat, for he was defeated. After recovering for a few seconds, he reached for his blade but realized that it was gone, and Adalo’s laughter continued with even more enthusiasm. Kagami jumped back to his feet and punched the Arrancar, but his fist shattered like glass that floated in the air. He swung with the other arm and received the same result. He kicked and lost his leg before collapsing onto the floor. He was reduced to absolutely nothing.

Kagami was almost gone consciously, but before his mind faded into a blank abyss, he heard a few exchanges between Hotaru and Manami. He didn’t understand, for his ears only caught every other word, but the general meaning was there. Hotaru was angry at Manami and had been attempting to protect Kagami, but there was no need for that. Even after she put a knife between his shoulder blades, Kagami was on Manami’s side. Hotaru shouldn’t fight her, she should just pick Kagami up and leave. She couldn’t fight a losing battle and end up like her old Vice Captain.

"Are you another one of his whores? Is that why you're so protective of him?" Kagami couldn’t hold the bitter smile from crawling onto his face. A dry, croaking chuckle left his lips. After all, Manami had never been so wrong in her life. “She’s my friend…” Kagami’s raspy voice managed. Hotaru was his only friend, and Kagami wasn’t going to sit quietly as Manami falsely accused Hotaru of being anything less. He still had a shred of loyalty, even in his moments of helplessness.

“Listen here, little girl... I don't really care about hurting Kagami any further. If I cared that much, don't you think I would have sought him out to kill him, rather than just greet him after he came for me? He isn't deserving of my time. What you see here is the only interaction I need to have with him. I have no interest in hurting him further, or even in seeing him again. For Kagami and I, this is the finale. After this, I have no intention of ever seeing him again, though if he seeks me out again then I will likely kill him. It's your job, as his whore, to keep him from doing that. Tell him when he awakens what I've said, and then tell him don't come back." Kagami was almost gone by this point, and as he lost consciousness, he only had time to struggle the pronounciation of one word. “W-why…?” He wouldn’t be awake to hear Manami’s response, but he had to know what went wrong. He had to know what ruined his crusade. After all, he had found Manami. He just didn’t get the happy ending he was after.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru was still emotional when the woman addressed her. She accused her of being one of Kagami's whores because she was being so protective of him. She just stared at the woman. Really? That was the first thing that popped into her mind, of Hotaru being a whore? She had to admit, she had never been called one of those before. She just stared at the woman wide eyed for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. It was then that she heard Kagami say that she was his friend. She looked back and smiled at him then. She was happy that he would call her his friend.

Though, after what he had told her, she had figured that she was a friend, if not a close friend/confidant. Hotaru turned towards the woman. "Contrary to what you think, I am not a whore. I know that Kagami-senpai is in that business, but I don't work there. I'm in the Gotei Thirteen as a shinigami. I'm protective over him because he is my friend, if not the closest friend I have. I trust him with my life completely." She looked down at him and thought about what they had been through. It hadn't been too much, but it was enough that she trusted him completely.

She then listened to what else this woman had to say. She didn't appreciate being called a little girl, but she had no idea how old this woman could actually be. But, the more the woman talked, the angrier Hotaru became. Kagami wasn't deserving of her time? The only interaction she needed was hurting him this badly? To hurt him to the point of death? Hotaru honestly didn't understand why she would act this way. The way Kagami talked, they were both madly in love with each other. What could've happened in their time apart that made her this way?

Hotaru kept one eye on this woman, even though her back was turned. She didn't know anything about her and was afraid to take her eyes off her at all, least she try some kind of sneak attack. She glance at Kagami and he was in pretty rough shape. She took her eyes off of the woman long enough to grab Kagami and put him on her back, throwing his arms over her neck, so her back could help support his weight. She then looked back towards the woman. "It seems that I must correct you again. I am not his whore, only his friend.

