Arc 2 Prologue: Dire Straits [PG13, NDE, Medium-Hard]

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{More Interstellar music}

"Bankai..." Kenryoku of the Kawada family said. "Enslave, Haran Sora!" From all around Kenryoku, ten thousand gray needles formed and started moving around in free form. The Kawada's right hand man had decided that he needed to get serious for this huge monster. Well fuck yeah he needed to get serious. Sozen could only do so much right now on his own. They had avoided that last attack, but just barely. If another huge attack came out, then they were in trouble. Well, that was why they were Captains, after all. One good thing would arise here from Kenryoku's Bankai use. It wasn't a technique that he used often, and people often doubted his strength as a Captain, but here he would prove them wrong.

What was unique about his Bankai was that it wasn't constrained by size. This monster, with such huge stature, was no different than a lowly mouse. Kenryoku's needles began to hover around it, and soon they attacked. The beast was able to fend off some of them, but ultimately it was too large and the needles were too small, and it couldn't stop them all. One of the needles stabbed into the beast's forehead. Since it was so large, it was less than a toothpick to the monster. It was like a beesting. But the effect was immediate. Kenryoku's Bankai, which used the power called "lockdown" caused the entire beast's body to become locked and immobilized as the needle penetrated.

Immediately, the monster's limbs locked together, and it fell onto its side. It could no longer charge reiatsu, and nor could it move. The monster was strong, but now it was finished. Kenryoku had sealed it. And he still had many needles left to seal more monsters. This was where the strength of the Kawada's right hand man came in. While he did lose to many of the other Captains in terms of ability, he had unique strengths and qualities which allowed him to be extremely effective in dealing with some of these situations. Of course, that didn't stop another gold aura from forming in the sky. Kenryoku looked up, just in time to see another monster emerge.

This one was every bit as large as the first monster, except it hovered in the sky, resembling an enormous pterodactyl. An enormous pterodactyl that could breath fire. A sea of flames rushed out to engulf Sozen and Kenryoku, but the Kawada's right hand was able to move a Senkai Gate into the way, so the flames would appear elsewhere. This was where Kenryoku was most useful and powerful. Sozen noted that the beast had red wings, and so he was prepared to attack it as well. At that moment, a Hell butterfly would land on Takashi over in Squad 11, and Sozen's voice would ring in Takashi's mind. The first monster has been captured by Kenryoku Kawada. This second one will keep us busy momentarily, but soon we will be able to trace the source of the first monster's summoning. Time to move.

Soon, they would be able to trace which reiatsu had been used to summon the monster. It was unlikely that it was a person, so much as multiple people. And all of their reiatsus would be identified, and it would become possible to locate them on a radar. So the enemy Seireitei currently faced would become exposed and known. Sozen was telling Takashi to be ready for that. Meanwhile, Takehiko and Hotaru had their own missions at hand. Hotaru was on her way to Squad 5, and upon getting there would see chaos and people running about, and no Hokori Kuchiki in sight. She would be told then that he was at the Kuchiki library, where Takehiko had gone.

Takehiko, on the other hand, wouldn't find Hokori Kuchiki yet upon arriving, meaning that Hokori was probably in one of the more forbidden sections that Takehiko didn't have access to. Takehiko, however, didn't need access to a forbidden section of the library. A little bit of reading, and Shokan spells were his to learn about. A quick description was available as a beginning summary before more detailed information appeared. Shokan are Kido spells developed by former Squad 12 Lieutenant Sonken Kouhai. Their primary purpose is in connecting the user's reiatsu to other worlds, and pulling beasts from those worlds into our world to be controlled by the user. These beasts are referred to as Summonings. However, because research was never completed on the nature of these spells, they have not been released to most Soul Reapers.

It went on to discuss some of the known summonings and summoning rituals. There were none that mentioned monsters as huge as those in the Seireitei now, but it was mentioned that such could exist. The way to summon these was by creating a summoning circle. One flaw of the technique was the need for the circle. Sonken Kouhai had been looking to circumvent this by creating spells which could shape reiatsu as beams of light into a quick summoning circle, instantaneous from a caster's finger, and from there cast the Shokan. While this would work, higher level summonings also cost too much reiatsu and stamina for any one person, and so Sonken Kouhai had had to rethink how to use this. He had defected before completing work on Shokan.

However, if this was the case, then it must have taken more than one enemy to craft these monsters. And, those who had done it must be exhausted. Those things were at an entirely different level. They were of such tremendous power that it took two Captains just to bring down one, and then another was occupying those same two Captains. The monsters were of incredible power and size. Bringing them here and then controlling them was taxing. It went well beyond what any ordinary Soul Reaper, even Captain level, was capable of. Even a genius like Sonken Kouhai would have had trouble with this. One way of defeating the spells was to defeat the caster. So, who was the caster?

[Takashi Kuchiki]

The white hair shinigami arrived at the division he was in charge of as a blur. He made his way past the large opening into the court of the 11th. Another large explosion rang out fifty meters from him. The night sky became painted with black smog and bright red-orange; the embers dancing about. His blue diamond like eyes gazed upon it for just a moment, as bored and as expressionless as per usual. A moment later, there was a hell butterfly that had made its way towards Takashi. The shinigami's eyes turned towards it as the elegant black creature landed on his shoulder. The message was received. The white hair raised his hand in order for the butterfly to land upon his index finger. As it did, he transmitted his own message. "I understand. I will make sure to fortify Soul Society.". With that, he allowed the hell butterfly to gracefully glide off his finger into the night sky.

Turning, he made his way into the division. The men inside halted what they were doing, gathering themselves. It seemed no one had arrived to this division and they were alone; it was a shame really. They saluted him, asking him for orders. "There are not enough of you to hold this division in case it were attacked. Seek other aid as quickly as possible. I have urgent business I must currently attend to". He nodded towards the men, seeing as his hands were holding the 12ths most valuable weapons. With a salute, they made their way out of the area; evacuating quickly.

Takashi, on the other hand, had made his way forward, pushing through a door that he had left open ajar. He turned to see no one present at his secretary's chair; it was for the best. As he entered, the door made a strange creaking noise, closing moments later. In his office, he entered, setting down the hull of weapons. With a key in his pocket, he opened the top drawer, twisting it with the key. Opening it, he found a mess of medium sized devices that he had gotten from the 12th division. These would be quite useful indeed. Takashi took a couple, setting them into his pockets before locking it once again. He moved quickly as another explosion rang out.

In the corner of his desk, Takashi had himself a safe built. It was a larger safe where he kept most of his private belongings. It was much like an Armour for himself. Opening the large metallic case, he found space to place the weapons inside; seeing as he only took the most crucial ones. The armory of the eleventh was far too open, weapons were open to any and all members. He recalled there was no real area to protect these weapons. Instead, he figured his own personal storage would compensate for the lack of security. Besides, an enemy would fortify their most precious items, most no one would suspect to look here. In any case. He also placed the black device under the storage, after properly locking it. It was best that he place it there in case there was someone whom wanted to take it. Another explosion rang out and the shinigami turned to eye it once more, time was really running thin here; they could be swarmed at any moment. To further fortify, Takashi then made his way back to his drawer. He pulled out a large metallic box, taking it in his right hand; he had learned a few things from the 12th division, that was for sure.

A moment later, he walked out of the division. He saw yet another blast ring out, echoing throughout the area; it was intense. It was better to serve his purpose to be with more cover. With that, he made his way to the right. Behind the 11th division is where he knew he had seen it. Arriving, he knelt down, pulling the man hole cover and beginning to descend downwards. He made sure to slide the lid over it once more. The area was already well lit, this was the fourth division's tunnel system that they were notorious for knowing. Rose had shown him these in great detail, which seemed to have come in handy in this situation. Takashi began to make his way through the tunnels. He had been down here enough to know his way around, a flash step here and there and he was at his destination. He opened the box, pressing a small button on the side. It revealed more small devices like he previously had. Azumi had shown him a great many ways to deal with things. He began lining the upper areas with these devices, the same motion sensing cover as the one's the 12th made; though he made some adjustments.

So it went, the white hair shinigami was busy at work. He could hear the roar of the explosions rocketing above. Instead, he made sure to continually place the devices all around. It took him no time with his speed and reflexes. A moment later, he had finished his task. His bored expression now looked up to his intended area, he would check the Kuchiki household for anyone that was around; primarily, Ana. All areas had to be fortified. He made his way through the covering as he finished, only taking the last small control from the box which was nothing more than a container. As such, he found himself climbing the ladder upwards to once again breath the night air. As he did, he noticed the Clan's housing that he was in; the shiba clan entrance. He drew his sword, ready for anything, as he was no longer in cover. Sozen had told him to get ready and that things would be revealed soon enough.

