Bleach: Tales from Squad Four

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo walked silently through the Senkaimon, staying slightly apart from the group and not saying a word nor making a single sound. Several memories drifted just out of his grasp. It was a slight annoyance that he couldn't remember anything. An image of his mask flashed into his mind. The first thing he remembered was that mask. And then there were the slashes that had recently appeared.

Blood.

Yuri.

As the name flashed through his mind he cast a brief glance over at her, making sure she was still there. She had been the heaviest thing on his mind lately, seeming to occupy all his time. That last night in her room replayed over and over again in his head. He could still feel her lips on his.

He cast those thoughts away. He needed to pay attention.

Yes, you do. Oel said to him.

Concentrate on the task at hand. There will be time for deeper thoughts later. Keep them alive. Tenebras murmured.

Leo took note of the various reactions to his arrival. The Squad Eleven man, Keiya, seemed friendly enough. He didn't notice that Leo's reiatsu was masked, which was characteristic of Squad Eleven shinigami. He flexed a hand at his approach but that was the extent of it. He even greeted him, to which Leo gave no response but a simply nod. It wasn't out of dislike of the man of unfriendliness, it was just how he was. He kept things simple and subtle.

And then there was the other Squad Four woman whose name he hadn't learned yet. She seemed to be the most uneasy around him. She glanced at him with a curious look in her eyes and shied away when he had approached before.

He turned his mind to the ever-increasing light.

They were soon standing under the sky, and the city, full of life and motion, loomed before them. Leo felt...something. Something near here. Yuri turned to smile at Keiya and told him to organize teams. Leo fitted on his transmitter and listened quietly. He was paired with Yuri, and Keiya paired himself with Hana. Leo showed no outside reaction even though he was glad to be paired with her.

He glanced over to her. Northern district, huh? Should prove interesting. Then again, all ventures into the living world proved interesting.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Hana Hikari

Hana followed the group through the Senkaimon. A brief glance showed that the mysterious man was following. He gave her the chills.

She wasn't sure if she would rather be going to the living world or staying back and working on injuries. She suspected the latter. Good tales never came back from the world of the living.

Much like this one.

Relax already. You'll live. said a voice in her head.

Easy for you to say! You aren't dealing Mr. Shadow back there. she retorted.

The voice paused, seeming to think.

He...will be your greatest ally. the voice said.

Her greatest ally? What was that supposed to mean?

Her thoughts offered no reply. Lovely.

They arrived in the world of the living, the sky above their heads and the city looming before them. It was all just so...alive. It wasn't energy, like Soul Society. It was life.

She turned her head and nodded when the teams were assigned. She was glad she hadn't been paired with the other man, though he seemed the most dangerous out of any of them. Maybe that was the reason she hadn't wanted paired with him?

Regardless, she looked to Keiya, waiting for them to start heading out. Northern district. Shinigami still on the move to distract that hollow, and one still alive but wounded. Piece of cake.

It was almost sad that she couldn't believe her own bluff.

 

[lonely_shadow]

"Fair enough. I'll go with Leo, while you take care of Hana."

Secretly, she was thankful for his choice, but her current level of euphoria left little room for it to show. The day's fatigue from the last hour of running around was rapidly fading, and despite herself, Yuri was beginning to look forward to this!

For now, she did her best to take it all in. The sights, sounds, and smells of humanity below them. The real danger could come at them from anywhere.

"Move quickly. Don't allow yourself to be surprised. Report in quickly if anything happens. Go."

And just that quickly, they were racing again at top speed, the humans below them completely oblivious as her gaze swept over them all.

"I'm worried about this, Leo. Normally there would be signs of a fight......but if this thing strikes from out of one's own shadow...."

Thin lips turned downward in a poignant frown.

"There'd be very little collateral damage to show of a struggle. Its like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I can't even feel another shinigami down there, though we were told that he was cloaking his presence so as not to be found by the enemy."

The sound of combat faintly reached them both, and she tensed....scanning the horizon and seeing nothing. Whatever it was....it was a ways off yet. She could only hope it stayed that way.

I don't suppose you're making anything out of this?

The soft, calm whisper came back to her almost instantly.

It's next to impossible to detect one life out of so many lives.

Her scowl deepened. There had to be something she could do. Something she had been trained to do. Dammit, she wouldn't forget such important things if she wasn't cooped up in the Soul Society all the time!

And then it came to her, and with the realization, she froze almost instantly. Suddenly enough that she felt Leo react as well. Shaking her head, he chuckled softly.....ignoring him for just a small moment as she reached for her mouthpiece.

"Hana, Keiya.....try focusing on spirit ribbons. There are only 2 other shinigami here besides us if the report is correct. It should make our search a lot faster and a lot less impossible."

Yuri wasn't sure just how good a squad eleven member would be at riatsu detection.....or if he could pull off a response to her idea. But he had Hana with him, and that girl was resourceful enough that the job would get done and done quickly.....

-------------------------------------------------------------

?????


Well that didn't take them long, did it?

A wicked smile, a full compliment of sharp fangs......

Bait. Never leave home without it.

But first, a test. What would be the point of appearing before them if they were weak?

Another soft frown. The woman leading them was proving more of an enigma than originally observed as well.

What to make of that riatsu. It seems you need a little test too, honey.

The Hollows moved at her bidding. Such a nice gift. Yes....the Shinigami must tested.....

Right down to the last Captain.

That wicked grin again. At least things won't get boring for a while.......

