Death of a Bachelor [R, DNE]

[Douma]

Thread Title: Death of a Bachelor
Participants: Douma, Shizuka Sanamizu, Hebika Nara
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non-Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: This thread takes place on Alcatraz in San Francisco. It's the middle of the day and the weather is pretty calm but cloudy.
Special Conditions: This is a 2v1 with Shizuka and Hebika fighting against Douma. Following team combat mechanic Kento created, each "team" will get to respond to the other. Douma and the Xcution team will alternate posts. Shizuka or Hebika can post for their side, but the same character can't post twice in a row for her team.
Circumstances: Alcatraz has a horrifying history behind it, but since it's shutdown, it has been mostly used as a tourist attraction and museum. During this time, however, all tours have been suspended for the following month, creating a nice hiding place for an defecting Xcution researcher. However, the poor sap couldn't run forever. When Xcution located him, they sent Shizuka Sanamizu, their highest-ranking XSG, to eliminate the target. Accompanying her is Hebika Nara who was sent to assist in the assassination process if necessary and help ensure that no Xcution secrets were stolen.

However, upon arriving at the island, the two will find a stranger in a mask waiting for them. It's even possible that they could identify him as Douma, the mercenary and criminal overlord from Soul Society who just happened to be on unfriendly terms with Xcution. It's likely that the situation can only escalate from there

[Douma]

Play This

“No… no, please don’t…”

A shaking, frightened voice pleaded in the dark, dimly lit halls of Alcatraz prison. All around were the doors leading to various dark, windowless cells. The man had blood splattered across his face. His right arm was missing, and in its place, a steady stream of blood flowed down his side. His shirt had already soaked as much of the thick red liquid as it could, weighing him down as he tried to inche away from the dark figure that stood above him. The man was lying on the floor, dragging himself down the hall until he could gather the strength to rise to his feet once more and hobble down the shadowy path.

And the masked man behind him followed with slow, controlled footsteps. He kept after his prey very calmly while the injured man desperately and unsuccessfully tried to escape. The more he ran, the more Douma’s dark aura and reiatsu seemed to eat at him, consuming his soul and vanquishing his sanity. Every step he took was accompanied by anguish cries. “Please! I’ll do anything. Anything you want. Money. Knowledge. Services. If you let me live, I can- P-please.”

But the masked man continued to approach ever so slowly without responding at all. In the darkness, the Xcution scientist failed to notice the dead end ahead until he nearly ran into the wall. It was over, but he refused to give up. Tears streamed down his face and mixed with the blood. He pushed himself against the wall, trying to push it forward in hopes of a miracle. It was futile. He turned back to see Douma standing directly over his body, oppressing him with his immense spiritual power.

“No… no, please don’t kill me. I’m so young. I have a family. A wife and two kids waiting for me. I can help you. I’ll give you everything I have on Xcution. Everything! I can- … No… no, put the sword away. Please. My kids. My wife. My beautiful wife and two-year old baby bo-“

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

Finally. Silence.

Just after a moment, Douma was joined by two young women in plain white masks. Gold, known for her bright blonde hair, and Blood, the other woman who had dark red hair, handed him his storage scroll after filling it with the belongings of the Xcution defect. All of his research and information were now in Douma’s hands, and he was eager to look through the content when he got the opportunity. However, that time would have to come later. He detected two reiatsu signatures a couple of miles away. They were certainly notable and powerful. One was mod soul that Douma didn’t recognize. The other was a human that Kagami Murai had encountered long ago in New York City. However, Shizuka Sanamizu wouldn’t come across the same man.

Since the XSG #2 was on her way, Douma could tell that Xcution wasn’t going to be pleased that he stole their target. In fact, it was likely that their was some valuable intelligence that the scientist had. Douma could try to make an escape, but there wouldn’t be any fun in that. He was longing for a nice bloody fight, and two victims were always better than one. Also, what better way was there to cripple Xcution than eliminating their top agents? Douma and his two comrades made their way up to the roof of the Alcatraz prison, standing out in the open to welcome their guests.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats, Skills, and Items}

Stats

Strength - [100] Points (50)

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400] (1000) Points

Reiatsu Strength - [150] Points

Light Aura - [65] Points

Dark Aura - [35] Points

Instinct - [150] Points

Senses - [100] Points

Energy sensory - [400] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1600] Points

Abilities

• [Weapons: Sword] {3}
  
  
• [War Strategy] {3}
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] {3}
  
  
• [Analysis] {3}
  
  
• [Leadership/Charisma] {2}
  
  
• [Mental Incantation] {2}
  
  

Items:
Blood Cross
Artificial Zanpakuto - Kagebokkusu
Storage Scroll

SPOILER: Click to show

{Gold and Blood Stats}

Stats

Strength - [300] Points

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [1000] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [0] Points

Light Aura - [65] Points

Dark Aura - [35] Points

Instinct - [150] Points

Senses - [100] Points

Energy sensory - [400] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1600] Points

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Missions had been piling up lately. Shizuka was being sent out more and more to take down targets and gather intel, which bothered her only because she started feeling like she was the only Seven Guns who was really doing anything anymore. She knew Zack was caught up in his missions and took his job very seriously, but it made her curious to how Kento was doing. She hadn't heard from him in years but they exchanged notes every now and then. Last she heard, he was on some sort of journey to become a more powerful man or whatever it was. Since then, she wasn't sure where he went.

Her job as of late had been taking down some important people who had previously been a threat to Xcution as an organization. She wasn't particularly annoyed by the jobs themselves, but more so because she had to go to school at the same time. It was stressful trying to balance both parts of her life, but she was getting by just fine. The main reason was because Xcution paired her up with Hebika due to her calming aura that Shizuka desperately needed, as well as her ability to use energy sensory; a skill that the Fullbringer lacked.

Keeping her beloved girlfriend along for the ride was all well and good, but Shizuka couldn't help feeling a bit bad about it. Hebika was being dragged literally all over the world and it never seemed to stop, but the blonde had no choice in the matter. This partnership was assigned and neither of them could say no. It's not like Shizuka hated the time with Hebika, but she wished it wasn't so... life-threatening sometimes. The two of them were strong enough on their own, but it's hard seeing someone you care about get hurt.

This mission, however, struck Shizuka as odd. She was assigned to a target who was a researcher within their own organization, but he went rogue a short while ago and was apparently selling some inside information or something to other companies and groups who wanted to know some of Xcution's weaknesses. It appeared that he wasn't able to really get any information out so he made no profit from it, which was good. Unfortunately for him, that still meant he needed to be eliminated. Shizuka was told to gather as much knowledge on him as possible before returning, and to make sure no trace of him was left. She could do that.

On their way to Alcatraz, Shizuka and Hebika had been flown in via private jet owned by the Sanamizu family. It was close enough to where it wouldn't be a far hike to the facility, but far enough away that their presence shouldn't be picked up on at first. That was good because it meant Shizuka could prepare her small team for any encounter they may have, but she wasn't expecting it to be too bad. She was informed that this researcher was a lone wolf and worked on his own to get everything in order, so that meant that he would be the only one there. That, and he was only a regular human. She didn't even think he was spiritually aware.

"Hebika," Shizuka started as they made their way towards Alcatraz. "I'm going to need you to extend your senses out and tell me what you feel as soon as we get closer. We'll have to come up with a strategy that works in a way that also allows us to gather information before erasing our target. Can you do that?"

Shizuka's voice was fairly calm and monotone with little emotional effect at all. With all of the work she'd been put through up until now, she was beginning to revert back to the cold, dehumanizing killer she used to be. When it came to her profession, it was often more helpful to be so calm and analyzing, but she'd been down this road before and didn't want to go back. She didn't feel anything back then and she didn't want to be that version of herself anymore. Hebika was the driving force for her rationality and remaining feelings because of her powerful aura, but Shizuka worried that even that wouldn't fix her. She hated being that kind of person.

Within enough time, they were outside of Alcatraz. Shizuka looked over the building with an expressionless face as she examined it. This place had been deserted for years which meant it was the best hideout for the researcher. Hoping this would be a quick and painless procedure, she attempted to make her way inside the doors before being stopped by a weird feeling that someone was watching her. It was odd, especially since she couldn't sense anyone properly like most other people could, but even she could tell that something was off.

"Hey, Hebika, do you feel something weird going on?"