The white hair took this to mind and took out his sheath as well. He hoped to find some of the survivors that were still here. Ana was someone he had hoped would be here too, she had unusual habits of gambling with people; no matter who. Moments passed by as the screaming, slaughtering, and explosions rang out. Takashi emerged with his eyes bored as per usual; there was nothing there anymore and things were really falling apart for Soul Society. Another explosion, this one louder than the rest coming a bit behind him. Takashi pushed forward to avoid it behind him; it was surely terrifying. It was in the distance that he saw the terrifying creatures that Sozen had spoken of. Takashi's bored eyes glanced towards them, narrowing. He paid them little attention for the moment. He turned back and was gone in a flash once more. The white hair shinigami had done most of the fortifying that he needed to do. The last bit was to check the Kuchiki household. He was gone with a flash, seeing to it that the area was secure.

The shinigami was now at the Kuchiki household, that speed was sure useful. As he entered he went to find Ana, a simple conversation he wished to have with her. In the house, he made sure to grab a few things as well for himself; just in case. It seemed as though these explosions were rather unpredictable. He made sure to search the rooms until he would find her and speak with her. It was only a few minutes and Takashi had returned to his original location in front of where the Shiba clan's housing stood. It was only a few feet out, he had seen this design and layout with the 12ths schematics and the 4ths tunnel system. His foot tapped, seeing the security of the ground below him. His eyes looked all around as he let out a soft sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small device that he had before. There was a red flashing button and Takashi looked towards it for a moment.

Another explosion would ring out behind him as he let out a soft sigh from his nostrils; he hoped this would work. With now only a tainted sword in his left hand and a device in his right, he made way with the fortification. Takashi went ahead and pressed the button to activate everything simultaneously. The devices he had set would go into play. It was time to see what would unfold and what exactly was going on here. The shinigami watched...diamond blue eyes looking out at what was about to unfold; ready for the enemy to strike.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Short and sweet}

The summonings erupted into ashes and fire, and disappeared in brilliant, blinding bursts. But Sozen Kuchiki was already looking away. Kenryoku shielded his eyes and the summonings suddenly disappeared. The geysers of fire and magma stopped. But Sozen Kuchiki wasn't looking at it. Everything looked for a second as if it had calmed. But there was no reiatsu to speak of from any foreign source. Ryoka? Such a thing had never existed. The situation calmed all over, and people thought that things had gone back to normal and that the disaster was over. That wasn't what happened, though. It calmed, but Sozen Kuchiki wasn't looking at that.

Scarlet eyes gazed at the sky, looking blankly upon the new horror unfolding. The entire sky over the Seireitei had become a Garganta, and huge beams of gold light, the light of a technique used by Menos called Negacion, fell around the Seireitei, encasing it in an encircling border. Ashes drifted on cruel winds. There were dozens of injuries from what had actually been distractions. The Shokan. The geysers. The explosions. All of it had been a distraction, because this was not an attack on the Seireitei and the Soul Reapers. This was a betrayal. This was treachery. The Negacion was not being used to encase Seireitei and isolate it.

The Negacion had come down on the Seki Seki walls that surrounded the Seireitei. It wasn't that the Seireitei was being encased. It was that it was being freed. Rumbling shook the ground, and the huge, towering walls that protected the Seireitei and bordered it off from the rest of the Rukon districts tore from the ground, and floated into the air, lifted by Negacion, which rendered them untouchable unless the source of the Negacion, whatever rested inside of those huge Garganta, was destroyed. The Seki Seki walls were being pulled away and stolen by someone. That was what was happening to the Seireitei now. They weren't being attacked. Their defenses were being stolen.

From the Negacion and Garganta, and from the residual reiatsu of the Shokan summoning spells, people would be able to sense a certain individual reiatsu now. It was no longer masked. No longer hidden. It was evident. People would be able to feel who it was now, and it wasn't a Ryoka. Hell butterflies started to touch on all of the Lieutenants, and all of the seated officers, and any Captains that were in the area. Capture the enemy. Converge on the target But could they? It was going to be controversial to attack the holder of the reiatsu that had been attacking them all this time. The reiatsu? It belonged to Takashi Kuchiki.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru left the decision to Takehiko, since he was her superior officer. She figured that he would want the weapons to go one of two places. He would either want to take the weapons to his own division, which was Third, if she remembered correctly, or he would want to take them to the First Division. She did think that he might want to take them to his division, but since they already needed to meet the Captain Commander, she figured that he might just say to take the things with us. She got her answer rather quickly.

He wanted them to take what was left over with them. She nodded her agreement. It made sense, since the First Division would be one of the more protected divisions in the Seireitei. Also, with the Captain Commander there, his mere location near the weapons might scare people off. Takehiko left and before Hotaru left, she nodded towards Takashi, hoping that his mission would go well. She was then off, doing her best to keep up with Takehiko. Thankfully, he kept a good pace for her to keep up with and they made quick work of making it to the First Division.

Once they arrived, she followed Takehiko's lead to the Captain Commander's Office. This was her old squad, but she was never called to the main building of the division, or even thought to come here. It was the Captain Commander's area and she felt like it shouldn't even be explored unless specifically asked by the man himself. She thought that she was lucky to actually get a semi-private meeting with the Captain Commander. She told herself to be as polite as possible, so she wouldn't piss him off.

When they walked through the doors, Hotaru watched the Captain Commander looking a different holographic screens. She had never met the man this close up, but he was rather impressive. Even with her weak energy sensory, she could feel the power exude from this man and had no doubt how he was able to attain the position of Captain Commander. She tried to make out what he was seeing, but all she saw was destruction. It made sense that the Captain Commander would be watching what was happening all around Soul Society.

Before she could really say anything, the Commander turned around and issued Takehiko and herself new orders. They were to rescue people and gather more data and weapons that hadn't been destroyed yet. It seemed like a reasonable order for two high ranked members of the Gotei Thirteen. She was about to leave via Shunpo when she noticed that Takehiko didn't immediately move out either. She looked at the screen and then saw something that she had never seen before. It made her jaw hit the floor.

It seemed that some weird, dark portal was forming and something was starting to come out of it. Once it did, the only thing she could describe it as was a demon, plain and simple. With all the horns and fire, that's the only thing that she would think of that would best fit the beast. She could tell that the thing was huge, much bigger than she thought was possible. Before she could just stare at the monitor like an idiot, the Commander came around to them again, shouting out orders. He ordered her to go find her cousin, Hokori then go to the Squad Thirteen Barracks.

She quickly bowed and said, "Yes, Captain Commander-sama." With that, she used a step technique to leave the First Division and head towards the Fifth, where Hokori Kuchiki was captain. While she was making her way to the Division, she could still hear some explosions going off and the roar of the beast. She didn't dare look up for fear of seeing it and then it might distract her from her true mission. She had to find Hokori quickly and take him to the barracks as requested. 

When she arrived at the Division, it was like all hell had broken loose. There was nothing but chaos in the division, chaos and just no organization whatsoever. From her meeting with the man, he seemed to be all about order. She wondered why he wasn't whipping the division into shape to stay organized. Through all the noise and destruction, she ran through the division, asking all she met if they had seen their captain. Most just ran ignoring her. Thankfully, she saw the Vice Captain and ran up to them and asked where the captain was.

The Vice Captain told her that the captain was not here at the moment, but was at the Kuchiki Manor. She didn't hear anything after that, because she started running, then using step techniques, to get to the Manor as quickly as possible. Once she got there, she opened the door and just ran inside, heading straight for the library. It seemed that it was his place to go, so she figured that she should look there. The servants weren't pleased that she had dirtied up some of the carpet with her rushed foot clean, but they would have to deal with it. 

She got to the library and quickly shoved the door open. She had to take a second to catch her breath. She could feel Hokori in the library. Even with poor energy sensory, it was easy to tell where someone of a captain's level was, if she was close enough. Also, she had felt his reiatsu before, so she knew what to look for. She started to yell out his name, following his reiatsu signature. It led her to a roped off section of the library. It seemed that even the Kuchiki library had a section that only few were supposed to see.

She hated to do it, but she had no other choice. She quickly passed over the barricade and just ran as fast as she could to Hokori, not looking at the shelves or anything else in this section, since she wasn't supposed to be here. Once she finally found him, she had to take another quick breather. Once she was done, she looked to Hokori. "Hokori-sama, did you not hear the yelling?! But, no matter. Sorry I'm here, I know I'm probably not supposed to be here, but I was told by the Captain Commander to come get you and for us to go to the Thirteenth Division barracks. Please follow me, Hokori-sama."