As one the Hollows moved towards them all. Trash to be sure.....nowhere near as sophisticated as her shadow pet. But then.....that was annoyingly busy at the moment. She would make due.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

A dark forest. The darkness seemed to cling to everything. Several misshapen figures wandered through it, wearing white masks of varying design. Here a simple white mask, there a mask in the shape of a knight's visor. All of them are known by the same name: Hollow. This was the Menos Forest.

Leo blinked, pausing to listen to Yuri's words. He didn't say anything. She didn't seem overly happen with him, or anyone really, at the moment. What the reason was, however, he couldn't fathom. Perhaps being in the living world again? He recalled her telling him about that assignment she had here. To rescue the Squad Eleven man. Turns out he was dead and a hollow had sent the signal. It might be coming back to her. Regardless, he turned his attention to the distant sounds of fighting. It was a ways off, and wouldn't bother them anytime soon.

That didn't mean that he let his guard down.

A man, cloaked and hooded, using Shunpo to travel through the trees. A hollow attacks him, and he simply brushes aside the blow with his hand and cracks the mask with his other. The hollow fades and disappears. The man continues, eventually stopping in a hollowed out tree. He slips inside. It is pitch black inside, and yet he sees where everything is. The shadows cling to him, caressing him and whispering to him. He takes off the cloak and lays it across the makeshift table. The familiar features and robes reveal themselves.

Yuri freezes, and Leo slips into a combat position, sliding back out soon enough when Yuri chuckles. She was sure picking a bad time to play with his instincts.

He listened as she explained the bit about the spirit ribbons. He had to admit it was a good idea. Following the ribbons that didn't belong to them would surely lead them to their targets much faster. And Leo was all about speed.

Leo pauses, turning from Yuri to look off into the distance. What was that? He thought he felt...something. Some kind of command?

A command for what?

Yuri hadn't seemed to react to anything as he had. Odd. He turned back to her...

And then was on the other side of her, having used Shunpo, and driving an open palm into the mask of a hollow. The mask shattered and the hollow dissipated. They hadn't been there before, but they were all over them now. A reverse kick immediately followed the open palm and downed another hollow.

These hollow were very weak, yet were very organized. He vaguely realized that was what he felt.

Someone was toying with them.

And he didn't like being toyed with. But he was content to play their little game for the moment. Shadows danced along his hands as he turned to confront more of the hollows that had appeared.

Though his hand never went to his Zanpakutou.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Hana Hikari

Hana moved quickly and marveled at how all the humans below them didn't even notice them. Didn't know about the hollow that was running about, hunting down another shinigami, nor the dead and the dying shinigami. They didn't know about souls, or about Soul Society. Didn't know what a Hollow was. Didn't know what a Shinigami was.

Innocence at its best... murmured a voice in her head.

Her response was clean and crisp.

Let them have it while they still can. It will be a shock when they finally learn the truth.

The response was thoughtful.

And that is what the Shinigami are for, is it not? To keep them from that shock until it is their proper time to learn.

She nodded. They were there to make sure the Hollow didn't harm humans or souls.

They did their best, but they couldn't save everyone.

She wished they could.

She heard Yuri speaking over the communicator, and she nodded. She had been thinking on much the same lines. She glanced over to Keiya and stopped.

She was just reaching out for the ribbons when the Hollows attacked. She ducked under the claw that swiped out at her and drew her Zanpakutou. A clean swipe cleared that hollow, but more replaced it. She backed up and bumped into Keiya's back.

She spoke into the mouthpiece.

"Yuri, we've just been attacked by Hollow." she reported.

She assumed that a Squad Eleven shinigami would be able to defend himself, and she knew she could. She assumed that Yuri could defend herself well enough, and if she couldn't she had that other man with her. He was still a mystery to her. She didn't know who he was or even his name. She decided to ask after they finished up their business here. It shouldn't take much longer.

Just take care of the attacking hollow, find the injured shinigami, whoop the butt of the shadow hollow if need be, and get back to Soul Society in one piece. Easy.

Ironic that she started to believe herself AFTER the got attacked. Combat seemed to calm her nerves, oddly enough.

 

[knight713]

Keiya took off with Hana close behind him, as he moved he quickly scanned the area looking for any signs of a shinigami or hallows. But all he could see so far was just humans going about day to day business.

He slowly stopped on top of a telephone pole and squatted down to take a look around the area. There was still nothing, not even a body of a fallen shinigami or the signs that there had been a fight. He soon got a response from Yuri and Leo from what she had said that she had no luck either. After another moment of silence he heard Yuri ask for them to focus on spirit ribbons so that he could find the shinigami easier.

“ alright we’ll give it a go” he said as he stopped in his tracks, even though he was in squad 11 he was unique he was well versed in kido. He knew that the people in squad 4 were well versed in Kido techniques. But he was assigned Guard duty thus it would be better for Hana to do it while he stood guard.


“ Hana if you want you can try to detect the fallen shinigami and the other one while I provide cover.” Keiya replied as he took a spot near her.


He watched as she started to focus he watched as she was almost able to touch the spirit ribions. The he sensed it hallows before he could alert Hana he was attacked from behind, moving his amrs up he used the gauntlets as a shield and took the punch that the hallow threw at him. He seen Hana dodge her attacker and tell Yuri that they were attacked. But they were attack then it would also seem that Yuri and Leo would also be attacked as well.

As he looked at his enemy he raced forward at it using shunpo he closed the distance and thrust the two blades deep in its chest. He listened to it as it bellowed a howl before vanishing.