Though, I have to say, that I pictured his love acting much different than you have. But, how can I say anything about it? I don't know you well enough to guess. But, I'm sure he was picturing something different than what happened, but I know he has to be wondering. Why? Why would you do this to someone that you were going to happily marry and spend the rest of your life with? I'm sure we would both like the answer to that. Please hurry and answer. I want to tell Kagami your answer when he wakes up."

She continued to stare at the woman long enough to hopefully get an answer. Hotaru felt that Aoi was still here, but she must be taking care of the Primera, since he was no longer in the building. Hotaru quickly looked up and couldn't see them through the hole in the roof that they must've created. Aoi must be powerful to be able to go toe-to-toe with the Primera. She reminded herself to ask about it when she saw Aoi again. She knew that she couldn't wait long, but she just had to know why the change in her.

After giving her a few minutes to answer, if she wanted, she hurried out of the building the same way that Aoi and herself came in. She was just going a little slower since she was carrying Kagami on her back. The change in the woman reminded Hotaru of the change in Asmoskon. She thought back to the patrol with Jill, telling her that he had an eye patch and assumed all women were whores. It was her fault she was like that. Because of her mistake, he was down a dark path that he couldn't get off of himself. She needed to find him and make things right.

She went as fast as she could towards Squad Four. They were the only ones that could help Kagami now. Once she got there, she barged in, pushing the doors open and yelling for help. At first, the nurses around the squad thought she was crazy, but then when they noticed the man drapped over her back and the blood trail that he was leaving behind them, they knew that the injury had to be pretty severe. They directed her towards a bed and she tried to gingerly lay him down on the bed, but he landed a little rougher than she had planned.

Once she moved and they saw the gaping hole in his chest, they immediately went to work. They pushed her out of the room, but she said she wanted to stay and make sure he was okay. They told her to wait outside and they would let her know. So, she walked into the waiting room, Kagami's blood still all over her back, and she waited to hear what they would say. After what seemed like an eternity, they let her in to see him. There was still Kido around his chest, but they had a great deal of confidence that he was out of the woods. She smiled at the nurse and then sat in the chair next to the bed. She looked down at Kagami. "Kagami-senpai...I'm sorry." She would stay by his bedside till he woke.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

They say that dreams are telltale of the future. Not in the way of predicting what is to come, but of preparing the mind for what might happen. Simulation of what challenges may await. They also say that dreams are images of the past. Of one's experiences come together to form a mirage of the soul, which in some cases can make people relive their worst experiences, and anew tear open the wounds of the heart. And there are some who say that dreams are the lives of others. What we see is the life of an alternate reality. An existence of another universe, with differing circumstances. Or, sometimes, it won't be an alternate version of us, but a current version of someone we know. From this very universe. We learn about them through our fates being so linked as to make a connection of the soul inevitable.

Rukongai. Several years ago. For Manami had had enough of dreams. She had heard far too many things of them to determine what was or was not true of dreams. She awoke as many in the Rukon Districts did--on the ground, confused. Beautiful eyes fluttered open to reveal to the newcomer that the world around her had changed. She was used, of course, to unfamiliar sensations. Yet, this was a whole new kind of strange. Honestly, she could have sworn she had died. Or perhaps this was a new afterlife. And yet it still felt different. Her body had too many sensations for this to be merely the end of all things. Awakening in sunlight, Manami looked around to gaze at her surroundings. It wasn't long before she stood, and began to walk around, and her memories came back to her. It wasn't long until she met another young woman, who asked her, "Are you new? Do you need somewhere to stay?"

Rukongai. Weeks later. "Kagami?" the bartender of West District 7 mused. Manami nodded with a cool smile on her face. Had it been difficult to find Kagami? Actually, not really. It has come down to ascending districts of poverty to wealth. Merge closer to wealth one got, the more easily one could find the knowledgable, or at least those who knew and could recommend the knowledgable. Manami was clever, and this had been her strategy. With that smile of hers, she nodded. "It's imperative that I find him," she said. The bartender chuckled. "Taken with him, are you? I don't blame you! He's a looker, if we're both thinking of Kagami Murai." Manami's face lit up. "You know him?" She asked. "Of course!" The bartender told her. "He's the Lieutenant of Squad 1. You'd have to go far away from here to find someone who doesn't know him." Manami smiled. "Where might I find him?"