She then started to run out of the library, Hokori following right behind her. Once they passed the barricade again and made it into the library proper, she started to use step techniques to get to the division. By the time she had finally made it to the division, Hokori was already there, waiting for her. The explosions and noises of destruction never stopped. She heard them when she went to get Hokori and again while traveling to the Thirteenth Division Barracks. She just toned it out more so she could remain focused. 

It was then that she noticed that, about a minute after arriving, everything quieted down. She heard nothing but already broken structures breaking more, to the point of crumbling. She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. The division looked more at ease as well. But she knew something was off. With all of the commotion that was going on, there was no way that this was just it. No way the enemy would go through so much effort for the illusions to give up this easily. 

She worked out her muscles now, while she had the time. She rolled her shoulders, jumped up a few times, all to loosen herself up in case she needed to do any fighting soon. But, what came next completely surprised her. She saw the sky turn black. Though, it wasn't completely black, like clouds rolling in. It looked to her like the sky just opened up and the blackness came with it. It sounded like something she read about in the Academy, but she had never seen it of this magnitude. It was like a Garganta.

She had only seen it once, when she was with Zegram, and then, it was just big enough for him to walk through and it disappeared. She had no idea that they could get that large. She just stared at the opening and then saw huge golden rays of light coming down all over the Seireitei. The actual technique, she vaguely remembers is a hollow technique, but she didn't remember what it actually did. At first, she thought that they were trying to encase the entirety of Seireitei in a bubble of sorts so they couldn't get out.

It wasn't until she saw some Seki Seki stone nearby start to pull away that she grasped what they were doing. They were actually pulling the Seki Seki stones out, taking the defenses of Seireitei! She didn't think that was possible either, but today has shown her that anything is possible. She wanted to go try to stop the beams, but they were coming from inside the Garganta. She knew she wasn't strong enough to go in there and try to deal with whatever was inside, but she had to do something.

She felt that way until she felt a signature. While doing all the running, when she got close enough to an area, or depending on how strong the thing was, she could get reiatsu signatures from them. Since the demon was so huge, she got a reiatsu signature from him. With all the other illusions and summonings being so large and occurring everywhere, she got some strong, some weak, reiatsu signatures from them as well. While she was standing there, watching everything that was occurring, she realized something.

She recognized part of the reiatsu signature. She figured that whoever was summoning the creatures and cast the illusions would leave a reiatsu signature behind. She also felt the same reiatsu signature from the Garganta in the sky and in the beams of light. It was then that she saw a Hell Butterfly in the sky and it came to land on her shoulder. The message was to capture the enemy and converge on target. She still didn't understand why he would do this. She thought she knew him, but obviously not well enough.

"I will find you Takashi and figure why you're doing this. How could you do this to your own family, YOU STUPID BASTARD!" She yelled the last part to no one in particular. She just didn't understand why. He had helped her train, more than once. She left her division to join the fighting division to be stronger than him one day. She thought the man deserved her respect based on the way he behaved. He obviously didn't and now Hotaru was just feeling hurt and betrayed by a man she trusted.

With the Hell Butterfly still on her shoulder, she let it flutter to her outstretched right finger and said, "Understood, moving to converge on his position now." She bowed towards Hokori before she took off towards the other division's barracks. Since he wasn't close by, she had to hope she got close enough to his location to figure out where he actually was. She then used Shunpo to get to the first division barracks. It was then that she felt a slight reiatsu signature that was near the Kuchiki Manor.

She then started off towards the Manor. It was only a few Shunpos away from her current location. Once she got there, she realized that he wasn't at their family manor, but at one of the manors close by. She walked over there, trying to think of what she should say to him. Once she got to the Shiba clan manor, she saw him with the same look on his face that he always had. This time, instead of just ignoring that look, she glared at him. If looks could kill, the man would be dead right now. She was so angry she didn't know what to do.

"Takashi, how could YOU?! What happened to all that talk of honor and duty? THIS is how you want to fix Soul Society and the Seireitei? Destroying it? How many innocent would get hurt doing it that way. I thought I knew you and understood where you were coming from with what you talked about. It turns out that you only let me think I knew you as well as I thought. I TRUSTED YOU! YOU ARE NOW MY FAMILY! FAMILY DOESN'T DO THIS TO THEIR OWN! What happened to you?! I DEMAND to know what happened." She put her hand on her zanpaktou, in case she needed to draw it. She didn't want to, and hoped she wouldn't have to.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

Takashi's blade was dripping wet, tainted with the blood of the Shiba clansmen that he had recently slaughtered. The explosions made for good cover for their screams. He let out a soft sigh, almost waiting as he killed time. His eyes were closed as the sheath was resting against his lower left thigh, above the knee cap. He looked up, eyes closed as his left hand ran through his hair. Instead of lowering the bangs, his hair slicked back as he readjusted the pony tail with one hand. He looked down, his crystal blue eyes now opening once more; his hair perfectly slicked back except for one strand. Takashi looked forward, grasping his sheath. It was all quiet, the atmosphere being rather silent after the departure of the beasts. It was then that the skyp ripped open. A trans-dimensional rift forced its way open. The red eyes peered down; covered by white masks. They had sent down rays of light from the sky; illuminating Soul Society.

Takashi's eyes fell to them. The lights slowly descended down upon the Sekki Sekki gates. They encircled the gates which were soul society's greatest defense; anti reshi. They began to direct the large pillar upwards. The negacion lights came down, perfect timing. They had been all set up by what Takashi had previously done; he signals the direction where they should converge. It seemed Azumi's research had paid off; training with her gave him great scientific knowledge. Takashi was successful in booting her data from before. It was interesting that he was able to make such progress without anyone noticing. Had it not been for that man as well, he wouldn't be able to accomplish what he had done. The training and the trust he had given him were beyond his comprehension; it was good though.

It also helped that she had given him great access to the twelfth and its amenities. There was a rumbling in the ground as the shinigami simply stood and watched, his same bored and disinterested look present. The beams of light were now raising the large barrier, rocking the ground as they liberated it. Takashi looked out. It was then that he noticed a signature that was all too familiar to him arriving. Of course she would be the first one to be here. She looked upset and angry..but who could blame her. Takashi turned towards her. "Hotaru-kun, how nostalgic of you to arrive here first". He spoke in a rather deeper tone then before. There was something even weirder than the tone however. The side of Takashi's mouth curled up into a smirk, something Hotaru nor anyone in Soul Society had seen before; how long was it that his expression had been so bland?

It was then that she went off on him, giving him a long winded lecture on family, honor, and a sense of duty. "Trust? What do you know about me...Hotaru-kun? Who was it that brought the Ryoka Asmoskon to Soul Society? Who was it that fooled the fourth division Captain into showing me the underground passageways? Who was it that researched with Azumi? And who was it who fooled all of you into getting what I wanted? If I can do all that...how do you know who 'Takashi' is?". He let the question sink. His sword began to drip with the blood of the shiba clansmen; he really did slaughter them all didn't he? In any case, his eyes looked towards Hotaru who grasped her sword. "Please do not do anything foolish. We both know how that will end....". His sword kept dripping blood.  "I thank you for trusting me. With that, I have all of the twelfths technology and weaponry at my disposal. In addition, I have taken care of our rivaling clan for good. Perhaps you here in Soul Society should thank me". He chuckled, another weird bit. It was then that he could feel a slight shaking under his feet; it would go unnoticed to others. To Takashi, it was something wonderful that he would utilize. Any minute now...things would start going and he was ready to drop.

"Alright..I will humor you. The ones whom have taken sight from my parents was not in fact a hollow..but a shinigami. Sozen has many secrets, deep secrets that he holds. These shinigami do wrong with consciousness..while hollow do so out of instinct. I have recently met an Arrancar, these hollows have conscious...a mind. They realize right from wrong, even possessing some memories of the past. I have found hollow become this way by consuming one another. To them, their consciousness is everything. Shinigami take this for granted, can we blame animals for their actions? We call them mindless. Take the humans for example. They do not constantly slaughter animals, they live in harmony, though separated, in the same plane. If hollow can be enticed to become these Arrancar..then I may end this pointless feud. Shinigami are the ones who take things for granted.". He took a breath, his eyes a bit more intense. "The one who has shown me this truth...is none other than Sounken Kouhai. As you may know him though...the King of Hueco Mundo. He has told me that this process in Hollow can be induced by something known as the Hogyoku. Combing our minds, we shall end this pointless feud. A plane of existence will thrive where all can live in harmony...that is my ideal.". He let his words sit with her.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Once Hotaru arrived at the scene, she took in everything that she saw. Well, she took it in after she yelled at him for being an idiot. Once she was done and took a breath, she actually took in the scene around her. Behind him was the Shiba Manor house. Even in the Manor houses, you could hear noises inside from the people living there. Talking, eating, everyday noises that you would find in a home. But in that house right now, she heard nothing.