Keiya quickly retracted the two blades and got ready for the next attack as he saw several more hallows appear in front of him. He could tell that they were trying to cut him off from Hana. From what he could tell they were not strong at all, from what he could gather they could have been sent to wear them out while a stronger hallow arrive to finish the job.


“ Is that your release Zanpaktou it looks weak” a Hallow laughed in some what legible words. “ a Puny thing Like that will never defeat us” it added as it pointed at him

It was strange why would the hallow say that his Zanpaktou was released unless it never seen one. He in fact never paid any mind to its sealed stated he found it slightly more useful than the normal sealed state of most zanpaktous.

He looked at the hallow that spoke to him it had a bipedal appearance to it as it stood on two legs. Its shoulders were covered in bone and had large spikes on them as well, he could see a tail twitching behind it.

He could see that Hana was doing fine and that she seemed to enjoy fighting against the Hallow she was engaged with.

But these hallows were fighting differentially they fought one on one but when they were about land a blow on a hallow another one would engage them and force them to fight with the new hallow.

 

[lonely_shadow]

"Flow freely, Kiritonen."

She had reacted quickly. Frowning only softly as she detected the oncoming rush of Hollows....

But he had acted quicker.

Yuri didn't so much as flinch as the Hollow's alabaster mask splintered and collapsed in Leo's hand.

"Yuri, we've just been attacked by Hollows."

That made the scowl deepen. So it wasn't just them......they were being targetted. Well....they certainly weren't wasting any time.

"We're under attack as well. They look to be low level Hollows on our end. Take them out and continue with the mission as planned. I won't be surprised if this is just a preliminary assault though. We're being toyed with."

It was true. While she ducked and spun like a dervish, inflicting minor wounds on the monsters around them, they were surprisingly organized. Each time she thought she had a strike that could bring one down.....a blur of motion, and the grim faced surgeon found herself fighting a different Hollow altogether.

Not like it mattered. A wound....was a wound. And sometimes it wasn't sheer riatsu that won the day, sometimes.....the smallest of things could bring down the greatest of warriors.

As they would learn.

"Etoku ken baindo." (Seize and Bind)

As one, the Hollows who had retreated from her stopped. Animalistic confusion turned to pain soon enough. But it didn't stop there. Each one displaying a different malaise....

What did you do to me?

I can't move my arm!

My legs?! What the hell, Soul Reaper!!!

And those were the ones who had it easy. The ones Kiritonen's bite had only crippled.....Yuri watched with impassive cold eyes as a pair of Hollows in the rear flopped and spasmed like dead fish as she gazed, unafraid of retaliation, confident that her opponent she faced even now had turned away from her to watch his comrades with a macabre sense of horror.

Turning back to her, she met the thing's gaze.....intelligent and wicked behind its bone mask.

How did you.....?

"Blood clots."

Golden yellow orbs widened suddenly in worried understanding, glancing down at the sliver of folded steel in her hands, its edges running crimson with their blood.....

"All it takes is one. A clot that the body does not find a way to disperse ends up in something important.....like an artery.....or a nerve center......a vital organ.....even the brain."

She straightened, presenting him with the tip of her katana in a sharply uniform stance. The fact that Leo had easily taken care of what few Hollows that had challenged him only served to make her own stoic visage more imposing......more of a threat.

It fled before her.....stampeding over one of its own in its haste to get away. Turning, Yuri wasn't surprised to see most of them doing the same. They had been just pawns after all.

"And now the true enemy has a better measure of our strength. Let's move quickly."

She didn't have to tell Leo what he'd just seen, or heard more likely...throughout the fighting. One by one she walked among them, their cries and pleas ringing on deaf ears as the dark haired surgeon ended them.....with the precision of a surgeon......or.....an executioner. What little resistance she met, she crushed with cold slices of her weapon.....their blood spattering against her already dark kimono.

"My shikai. Only shinigami Lieutenant rank or higher know of it. And only Captain Unohana has actually seen it."

She turned to meet his gaze for the first time......the torment of her past flickering there for just a moment.

"And this is exactly how I escaped disaster the last time I came here."

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo dealt with each attack with calm, cold efficiency. At most times it reflected Leo himself, but at other times the takedowns seemed very brutal. More brutal than needed. At one point Leo tore off the mask of one hollow and then used the blade coming out of it to kill another. The fight was soon over after Yuri revealed the other ability her Shikai granted her. Her ability clotted blood to a dangerous degree. An interesting ability that reflected her affinity.

Leo clenched his hand, forcing Oel to back down. The Hollow always wanted to get out during a fight. "Out" as in uncontrolled in the form of the mask Leo called to him.

Sometimes he did. It wasn't a very good sight.

What do you mean "not a good sight"? Oel asked.

He means that you get out of control. You need to learn to control him better, Leo. Tenebras murmured to him.

Leo nodded, and probably looked a little odd from the outside.

Regardless, he turned to Yuri as the Hollow started to run away, a half smile on his face as he looked at her.

Curious that he picked now to smile. Or at least his equivalent of a smile.

"An interesting ability to hide." he said calmly, like they hadn't just been in a fight with Hollow.

He turned his head to look on the horizon. They would'nt be bothering them again, but that didn't mean that tothers wouldn't show up. Someone had been testing them, and tests generally have a point to them.

What this one was was currently unknown. He made a mental note to ask Yuri about her other abilities when they got back to Soul Society. He wondered what else she was hiding up her sleeves. Then again, it made sense that this was how she escaped her last encounter in the living world.