Rukongai. Random inn. Manami had done it. She had tracked her fiancée to an inn. Could she have gone to the Seireitei? Maybe. But right now she was at an inn that he was said to frequent when he went out drinking. Of course. Typical Kagami. He had always loved his suit and drink. And soon she'd be in his wonderful arms again. But, see, that's the trouble with love. For it to be interesting, there must be tragedy. After finding confirmation of his room from the innkeeper, Manami was walking up to his room, where the door was shut. She knew, however, how to pick locks. No problem. So, she got down, preparing to pick the lock. Until her eye caught a view through the peep hole. A view of Kagami naked in bed, thrusting into another woman. Kagami. Her love. Embracing someone else.

Rukongai. Random tavern. You will fall in love with me. You aren't just another conquest. You're special. I am yours.... That damn Kagami. He had said these things... He had lied. How stupid had she been? She had promised herself not to fall for his lies... And then gone and convinced herself she has changed him. Stupid stupid stupid. So, now, here she was. Drinking profusely at a tavern. It was there that a grisly looking young man confidently put his hand on her shoulder. "Miss, you alright? You need someone to take you home? My place is just down the street." As kindly as he seemed, he reeked of booze himself, and clearly just wanted to fuck her. And she was going to let him. Consumed by grief, she was going to let this guy strip her as Kagami had done and splay her legs as only her fiancée should have the right to, and fuck her brains out until morning.

She was going to, until a hand placed on the drunken man's shoulder instead. A hand pale like the ghost of death. A hand large. And strong. And the young man was going to turn around to get angry and fight, but upon seeing the newcomer he fell on his butt instead, and crawled away in fear. And there was the man who was everything Kagami wasn't. Pale, in a black suit and hat, with eyes like the void. A monster who would never love her. Who was incapable of loving her. Who could not lie to her, for she would see how horrible he was. He was a fiend that would use her. He would always be out to hurt her... And she could count on that. He was the devil that she could always predict. And he would never betray her, for betrayal implied turning against his role to her, and his role of devil, he would never undo...

A dark place. "I love you, Adalo...!" A woman being taken physically by a monster who knew his true purpose. Each time he took her body as his, he knew why he did. The Arrancar King understood he was a means of revenge. It was inevitable that Kagami and Manami would once again meet. And until then, she was his. So he thought, and so she knew, every time they went to bed. He could read her darkness, and she knew in her darkness that she was his. And so it was when many days later Kagami stumbled upon them together in bed. But what neither Manami had realized nor Kagami known was that she would be Adalo's long after her revenge was settled. For though she had herself been turned into something not quite human, and decided to serve Adalo's purpose with these powers, she had intended to do it as an individual. But, inside her, left in her heart just as in Kagami's, Adalo's corruption remained...

Kagami would awaken from this dream while Hotaru was in the restroom, days later. She had been given permission to stay by his side a while, as his recovery time was projected to be no more than a week. But during a moment when she was gone, another had come to her place. Kagami would awaken to a young man in that seat... Younger than Kagami even. An incredibly handsome young man with familiar eyes whose origins could not quite be placed. This young man, sitting there, had come with good timing, and when Kagami awoke, the young man spoke to him. "You are Kagami Murai, are you not?" The young man asked. Of course he knew the answer, and so kept talking whether Kagami answered or not. "I know that you broke into the Kuchiki library and into levels of the prison you lacked clearance to. Just one of those offenses could see you removed from your post... The offense of seeing Saeki Kuchiki could see you put to death by the Sokkyokku."