If anyone could tell anything, it would be Hebika. She was an extemely bright person and very quick to notice major changes. Shizuka would not yet pick up that she needed to look towards the roof, but she did notice that something was just off about this place. It was strange, because these kinds of hunches don't really happen much unless it's something that's going to cause her harm. This kind of mission shouldn't have been that dangerous, so what on earth was bothering her so much? Shizuka felt some anxiety forming in the pit of her stomach, not liking that familiar feeling of doubt.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Stats}

Strength - [100] Points

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [200] = [500] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] = [1000] Points

Light Aura - [60] Points

Dark Aura - [40] Points

Instinct - [200] = [100] Points

Senses [200] = [100] Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1400] Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Skills}

[Analyzing] {3}

[Weapon: Gun] {3}

[Stealth] {3}

[Strength of Will] {3}

[Honeypotting - The art of manipulation to obtain information. Basically, a girl gathers enough information about her target - male or female, doesn't matter - and dresses accordingly or changes how she acts to be able to get them to do whatever she wants or tell her what she needs to hear.] {3}

[Hebika Nara]

Hebika was enjoying herself. Quite a lot to be frank. Days and days of being around Shizuka always cheered her up, and since their assignment together it had been almost like a dream, always being around the wonderful woman. Naturally she was not devoid of understanding, the  serpent was aware of Shizuka's concerns, that primarily centered around her, and did her best to show her that she would not fall, that there was no danger of her erasure, but.....in time, it soon became apparent that Shizuka was simply....worried. It was strange and oddly....flattering. That the woman was so unconditionally concerned for her.

But the cold sting of reality was, as always, quick to bring her back. Pausing slightly,  she only took a moment to look around, staring slightly as she considered the situation. A Sudden......weird feel about the place. She suddenly felt like she didn't want to be here. OF course she also didn't want to make a sensory entity. Her ability was not as free as it sometimes seemed, and using one already to just scope things out seemed a bit....wasteful. But she sighed and lamented.

There was a soft crackling as the air condensed, a little bit of ice forming for a moment before at long last, another Hebika suddenly formed beside her, drawing earth and grass from the ground, it only took a moment for those elements to fuse together. It had been a long time coming, but Hebika truly had mastered the use of her ability, especially in making detailed entities. Were it not for her darker skin and black hair, this new one would have been indistinguishable from her. Taking a moment to adjust to it's surroundings, it looked about until finally it's attention locked in the direction of the prison.

Hebika also paused, her head tilting slightly as she was suddenly made aware of the presence. And oh what a presence it was. They were......and of course....the aura they were giving off made Hebika stop in her tracks to rub her eyes in absolute disgust. This was going to be more of a pain in the ass than she could have imagined. "Whoever is in there is not friendly. Either our intel is wrong or our little information seller is nowhere near fucking spiritually unaware. We have ....a..." She frowned. What WAS it she was getting from NotHebika?

His reiatsu was of a shinigami, but with a very odd weapon. Each of them had identical reiatsu. and more imprtantly were all the same race. She actually struggled trying to think of what to call them. "They're shinigami, but....not. They definitely don't have zanpaku'to." She murmured, taking several moments to consider.  "He knows we're here. And....is not really looking for a means of negociation. Fairly sure hes going to attack us. Him and....those two..things." She knew they weren't real people. Or they didn't seem like it. Glancing at NotHebika she and the Entity took a brief moment to conference, silently talking before finally Hebika sloooowly leaned down, picking up a rock, about to eat it before Hebika slapped it out of their hand.

"Essentially we have an enormous pain in the ass waiting for us in there." She murmured through gritted teeth. Why.....was she so angry? She had no idea why....but....something about this man angered her. Something about him rubbed her the wrong way. And those fragments of himself definitely made her all the angrier. She let her spiritual pressure roar out, suddenly washing out in the direction of the prison. "I'll draw him out. You should stay hidden. You're much better at sneaking than me.....when you think to do it." She noted as she looked in Shizuka's direction, reminding the girl of the times where Hebika had chastised her for not utilizing her sneaking ability better.

She considered just taking the prison down. Ripping the supporting foundation up to make an entity. Spawning a large one dead center and having them go to town. Gawd how tempting that was.....but she knew that this was supposed to be a more....discrete operation. And as she spotted NotHebika crunch into a rock, she couldn't help but shake her head. "Get over here." She muttered with a roll of her eyes. Reaching into the entity's chest. A mouth suddenly opening up, rows of teeth showing as she then grabbed the rock and threw it onto the ground. She couldhave forced them into obedience, but they were a decent distraction from the asshat waiting inside.

"I'd ask you to take her with you but I doubt she'd avoid blowing your cover." She murmured, pointing back and ordering the entity to back off a little, away from the prison. If anything, they could serve as a sort of satelite. Staying away from the fight and locking onto the enemy positions from afar, using the mental link between Hebika and her in order to hive Hebika constant information on where they were if her normal senses were compromised. "That being said.....you're the superior here. So it's really up to you how we go about this."

-150 Reiatsu, -10% Heart's Content Level 4 Entity Generated
2450/2600 Reiatsu Remaining
90% Heart's Content Remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hebika's Stats}
Strength - 80 Points (60 Points)

Speed - 80 Points (60 Points)

Spiritual Pressure - 270 Points

Reiatsu Strength - 260 Points

Light Aura - 95 Points

Dark Aura - 5 Points

Instinct - 320 (640 Points)

Senses - 110 Points (220 Points)

Energy sensory - 0 Points (0 Points)

Healing Expertise - 250 Points

Total SP: 1,370 (700 from Class, 670 from Training)


•Pain Tolerance: 2
•Calm Mind: 2
•Battle Analysis: 2
•Damage Recovery: 2
•Anti-Stealth: 3
•Acting: 2
•Crafting - Life: 3

SPOILER: Click to show

{NotHebika's Stats}
Strength - 50 Points

Speed - 150 Points

Spiritual Pressure - 50 Points

Reiatsu Strength - 0 Points

Light Aura - 100 Points

Dark Aura - 0 Points

Instinct - 50

Senses - 50 Points

Energy sensory - 800 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Posts to Live:9

[Douma]

(( OOC: I’m assuming that Shizuka took advantage of her stealth and hid among the brush and shadows when Douma emerged. If not, then let me know and I’ll change things. Also, now that the actual PvP has started, you guys have two options. Either Shizuka posts or Hebika. I'll respond. Then you can choose between yourselves who posts again. Remember that there's a limit of posting twice in a row, so if Hebika happens to post both times, Shizuka must then post afterward.))

If only Hebika and Shizuka had more time to plan out their strategy. Unfortunately, Douma was aware of their presence on the island and was taking his time ascending to the roof of Alcatraz. In fact, Hebika had just asked her superior what the plan was when she suddenly realized that Douma was almost in their line of sight, giving her just enough time to warn Shizuka to disappear with her stealth skill. Therefore, the masked man first set his gaze upon the mod soul and her artificial sister. He was well aware of the disappearance of Shizuka’s reiatsu signature and had Gold and Blood keep their eyes out on his sides and back to ensure that no sneak-attack caught him by surprise.

Hebika might be caught by surprise just from laying eyes on him. That white mask, black coat, black sword, and the blonde and red-haired agents in blank white masks beside him. They all pointed toward descriptions of one man: Douma, the Angel of Silence. He has been on Xcution’s radar for the past several months and rose quickly on their watch list. If Hebika and Shizuka had been paying attention, the identity of their enemy wasn’t an issue. The trouble was his combat ability. After all, he had successfully invaded Soul Society and helped liberate Saeki Kuchiki while creating a Black Market Empire in his free time. To all who encountered him, caution was advised.

Douma stepped off the edge of the roof, cushioning his fall to with air ground until his feet touched the concrete. He was about thirty meters from Hebika. Without a warning, he suddenly closed the distance with a single step. With the energy sensory of NotHebika, it would be easy to anticipate the step technique. However, when Douma reappeared after vanishing with Shunpo, he suddenly flexed his impressive spiritual pressure and even created an evil, terrifying aura around him, intimidating and inciting fear from all around. He put all of his hate into that spiritual flex, all of the blood-boiling rage that drives him forward and keeps him alive. Thanks to the red cross on his wrist, the hideous nature of his own reiatsu, and the darkness that Adalo infected him with, such a flare would surprise the mod soul regardless of any forewarning. Even Shizuka would be disturbed.