The smile faded, and he was back to being serious. He rarely allowed himself to do otherwise.

"We should get moving." he said to her.

He left it to her to call the ribbons. He could do it, but it was her idea.

That, and he was curious as to what his ribbon would look like. And her reaction to it.

 

[knight713]

internet acting up thus i posted early now its working fine

 

[lonely_shadow]

It was becoming a struggle to stay calm.

Her skin was flushed, and her heart raced. The glory of combat, no matter how minor seemed to pulse through her here, her own adrenaline making everything seem sharper. And she knew there would be no fatigue....not yet at least. Yet she also knew of something else that tended to happen while she remained in the world of the living.....

And she could feel it now, not that she could be allowed to let such things become a distraction to her while she was in charge of an important mission such as this. But still.....it doubled the importance of a speedy return to the Soul Society. Yuri had no idea how long she could maintain control of her own body.....but if last time was any indicator.......

Forefinger middle finger of each hand pressed tightly together in a hand sign as the others meshed easily together, Yuri concentrated for a moment. It was overwhelming at first.......seeing the spirit ribbons of all the souls beneath her, and even a few that were farther away. But they were all of the purest white.....not what she had been looking for. A single grey ribbon stood out from the rest.....dark in color......like a shadow floating towards her. Fingers reached out to brush its surface.....and she knew she had found Leo.

Four ribbons of scarlet red drifted towards her attention.....each one imprinted with the riatsu that brought them into being. Hana.....Keiya.......was that?....no, it couldn't be......but it certainly wasn't who she was looking for.

Fingers seized upon the fourth ribbon, and as she opened her eyes once more, the dreamlike state she had entered ended just as abruptly.

"I have it. Let's go."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as the two of them streaked out of the sky, dropping to race across the rooftops instead, their quarry growing nearer by the second......along with the riatsu of Hana and Keiya.

They had found the trail as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A closed circuit voice buzzed in Hana Hikari's ear. The message was not relayed to anyone else, meant only for her.

Hana. Hana, can you hear me?

A short pause.

Hana, this is Lieutenant Kotetsu speaking. I'm sorry we weren't able to have a word with you before you left. Captain Zeraki was keeping us rather occupied at the moment. Listen carefully, 11th seat Hikari. You are to keep an eye on Yuri during your time in the world of the living if at all possible. As I'm sure you're well aware, this is only Yuri's second trip to said world in all the time she's been under Squad Four.

Another longer pause, as if to take a breath.

After her previous mission, Yuri Makanomo displayed several disturbing side effects upon her return. Euphoria, an increased level of aggression, and.....

Was there a hint of embarrassment in the voice? For a second it appeared that perhaps it wouldn't continue. But then, how effective could a doctor be if they didn't know all the symptoms?

and an extreme sexual appetite. *cough* She nearly....she nearly fucked a member of Squad Two into a state of exhaustion. We're not sure if this was a result of the Hollow she battled at the time, or if this indeed is brought on by extended periods of time in the world of the living. Examination only showed high increase in hormonal levels as well as her body's natural stimulants.....adrenaline and her own endorphins were abnormally high.

Another pause, as if expecting reply.

It was this unknown that kept us from sending her on further missions. As you can imagine, the urgency of this mission demanded no less. Please report back on this frequency if you detect anything that might compromise Yuri's command of this mission. In that event, you have full authority granted by myself and Captain Unohana to take command yourself and complete the mission. Please keep in mind that is only to be used as a last resort. That is all, and good luck to you all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well that was unexpected."

It was the first time she spoke, rising from the coal ashes of her flowing dress to gaze at him.

"Don't worry. You won't die. You've served your purpose true, but I'm not so uncouth as to not offer a prize for the winners of my game."

Her hand flexed smoothly, a scythe twirling almost carelessly as she spun its keen edge through the air.

"So the dark souled one can crush Hollows with ease. The squad four women seem much more able at combat than initially thought, and the brute strength of squad eleven is as formidable as they say."

Her mouth split into a fanged grin, wicked pearlescent teeth flashing amidst the darkness of her cowled face.

"Let them come."

And with those words the butt end of her scythed staff slammed downwards hard, leaving minor cracks in the pavement where she stood.....arms outstretched to greet them.....

To greet them all.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Hana Hikari

Hana cut through another Hollow and the second attack flowed through to cut down another. A spin and a cross-slash took down a third. She noted the aggression displayed by Keiya, also characteristic of Squad Eleven. She placed a hand on Keiya's shoulder when she noticed the Hollow start to retreat.

"Pawns." she murmured.

They were just so the real enemy could gauge their strength. An enemy that thinks.

Lovely.

She placed a finger on her comms headset and listened to the Lieutenant. She needed to keep an eye on Yuri for a few...interesting symptoms that occurred last time she visited the living world.

Nearly fucked a member of Squad Two into a state of exhaustion? Interesting, but odd. Must be a hellcat in the bed.

Hana giggled slightly to herself before snapping back to the task at hand.

She muttered something under her breath and called the ribbons to her. Countless white ribbons danced before her before she found the five that were different. Four crimson. Shinigami. And one...

One was a shadow ribbon. Who would that belong to? She decided to stay away from that particular ribbon and grasped the crimson one that she knew belonged to their target. She turned and nodded and Keiya before setting out in that direction. She could feel that Yuri and the other man were on the same course.

 

[knight713]

Keiya continued with his fight against the hollows that appeared before him, he started to get into a rhythm. When he attacked one he was able to counter attack and take out one or block the other hollows attacks.