She could smell though. She could smell something foul in the area and she knew exactly what it was. She was on too many battlefields to not know what a dead body smells like. The scent wasn't that bad, but the bodies have been sitting for at least an hour, at least some of them. Also, flies were starting to come around. She just couldn't believe that he would just murder innocent people, especially an entire clan of people. How could he do that to anyone?

Another thing that annoyed her was once she did arrive, he had the nerve to freaking wave at her and said that it was 'nostalgic' of her to arrive there first. But, she did notice something different about him now. His tone when he spoke was deeper than what it usually was and he actually showed emotion on his face. It was probably one of the most surprising things to her. He had never showed emotion before. Obviously, that was part of his plan.

The smirk that he showed made her even more angry. She was clenching both of her hands. One was clenching around the hilt of her sword, while the other one was clenching around the sheath. She didn't want to let go of it yet, since holding on to her zanpaktou was keeping her grounded. Rivu~aiasan was there, trying to help go through her emotions, but she knew he couldn't completely help her, but it was nice he was there for her. Then, the traitor spoke.

He then started to say how much does she actually know about him. He was able to bring Asmoskon here to Soul Society, fooled Rose, Fourth Division Captain, to show him the underground tunnels and trained with Azumi. He also managed to fool everybody to get what he really wanted. He then posed if he could do that, how would she know who Takashi really is. She looked down and saw the blood dripping off of his sword. Her anger just kept rising.

When she grabbed for her zanpaktou, he said not to do anything foolish because they both knew how it would end. Then, he continued by saying thanks for the trust, because he was able to get all of the Twelfth's technology and weapons. He also added that he took care of the rivaling clan for good. This was not the way to end a rivalry. He didn't have to completely destroy the clan to do that. This 'new' Takashi had no honor and she kicked herself for ever having trusted this man.

He then told her what he planned on doing. It seems that his parents' sight was taken by shinigamis instead of hollows. He wants to stop the feud between hollows and shinigami by turning hollow into Arrancar, who do have minds. He wants to create a world where all could thrive in harmony, with Sounken Kouhai, a shinigami that left to rule over Hueco Mundo. She thought about it. She had also met Arrancar. There are some that would rather talk than fight, but still others that were more manipulative and wanted the world for themselves.

She thought on what he said about his history. It must've have hurt him to find out that shinigami did that to his parents. She knows that she would strike out against anyone who would hurt her family. But, the way he's trying to do things just didn't seem right to her. There was no need for this much killing. There was never a need to kill innocent like this. He was definitely not the man she thought he was.

She drew her zanpaktou. "I know you think you're doing something good, and I have to admit, if everything was in perfect balance all the time, life would be simpler for everybody. But, whoever you are, life is not supposed to be that simple. Life is about the bad times as well as the good. If it's good all the time, life wouldn't be as exciting. You have taken things that don't belong to you. If you don't get them back, I will stand in your way to try and stop you. Even if we both know what will happen, I have to at least try." She got into her normal stance, knees shoulder width apart and bent, zanpaktou angled, tip towards her left shoulder and hilt towards right hip.

[Iro Kuchiki]

Explosions had been rocking the Soul Society, sending the Gotei 13 into a frenzy. While some of the strongest Shinigami such as Sozen and Kenryoku rushed to the Headquarters of the First Division, two Kuchiki headed to the Twelfth Division. And while they were there, yet another Kuchiki was just emerging from his Armory, wielding two Angel Pocketknives alongside his Zanpakutou and a pair of Blast Boots. Equipped to handle a good variety of situations even without releasing his Shikai inside the Seireitei this Kuchiki, the Captain of the Eleventh Division, headed out of his Barracks looking for whatever trouble was shaking the foundation of the Gotei.

How little he knew just how much the foundation would be shaken.

He didn't get too far out of the Barracks when the entire Seireitei started to shake. Not only did a monstrous creature appear, a glowing light reached out of a hole in the sky. The Sekki Sekki walls started to crack as they were drawn upwards into the air. Whatever this was, it was capable of bypassing the material's natural reiatsu cancelling properties and lift the entire set of walls which measured many many miles in circumference. Hell Butterflies had been reporting some sort of possible Ryoka presence, but Iro couldn't feel anything even with his above average Energy Sensory...

As the walls raised higher and higher, the Captain moved towards his Third Seat, Hotaru. She was close, on Kuchiki ground, at the home of the Shiba. This in particular was odd, but what was more troubling was the lack of energy coming from the Shiba Manor. Normally the Shiba would be rushing around prepping their large cannon for this kind of attack. They'd probably fire reiatsu explosives into the whole in the sky, trying to kill whatever was drawing up the walls. But they were just... still. And less than still, not at home. Did they leave or... something worse?

Not wanting to waste any energy, Iro took his time walking towards the Shiba Manor. It wasn't terribly far, but his asthma required him to stay cautious. On his way, a second figure appeared in the same general area as Hotaru. It wasn't that someone showed up, rather someone stopped holding their reiatsu back, suddenly appearing. It belonged to Iro's Vice Captain, Takashi. Why were both Takashi and Hotaru in the same place, which was not the Twelfth Division as the Hell Butterfly told him they would be headed towards, and why was Takashi hiding himself?

Iro would find out soon enough.

Any thoughts, Muk? I can't tell why Takashi would be hiding inside the Shiba Manor, nor why they are so silent today.

No clue, Sir.

Well, we're almost there anyways. Time to find out the truth.

Iro approached the manor, seeing Takashi and Hotaru at a distance. He only caught the tail end of their conversation, but what he heard shocked him and shook him to the core. He paused, hesitated even, as he heard insane rambling coming out of his cousin's mouth. "The one who has shown me this truth...is none other than Sounken Kouhai. As you may know him though...the King of Hueco Mundo. He has told me that this process in Hollow can be induced by something known as the Hogyoku. Combing our minds, we shall end this pointless feud. A plane of existence will thrive where all can live in harmony...that is my ideal." The Kuchiki Captain just paused. Even for one with a trained calm mind and a strong will, this was crazy. No longer walking closer, instead Iro just looked and watched as Hotaru raised her blade against her cousin and fellow squad member. However, Takashi's blade was more attention grabbing.

Especially the dripping blood.

"How dare you, Traitorous Fool." There was only one explanation for all of this. Takashi had emerged from the Shiba's Manor dripping blood, he had uncloaked himself from hiding, and he was speaking blasphemies of Sonken Kouhai. For some reason, the words of the Traitor Kouhai had corrupted his Vice Captain, causing him to steal the walls of the Seireitei, kill off the Shiba, and even cause his own family to take up arms against him. "Third Seat Hotaru, Cousin. Stand Down. It is the job of the Captain and the Elder Family member to reprimand foolish children who step out of line."

A lot of emotions were coursing through Iro's mind and blood. Anger, Loss, Rage, Betrayal, Vengeance, and Heartbreak. With a snap of his fingers he dislodged the clasp of the pocketknife sheathe. The handles he carried transformed into twin 10 feet long Masamune, thin enough to filet a minnow and long enough to impale a shark. He knew that his former Vice Captain (disgraced) had grown lately, grown much since he tested for the Officer rank. However, he had barely even seen Iro's Shikai. Much less the techniques and styles at his finger tips.

One such technique that was going to be turned against Takashi, now considered and enemy of the Captain.

A wave of hostile energy swept over the area followed by a wave of milder energy. "Have you read up on all of the Hana, Child?" What now covered a range of four miles in every direction were two Auras of the Kuchiki Intimidation Hana. The first was Kigi. This technique would send a shiver down Takashi's spine. He would start to have a strong fear of battle and himself. This fear forced a wedge in between his conscious mind and his innate reiatsu supply. Not only would every Non-release technique be much more difficult to perform, requiring double the reiatsu, but his release would cost double and wouldn't release as soon as Takashi willed it to, having a delay of a post before it released.

The second technique would effect both Iro and Hotaru. Hopefully the Third Seat got out of her Captain's way, but in case she stuck around within the four mile range, both of them would find their instinct and senses boosted. Their mind would process everything three times as effectively, while their senses would work twice as effectively. The Hana named Joukei was providing this bonus to them. Not only did this speed up Iro's instinct to the point where he would pick up on basically everything that Takashi threw at him, it helped him better combat the drawback to these auras. The speed loss.