The young man was very calm, with a very smooth voice. And he did not seem to be admonishing Kagami. "But no one except for me will ever know of these crimes. I can see commitment in what you do. Purpose. And I can see that right now, you just aren't strong enough. That's why I'm going to extend an offer to you. An offer to do certain work in the human world. And, should you accept, I will make you stronger. And, if you do this work... You will meet her again."

Elsewhere, Hotaru, on her way back, would encounter Sozen himself. Her family head. And on his face was a sort of smile. He approached her confidently, scarlet eyes fixed on the girl, and presented her with a scroll. After a few moments, Sozen spoke. "The scroll is from Aoi. It's for a technique she promised to you." So that was that. A technique for hiding herself from sensors. But, given that he had never said anything of Asmokon, Sozen wasn't a likely sensor. "However, I came to see you not for Aoi, but for you yourself... A Captaincy has opened up, Hotaru. You need the recommendation and approval of more than half the Captains to be able to test for it. I have secured all of your recommendations already. All that remains is your word. Do you want to be a Captain?"

[Douma]

Any warrior with an experienced background can claim to have experienced true pain out in the battlefield. Some have the pain of losing a close comrade that acts as a void in their heart. Some are physically scared and disabled to the point where they have only a small fraction of their previous power and ability. Kagami had been insulted by the Septima Espada, had been burnt to a crisp by the Captain of the Fifth Division, had lived an empty life with no meaning for several decades, but none of those measured up to the enormous wave of pain he felt when he regained consciousness days after the incident.

At first, there was a stagnant moment of confusion when his mind began to question his surroundings. He was laying in bed with needles inserted into his arms, and it took him a few moments in his slow mental state to realize that he was in a hospital. His eyes cracked open, letting in the first blinding rays of light that he had seen in scores of hours. But there was still the question about why he was in a hospital and why it hurt his chest when he inhaled and exhaled.

And then all of the memories came back to him in one sudden rush with the force of a dynamic punch behind it. He saw everything replay before him in an instant. Manami, his beautiful Manami, was being violated by the vile Primera Espada. Adalo smeared his own blood on Kagami’s face. Manami insulted him and wanted nothing to do with him. His mirror shattered as he prepared to duel and launch an attack against the Primera Etapa. He witnessed his own pathetic failure as the love of his life burnt a hole through his torso with a blinding light. He heard Hotaru’s voice exchange hostile words with Manami, and then there was nothing.

I was supposed to be dead… he thought to himself regretfully. I was so close, but now… now what? What am I worth? But Kagami didn’t have to think for too long to answer his personal inquiry. After all, Manami put it best. You’re nothing, she told him. You’re nothing… you’re nothing… you’re nothing… YOU’RE NOTHING!. Her words screamed through his head, tearing his conscious and sanity apart, causing him to groan in physical and emotional pain. I was supposed to be dead…

But a stranger’s voice cut through the despair Kagami was immersed in. “You are Kagami Murai, are you not?” The Vice Captain stared at the man from the corner of his eye, unable to make out much of the details of his appearance. But he did look young and strangely familiar. "I know that you broke into the Kuchiki library and into levels of the prison you lacked clearance to. Just one of those offenses could see you removed from your post... The offense of seeing Saeki Kuchiki could see you put to death by the Sokkyokku."

The Vice Captain couldn’t help but smirk bitterly, which caused his wound to burn with acute pain. “The Quincy have the Sokkyokku, so they couldn’t execute me if I wanted them to. I’d be left to rot in their prisons.” His throat was dry, so his tone was raspy and heavy with pessimism. If only they could execute him and set him free, but such a death would be too easy, and nothing comes easy for Kagami Murai. "But no one except for me will ever know of these crimes. I can see commitment in what you do. Purpose. And I can see that right now, you just aren't strong enough. That's why I'm going to extend an offer to you. An offer to do certain work in the human world. And, should you accept, I will make you stronger. And, if you do this work... You will meet her again."