In the distance he could feel the rising of reiatsu and figured either Yuri or leo had released their Zanpaktou. He could also sense a number of Hollows in there direction disappear. It was also at this moment he saw the hollows that surrounded them starting to retreat.

He felt Hana’s hand on his shoulder and muttered the words pawns, She was right they weren’t strong or that intelligent. Well to be fare a few of them showed signs that they were very intelligent but how much was hard to say.

“ That’s strange” Keiya replied as he watched the last one vanished, normally Hollows wouldn’t retreat unless they were facing a powerful opponent. But they had numbers on there side. So why did they leave, one reason Keiya came up with was that they could be regrouping for another attack..

He was also glade he didn’t released his zanpaktou, since they were pawns he didn’t want any stronger hollows seeing it and figuring out what it can do.

Keiya looked at Hana as she touched her com set and listened to the other person on the other end. He didn’t here anything which he figured it was meant only for her. He thought he saw her give a slight giggle.

“ I wonder what made her laugh” Keiya replied to himself as he scanned the area looking for anymore signs that hollows would be around. Seeing that he couldn’t sense any around then he eased up alittle and watched as Hana started to focus on the spirit ribbons.

He took off close behind Hana once she go the right one, what bothered him was that shadow colored ribbon next to Yuri. Which he figured it had to be Leo, But what bothered him was that all shinigami had red ribbons why was his different. It may prove to be an interesting conversation when they get back to the soul society.

As they got closer and closer to there destination he could feel Leo and Yuri closing in with them. He calculated that they would get there in about the same time, He would have asked Hana what the call she got was about but if it was important he figured that she would tell him. But there was something that was eating away at the back of his mind, which Kuzuryushin could sense it as well.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo watched Yuri closely. Something seemed...off...about her. Her skin was flushed and she didn't seem to tire even slightly. Adrenaline, most likely. He had a feeling that adrenaline wasn't the only reason. Regardless, he waited while she checked the ribbons.

His was apparent from the rest. A shadow among all the life. Ironic.

Yuri found the ribbon they were looking for. Her eyes narrowed curiously and she started off towards the shinigami.

He had to admit, he was interested in who the mastermind was behind this whole plan. Whoever it was could manipulate Hollow, and that narrowed it down greatly. He felt a strange reiatsu ahead of them building up.

Keiya and Hana were on the move as well. He could feel them closing on the same position they were. They had been closer, but he and Yuri were moving faster. They would most likely arrive at the same time. That was good.

Leo, try and keep Oel under control in this fight. He's getting eager. It's been awhile since we've fought together. Tenebras started.

I know. Leo replied simply.

He didn't want to reveal all his tricks, though. He probably wouldn't need Oel for this fight. Just a routine rescue mission with some higher-up sending Hollow at them and is probably that reiatsu waiting for them near the downed shinigami. Right?

Something told him it wasn't that easy.

It didn't matter, though. He came along to protect Yuri, and that was exactly what he planned to do.

But he came along on the mission. That meant that Soul Society would know he was still alive. He wasn't sure what he would do if he had to see Yoruichi again. Then again, he didn't remember his reason for not wanting to see her. Tenebras hadn't told him why he was sent away.

I didn't tell you because I don't remember. he murmured.

Then what do you remember? Leo asked.

I've told you everything I remember. I don't know why we were in the Menos Forest. I don't even know how we got to Hueco Mundo in the first place. It's something I've wondered since we woke up. he replied.

Well, that would have been good to know awhile ago. So, Tenebras doesn't remember everything. Interesting.

He brought his mind back to the present. Their target was just up ahead. As was the other reiatsu.

 

[lonely_shadow]

She was so patient.

She hardly moved behind her shadowy robes as they approached. Could feel them coming closer. Even knew as a pair moved to flank her. As if it would help. She knew. Just as she knew the shinigami barely suspended in life by her own riatsu stirred at the sight of a familiar face or two.

"Greetings. From the Netherworld."

She could see the confusion on one woman's face....which prompted another flash of her sharp teeth.

"Hell. Underworld. Netherworld. Whichever you choose to use."

Thin fingers reached just then.....raising upward to the blade of her own weapon as she watched. Some dropped into defensive crouches, others moved toward her as if knowing that she was about to attack......and with the speed she had come to expect from Shinigami......

Her hands looked unhealthy, pale and splotched in the suns rays. Broken nails found the flat edge of the scythe and raked along its length.....sending a perfect dissonance across to them all until it threatned to rupture their eardrums no matter how fast they moved. A sonic attack that dropped their leader to her knees, clutching her head even as she tried to stagger away....barely able to hold onto her weapon.

"The Hollows already fear us, and rightly so. A new king sits upon the throne.....and with him, a new era. An era that says that all shinigami will fear us just the same!"

She brought the scythe down hard and straight in a 240 degree swing.....knowing full well of the ones at her flank that might get close. It wouldn't do to let this end too quickly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Greetings. From the Netherworld."

There was something about the face beneath that dark cowl she wore. And while it hid most of her features, Yuri couldn't help but feel transfixed by the blood red eyes that stood prominently out of the shadows it caused.

She could hear a few murmurs in response.

"Hell. Underworld. Netherworld. Whichever you choose to use."

Almost lazily the woman reached upward for her weapon and Yuri dropped easily into a defensive stance. Not the hard, rigid stance she had used moments ago with the Hollow she had fought.....but a more bracing stance.....one that actually cared about the attack launched at her.