Iro hadn't moved yet, and by doing so give away the drawback, however, he could currently only move at 100 speed base. He was funneling two thirds of his speed into these Auras, but it was worth it. If he could hold off Takashi effectively, the boy would either burn himself out while forcing his technique and/or release or make the mistake of trying to defend against an effective attack by releasing. Either of these would allow Iro to take his cousin into custody, where a full investigation could be handled. If the man was sent into the Maggot's nest for rehab, that wasn't his problem.

The pride of Saix Shinra and the Eleventh Division was on the line here.

Remaining Reiatsu: 6750/7500 (-150 Kigi, -600 Joukei)
Combat Posts: 1/8

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}

Strength – [200 (x.33) 66] Points

Speed - [300] Points {100}

Spiritual Pressure - [250 (x3) 750] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400 (x3) 1200] Points

Light Aura - 50 Points

Dark Aura - 50 Points

Instinct - [175] Points {525}

Senses [125] Points {250}

Energy sensory - [50 (x3) 150] Points

Healing Expertise - [100 (x.5) 50] Points

Total SP: 1600 Points

Abilities

• [Weapons: Sword] {4}
  
  
• [Acrobatics] {3}
  
  
• [Analysis] {3}
  
  
• [Strength of Will] {2}
  
  
• [Calm Mind] {2}
  

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items}
Item Name: Angel

Item Type: Weapon

Item Description: In it's sheath, Angel looks like a pocket knife of three inches in length. this makes it easily concealable. When the sheath's clasp is removed, the true length appears, being ten feet long and very thin. ((think Sephiroth's blade)) While wielding this blade, the user's level of light aura makes the blade glow a pale yellow color that varies in intensity. At 100 Light Aura, this sword could be an effective source of light in a dark environment, but not enough to cause blinding. This sword has an exceptional range to keep opponents at bay, but requires a 2 in swords to wield effectively.

Price: 4000

Quantity: 2


Item Name: Blast Boots

Item Type: Worn/Weapon

Item Description: A simple pair of boots in varying colors, all earthen, such as brown and black. In the sole of these boots are small absorbers. These absorb air around the wearer and can release it in a powerful kick. It takes one post of non use to charge it back up again after the air is released. This air isn’t devastatingly powerful, however it can force an opponent back, break bones if applied in the right location, blow a door open, among other things.

Price: 3000

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{This song is so OP}

A quick shuffling sound would alert Iro to the arrival of another of his allies, Hokori Kuchiki, the Squad 5 Captain, and the book keeper of the Kuchiki library. Black hair and glasses appeared before Iro, with emerald eyes gazing out upon Takashi. Like all Kuchikis, Hokori too possessed a unique gaze. Iro, who was ready to fight Takashi into submission, was now able to join forces with Hokori, a user of Speed Hana. However, Hokori, unlike Iro, did not look like submission was his goal. Instead, he appeared to desire death. For betraying not only the Seireitei, but the Kuchiki family, all that Takashi could do to atone was die. Well, that was the price that Sozen himself would call for if someone were to betray the family. That was why he did have a esal to restrain them.

"Allow me to join you, cousin," Hokori requested of Iro. "Together, we can put this traitor in the ground before Sozen gets here, and has to ever see the shame of such a disgrace..." Hokori spat out these last words hatefully. Yes, of course. Why wouldn't he? To the Kuchikis, loyalty to the family was the most prevalent teaching. By betraying the Seireitei, not only was Takashi betraying his Squad, and his comrades, and his subordinates. He was betraying his family, who had found him, lost in the academy, and taken him in, given him power and a home, and even reunited him with his parents. They had given him everything, and he still betrayed them.

THE TRAITOR, TAKASHI KUCHIKI, IN ALL HIS VILLAINY! REVEALED AT LAST, THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ALL OF THE DAMAGE DONE THUS FAR! BUT, WHAT LED HIM HERE? THE ALLEGATIONS THAT IT WAS A SOUL REAPER WHO TOOK THE EYES OF HIS PARENTS HOLD TRUE. TO THIS DAY, SOZEN SEEKS OUT THE ONE WHO CALLS HIMSELF SHINIGAMI, BUT HAS YET TO FIND HIS HATED ENEMY'S LOCATION. WITH A VINDICTIVE, BORDERLINE OBSESSIVE HATE, SOZEN HAS SEARCHED. HOW TRUE MUST THIS HATRED ALSO BE FOR TAKASHI, WHO NOW BETRAYS EVERYONE HE KNOWS AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HIS FRIEND? WILL HE MAKE IT OUT ALIVE, TO JOIN FORCES WITH THE GREATEST VILLAIN THAT THE SOUL SOCIETY HAS EVER KNOWN? THE MOST WANTED MAN IN THE WORLD, SONKEN KOUHAI.

Sounds of shuffling would alert Iro, Hokori, Hotaru, and Takashi to the appearances of more all around. Around the four mile radius that Iro had forbidden, reinforcements were gathering. Even if Takashi were to escape Iro Kuchiki, or, by some miracle, defeat his far more powerful Captain, he would be overtaken in any direction he went. The Negacion weren't coming for him right now, just the Seki Seki. At the moment, he was trapped, and would need a way out. Well, he could probably choose to just run away, toward a safer, easier to find location, and that would probably work for him. But, did such a location even exist? If so, where was it?

FOR MILES ALL AROUND HIM, TAKASHI WAS SURROUNDED! NOT ONLY HAD HOTARU ARRIVED, BUT MANY REINFORCEMENTS HAD COME TO STOP THE TRAITOR, WHOSE IDENTITY AND POSITION WERE NOW KNOWN TO ALL OF THE SOUL REAPERS IN SEIREITEI. FACING NOW TWO CAPTAINS, AND DOZENS MORE ENEMIES, AND WITH ALL OF HIS DISTRACTIONS AT THE END OF THEIR ROPE, WHAT COULD TAKASHI POSSIBLY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE? WHAT WAY OUT WOULD THERE BE? IF NOT KILLED, TAKASHI WOULD SURELY BE KILLED, TORTURED IN THE KUCHIKI DUNGEONS THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOWN BY SOZEN, AND THEN EXECUTED BY THE SOKKYOKKU ITSELF, ERASING HIM FROM THE SOUL CYCLE FOR ETERNITY. SUDDENLY, A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

When did he get there...? A man with skin white as a sheet, a black tuxedo, and a black hat, and white gloves. But none of those factors of his appearance mattered. All that mattered were the black eyes that gazed with lunacy upon the two Captains, and forced out an aura of dread and power that they would never again experience on this level. This was someone different than anyone else alive. Someone whose aura was so thick with all that was dreadful, that just being near it was enough to induce nightmares of his existence years later. And, elsewhere, Sozen Kuchiki had left Kenryoku Kawada to deal with the aftermath of the monsters, and was on his way elsewhere.

As the Kuchiki manor came into the distance, where Sozen was on his way to, he sensed the reiatsu of the newcomer, and saw the black Garganta which filled the sky had not only swallowed whole the Seki Seki, but had permitted some sort of visitor into the Seireitei. Sensing that dreadful reiatsu, Sozen could instantly identify the enemy by report, and by the fact that he had once been in proximity to the monster. He knew exactly who it was. "So, he's here, now..." Sozen said, almost with a shiver, and with eyes gazing up toward the sky. "Looks like Kouhai got the message... I had better hurry..." Sozen disappeared with a flash step to complete his mission.

No one existed who didn't know who he was. It was just no one in the Soul Society had ever actually seen him before. They all knew who he was, but now, he was finally being seen. Except for one report by a Zeich Yajuu of Squad 7, there had never been any information about him. But, now, here he was. On his throat, they would be able to see the black ink forming beautiful, artistic calligraphy writing, and forming the number one (#1) on his throat. Everyone could feel the reiatsu of an Arrancar here. And everyone would be able to tell that he was on an entirely different level than the one that they had been ready to engage at.

The one that had arrived here stood up in front of Takashi with a maniacal grin. He cracked his neck far to the side, dislocating his shoulder in the process, and then moved everything back into place. He repeated this on the other side, and then took his hat off, and let it dangle in his hand. Black wisps of smoke emanated here and there from his body as his reiatsu. This was a monster that could only be read about in myth. The Primera Espada. Adalo De-Mona. And with his appearance, everything had changed. "You're free to go, if you want..." Adalo told Takashi, giving him permission to leave. "Kouhai-Sama permits your visit to Las Noches... Unless you have any last words to say here? Or unless any of you wants to take both of us down?"