While hindering Hebika’s focus and reaction time with the darkness of his reiatsu, Douma quickly slashed upward with his blade, taking it from the comfortable rest position by the right of his hip up toward his left shoulder. His right foot acted as an anchor for a small pivot, providing him with even more force behind the swing. If it hit, it would surely split Hebika in two. However, he didn’t expect a single move like that to end the fight. There was still the current highest-ranked assassin in Xcution. Let’s see how much of a fight they could put up on their own. If she did well, Shizuka might be considered for the empty Number 1 XSG position now that Kento Sasaki is dead.

Reiatsu Remaining: 9,950/10,000 (-50 for Shunpo)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Blood Cross}

Item Name: Blood Cross

Item Type: Wristband

Item Description:

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. It can only be resisted by someone who has either or both a 3 in Lack of Fear.

[Hebika Nara]

There was pause given when that man suddenly moved in, his eyes staring in her direction as she stared blandly back. There was a sort of unusualness about him that gave birth to some....unusual instinct within her. She wasn't used to this sensation, whatever it was, a slight tremor in her spiritual pressure as she watched him. Something so very.....off about him that made her beg the question as to what it was he really wanted. But of course....she knew what he wanted. He was testing them, in a manner of speaking.

So when he was suddenly in her face, those eyes boring into her own with that strange intensity that seemed almost alien, she was not upset. Something was.......other....about him. A quality she could not quite discern. And in that instant between the time that he suddenly appeared before her and he began swinging that blade, she suddenly smiled. Even if he ws intimidating she.....enjoyed it. Something she had never felt? Something this man seemed to gush from every pore? Something was....exciting about it all. And in an instant any semblance of subtletely was suddenly gone about her. She felt.....Scared. And somehow she felt stronger because of it.

The instant his blade was about to make contact, her instinct so far surpassing his. He would have no time to react of course. She was simply just.....too fast for him mentally. Just as that blade neared her body, there was a shift. And in that minute instant there was no time for him to pull back, his muscles already in full swing as she chose the very instant his blade began cutting into the very first fibers of her clothing. The very next instant that blade suddenly stopped cutting. In an instant that cloth flexed and for just a moment, it pushed the cloth to her skin. But it did not cut.

After all, she had NotHebika. Watching from afar, with eyes that set on Douma. And with her energy sensory, even if she couldn't read his past, she could tell so very very much~ She knew exactly how strong he was. Strength and speed were...hard to determine, but Spiritual pressure and the wealth of reiatsu were SO much easier to sense~ And with her sensory abilities? Sensing Douma's was like reading a toddler's nametag. So when this new entity was made, it was made oh so specifically.

Instantly massive lacerations would tear ass along his arm, deep and VICIOUS. Blood would immediately start trying to evacuate as the shinigami would find his arm becomming quite useless. So strong was the sudden shift in spiritual pressure that even the man's chest would feel lances of pain rippling across it as far less dire cuts would make their way across his form. The hoodie itself shifted, molding it's body along her skin, covering her arms even along the fingertips, as it encapsulated her entire upper body. Of course her head and face were left alone. She had style after all.

Immediately after the attack backfired, she would take a fraction of a second to watch him. She would use both her insane instinct as well as NotHebika's energy sensory to look for any fine reiatsu shifts. Anything that would bely the use of ANY technique. IF there was none? Then she would promptly execute another summon, a new entity birthed to life as suddenly toothless mouths would suddenly form around Douma's feet as she solidified the air itself, suddenly forming organic ice with the help of her reiatsu. Those mouths clasping firmly around the man's feet, the lack of teeth was.....in response to his spiritual pressure.

She had been hurt by Shizuka's spiritual pressure enough times to know that she could not attck with sharp force or impact. So instead, those mouths held onto the feet, before simply....crushing them. An insane strength intent on turning his feet into mush from the ankles down. Slow? Of course, but with their strength it wouldn't be like he was going anywhere. There was ample oportunity for him to use some technique to try to get them off, as they were likely much slower than him...she actually hadn't gotten a good read on his speed yet, but well...she gave them a good chance of ripping his feet off before he could do much.

"Rude" She murmured aloud as she would watch carefully. And of course...thewre was the chance that he would use some reiatsu. IN which case she would have plenty of instincts to hold off on those chompers, using a brief little moment to use her high speed move to slip her hot little ass away, backing off, using the first step to move back, then the second half of the step to change directions and sidestep to avoid if a second attack was thrown her way. IF he shunpo'd she had a plan of course, simply waiting for him to reach his destination before, similarly, mouths would form at his feet.

OF course in either case, after A: The most likely event of them managing to chomp the man's feet, they would keep the hold on him as they crawled out of the ground, both heads to a singe entity, one Shizuka would know from their last spar. A beast made specifically for this kind of thing. Anklebiter. After emerging from the ground, it would be seen that it actually had countless heads, each of them canine in appearance as the entity itself was a solid 50 feet in height, heads sprouting from it's body like some sort of horrendous hydra, it's enormously long tail behind it swishin.

It's composition was fairly intruiging. IT's mouths and faces of each and every head was made up of solidified air, oxygen, hydrogen and the like supercooled, to the point where ice would likely have begun crawling up Douma's legs even if by some means he HAD managed to escape them, freezing his legs and clothing. The main body and necks were simply solid stone, but from little mouths along the necks and along it's chest, gushed it's blood: liquid rock: Namely lava. Of course the necks were long enough that the mouths were not in danger of melting from it, and it's tail had a long line of mouths drooling the stuff. A whip of it's tail more than enough to fling strands of that magma at whatever it wished.

She didn't know what Douma was expecting when he decided to attack Hebika. But she was fairly sure that in that short span of time, he was given PLENTY to think about. And Shizuka wuld be given alllllll the time in the world to circle around and begin preparing to attack. As she had most likely crippled Douma, (CERTAINLY having robbed him of the use of his arm), it would be slowly easier and easier to deal with him. She wasn't actually sure if she wanted to kill him... and those two ladies with him, doubtlessly, would have issues that they brought up. But for now, the ball was in her and shizuka's court.

She simply hoped that Shizuka was going to capitalize on this opportunity she was giving. With them distracted it was a wonderful opportunity for her to finish the crippling process Hebika had started. Or, more simply, to kill one of his companions. Drench them in lava or liquid nitrogen and be done with it. Or she could be a bit more creative and use smething toxic. IT wasn't as if Hebika's Gigai was in any danger after all. But even so, she did feel a sudden drop in her stamina. Thankfully her style of fighting relied incredibly little on her own necessity to move. She didn't move, her entities did that for her. So as long as she didn't murder herself on the spot, she should be fine......for now.

-1200 reiatsu for 2 Level 6 Entities
Hearts Content -66%
23% Heart's Content Remaining
1250/2600 Reiatsu Remaining
IF Caelumintro is necessary: -60 Reiatsu
Caelumintro Speed: First Step 480 (660 Second Step)
Possible 1190/2600 Reiatsu if Step used

SPOILER: Click to show

{Dread Hood Stats}
Strength - 25

Speed - 25

Spiritual Pressure - 1350

Reiatsu Strength - 0

Light Aura - 0 Points

Dark Aura - 100 Points

Instinct - 50

Senses - 0

Energy sensory - 0 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{AnkleHorror Stats}
Strength - 725

Speed - 475

Spiritual Pressure - 50

Reiatsu Strength - 0

Light Aura - 0 Points

Dark Aura - 100 Points

Instinct - 150

Senses - 50

Energy sensory - 0 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Dread Hood Duration: 1/3 threads

AnkleHorror Duration: 1/3 threads

NotHebika Duration: 2/10 posts

[Douma]

Serendipity, a "fortunate happenstance" or "pleasant surprise.” An appropriate word when people come across as unintentional stroke of luck that resulted from an action or decision. Serendipity usually didn’t come into play with Douma. In fact, he tended to encounter bad circumstances when he intended for different results to come about. For example, he wanted to have use of his right arm for his battle with the Xcution agents. Of course losing control of one limb wouldn’t slow him down too much, but it was an inconvenience when Hebika animated her cloak so that it was capable of inflicting the effects of cutback on him. That was the first time Douma had ever been on the receiving end of cutback, and it wasn’t too fun. He winced from the pain, but he would be able to fight through it.