She was by no means prepared then, as the bitch scraped her nails across the cursed steel......its scream piercing even the warm glow of her growing euphoria in a way that nearly sent her to her knees. Only as the sound ended did the surgeon realize her own pained screaming.......

She hadn't dropped Kiritonen. She had wanted to, god how she had wanted to, but it was as if he had grafted with her, fingers simply unwilling or unable to drop the katana.

This isn't good. Your ear drums have ruptured. Nothing that can't be fixed, but its going to make communication tricky.

She had figured that out on her own, even though Kiritonen's smooth tenor voice rang clearly in her mind. Looking down at the one hand she managed to clap fully over her ear.....revealed a small spotting of her own blood. She wasn't sure how hard the others had been hit.......she had to try.....

The world felt heavy.....and it was strange.....Yuri knew in an instant what was wrong. Nobody knew her own body as well as she did. With the fluid disrupted in her ear.....the drum ruptured.....her balance would be severely handicapped as well.....

The woman before them grinned again as if she could read her mind.....bringing the scythe about her in a flourish that was more challenge than a followup attack.....

 

[knight713]

Keiya quickly stopped in his tracks once he saw both Yuri and Leo stopped in there own tracks looking a figure. He could tell that she was armed but she had yet to show any signs or aggressions. But for how long he wasn’t sure they way she looked at them it was like a cat toying with the mice it just caught.


“ The nether realm?” “ What “ Keiya thought as he stared into her blood red eye’s.

He quickly brought up his arms at the moment he saw her raise her weapon, he would be ready for anything. Since it was four against one, but they didn’t know anything about her or what she could do. To top off the matter they also just got done fighting the hollows.

“ Stop it “ Keiya shouted as he saw her scrapped her nails across the blade of the scythe
It made a terrible screeching noise like fingernails over a chalk board. It was loud and it echoed all around.

“ Yuri” Keiya shouted as he saw her in pain, what ever happened to her she didn’t look well. But as he took a step forward he felt nauseas to his stomach and vomited , but as he looked up his image became blurry all he could see was shadowy shapes. This was bad he couldn’t see his enemy or his allies but he could sense them. As he tried he started to get a severe headache that almost sent him to his knees. Not only he couldn’t see but if he tried to concentrate very hard he would get a severe headaches.

He just hoped that Hana and leo weren’t affected by this strange attack and it was only the two of them. He would be at a disadvantage in a fight but he was still able to fight and he would fight to the death if the need be

“ Hey are you Guys alright” Keiya asked them as he turned to the last location he saw them at.

He could barely hear Kuzuryushin voice it was still there, its voice ringing in his mind tell him to stand up and prepare for the strange ladies next attack. He quickly turned to the last known place he seen her but all he could see was a blur of images

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo followed silently behind Yuri, slipping into his combat state-of-mind. Tenebras and Oel were silent in his mind, waiting. They knew what was coming.

Leo watched the woman standing in front of them with the scythe. She twirled it almost lazily before stopping to speak to them. Greetings from the Netherworld? She then gave several different names for the same place, which he didn't pay much heed to. No, his eyes were on her hand slowly going to her scythe. He moved just slightly, hands going to their ready position.

That was when the sonic hit him.

Not even he was prepared for that. Its scream pierced right through him. He managed to keep himself silent through the attack, merely gritting his teeth through the pain. When it was finally done he reached up to his ears and found a spot of blood on them. He knew his eardrums weren't broken. Not yet, anyway. But they still hurt.

Leo turned to look at the woman. He began his first stride to attack her, but he turned as he heard someone call out a warning. It was another shinigami, but he couldn't quite see who it was.

Time seemed to slow as he looked to left at the shadows. Something was flying out of them right at him. His hand slid down to his Zanpakutou and let it out two inches.

"Be free, Tenebras..." Leo murmured.

He brought his arms up, stopping the blades from touching him. The force of the beast slamming into him took him off his feet. From the moment Leo released Tenebras, he had turned into a partially visible shadow, hard to focus on, but still able to be seen and able to be seen through.

The two shadows fell backwards, locked together, and instead of stopping when they hit the ground, they fell straight through it. Not through it, exactly, but into the shadows on the ground.

The Hollow pushed off of Leo with a startled cry, obviously not expecting Leo to follow him, and vanished into the endless shadows around him. Leo stood on seemingly nothing and turned around, searching slowly. He knew the beast wouldn't leave him be. He was the only one that could hunt him on his own ground. Which is what was going to happen.

Leo twitched back as the blade slid where his neck had been moments before. His hand darted up and caught it, and the other flew forward to smash into the body the blade was attached to, but it didn't hit where Leo wanted it to. The bloody sonic attack had offset his balance, and he was feeling it more with every passing minute. Balance and dexterity meant everything to him.

The Hollow squirmed away again and vanished. Leo followed. What was curious to him was that he couldn't get an exact image of the hollow. It never fully revealed itself. Or were Leo's eyes affected by the attack from earlier? No, he didn't think so.

A blade sliced forward and Leo got out of the way just in time. Not completely out of the way, however. The blade sliced through his robes and cut a thin line across his skin. It ran afterwards, heading back up to ground level. Leo followed again, content to play his game for the moment.

It came at him for a full-on attack this time, right after Leo touched down on the the pavement again, in full view of whoever was on the street at the time. One blade sliced forward, which was ducked under neatly, and the other came downwards, this one side-stepped. Leo planted a foot on the blade when it touched the "ground" and held it in place so the hollow couldn't run. He brought his knee up crashing into the body of the hollow and it was sent flying away, and then it was gone and didn't come back. It wasn't dead, but it wasn't coming back for some time at least.