Did Kagami really want to see Manami again? A part of him wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, but that was the same part that had given up on life completely. It wasn’t the only voice talking in his head. The rest of the Vice Captain wanted, more than anything, to surpass Adalo in everything. He needed more power and more influence. He needed an army to match the followers of the Espada. He had to crush Adalo De-Mona or at least become something that Adalo could never hope to match, and only then would he be able to face Manami again.

I will make you stronger. And, if you do this work… You will see her again.

The Vice Captained glared with his closest eye up at the man sitting beside him. His expression could only be described as that of a wolf after it had decided on the prey it would chase, and nothing would stop that wolf from tearing its prey apart.

“When do I start?”

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

When Hotaru first saw Kagami in the hospital bed, she wasn't surprised by the amount that they had to do to keep him alive. But, she was just surprised that the man she knew as Kagami could get hurt so badly. While in the First Division, Kagami had taken time out to actually train her. He gave her a fire and motivation to even start the journey to get stronger, which led her to becoming a Kuchiki, meeting Sozen and everything that has happened. She aspired to be a Vice Captain like him, inspiring those under her to become strong.

But, she had seen him at his worst. He had told her things she was sure that he had told no one else. At least, she liked to tell that to herself so she felt special about it. She certainly did. This was one of the few people in her life that had her trust completely. What she said to the woman was true, she trusted this man with her life. After sitting with him for a few hours on the first day, when the nurse came in to check on him again, the nurse told her where the restrooms were and that there were showers in there, so she could clean up.

Hotaru nodded, still a little numb about all that had happened. But, after the nurse left and she moved, she felt Kagami's dried blood crack while she was moving and it was only for that reason that she decided to wash off. It wasn't because it was really the right thing to do to look presentable, she was a noble after all. She cleaned off because she was feeling gross now and that noise was pretty much the straw that broke the camel's back on that one. She looked around outside Kagami's door for a nurse. She flagged one down and told her to head to the Kuchiki Manor and pick up a change of clothes for her.

The nurse nodded and ran off. Hotaru quickly ran to the bathrooms and made sure that they had towels, which they did thankfully. She hurried back to find no change with him, but she wasn't really surprised by it. She then took out a piece of paper. She wanted to stay with him for the entire time, but she wanted to clear it first. Sadly, if she was forced, she would leave to do her duties. She just hoped her Captain would let her take the time. She quickly wrote out a small note, telling in vague details what happened to Kagami and how she wanted to stay.

When the nurse returned with her clothes, she gave her the note and told her to make sure that she hand delivered it to her captain. She nodded and ran off again. Hotaru walked towards Kagami's bedside and smiled down at him. "Kagami-senpai, I'm going to take a shower. I'll be right back. Don't do anything fun while I'm gone." She patted his hand and walked out to the restroom to clean up. When she got back to his room, she noticed that the chair was either cleaned or replaced and a note sat in it.

Hotaru walked towards the note and opened it, recognizing the handwriting. It seems that her captain was given a timeline to how long Kagami might be out and she was given leave for his entire hospital stay. She smiled at the note, thanking her captain for being so generous as to give her time off to help Kagami. She then sat back in the chair, keeping Kagami company. The first day was hard, because he didn't even move. He just stayed in one spot and the hole was still gaping. It made Hotaru think about what happened and it made her tear up every time.

The next day was more of the same. Thankfully, Hotaru was brought food as Kagami was given his nutrients through his IV. She ate in silence but did notice that the hole has gotten smaller. She would think that his body would be healed, but what she did to him would haunt him forever. She felt bad for her senpai, having to deal with so many problems. But, she had a good idea of what she was going through. When she thought about his hole, it made her think about Asmoskon's scar. She would keep thinking about it until something changed.

On the third day he was there, she was getting tired of the silence. She had started to figure out when the nurses would come to check on him and give her food, so she started to talk to Kagami. She never revealed anything about Asmoskon that could hurt him in the future, mostly the fact that he was a Quincy and she never said his name, just calling him her love. She talked about Asmoskon to him, reminiscing on the six month relationship that was the best of her life. She told him about everything, not expecting him to remember it.