Hebika, on the other hand, was in for a different surprise. Serendipity didn’t apply at all in her situation, but rather its opposite: irony. In crippling Douma’s arm, she had doomed herself completely. Blood splattered across her body and cloak, but this blood wasn’t red. It was a reflective fluid, like liquid silver. It had the same consistency as blood, but it had the visual properties of a mirror. And it was all over Hebika and her entity, creating an unintended reiatsu clash between Douma’s artificial body and Hebika’s entity. The instant his blood splattered on Hebika’s cloak, all nearby, including Shizuka, would hear a high-pitched frequency similar to that of a dog-whistle. Not much would happen at first, but Hebika may realize that her blood had started pumping harder and faster, maybe just from the heat of the battle. Little did she know that overtime, it would worsen. She would begin to get mad. Right now, she is likely already angry at Douma, but that anger would pick up steam. She would certainly notice something unusual about her mental and emotional state soon. Douma had her trapped. Unless she defeated him in a timely manner, she would lose her self control to rage.

But there was still a matter of disengaging. Douma could detect the energy build-up by his feet as Hebika summoned new entities. Because of the way he pivoted on his right foot, he had already given himself the opportunity to use a step technique in order to disengage. After activating Shunpo off his right foot to his left, he was able to put a gap of 40 meters between himself and Hebika. Gold and Blood would be moving to position themselves beside him so that his bleeding arm wouldn’t prevent him from defending himself in a physical confrontation. Gold took his black sword from his weak grasp as Douma began speaking. “You are an interesting one. Xcution has a habit of attracting members with much potential, such as yourself.” Douma spoke with a light tone, as if there wasn’t much gravity in the tense situation. However, Hebika and Shizuka would notice the subtle hostility in his voice as well.

“Allow me to offer you two a way out of this unfortunate circumstance,” he said, clearly aware of Shizuka's presence. He spoke loudly so that Shizuka would be able to hear from wherever she hid. “I keep an eye out for talent and skill, which both of you do possess. If money attracts you, I can offer you paychecks greater than Xcution provides, and as long as you do not tell Xcution of your relationship with me, you would be able to profit from both employers. I have an extensive network of resources, especially in the underworld, that are out of your reach at the moment. When it comes to pure power, I have allies with uncomprehendable strength. No matter what you desire, I can provide it, and I always welcome new business partners. Is it worth putting this battle to the side in favor of something more mutually beneficial?” Most would find such an offer tempting, but Douma wasn’t certain that they would accept. In fact, he was almost counting on the opposite. And if they turned him down, he would either have to be more persuasive or get ready to burn bridges.

Reiatsu Remaining: 9,350/10,000 (-600 for Wrath of Ira, -25 for Shunpo)

Life Force Remaining: 9,900/10,000 (-100 from cutback)

Hebika - Wrath of Ira Post Count: 1

SPOILER: Click to show

{Wrath of Ira}
Technique Name: Wrath of Ira

Class: 1

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other): Other

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): All Races

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):

Ira, the Roman spirit of rage, was believed to strip any mere mortals of their rational and force them into a blind rage. Wrath was is one of the most dangerous sins because not only does it hurt you but it damages all those around you as well. That is the nature of this ability. It takes otherwise sane and reasonable individuals and makes them insane with anger.

Anyone with 50% offensive stat superiority are immune to the effects of this technique. However, for those who do not meet this requirement, there are various ways this ability can be used to affect targets, and that depends largely on the class of others. Anyone class 4 or below can be subject to the affect of the technique if Douma pays 600 reaitsu that releases a high-frequency sound similar to that of a dog whistle that can be heard for a half-mile around. Any of those individuals of the specified classes that hear the frequency will suddenly have a complete personality change. Their blood will pump several times faster as they push themselves to their physical and spiritual limits. Their sole goal becomes causing as much destruction as possible. They will attempt to take the lives of any nearby people, and if they can’t find any living targets, they will attack nearby buildings and structures to just wreck havoc. After approximately six posts, they will burn themselves out and collapse from exhaustion caused by the affect of the spell. Until then, they will have a 3 in Pain Tolerance and Strength of Will.

Now, we move on to how it works against tougher cookies. Corrupting them with the Wrath of Ira is significantly more difficult, and Douma now needs a mechanism to begin the effect. The ability is still sound based, but the sound must come from more than just Douma’s reiatsu. Now, a reiatsu clash between him and his opponent is required. This occurs if any technique or release from Douma and his target come into contact. He can then pay 600 reiatsu, no matter the result of the clash, and the contact then produces the same frequency that can only affect the person who’s reiatsu clashed with Douma’s. For example, if one has an ability that changes the environment and Douma uses Kido against the new environment created by the opponent’s reiatsu, he can pay the additional cost to create that frequency. This does not apply to physical contact.

So what happens if someone above class 4 hears the whistle? That all depends on their class. At class 3, the victim will experience an increase in heart rate build up of unexplainable anger, and loss of rational, developing a 3 in Pain Tolerance and Strength of Will. After two posts, the first effect will begin. They will be come obsessed with attacking Douma or whoever their initial target was, doing so as brutally as possible. Their fighting style begins to focus on bombarding or their enemy without letting up, much like a Berserker. After 4 posts, the second affect begins and they turn into the crazy individuals that attack anyone or anything near them without a second thought. After six posts, they burn out and pass out from exhaustion. For someone that is Class 2, the time lapse becomes 3 posts for the first effect and 6 for the second. For someone at class 1, it is 4 posts for the first effect and 8 for the second. For those at class 0, it takes 8 posts for the first affect and 16 for the second, though it’s doubtful that the fight would last that long. If Douma is killed or loses consciousness, the ability ends. Each time another clash of reiatsu occurs, Douma can pay an additional cost of 200 after the initial cost of 600 and increase the post count by 1.

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

Listed above.

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) (Insert Below)

Most drawbacks are listed above. The reiatsu cost adds up if he tries to speed up Wrath of Ira’s affects on others. It strengthens the resolve of anyone without a 3 in Strength of Will already and bumps their Pain Tolerance to 3 if it wasn’t their earlier. In addition, there is high risk for Douma. If his target is stronger than he is and he cannot hold off their relentless attacks or incapacitate them with their 3 in Pain Tolerance and Strength of Will, he puts himself in jeopardy. In addition, those under the effects of this technique do not discriminate and can go after Douma’s allies as well.

Made By: Douma

Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?): Yes, but it can be taught.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka heard the noises that Hebika's abilities were making, rightfully assuming that she was building an entity. Hebika's powers were truly something unique and Shizuka was a tad jealous, but she was more happy about being able to be partnered up with the Mod Soul than anything else. The two of them made a good team, especially when the Fullbringer needed some help sensing what was around them. Hebika's entity was born looking almost exactly like the original Gigai, causing a small smile to form across Shizuka's otherwise worried expression.

"Whoever is in there is not friendly. Either our intel is wrong or our little information seller is nowhere near fucking spiritually unaware. We have ....a..."

"A what?" Shizuka questioned, looking over at her partner.

"They're Shinigami, but.... not. They definitely don't have Zanpaku'to."

The Fullbringer nodded as the smile faded into something more sinister. He was not only the one thing she hated the most in this world, but he was the worst kind of it. "A Rogue."

Hebika told Shizuka that he knew the two ladies were there. If this Rogue was here and Hebika couldn't sense the guy they were looking for, it meant this disgusting trash took him out. That was just wonderful. Not only was their target out for the count, they couldn't even get information from him like they wanted to. Xcution was going to have them kill this offender anyway, so it's not like his life was going to be spared, exactly. But the fact is that they can no longer find out what he was doing with the leaked data. Hebika was right. This was going to be a pain in the ass.

"I'll draw him out. You should stay hidden. You're much better at sneaking than me.....when you think to do it."

Shizuka smiled awkwardly at Hebika as she raised her hand to rub the back of her head. Playing with her hair like this was what she did when she knew she did something wrong, but she did sort of have a bad habit of going in guns blazing. Shizuka was one of the stealthiest people in all of Xcution and knew how to abuse that the way she needed to, but she tended to forget to conceal herself and move about as quietly as possible. She wasn't worried about being killed all the time, so it wasn't really an issue. But Hebika had a point here. Now it would be an issue.