Leo turned his eyes, checking to see how the others had faired and if he needed to step in anywhere.

 

[lonely_shadow]

Something was wrong. Yuri sensed more than heard activity to her right, and yet the world spun crazily the second she tried to turn and focus on it, her stomach heaving in revolt until it was all she could do to keep from puking shamefully all over herself.

And to make matters worse, her opponent knew a distraction when she saw one.

"Yuri!"

The voice behind her made her pause for just a second, and that second may have very well saved Yuri's life as the scythe whipped around in a wild arc......

The surgeon still hadn't recovered. She could still taste the bitter bile on her lips. Even now, she watched in morbid fascination as triple crescent blades raced for her flesh, not really sure through her blurred vision which was the real one.

She threw up Kiritonen in an even wilder parry and steel screamed in a flurry of sparks, the shock travelling instantly up her arm and through her. She was only half aware of how her feet had left the ground......until they were up and over her head, the ground rushing past her until she slammed into its unforgiving surface with her head and shoulders.....continuing to slide to a halt that way for several more yards before coming to a crashing stop against a warehouse building.....

But she was still alive.....she hurt more than she had in centuries.....with perhaps the exception of the beating Zaraki had given her. And it was just as much a struggle to rise from the path of broken ground her passing had created......

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dammit. When the hell did they get here? And who the....oh HELL."

He watched them all for a moment as the battle began. The more he watched, the less his arm hurt where the Hollow had struck him. Tricky bastard that thing was.....but it hadn't been allowed a fatal strike. Unfortunately, so had he. Eyes narrowed as he watched his "comrade" face off against it now, leaving his own companion open for attack....an advantage he had no doubt this bitch would press harder if not for a Squad Eleven member that had to be accounted for.

"Clever bitch. So you've been reeling us in, have you?"

He dropped down from his perch upon the warehouse roof, grabbing the girl by an elbow and helping to right her....backing away instantly as the girl's katana cut open air where he had stood just seconds ago.

"Hey, I'm trying to help you dammit!"

There was something wrong. Her face was flushed, and looked determined enough, but her eyes seemed unfocused.....and the waver in her step didn't look like it was from injury. His eyes widened as the image of a surgery room he had lain in himself months ago flashed into his memory, her face much less tense than it was now.....and he knew who she was.

"Yuri! It's me! Shuhei!"

He shook her slightly, careful to grasp her wrist in case she attempted to attack him again. This would be bad indeed if the surgeon had indeed lost her faculties to whatever attack this woman had unleashed before he had arrived.......

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This would have to be handled carefully. She should have known he was persistant enough to follow his quarry. He had been the only one to escape nearly unscathed after all. Quite an attractive quality in a young man.....

A dark tongue snaked out from between thin lips to wet their surface in reflective thought. Not that she'd have much of that. It was too bad that the girl's bodyguard had cried out when he had.....she probably could have cut the bitch in half if he hadn't disttracted her right as she had launched her attack.

But now she had two Lieutenants to deal with.

"Ah well. I couldn't be helped. A foolish move to lead you back to me while I played with these children.....foolish, but not unexpected."

She kept her scythe low and at the ready for another vicious strike......there was only three of them near her now......it was going to be a lot harder to keep her flanked.

 

[AngelLightheart]

Hana Hikari

Hana blinked and noticed Yuri and the other man close with them out of the corner of her eye. The shinigami was close.

But so was another reiatsu.

It was a figure in robes, twirling a scythe almost lazily. The shinigami was on the ground behind it.

The figure spoke. It was a woman.

She spoke something about the Underworld, then said several often-related terms. Hell, Netherworld. It didn't matter. They were all different names for the same place.

Or so she thought.

She hadn't drawn her Zanpakutou yet.

Her hands clapped down over her ears and she cried out at the screech that pierced through her. The bitch had used a sonic attack and most likely busted her eardrums. Sound returned to her after the attack ended and showed that her eardrums were not busted. It still hurt like hell.

Hana was, quite frankly, pissed.

Something moved out of the corner of her eye. Her Zanpakutou slid free of its sheathe and caught a blade on it. A riposte took care of the hollow that had attacked her. She turned and started towards the scythe wielding woman right after she attacked Yuri. She brought her Zanpakutou down and it was blocked. The woman turned to her and they exchanged a flurry of blows.

Hana was holding, but not for long. She wasn't strong enough to contend with this opponent, and her head was still reeling from the sonic attack.

Her katana was knocked aside and then the butt end of the scythe cracked into her stomach, sending her flying into a wall. She hit it hard and fell to the ground.

She looked up from the ground in time to catch the other man getting tackled by a shadow and turning into a shadow himself. They fell through the ground locked together and reappeared several minutes later. The man ducked an attack deftly, slid out of the way of the second attack like a shadow, and then countered with cold, calm efficiency. The shadow hollow was gone, for now. And the thing is, the man probably could have finished him, but he hadn't drawn his Zanpakutou the entire time. Why was that?

Yuri was back with the newly appeared shinigami, Shuhei Hisagi. Herself, Keiya, and Mr. Shadow were the only three confronting the woman now. Hana crawled to her feet and set her eyes on the woman, waiting for her or one of her companions to attack.