She told him how he was one of the first humans she had ever met and had felt something about him. She didn't know that something until they ventured through a sewer together. With both of them and Takashi together, she got to know him very well, to the point where she cared when he got hurt badly and was happy when he was able to defeat an enemy. She knew that something was changing in her about that man, so she decided to give him her number. So, being very impatient, she decided to drop into Tokyo.

She told Kagami that she couldn't stand waiting on him anymore, and it's why she did it. Thankfully, he was able to find her and she expressed her feelings about him. She was so overjoyed when he felt the same way that ever since that day, she felt herself smile more. She was with someone that loved her more than life and slowly, she was feeling the same about him. She knew immediately that she cared deeply for the man, but it wasn't until she started to spend more time with him that she knew what was happening.

She was falling in love with him. It wasn't really until they had that dinner in his apartment and he asked her to stay with him that she really realized it. The man that she had been dating for a few months asked her to spend all of her free time with him. In his own apartment. Just the two of them. All of her free time. Even though it only took her a second to answer, she had been thinking about this for a few days, on how to answer if he asked. And when she saw him ask in that moment, all hesitant and shy, she knew her answer.

She never wanted to leave him. She never wanted to be without him. She would gladly give up her life to see him happy and being the way he was in that moment with her. When she answered, the look on his face took her breath away. He was so happy and she was happy because he was happy. That night, it was the most perfect night she had ever had. After that, the relationship had only gotten better. But then, she had to tell him her secret. The one thing she hadn't told him because it happened before she decided to see him on their first date.

She had been with a Vandenreich Quincy. She knew it was a mistake, but when she thought back on it, her mind was hazy from the drink she was given by him. Now, she had barely drank before then, staying away from the alcohol they passed around the tents so she would be alert for the next day. The one drink was enough to fuzz over her mind enough for that to happen. And when she finally told him what happened, she saw the crash on his face and what he did after still haunted her to this day. She hunted for him to fix what she created and to go back to the happiness they had six months ago.

This took at least two more days to tell him everything. She had just finished, wiping her eyes from the tears that were forming and spilled over to her cheeks. Thankfully, the hole was gone and there were only needles in his arms now. She looked over and smiled. She got up quietly and walked over to him. "Thank you for listening, even though you really had no choice in the matter. It feels good to talk about it, even if you don't remember. But, I hope you do and you remember this. You're my best friend, Kagami-senpai. I'll be right back."

She patted his hand again and walked out, going towards the bathroom. She went in and cleaned up her face. She had showered earlier, so she didn't need to shower again. Thankfully, a servant from the Kuchiki Manor brought her a clean set of clothes each day she was there, which helped her out greatly. She washed her face and ran some water through her hair, brushing her fingers through it quickly to make sure that it still looked at least halfway clean and tidy. She gave herself another once over before leaving the bathroom.

Once she left and had walked a few steps, she felt a strong presence. She knew who it was immediately. Sozen was here. But, she had no idea why Sozen would come here. Was he sick or ill? When she saw him, he locked eyes with her and walked straight towards her, with a smile on his face. Wait, did he know about Asmoskon? She didn't know what Aoi would say to him, but she really didn't know why he was there. She then noticed something in his hand. It looked like a roll of paper. She then remembered that Aoi promised her a technique to avoid sensors.

Hotaru could only assume that's what the scroll was for. Even though she had met the Family Head many times and had gotten more use to the relax nature that others were when meeting him, she still averted her eyes a bit, but not as much as she did before. She still would with Aoi, because she didn't know the woman or had been around her as much. Sozen was different. When he got close, she averted her gaze for a few seconds before looking up again. She no longer bowed towards him if she ran into him this way, but she would focus right below his eyes, still not keeping direct eye contact with him.