OOC Disclaimer: I DO have permission to use Hokori Kuchiki and Adalo De-Mona. I established this with both Taka and Royce already. Also heads up, guys. As part of a special promotion, Zou is currently in the process of choosing four characters to upgrade to class 0. Adalo is one of these.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

(OOC: Sorry I was slow b/c I know Kento was away but let's get this moving anyway!)

Disinterested gem like eyes gazed upon the woman whom struggled so much to understand him. His demeanor was unchanging, the smirk the only new addition to his arsenal. The uneasiness and tension built as each drop of blood trickled down slowly from the cold steel; forming a drop and landing on to the ground. The small specs of blood on the ground indicative of the lives that had been taken. Still, the tiger among tigers stood there, having finished its meal. "Do not disregard your life for a veil in the shadow" he said, his eyes still unchanging. A rather deep and angered voice emitted from his right side. Takashi's head slowly trailed over to the Haori. "This is certainly nostalgic, is it not?". His tone was cool and rather detached from the entire situation, and Iro's anger. "It is good to see you unhamed, Iro-Taicho". It seemed however, the man didn't want any of his antics.

Without fail, he had pushed their cousin aside. Now, he stood in front of her, nearly 15 feet away. He seemed rather angered. Without hesitation, nor question, he seemed to be ready for battle; that was the 11th Division Taicho for you. Takashi's smirk quickly faded, his old, more serious expression took effect. Iro had caste some sort of Hana. Takashi knew little of the other Hana aside from his own Melee specialty. Suddenly, a wave of intimidation hit him. Takashi's eyes narrowed, but his expression didn't change. Inwardly though, he felt the strange sensation of intimidation taking affect of his body. His eyes peered out towards Iro, like looking to an angered gorilla. He could feel the surge taking an effect on his body now; it was certainly strange. He however, did know enough about Iro from their previous combat. He could feel things about him, like the way he only could sustain combat for a limited time. There was also that metallic armor that he hadn't seen much of; however, he figured it to fortify him.

However, the surge of intimidation wasn't currently his only trouble. A moment later, there would be a whole horde of shinigami that appeared from seemingly nowhere; their numbers growing. One of whom was yet another cousin of the Kuchiki. He had only seen this man in the manor and was introduced to him on occasion. Those eyes which hid behind glasses were surely devastating. His killing intent seemed to be rather ominous. Takashi kept his cool, surrounded by so many shinigami of high caliber. In addition, there was the trouble of this wave of intimidation; further adding to his frustration. It was only a moment later however, that the sky ripped open. A rather strong spiritual pressure weighed down upon everyone; making its presence known. There was something quite strange and weird about this atmosphere.
"Ah, just in time." It was only a moment later, that it began to descend. The strange looking Espada had arrived, his hat and coat still on him.

He could see the black attire that he chose reflected his rather creepy personality well. His addition did change the battle quite a bit. "I doubt anyone will wish to take on either of us. However, allow me one request before I see Sonken Taicho, Adalo-san.". Takashi raised his blade, swinging it to the right, the blood splattered across the floor. He turned back to face his former Captain, who still looked enraged. "I challenge the 11th Division Captain to a duel for his Captaincy.". It was a very strange request indeed, what would a traitor even want with that? He would clearly be forfeit from having any title regardless of the outcome. "This is the law of the 11th is it not? There are nearly a hundred shinigami present to witness this. I wish to see, Iro-Taicho, the distance between us". Without hesitation, he quickly pushed off his left foot, going nearly 400 speed. He raised the sword up over his head on his left side. Upon arriving at the man's left side, he swung his blade, now covered in blue reiatsu, at him. The Sakugen infused blade was to bypass this man's hefty spiritual pressure. Even with Takashi's strength, it was something he couldn't overcome too easily. This would further reinforce the slash and add to its weight. He knew hitting with his strength, despite if Iro became armored, could do a number on him. It was a horizontal slash, aimed against his left bicep. He held his sheath a quarter from the top near his chest. Turning on his right foot which was staggered. His left foot was a few inches above the ground just in case. "Release your Bankai...or die". He said cold at the end.

To Iro, he would understand what Takashi meant. Why was he challenging for a Captain spot? It wasn't that he wanted to be a Captain, no, it was what it represented. The pride of the 11th division now rested upon the shoulders of Iro. His honor would make it so he had to combat Takashi. The conditions were strangely accurate for defeating a captain. They were surrounded by nearly a hundred shinigami, whom would all witness this battle. For Iro as well, he might have to be cautious as to not injure the others. Takashi was ready though, he seemed to want one last thing; to strip the 11th of its honor. What was his motives? Why was he even doing this? Things would become clear soon enough. For now, the tension was continually mounting.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu= 1000-50 (Sakugen) = 950/1000

Technique Name: [Sakugen (Cut)]

SPOILER: Click to show

Class: [7] - 7-1.

Technique Type: [Other] - Kidou, Quincy Technique, Bount Technique, Human Technique, Hollow Technique, Other

Technique Element: [None] - If any

Technique Description and Effects: [What does your technique do? How strong is it? What is it's range of abilities? List these things below.]

The
user pours reiatsu into their body, and their sword, and releases it in
a mighty slash attack. A small slash of reiatsu shoots outwards, and
can cut with the same force as the user, if it hits. It also bypasses
cutback effect, as well as comes with the user's weight. It feels like
it hit the enemy with the user's body weight, on top of cutting into
them or their tools.

How to use technique: [How do you use this technique? List below.]

Charge and slash in an instant.

Drawback:
[What are the disadvantages and drawbacks of your technique? Don't
forget that the drawback must be equal in strength to the technique.
List everything related to the drawback below.]

It drains some
reiatsu and some stamina, but also comes with a requirement. One must
have a minimum of 200 in strength to be able to use this technique, or
it is invalid and probably cannot be used.

Made by: [Ozuru Ren]

Reserved?: [No]

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru was standing there, staring down Takashi, her former Fukataichou. Her arms were starting to shake from her having a death grip on her zanpaktou. She couldn't understand this man. She had so much wanted to try to understand him, to support him as the Third Seat of their division. But now? She didn't really know what to think of this man. She knew she couldn't win against him, but she couldn't let the traitor get away.

Now, she started to get angry. He was so strong and, from what she thought, so loyal to Soul Society. For him to just do this, it didn't seem possible. But, here he was, getting ready to leave with the walls of Soul Society. Her face turned into a grimace of hate while he talked to her, pretty much saying not to throw her life away. Why would he even care if she did so? He was a traitor now. But, the statement did make her think about things.

Right then she heard someone off to her left. It made her stop thinking and look. She saw the man walking towards them with a captain haori and knew who it was. It was Iro-taichou. He was walking towards them with a purpose and it made her wonder how much of what they were just talking about had he heard. While walking towards them, Takashi was talking to him, this being nostalgic or whatever. She really wasn't listening. She just watched the captain walk towards them.

She had barely run into her captain. Though, when she had, she had never seen him angry. But now, looking at him now, she could definitely tell that he was pissed and she was glad that it wasn't her that got him this angry. He walked next to her and then told her that she needed to stand down. It was his job to take care of him. He stood a few feet in front of her and her blade lowered just slightly. She was still looking at Takashi until the Captain blocked him from view.

"Iro-taichou..." She stood there, watching everything that was happening. She knew that Takashi had to fight for his Vice Captaincy, but she knew this fight was going to be more serious than that. She could also tell that it could very well be a battle to the death. She wanted Iro-taichou to win, but she wanted Takashi to actually go to trial, to see why he was doing what he was doing. Even though he explained, it just didn't seem like the way he would do things.

It was then that she started to feel other reiatsu signatures pop up around her. She heard another voice coming from her right and say Hokori-taichou walk up next to Iro-taichou. So, two elder members of the Kuchiki, besides Sozen himself, had come here to try to deal with Takashi. It also seems like Hokori-taichou brought half of Soul Society with them. She looked around and most of the faces she didn't recognize. But, she felt their power.

With that many shinigami together, it was incredible how much power they had. But, before any attacks could happen, she felt a huge presence coming down from the huge Garganta in the sky. The sheer power of this, what she assumed was Arrancar, scared her a bit. She had never felt anything so powerful. It was either that, or just the reiatsu itself. She watched as this thing came down from the sky. The closer it got, the more detail she could see.

It was a man and definitely an Arrancar. But what she saw next shook her to her core. She saw a number on his throat. The number one. So, this was one of the Espada that she's heard about and he was the strongest Espada. The Primera Espada actually came here for Takashi. Once he landed and talked, what she thought was true. Takashi was going to leave with the Primera to take his place with the king. Once the reiatsu presence actually hit her, she knew she needed to move.