NotHebika was freaking adorable, though. She was so incredibly dumb that it made Shizuka laugh. The Fullbringer was tempted to ask if they could keep her, but she knew Hebika's entities had a time limit and she didn't want her partner to waste her power like that. NotHebika's purpose was to be an additional sensor for her creator and send mental hints and tips to the whereabouts of their opponent and his weird subordinates. Shizuka recognized when to be serious, though, and shut out the distractions. She chose to hide within the bushes and allow Hebika to go about her business and execute her own plans. Shizuka would come into play later.

Chances were high that this Rogue would know the two of them were here. Just because Shizuka's Reiatsu signature was gone didn't mean she disappeared completely. A sneak-attack wasn't on her priority list, though. She knew she could trust Hebika, but she wasn't going to just leave the poor Mod Soul out there to fight on her own. Instead, she waited for a signal. She and Hebika had worked together for a long time now, so she knew all of the motions her partner would give to relay strategies. It was almost like a form of sign language that only the two of them knew about.

Now that the Rogue was in her line of sight, Shizuka kept her emotions at bay while she focused on concealing herself within the brush. Unfortunately, she recognized the man. So this was what Kagami looked like now. Her encounter with him had been brief, but no one can cover up the rumors that spread through the dimensions of the world. Douma wasn't Kagami, but Kagami was Douma. The details of his appearance had been skewed, but all that mattered was that Shizuka knew this man wasn't the same as he was back then. She didn't know how different he became, but she knew he was dangerous.

He shot himself towards Hebika after lowering himself towards the ground, engaging a small reflexive response from Shizuka as she started to launch herself out from beneath the leaves. She held herself back, however, and refused to give herself up. Douma knew she was there but not where she was, so it was crucial that she stay hidden for now. She hated that all she could do was watch, but the Fullbringer had no choice. Between the two, Hebika was safer even in the line of fire. She had to trust that her partner would be okay.

Even then, his flexing of Reiatsu reached her. Shizuka had zero talent when it came to sensing other people, which was why Hebika was so crucial for this mission. That could be a huge relief for when her opponents tried to intimidate her because it was easy for her to ignore, but it was a problem because that meant she needed another way to find them. This time, however, the weird feeling came back that Shizuka had gotten while they were standing outside the prison. It wasn't awful, but it gave her anxiety. She could only imagine how Hebika felt.

That is, of course, until Hebika reacted. Shizuka could tell the Mod Soul was scared, but there was something else going on. She seemed more ready for a fight than ever, even when Douma threw the first attack. Odd. Kagami never liked attacking first. Even so, this wasn't Kagami. Shizuka needed to remind herself of that or else she'd be in big trouble. So as his blade went slicing up towards Hebika, she countered so quickly that even Shizuka had a hard time seeing it. The move was fast and unforgiving, especially since Douma had no way of just flat-out halting his own attack. Shizuka smiled. She was proud.

-------- RELEVANT PART --------

What Hebika was doing was incredibly impressive. She managed to trap Douma and cripple his arm, rendering it useless. To land an attack like that so quickly truly showed such high levels of skill. Shizuka was really excited about Hebika's growth from the moment they first met until even now. She's developed into such a strong Mod Soul and an even stronger friend (girlfriend), so this was actually a wonderful moment for Shizuka to see. Not only that, but her instincts were so powerful that she could even tell when Douma was about to move and summoned an entity to prompty crush his feet.

Even Shizuka winced a bit at that move. Hebika was not being fair with him at all, but that was a good thing. She needed to use whatever she could to hold him down and she knew it. Her talents were truly something to admire, which Shizuka frequently did. She just hoped that, deep down, Hebika admired her, too. Unfortunately, the admiration took a pause when some weird, silver-like substance splashed up onto Hebika. Shizuka's eyes went wide with slight horror (but more so disgust, that's gross) as she watched Hebika become drenched in the stuff.

The splatter caused some sort of strange sound to burst through Shizuka's ears. It was high pitched and annoying to hear, but seemed to be coming from Douma somehow. What was he doing? Hebika was holding him there and Shizuka felt as though she needed to get to her. This was bad. He was obviously trying to do something but she didn't even know how to stop it! And Hebika was right there! But as if she could almost feel the panic growing within her partner's heart, Hebika simply held her hand up in Shizuka's direction. It was a motion Douma would take as her way of trying to stop the noise, but it was actually one of their signals.

So Hebika was okay? Shizuka sighed in relief. She scanned around to check and see where Douma's twin killers went to, and she watched as the two of them rejoined his flanks and Gold took his sword. So he was too injured to hold it in that hand. That was good, right? Well, good until he started trying to make a deal with the two of them as Shizuka began thinking of her options. She could burst out of the bush and attack, but she'd risk running into the two beings he had right by him. Those two could be an issue. Shizuka wasn't as good at sensing as Hebika was, but her Soul Gauge did some work for her. A few numbers were showing for their Reiatsu and things like that, which was helpful.

Douma's offer wasn't appealing, but Shizuka knew he probably assumed they weren't going to take it. She wasn't sure why he was even offering this in the first place, but she didn't have to wonder about it for too long. It didn't matter. Nothing he was telling her mattered because she was loyal to Xcution. They were her second family and actually cared about her the way they do for all of their employees. Well, except for the guy they were supposed to find and interrogate today. That didn't end up happening.

Now, once Douma's silver blood attack and weird noise happened, Shizuka knew it was about time she made a move. If she released, she wouldn't be able to stealth around anymore. Still, she needed to do something to help Hebika because she couldn't let her partner go at the three of them alone. For now, she needed to make a strategy. Gold and Blood had to be controlled by Douma somehow, but did they have a mental link the way Hebika and her entities did? Shizuka was going to assume they didn't. From what she'd heard about Douma from rumors, he didn't have the ability to create things like that.

With a sigh, Shizuka decided it was time for her to act. Abusing the fact that Hebika had Douma trapped by clamping down on his feet with her entity after he attempted to escape with Shunpo, she figured he wouldn't be too much of a threat for her just yet. The minute he escaped would be bad news, but for now, she was going to be just fine. His two partners were the real issue here. She needed to take them out but she knew that wouldn't be so easy. Still, they were both at his flanks and all three of them were in the same area. There had to be something for her to do.

Alright, time to go, Shizuka thought to herself, slowly and quietly moving herself out behind the bush so she wasn't within the leaves anymore. She used Movement to scoot herself up next to Douma while simultaneously releasing her Fullbring, well aware that they would all sense her doing so. Just because they could sense a burst of Reiatsu didn't mean they could just completely locate her if she was moving quickly. Now that she was out in the open, her end position was just in front of Douma as her initial step technique stopped. In that same moment, she rushed to shut Hebika's eyes and concurrently use her Bringer Light to move twenty meters above the group.

She was going to use their obvious blindness advantageously as she shot out 30 gallons of fluoroantimonic acid. For those of you who aren't nerds, this superacid is highly corrosive and very toxic. If it touches skin at all, the skin will burn and blister immediately and corrode away from the bone, leaving gaping wounds if not treated. But good luck treating it because it does not do well in water. She only shot three times, ten gallons each, with one shot at each of her opponents. She left Hebika unharmed. She was, in fact, the best firearms master in her entire organization. She knew exactly where to shoot and she knew she wouldn't miss. And since they were all blinded, it'd be incredibly hard to react to her attack.

Shizuka stayed those twenty meters above the group to assess the situation. Even if her acid didn't hit at least one of them somehow, all three would still be blinded and that would give Hebika enough time to either escape or think of another route to take. The acid that Shizuka summoned was incredibly dangerous, but her safety and the safety of her beloved partner would not be in jeopardy. They just needed to be able to think of a way to keep those three trapped in one area for Shizuka to melt them all. That was going to be challenging given their enemy, but they'd be fine.

Still, the Fullbringer didn't like what she was seeing. She had no idea why Douma was even here or what he wanted. Reasoning with him wasn't going to happen because that's not the kind of man he is. So what was his angle? There had to be some kind of benefit for him to have gone in there and destroyed the only source of information the two ladies had. What was the purpose of ruining their mission like this? And did he know it was them who were supposed to come? Shizuka shook the idea out of her mind. No, that's probably not it. But what was it?



Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4725 (-200 for Beach Queen, -50 for Bringer Light, -25 for Movement)
Fullbring Stage 1: 1/10
Liquid Type: Fluoroantimonic Acid
Gallons Remaining: 70/100

[Douma]

Check…

Douma wasn’t pleased. His enemies were not the type to die without a fight, and he was getting a fairly interesting one. Hebika had won the exchange against Douma in the short run. He had initiated Wrath of Ira against her, but at the moment, it appeared that she held his lower-body hostage. Hence, the ‘check.’ So early in the game and she already had a clear line of sight of the king. Douma was commanding very poorly. He had grown rusty since his days in Squad 1, where he commanded squadrons of Soul Society’s finest. It had been some time since he led operations as captain of Squad 13 too. Less time, but still time. What better opportunity to brush up on his skills than in combat against Xcution’s deadliest agents.

Douma wasn’t expecting them to join him. Not yet, at least. They might change their minds before he killed them, but he could change his mind by then too. And so he would let that matter play out on its own and focus on controlling the tides of battle. Shizuka responded first to his invitation. The instant she began her step technique, she was explode. A smile pulled on the man’s lips, though his mask hid it. Shizuka drew very near, and right when she arrived, Gold was ready to meet the potential-assailant in a physical battle. Last Douma remembered, Shizuka was more of a spiritually-based marksman. It was strange of her to get this close to begin with, so something had to be up. She was either attacking from point blank or making a fly-by, as Douma oftened did with opponents physically superior to him. There was a third option: Douma didn’t have enough intelligence to predict his opponent’s attack. In that case, all he could do was react as flexibly as possibly.

Gold stayed put when Shizuka first approached, her hands raised in front of her torso in case immediate defense was necessary. However, Shizuka’s reiatsu began to flex once more, collecting in her feet with more concentration than it had before. Douma had witnessed this human technique in the past and recognized it with his energy sensory. She was on the move again, but this time, she wasn’t stepping in any direction in particular. Therefore, she had to be moving straight up. Douma understood her trajectory before she moved, but there were two other factors. First of all, she had released when she bridged the distance between them. Secondly, his high energy sensory revealed undertones of deception in her mind. To make sure Douma was prepared to handle any coordinated attacks from her and Hebika, he needed all the versatility he could find. That’s where his bakkoto came into play. He silently released into the class 3 stage, causing a black sword to immediately form in his maimed right hand. His release also caused the reflective blood on Hebika’s hood to turn her entire hood into a mirror. Douma himself, because he held his own weapon, suddenly gained a reflective surface all over his clothes and body as well.

But none of that would stop him from being blinded from the flash of light Shizuka created. Without his sight, he was at a disadvantage, but his energy sensory was precise. Both Shizuka, now that she was released, and Hebika wouldn’t be able to hide their reiatsu from him. He felt the liquid from Shizuka’s gun gather and burst forward toward him. Because he was familiar with her release already, it was only made easier to anticipate the liquid. Therefore, just a second before the water made contact with Douma, a 3 meter by 3 meter mirror wall formed a foot away from the Rogue, separating him and his allies from Shizuka’s attack.

However, the acid wasn’t going to just collide with the mirror. A second mirror wall was created five feet directly above Shizuka’s head. Without energy sensory, she would have no clue that it was there. Douma linked both mirrors as they were simultaneously summoned so that when Shizuka’s projectile liquid made contact with the first mirror, it simply passed right through and came out of the other mirror pointed at her head. If Shizuka didn’t act quickly, she would not only deal with the impact her water gun can generate but also have her entire body burned by the hydrochloric acid. Best of all, her water passing through the mirror would create another clash of reiatsu that released a high-pitch noise, instilling the growing anger that he had placed in Hebika into Shizuka as well. Wrath of Ira would do its work over time.

On the other hand, Hebika’s entity was also an issue. The mod soul certainly could have responded to Shizuka’s assault by crushing Douma’s feet at the same time. In that situation, Douma wouldn’t respond at all. It would be Gold’s duty to defend him. The instant those mouths began compressing, Gold would activate Shunpo Karin, slicing down with her arm at lightning speed. With the black sword Douma originally wielded, the teeth would be sliced in two, preventing them from squeezing any further. That way, Douma could focus on his exchange with Shizuka.

With that action, the situation had changed. Now, Shizuka would be on the defensive and Hebika was held hostage by the mirror cloak she wore. All she knew so far was that mirrors were a part of Douma’s release, instantly making them dangerous, and that she was mad. Furious. So angry she could barely control herself. Her heart would be pumping with an unusually fast speed. Her blood pressure was skyrocketing. In fact, she could lose control at any moment. Her dear friend Shizuka might need her help, but attacking Douma sounded far more appealing. She wanted to kill the man. For now, she could use her sense to overcome that powerful desire, but it would soon consume her. It was just a matter of seconds.

Reiatsu Remaining: 8,300/10,000 (-200 for Class 3 Bakkoto release, -100 for two mirror walls, -50 for a mirror link, -100 for Shunpo Karin, -600 for Wrath of Ira on Shizuka)

Life Force Remaining: 9,900/10,000

Class 3 Bakkoto: 1/3

Hebika – Wrath of Ira Post Count: 2

Shizuka – Wrath of Ira Post Count: 1

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

OOC: So we'll stick with the plan that we talked about before. Take Hebika out (but don't kill her, of course) and move on with explaining everything to Shizuka so that we can move to the next thread and continue the story!

Shizuka bit her lip. If any of that acid hit any of them, it was going to mean instant corrosion. Depending on the amount, it could possibly even cause death. The Fullbringer knew that her attack failed as soon as she saw the mirror form. What was his angle? It was all too quick that she had to figure it out, though, because the minute she saw that her acid slipped through the mirror instead of just hitting against it the way she assumed, she used Movement again to get out of the way by stepping backwards and to the left a bit, enough to be out of the way. She did this because she originally thought he was going to make it shoot back out at her, meaning she needed to be out of the line of fire. She didn't expect the mirror to appear above her head, so when she saw that and watched her acid fall to the ground, she clutched her heart. This wasn't good.

Hebika was unresponsive. Shizuka didn't know why her partner had suddenly become a ghost of her former self, but nothing was going the way they planned. The Fullbringer tried calling out to her Mod Soul friend, but nothing was working and it was time for action. Or, so she thought. Shizuka refocused her attention on Douma and watched him. She was studying everything he did. He was still caught by Hebika's entities, but since Hebika couldn't attack him, that's all that was happening. The biter was clamping into his feet so that he couldn't get away, but not enough to actually crush him. That was fine. Shizuka just wanted answers, and now seemed like a good time to ask.

"Douma, right? My organization has heard of you, and you of us, it appears. Obviously, we're at a bit of a stalemate as it is, so until one of us makes a move, I have a few questions." Shizuka lowered her weapon to show that she wasn't planning anything sneaky, but she was also ready for if anyone came at her. "You came all the way out here to kill our target for a reason. Can you explain that?"

Was he going to talk to her? She didn't know. She cared to know, though. He had no major reason to be here other than to ruin Xcution's mission, but maybe that's because he was assigned to something similar. Still, regardless of his reasons, their pathway to endless information had been disrupted the moment he silenced the man they were after. Shizuka's job was to interrogate him while Hebika took out any outside threats, but this threat had proven himself to be more than a little challenging. Shizuka wasn't going to fight him on his own, so she was going to try to do what her organization hired her to do: Get stuff out of him.

"Or maybe you'd rather cut first and answer questions later? I don't really know. You Shinigami types all seem to be relentless killers in the first place."

Okay, maybe that comment was unnecessary, but she couldn't stop herself from saying it! Everything was coming out of her like word-vomit. She had seen this man's file in Xcution's data logs so she knew he was a Shinigami. She was also sort of learning how to tell the races apart depending on traditional clothing choices, but even that wasn't reliable half the time. Still, Shizuka held her ground despite what her words said. She wasn't threatening him, but rather, she was stating a fact that she genuinely believed. She didn't think it was going to cause any emotional harm to him, anyway. He was tougher than that.



Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4700 (-25 for Movement)
Fullbring Stage 1: 2/10
Liquid Type: Fluoroantimonic Acid
Gallons Remaining: 70/100

[Douma]

Douma felt the swell in Shizuka’s reiatsu just before she flash stepped away. He was familiar with the technique movement, so it wasn’t a surprise that she sped away from his counter. She was playing cautiously. It was a smart way to begin the fight if she were battling Douma one-on-one, but Hibika’s situation complicated things. Shizuka didn’t have many options when it came to helping her friend.