He held out the scroll to her and he said it was from Aoi. So, she had been right. It was the technique that she promised her. She quickly bowed then, and said "Thank you, Sozen-sama" and quickly put the scroll in her sash so she wouldn't lose it. She figured that would be it, but he continued, saying that he didn't personally come see her for Aoi, but to actually see her. He then explained that a captaincy had opened up and her eyes got wide. Captaincy? She knew she didn't have the power to be a captain, she didn't have Bankai yet.

He explained to her that all she needed was recommendations and approvals from more than half of the current Captains to test for it. She did know about that. When he said that he had already secured the recommendations, she almost gasped out loud. She thankfully kept it in. He already had recommendations for her? What Captains would be willing to stick their neck out for her? When she thought about it, she really hadn't done that much to help Soul Society and she barely knew any of the Captains. She didn't know that her exploits were known enough for Captains to do this.

While she was thinking about all this she heard Sozen continue. He said that all that remained was her word and he asked her if she wanted to be a Captain. She took a breath. Her word was her bond and honor. She never went back on her word. So, she never gave her word out lightly. She thought about it. It was her ultimate goal, to become a Captain and to help with the betterment of Soul Society. But, she knew she didn't have the strength for the position yet. She then stared Sozen in the eye. "I give you my word, Sozen-sama. I want to be a Captain. When I have the power, I will test for Captaincy."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

Arc 3 Preview Completed.

For good motherfucking plot by you both, I'm gonna say +3000 CTP straight up.

And in addition to that, additional rewards which I alluded to already. In spoilers below, you'll find something cool.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Kagami's Reward}

Kagami was given a strange item by stranger that he encountered while on his sickbed. I'm gonna rely on you to make this item with the template and all and to have it run through the mods. But of course, it should already be balanced.

The item is called the "Blood Cross." In appearance, it's a deep red wristband with a cross dangling from it. You'd say it looks identical to a red version of a Quincy's Cross. It's deep red because in appearance, it looks like it's made of fine, smoothed ruby. Actually, the item itself is made of an unidentified spiritual stone. What does it do? When its user becomes extremely angry, the cross resonates with a deep red reiatsu, and produces an extremely intimidating, hideous aura as long as the cross is being worn. This can be used to intimidate enemies of same or inferior class several times more effectively than typical spiritual pressure. What Kagami doesn't know is this hideous aura is very similar to Adalo De-Mona's, because what he also doesn't know is that the cross works not just on his anger, but by drawing from the inner darkness left behind in Kagami's soul by Adalo, and uses that reiatsu instead of Kagami's to produce the aura. The stronger the inner darkness left by Adalo De-Mona becomes, the stronger the cross's aura will become.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Hotaru's reward}

Hotaru has the option to insta-learn this technique. She doesn't HAVE to, but if she chooses to, it is considered learned and mastered without the need to spend TP on it.

Technique Name: [Reversal Sight]

Class: [1]

Technique Type: [Other]

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): [Soul Reapers]

Technique Element: [N/A]

Technique Description and Effects: [Insert Below]

Consider this a unique technique. What it does is form a "substitute target" in the learner's soul and mind for a cost of 200 reiatsu. It's passive, and unless the user willingly chooses not to have it activate, then it activates the moment someone tries to use advanced energy sensory (400+) to try to discern things about the user of this technique. What this does is redirect the sensory inquiry to someone else that Hotaru is extremely familiar with. It must be someone that Hotaru has done combat against before. When someone tries to sense Hotaru with their sensory, they will instead sense this figure that she selects when this technique activates. Those of superior class to Hotaru will be able to bypass this technique and still sense her.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): [Insert Below]

Stated above.

Technique Drawbacks (Insert Below)

Superior class automatically bypasses this technique. Also, it's limited per sensor. That's 200 reiatsu per sensor trying to sense Hotaru, and she can only use this technique up to five times in a single thread.

Made By: [Aoi Kuchiki]

Reserved? (Yes/No): [Reserved for Hotaru]

[/spoiler]