She Shunpoed towards the closest roof, trying to get out of the way of the Primera and to get away from some of the pressure of his reiatsu. She watched what happened and it seemed that he came to make sure Takashi left unharmed. But, Takashi did something next that really surprised her. He challenged Iro-taichou for his captaincy. In front of all these shinigami. She knew that when he said that, Iro-taichou really couldn't refuse.

Once this was said, she backed up another ten to fifteen feet, to get out of their way. Takashi was wanting Iro-taichou to release to Bankai. She didn't know the full extent of his power, but she didn't want to be caught in the crossfire. It seems that Takashi really wanted to test how strong he was before he left. She realized that he didn't want the captaincy. He just wanted to test himself against his former captain.

She would remain on this rooftop, observing what was going on and moving when necessary. Since Takashi challenged for the captaincy, she couldn't help her captain with the fight. None of these shinigami here would be able to step in with the challenge. She just hoped that the Primera Espada wouldn't jump into the fight. She didn't know anything about him, but she wouldn't put it past Arrancars to fight that way. She just stood and hoped for the best.

[Iro Kuchiki]

Takashi seemed as though he had at least learned something from the last encounter between him and his Captain. And yet, he seemed filled with an unbecoming arrogance that was not typical of him. Rather than being the reverent subordinate that Iro knew so well, he was a cocky kid who shrugged aside the will of the Primera Espada just to gauge his strength in comparison to his cousin. And while his physical capabilities were top notch, his skill still came up short in comparison to Iro. The Captain's sword skills had been forged in years of war and bloodshed. He would not be bested by a simple frontal assault.

Iro knew that he needed to conserve movement as much as possible, not wasting a single opportunity. While Takashi may have been able to burn himself out quickly, he also had the physical stamina to extend the battle out for a long time. But he didn't even use shunpo to get close to Iro, rather he chose to run up at less than his max speed. With Iro's acute instinct, reacting was no problem at all. His left wrist used Shunpo karin to make the ten foot long sword begin to spin, forming a solid disk of steel. This would protect Iro's flank while he prepared to deal with the incoming sword.

It was obvious due to their last encounter that Takashi had a plan to avoid cutback. Either that or he was a bigger fool than Iro gave him credit for. The glowing sword meant something was going down, so Iro needed to prepare for a large hit, possibly bigger than usual. Rather than even try to fight Takashi with physical force or skill, Iro would instead focus on representing Takashi's weaker side. Takashi had little knowledge, skill, and experience when it came to Kidou, and Iro planned to exploit that.

Starting to move his hand before his cousin had managed to move more than a few steps (after Iro's enhanced instinct and natural analysis skills could make out which direction Takashi was committed to moving in), the Kuchiki grabbed his right blade with his right hand, causing a fair sized cut. By the time Takashi had committed to swinging his sword, Iro was done charging a powerful Hado. Iro's arms and swords were engulfed in black flames adding to the already mesmerizing spinning disk on his left side. Soukahou was an extremely powerful kido, one Takashi would hate to be on the wrong side of.

As Takashi's sword met Iro's, the Captain would feel an immense weight pushing him aside due to Takashi's natural strength coupled with the power of Sakugen. If it weren't for his acrobatic mastery, he probably would not have remained upright as he slid to the right in the direction of the force. Likewise, Takashi would notice small damage to his own weapon for trying to forcibly collide with a weapon of much superior cutting strength. It wouldn't be broken, but it would be damaged. He would have to react fast though, because the flames around Iro's arms were not the entire effect of the Kidou, just the way it forms when activated and maintained.

Sokkatsui sized blasts of fire, numerous in quantity, large in size, and deadly in strength started to shoot out of Iro's left hand like a machine gun. These blasts were aimed directly at Takashi, rather than around him or at the ground in front of his feet. These were attempts to harm and maim, not simply deter from fighting. "Such Arrogance to think you could provoke my Bankai while yet sealed. Have you forgotten the stories of how I faced the Bankai of Xerxes with merely swordplay and came out unscathed?" Iro would not be provoked into releasing by mere words, especially when he sought to sober up his cousin and break down his ego.

Remaining Reiatsu: 6050/7500 (-600 Soukahou -100 shunpo karin)
Combat Post 2/8

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Now we have some Lord of The Rings music}

I doubt anyone will wish to take on either of us. However, allow me one request before I see Sonken Taicho, Adalo-san. I challenge the 11th Division Captain to a duel for his Captaincy. This strange request from Takashi was prideful, moreso than he had ever shown before. So Adalo, who had come to rescue and escort Takashi, could only smirk and grin. He who was so powerful as to be able to enter the heart of the Seireitei amid all these Captains and still be confident in his own ability to live to tell the tale sat down cross legged. Adalo replaced his hat on his head, and entered a meditative stance. "Alright..." he said with a malevolent grin. "I'll wait until you're done before I take you."

Hokori Kuchiki was quick, however, to aim his blade at Adalo, and his eyes fell on the Espada coldly, behind his spectacles. The hatred present in Hokori's eyes could not be missed. "Don't be ridiculous," Hokori told Adalo. "You think that you're going to just sit here in our territory and live?" Hokori was correct that this was an opportunity to do some real damage to Las Noches, either in capturing Adalo or even killing him. Without the Primera himself, the forces of Sonken Kouhai would be crippled forever. Without someone this powerful, it would literally be possible to invade Las Noches and defeat their army in war. However, Adalo wasn't accepting of this as a possibility.

"You can try it if you want to," Adalo told Hokori, not even flinching. "Assuming, of course, you don't mind being tainted more than you already have been..." Something struck home, there, and Hokori, eyes widened, lowered his sword and grimaced with discomfort. Here was a presence even more powerful than any of the earlier monsters that had been summoned inside of the Seireitei. Adalo may be much smaller, but he was more imposing, and the shadow he cast was far larger. Hokori had clearly recognized that he was no match for the Primera Espada, and had no choice but to back down. If he went into combat with Adalo, all that would happen was pointless death. Even if Iro and Hokori went together, this might very well be the case.

Takashi and Iro started their battle with the former Lieutenant striking out with a powerful sword strike and reiatsu lining it. He didn't release upon his first attack, which proved to be a mistake. When Takashi's blade met with Iro's, the reiatsu he had lined his blade with wasn't enough. Though the physical fortitude of the attack was enormous, what happened ahead of any other effect was a large crack forming in Takashi's Zanpakuto. As a Captain, Iro possessed a spiritual pressure that could overwhelm most anyone. Of all the Captains, he was one of the view capable of staying awake in the presence of the most powerful Captain, Enma. It made sense that Iro should give Takashi this kind of trouble.

Meanwhile, Hotaru, who had escaped the situation so as to avoid danger, and join the ranks of those surrounding the area in case Takashi did try and escape from one of their directions, would be just in time to see Sozen blurring toward the Kuchiki Manor. He wasn't headed for where Takashi was situated. This indicated that something was somehow even more important than that. Hotaru couldn't even try to keep up with Sozen's top speed right now, but she could follow to the Kuchiki Manor. She would trail very far behind, but that didn't mean that she couldn't follow Sozen and get to the Kuchiki manor eventually. Though, she also had the option of just remaining at her post. Things were escalating in danger.

Over where the fight between Iro and Takashi was happening, Hokori had reluctantly backed off, as had anyone else who may have been ready to fight Adalo. The Primera was busy watching Iro and Takashi. Their combat was reflected in his eyes, and so were their struggles. "Yes... I sense it... Lost eyes... fighting against lost dignity.... One tries to reclaim the gems of his kin, and the other the sanctity of his pride.... Yes.... This conflict is sweet... So sweet..." Adalo was enjoying himself, and he knew the struggles of both Takashi and Iro. One of the nearby guards commanded silence in Adalo, who ignored it. The guard slashed at Adalo, only for his sword to shatter against the Arrancar's body.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

(OOC: Sorry for the wait)

Cold blue eyes fixated upon the man who quickly began spinning his staff in his left hand. The wind generation from it was fierce, it was obviously the caliber of one Iro Kuchiki. The shinigami's eyes fell to the man's hand which seemed to be gripping his blade. The attack of spirtual nature was to be expected. Iro had demonstrated this skill back when they had initially fought. His usage of the Bakudo was a way to try and trap Takashi. However, he knew here, an attack on the line of sight would be more relevant. As he twisted, Takashi's blade collided with Iro's outstretched shield. The weight coupled with his enormous strength would undoubtedly rocket throughout Iro's outstretched hand; perhaps even causing a great deal of damage. Takashi had more than 10x Iro's strength. To add that on with his weight was quite devastating indeed. However, Iro was able to hold on, moving to his right side. Takashi's own blade would be pushed backwards, lifting slightly into the air; near his upper right hand side.