The mod soul would find herself consumed completely by rage. She no longer had any self-control. Hebika Nara was a monster with one purpose in life: to destroy everything around her. Using all of her strength, the mod soul commanded the ice in the air around her just as she did before. However, instead of animating it into a smaller creature, she turned it into a frozen golem that stood 30 feet tall. The spawn formed around Hebika, using the Xcution officer’s body as a core and acting as armor, making it difficult for Douma to halt her rampage.

The golem charged the masked man under Hebika’s will, motivated by anger and uninfluenced by any form of consciousness. Hebika had the self-control of a wild animal under the Wrath of Ira. Now, Douma could have met the beast head-on, but he didn’t want to kill Hebika. He needed to take her out of the fight before she could do anymore damage. As the spawn neared, Douma extended his free left hand and sent out two bolts of lightning in quick succession. Hado #4: Byakurai. The rods of electricity were thin and fast. They were also relatively weak compared to Hebika and Shizuka, allowing the mod soul to tank the blows without suffering any damage. However, each collision was met with another high-pitch whistling sound, rapidly progressing the affects of the Wrath of Ira. After the second bolt hit, Hebika’s mind and body would give out simultaneously, causing her creations to dissolve into the air and tossing her into deep unconsciousness. She wouldn’t be able to wake up for at least a couple of days after expending herself so much so quickly.

Now that Hebika was out of the way, Douma looked up at Shizuka as she addressed him. “Douma, right? My organization has heard of you, and you of us, it appears. Obviously, we're at a bit of a stalemate as it is, so until one of us makes a move, I have a few questions." Good, she wanted to talk. Perhaps she realized that fighting him would be a mistake. Or maybe she understood that there was little purpose in this battle. As Shizuka let her gun rest by her side, Douma did the same with his blade. "You came all the way out here to kill our target for a reason. Can you explain that?"

“Yes. He had information that I wanted. That is the same reason that you were targeting him, correct?” Douma wasn’t the type of man to mess around. He was straight-forward, and he expected the same from Shizuka. And she didn’t disappoint. ”You Shinigami types all seem to be relentless killers in the first place." Behind his mask, a smile tugged on the corner of his lips. “If I were the type of Shinigami you’re familiar with, you’d be lucky.” She really wanted to fight him. She hated him. Douma loved that.

“But ‘we Shinigami types’ have a habit of killing Xcution assassins. You won’t want to follow in the footsteps of Xcution’s old #1.” And with that, Shizuka would find herself surrounded in all direction by… her. Mirrors formed around her in every direction, completely blocking her from the outside world. In fact, she was locked in a triangular pyramid about twice her height with the point facing up toward the sky and the bottom at the soles of her feet, giving her a solid platform to stand on while causing a reflective surface to spread across her body and cover her entirely. There would be no way for her to anticipate the trap or out-speed its formation. The mirrors formed instantly.

So now, Shizuka was surrounded by reflections of herself while coated with a mirror surface. The situation seemed dire. And it would only get worse. “Shizuka…” a voice whimpered. The reflections didn’t show anyone else in the pyramid, but when Shizuka turned around, sure enough, a limp, bloody body would be leaning against a mirror wall, looking up at her with his gray eyes wide with fear. His clothes would be tattered, and there was so much blood on his body that it was impossible to identify the sources. A crimson red puddle began to gather around him.

“Shizuka…” he called again, his voice falling to a hoarse whisper. “They got me, Shizuka… the Shinigami. I fought, but I was all alone and-“ Suddenly, a coughing fit would cut him off, causing even more blood to drip down his mouth and onto his bare, wounded chest. Even though his body was cut up and his face was bruised and swollen, that white hair and the scar on his left eye were unmistakable. “Where were you, ? ShizukaWhere were you when I needed you? Where were you when I was dying…?” It must have been months since Shizuka had seen that man last, yet here he was. The invincible Kento Sasaki was breathes from death and it was all Shizuka’s fault.

Reiatsu Remaining: 7,550/10,000 (-50 for Byakurai x2, -200 for speeding up Wrath of Ira, -200 for 4 mirrors, -300 for the Anti)

Life Force Remaining: 9,900/10,000

Class 3 Bakkoto: 2/3

The Anti Posts: 1/6

Active Mirrors: 6 (4 making the pyramid around Shizuka and 2 from the last post)

OOC: I took some liberties and let the Wrath of Ira act a lot faster on Hebika just for the purpose of getting her out of the fight.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

OOC: Sounds great to me! Good job!

“If I were the type of Shinigami you’re familiar with, you’d be lucky.”

Lucky? He was kidding himself. Shizuka never thought any encounter with a Shinigami was lucky. They were no better than monsters to her. She was taught to believe this, and her mind never changed over the years. Her experiences have all been relatively different with this race, but each one reinstated her negative opinions. The Fullbringer lightly snarled at the man, showing her expressions to be rather cat-like. Who is surprised by this, honestly? No one. She's basically a cat. Anyway, with Hebika out for the count, Shizuka needed to come up with another strategy. She was reconsidering her choices when Douma spoke up again.

“But we 'Shinigami types’ have a habit of killing Xcution assassins. You won’t want to follow in the footsteps of Xcution’s old #1.”

"Wait, what?"

She had no time to react as her entire being was encased in a pyramid of mirrors. They appeared instantaneously and gave her no option to move, which meant she couldn't escape like she had hoped. Even with her fastest movements with techniques, she doubted she could vibrate herself out of there. Panic struck her heart immediately after she came to realize that she was currently standing in her own reflective coffin. She looked around the small room quickly, but nothing was going to change her situation. She was stuck here with no where to go, meaning she was practically as good as dead.

From what seemed like everywhere, Shizuka heard a voice call to her. The echoes rang through her ears as they twitched to locate where the sound was coming from, forcing her to turn around. As soon as she did, her eyes went wide with shock and fear. She recognized the person. Kento was there with her, leaning helplessly against the mirror surface. Shizuka practically ran to him in the small space where she was, throwing her hands against the mirrors as she touched everywhere, looking for a way to get through. Nothing was working. Anxiety built up inside her chest, threatening to tear her apart unless she could get to him. She needed to help him.

"No! No, no, no, no, no! It's going to be okay, Kento! I promise you, I'm going to get you out of there!" Shizuka looked back, throwing her gaze in every direction she could. "Douma! Douma, let me go! We have to help him! Douma, please!"

"Shizuka..."

"I'm here! I'm here, Kento!" Shizuka kept hitting the side of her balled-up fist against the mirror's surface, hoping it would break.

"They got me, Shizuka… the Shinigami. I fought, but I was all alone and-"

Kento started coughing profusely. Fear made its way through Shizuka in an instant, bringing her to her knees as she tried to get on Kento's level. She lifted her hand up to her face to wipe it, noticing only then that she felt a tear fall down her cheek. The Fullbringer looked at the palm of her hand and then crushed it back into a fist as she began beating against the mirrors again, trying to help her friend escape. This really didn't look good at all. He was bleeding and hurting and she couldn't even get him out! Douma wasn't listening to her, and Kento needed serious medical attention! If he didn't get out soon, everything would be over!

"Kento, it's okay! You don't have to say anything. Don't strain yourself, it'll only get-"

"Where were you, Shizuka? Where were you when I needed you?"

"Wh-what? I'm right here! Kento..."

"Where were you when I was dying…?"

She paused. Dying? Shizuka thought. He was dying? Wait. Was dying. 'Was' means past tense. Past tense means...

In a moment, the woman's eyes were huge, completely engulfed in horror and understanding. She started gasping, trying to keep herself together, but failing miserably as soon as everything came to her. From the second Kento spoke, she realized everything that was going on. All of it made sense. Xcution stopped updating her about him, her aunt stopped talking about him to her, and all of these facts came crashing down, destroying Shizuka's world around her like a hail storm. As these thoughts flooded her mind, the Fullbringer squeezed her eyes shut as tightly as possible, took the biggest breath she could, and screamed. She wailed. She cried out in pain, hitting against the mirror as hard as she could with her fist. She became a complete wreck in a matter of seconds as the sounds she made could only be comparable to a banshee in absolute distress.

And just like that, Shizuka stopped. Her hand held its place against the mirror before falling to her side. Her entire body slumped, as if her spirit shattered itself into pieces with no strength left to hold her up. Her eyes, once sparkling and full of life, were now dull, dark, empty marbles. She turned into a shell of who she once was, all because of one word. She stared at the ground beneath her, watching pools of tears form as she ceased being able to control them. She saw her face, but it didn't look anything like her. No, this image, this reflection, that was who Shizuka became. She could feel her heart breaking. This wasn't Kento. It couldn't be, because Kento was dead.

"I couldn't help you... You were in pain and suffering so much, but where was I? Now you're gone. You're gone and it's all my fault."

Shizuka stood up using her gun as a makeshift cane. She wiped her tears off her face with the back of her hand and sniffled. Her makeup was running and she saw the remnants of mascara smeared all over her skin, but she ignored it. As she gathered herself, Shizuka looked at the mirrors around her. She saw herself and inspected everything. Her eyes were coated in black from her makeup, causing her to look like a raccoon. Streams of the same color were flowing down her cheeks, taunting her as she knew how difficult it would be to hide such a thing. What she saw, though, was not herself. She saw a ghost of who she once was, and the person this moment made her become. Was she any different? She didn't know. But for the first time in a long while, she felt real pain.

The woman looked up towards the peak of the pyramid above her. "Do I look lonely? I see the shadows on my face."

She didn't even know if Douma was listening to her. She was talking to herself, and yet, hoping that her words weren't falling on deaf ears. She closed her eyes and listened to everything around her as she focused herself on anything else but what she had just witnessed. She needed to forget, but she knew she never could. She would never forget Kento. She tried before, but it never worked because he could not be forgotten. Kento Sasaki, her former partner, someone she loved so dearly, wasn't in her life anymore. Every memory she had about him was like torture, especially since she knew she could never see him again.

"I'm cutting my mind off," Shizuka started, hoping Douma would understand. "It feels like my heart is going to burst." She paused and took a breath, easing herself out of the sadness and into anger. "You win, Douma! You win. I'm angry. I'm frustrated because I'm a terrible friend. I'm sad because I lost someone close to me and I couldn't help. And you know what really sucks the most? The fact that you're the one who showed all of this to me. Tell me who his killer is."

Shizuka, stance now strong, turned herself to face the opposite side of the pyramid. Hopefully Douma would still be standing there so that it seemed like she was looking at him, but it didn't really matter. She gripped her gun in her left and and held a fist in her right. She knew her saddened feelings were still in there, but they were being so vastly overcome by rage and fury. Shizuka felt a fire burn within her that she'd never felt before, and it pushed her to do what she knew needed to be done. If Kento wasn't going to be in her life anymore because of someone else, she had a plan to make it even.

"I'm going to kill them."

[Douma]

Douma always found reading into the souls of others very useful. After all, his high energy sensory gave him an edge in battle, allowing him to predict the actions of his opponents. Now, however, it was a double-edged sword. He felt Shizuka’s shock and pain upon seeing her dear friend wounded beside her. That feeling was something Douma couldn’t anticipate. He had experienced the sorrow of losing loved ones, but this was different. This time, Shizuka had to watch Kento die right before her eyes.

“Douma! Douma, let me go! We have to help him! Douma, please!" It began with the panic and urgency. She didn’t know yet. As far as the fullbringer was concerned, the Kento before her still had a chance. She needed to help him, but it was too late. And when the realization hit her, Douma actually stepped back, wincing. Her screams pierced his ears and spirit, making him almost regret showing her the very death of her companion. But Douma could not show any remorse.

Instead, he became angry. After all he had been through, all he had done to grow more fearsome and powerful, the tears of a stranger were reviving his old sentiments. Shizuka was bringing Kagami back with each cry, and Douma was fighting it. Kagami is dead… he told himself, but he still wasn’t reassured. He still wasn’t convinced. Kagami is dead. He’s never coming back. Kagami is dead. Kagami is dead. Kagami is dead.

“Kento Sasaki is dead.” His voice carried through the mirrors between her sobs. She already knew the truth, but the next moments were critical. Douma desired Shizuka as an ally, so he had to suppress Kagami and think logically, not emotionally. "I couldn't help you... You were in pain and suffering so much, but where was I? Now you're gone. You're gone and it's all my fault." Kagami wanted to give her closure. He wanted to have the image of Kento reach up, brush his hand on Shizuka’s cheek, and smile at her. He wanted Kento to tell her that it wasn’t her fault. That she couldn’t have done anything. That she should accept things and move on.

But Douma was a creature of rage. He simply let the image of Kento cease breathing and evaporate into the air as he shut down his release. It was over. His mirrors vanished, leaving Shizuka’s tear-stained face staring up at the cloudy sky. "I'm cutting my mind off. It feels like my heart is going to burst." Let it. Let all that rage rip you apart. Let it create something far stronger.

"You win, Douma! You win. I'm angry. I'm frustrated because I'm a terrible friend. I'm sad because I lost someone close to me and I couldn't help. And you know what really sucks the most? The fact that you're the one who showed all of this to me. Tell me who his killer is." Kagami wanted to tell her that the killer, Taiho Kasumi’Oji, was dead, but that wasn’t according to Douma’s plan. It wouldn’t get him where he needed to be. All of the pieces needed to fall in place for Douma to move on, and he needed Shizuka’s help. He needed her on his side.

“The Gotei 13 killed Kento Sasaki. The shinigami that you hate so much took away someone dear to you. I’m not the same type of shinigami. They captured me shortly before a woman named Taiho Kasumi’Oji murdered Kento. She’s dead now, but her family, the House of Kasumi’Oji lives on. The Gotei 13 live on. And I want to help you cripple both.

“So let’s make a deal.” He may be the Angel of Silence, but Shizuka must know by now that she would make a deal with the devil. “I will help you grow stronger. There are many powerful techniques available to humans such as yourself, and while I can’t teach you, I can connect you to such knowledge. Furthermore, for every mission or task I assist you with, you must do the same for me. I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” It all seemed simple enough. In fact, Shizuka might be benefiting more from this agreement than Douma, especially if he wanted to make her stronger.

“So tell me, will Soul Society have a reason to be worried?”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Her questions were answered. Her anger and sadness filled her heart up until it was overflowing with absolute grief. The suffocating pain was causing her breathing to become harder, and the crying made each breath short and forced. Her mind was a complete mess, and her brain shut off any positive emotion she had ever felt in her entire life. No good memories came to her, no good feelings outweighed the bad, and nothing was going to stop her from being upset. Depression took over as the grief overcame her entire being, and everything in her world was falling apart. Tears escaped every now and then, but her expression remained the same.

With her face looking dark and serious, and her stance as upright and strong as it was, any outsider may believe she had it all together. Anyone would look at her and think, "Wow. She's handling this well for just finding out about his death." They would be wrong, though. Her heart was torn to pieces within her and nothing was going to mend that any time soon. The pain from that alone was unbearable and she had no idea how she was ever going to heal from this. People lost loved ones all the time and got over it, right? You always miss them, but they healed. Right? Shizuka was going to heal, too. She had to.

But not today. Not right now. Not in the next week or month or maybe even year. She wasn't going to heal until she got her revenge, and she was going to make sure these Shinigami paid for what they did to Kento. They were going to regret the day they ever crossed his path, because that meant they were going to be forced to arrive at Shizuka's dead end. There would be nowhere else for them to turn and no one else they could go to for help. Even if the exact person who murdered Kento was already dead, that didn't matter to her. All that mattered was seeing their bodies mutilated and destroyed before her and by her own hand. If Douma was so willing to help, that was his choice.

Clenching her fists together, Shizuka presented herself before Douma. She stood tall and confident despite the fact that she was fragile and broken inside. No smile crossed her face, no tears betrayed her eyes anymore. What Douma would see wasn't the Fullbringer who he knew and fought. She wasn't the simple girl sent on a mission with her friend to collect information. She wasn't an average human trying to make it in a traitorous world. She was an assassin, bred and trained for moments like these where she knew she was going to need every ounce of her strength to take out an entire Squad. He saw his new partner. And with every last bit of power she had left in her voice, she spoke to him.

"They do now."

OOC: We can choose to end it here if you want, but it's up to you! Otherwise, go ahead and report it when you're done reading!

[Amagai Kuchiki]

48 paragraphs Shizuka = 480 TP
34 paragraphs Douma = 340 TP + 100 Victory TP = 440 TP