The shinigami could also hear a cracking noise, damage to his blade was apparent. However, it wouldn't impede him too much for now. However, the main concern at this moment was the glowing arm that Iro was presently using. The attack rang out, a multitude of blasts coming forward like gatling. Takashi's stance was deliberate through, he stepped down the few millimeters with his left foot; disappearing from sight. He could feel the excessive strain put upon his spiritual pool as he did so. It seemed that intimidation from before was not only used to instill some sort of fear, but also give him extra strain spiritually; Iro was indeed smart. Takashi didn't really will to fight much either, but Adalo's presence had knocked some sense into him. The overwhelming feeling of darkness off balanced the Hana's intimidation factor slightly; allowing the shinigami to fight. Takashi would reappear a moment later, curved and behind Iro; a few feet from his right side. He would have some burns to his clothing and burns along his left shoulder and bicep area; it was torn all along there. The kido was rather close ranged and escaping was a bit difficult.

His sword would glow a brilliant blue color as it came downwards. Takashi's sheath was near his chest by his left side. His sword came down diagonally. The intent was to cut Iro's right shoulder down his back; severing the arm; Takashi attacked at his top speeds. However, this wasn't the main basis of Takashi's strategy. "Have you perhaps forsaken your soldiers, Kuchiki-taicho? Adalo.... The words rang out as his blade came down. Iro's attack would still ring out in a Gatling. This effect would cause a multitude of blasts to push towards fellow Shinigami. After all, Takashi and the others were surrounded by fellow shinigami; attempting to make it impossible for him to escape. However, Iro was now blasting these directly at his soldiers. It would undoubtedly harm or even eradicate weaker soldiers. Takashi's use of Adalo's name was to make sure no other shinigami interfered to stop the blasts, except Iro. It would be his responsibility.

Iro would have to make haste, would he be able to stop these blasts? To save himself, even with shunpo, he would have to take the time to lift a foot and step out as the attack swung down. Takashi wasn't above accelerating his attack either; utilizing his own shunpo. However, he had to be conservative here. He hoped Iro's use of excessive force would cause him to be imbalanced. Potentially he was forsaking his own fellow shinigami. It was time to see how far this man would go. Iro of all people should have known these types of attacks would not be acceptable.

Reiatsu: 800/1000 = -100 shunpo, -50 Sakugen

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru was standing with the others, watching the fight unfold below her. From what she could tell, Iro-taichou was ready to pull out all the stops to try to stop Takashi from actually leaving. But, she saw what happened with Hokori-taichou and this new man, Adalo. When Hokori-taichou backed down from the man, she knew that it wasn't good. The Captains it seemed like didn't even want to really have to mess with the Primera.

Though, she figured it was more like he didn't want to start a fight that would more than likely destroy huge parts of the Seireitei, like half of it or even all of it. If that happened, all the weaker squad members would be in danger of getting killed. Which, once she thought about it, was most of the shinigami that made up the squads. At least, based off the Primera's strength. Only Captains, she could tell, would be able to stand next to him and even put up a fight.

It was a scary fight for sure. She looked down at the fight that was starting. She hated it. She know she shouldn't, but she couldn't help it. It was family fighting family. They shouldn't be fighting. She only understood fighting family during wars but she didn't think that a war of that magnitude was going on right now. It showed her how truly blind she had been, with a lot of her thoughts on the world. She took a breath and tried to calm herself.

Takashi wasn't really family anymore. But still, she had trained with the man and thought she had gotten to know him, but obviously she didn't know him at all. She couldn't erase the memories she had of him and now when she looked at the man, he was cracking what she had thought he was. Her eyes actually started to tear up. How could one person change so much and deceive so many people? How could he do this to all these people that helped him?

She had been keeping it in but now, tears started to flow down her face. She almost burst out into tears when she was face to face with him, but kept her nerve. Now that her nerve was wavering, her tears showed. She just couldn't believe a family member could splinter a off of a family like this and go to the enemy. The thought had never crossed her mind until now. It was just a depressing fact now that glared her in the face.

While she was sniffling from this pain, she felt something coming. She looked and barely noticed who it was that was running by. But, the figure was headed towards the Kuchiki Manor and she knew that reiatsu signature like the back of her hand. It was Sozen-taichou. She was surprised that he had actually ignored clan members fighting each other. Her interest was immediately piqued. What was so much more important to him than fighting clan members? She had to find out.

So, she took one last glance towards the fight, dried her tears, steadied her resolve and set out for the Kuchiki Manor. She Shunpo'ed out so she would get there as quickly as possible, but she knew that Sozen was much faster than her, so he was already there. She arrived at the front door of the Kuchiki Manor. She quickly dusted her feet off and put on the socks she always carried around with her, since she didn't know when she would go in the Manor and she didn't want to get the Manor dirty.

She quickly walked in and it looked like some of the servants were scared out of their minds. She didn't blame them, especially with everything that's going on. She quickly walked in and looked to the closest servant in the Manor. "Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. I know he's here. Where did Sozen-sama go?" The servant pointed a shaky finger in the direction he went and off she ran, as quickly as possible. She could get faint readings on his reiatsu, so that was helpful.

She didn't want to Shunpo around the Manor because she was afraid she would run into someone running and she just didn't know the Manor that well. When she Shunpos around Seireitei, it's all open air, so she's less likely to hit someone or run into anything. Here, she wouldn't risk it. So, she ran. She felt Sozen stop, so she knew that he finally had arrived at his destination. She hurried, following the reiatsu signature until she hit a staircase. Then, she almost didn't want to keep going.

She knew this staircase. It was the same one that Sozen had taken her down to start her 'training.' She never really wanted to go down to what she liked to call her 'Personal Hell,' but the circumstances were different. She couldn't help her family in the fight, but she wanted to help out in some way. So, she slowly walked down the stairs, hoping to not make a sound. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she watched and waited. She had no idea if she was supposed to be down here with him or not, so she would wait until he said anything.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

OOC: Since Iro and Takashi are in combat, for now, my response will be to Hotaru alone.

When Hotaru was shown to where Sozen was, it would be in the dungeons wherein she and him had first trained. That was where she would find him. It was every bit as cold as she would remember, and every bit as intimidating as well. Think of that creepy feeling you get when you see a big, hairy tarantula crawling toward you. It was like that. Now, as it had always been, these dungeons, which housed many secrets, were sinister. That wasn't to say that there was no warmth to the Kuchiki name. Hotaru had been given a warm room in a warm home with a warm, loving family. They had many meals together, drinks together, and memories and experiences together. They had many bonding moments.

These were bonding moments which had been thrown away by Takashi Kuchiki. It was unfortunate for such to be the case. But, Hotaru had been told something by Sozen when she was being trained. Traitors were not tolerated by Sozen Kuchiki, who above all else treasured family, and would do anything for it. For those who betrayed his family, Sozen had ready punishments. In the case of one such as Takashi, who had genocided an entire family, and stolen the Seki Seki walls, it could very well be that if he was captured, he would be tortured not just by Sozen, but by the other Sozen. The younger one whom Hotaru had trained with before.

Arriving in the dungeon, Hotaru would see something strange. Across the floor, huge red markings formed an arcane circle in the stonework. This circle was filled with glyphs and markings, and it was steaming. Sozen was there, standing in front of the circle, his back to Hotaru. He glanced back toward her as she arrived, acknowledging her arrival. "Yes, this is where he did it," Sozen said. "It was from here that he summoned those giant monsters to distract us while he stole the Seki Seki walls." What Takehiko had earlier learned before being sent off elsewhere was that these spells, the Shokan, required summoning rituals, such as what was found here. A circle for a summoning ritual.

Hotaru had stumbled across Sozen, who was analyzing such a circle in these dungeons. It was a circle used for Takashi's benefit. Monsters had been summoned to aid Takashi, who had used this distraction to steal the walls of Seki Seki stone in the name of Las Noches. And now, Hotaru and Sozen stood analyzing these circles. Sozen turned then to Hotaru, and his eyes showed in them a fierce determination. "This betrayal puts us at a major disadvantage," Sozen told Hotaru. "As a result, I will need to give you a special assignment." That should make good sense. To avoid being disadvantaged, Sozen would give Hotaru an assignment to keep them on top of things.

"I want you to assassinate Satsujun."