 

[knight713]

Keiya couldn’t really see if everyone was alright but he could hear them they seemed fine but he wasn’t sure. From the corner of his eye he saw a shadowy shape came at them and collided with another figured he wasn’t sure who it was. When he heard the voice he found out that it was Leo was engaged in combat.

He could still hear what was going on and it seemed that each one was engaged in combat but only briefly. He suddenly heard the sound on another voice which claimed to be a person named Shuhei and telling Yuri he was her to help them.

He could barley make out a female like shape in front of him which he figured it was the same one who attacked them right off the bat. He could tell that the way she was holding the weapon she was ready for anything.

“ Hey I have an idea I’ll hit her with a Bakudo # 21. Sekienton so we can escape and regroup.” Keiya replied He hoped that they would agree to it since it seemed most of them looked to be affected in some way or another.

Thus if they regroup they could figure out how to proceeded with this new enemy, which means that meant that they would have to leave the injured shinigami where they were at. He didn’t want to do it but they would have to return and tell the head captain as well as the other captains

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo noted the new arrival, finally able to see who it was. Shuhei Hisagi. So he had been the one that was occupying the shadow hollow for all that time. Must have been difficult, seeing how he can't fight the beast in its own territory. Leo's territory. The hollow had just been an intruder. One that will need to be taken care of at some point in time. But that wasn't at this moment. Not yet, at any rate.

Right now Leo needed to concentrate on the woman before him. She had injured Yuri, and that was something was going to be repaid in kind. The hollow had distracted him and opened Yuri to an attack in her vulnerable state. She would pay for that. Gravely.

And if he attacked her it would distract her and allow his companions to deal with any other threats that appear.

Leo vanished and reappeared behind the woman. He was the most skilled at Shunpo in Soul Society, second only to the Goddess of Flash herself, Yoruichi.

For her credit, the woman reacted very quickly, and that was most likely what saved her. Leo had set his hand rigid, and drove it straight forward. Had the woman not dodged to the side, his hand would have passed straight through her(Much like Ulquiorra does.). Her arm snapped forward and knocked Leo back several paces. He corrected himself in time to knock aside the scythe swinging at him. He ducked as it came back around. She was fast.

He flash stepped behind her, driving an elbow into her back. The blow connected and sent her forward. She came right back at him, swinging with her scythe. He ducked, then sidestepped, and ducked again. The fourth attack grazed over his arm, slicing the robe but not touching his skin. He didn't like the look of that scythe, and thus wasn't going to let it touch him. He didn't know what would happen if it broke the skin.

Leo felt her leg crack up into his stomach and knocked him back. There was definately some power behind that, but he managed to keep his footing. The scythe came back around, and he was sent on the evasive again. She was fast.

But not fast enough.

At the end of her last swing, Leo stepped in and grabbed her scythe, putting it to an effective stop. Her eyes widened, startled. Leo drove his hand forward, delivering an open palm to her gut. She was sent back, minus her scythe, which was still held in Leo's hand. She looked up and saw the scythe in Leo's hand. She checked her hand and realized it was hers. She looked up and grinned. Leo tilted his head to the side, curious.

The scythe flew from his hand and back into hers. She immediately went on the attack, with more vigor this time. The first attack was a suprise, and cut his robe. Leo still managed to dodge every other attack, but it was getting more difficult.

End this, Leo. Oel said to him.

Yes, it's gone on long enough. Tenebras agreed.

"Very well..." Leo muttered.

"What was that?" asked the woman, still attacking with that grin on her face.

Her attacks stopped abruptly with the outburst of crimson reiatsu from Leo. The wave rolled over the entire clearing the group was standing in.

Leo's reiatsu was opened, if only slightly.

He placed his Zanpakutou back in its sheathe fully. He returned to his normal form, the shadows melting off of him. All eyes were on him.

"It seems that we're out of time." Leo said to her.

He turned away from her to his companions, his eyes seeking out Yuri's. He found them, and held her gaze for several seconds. He turned back to look at the woman, honestly suprised she hadn't taken advantage of him looking away. By the looks of things she was still taking in his reiatsu, which was understandable. It's not something you see twice.

Leo suddenly shot forward, on the offensive for a change. He and the woman exchanged a flurry of blows, and she was losing ground. Leo's hand shot around and knocked her scythe to the side. His free hand then drove itself through her chest.

Her scythe dropped to the ground.

Leo pulled his hand out of her chest and she fell. That was something Oel taught him. He wasn't sure what to think about using a Hollow's techniques.

The woman fell to the ground. A pair of figures, cloaked and hooded, appeared. They grabbed the downed woman and then disappeared with her. Leo looked around, curious. He turned back to look at the group. It seemed that Keiya had been affected quite a bit by the original sonic attack, but didn't seem wounded in any other way. Hana was on her feet still. Yuri and Shuhei were in the back.

Leo dropped to one knee and coughed up blood, holding himself up with his hands. He had utilized Oel's skills slightly, but not fully. He was able to ignore his wounds to continue fighting, but now they were coming back. And it always took something from him to use Oel's abilities without calling his mask.

But he had to keep his secret still. He couldn't reveal himself in front of all these shinigami and to whoever the master of that woman was.

Leo rose to his feet and walked back to Yuri, trusting Hana to look at Keiya. Leo looked at Yuri. The pain was still there, but reducing to a dull throbbing. He'd need to check those cuts later, but they were minor injuries and shouldn't cause much trouble.

"Are you alright?" he asked, keeping the pain out of his voice.

His eyes were their normal, calm blue, but had a hint of concern in them. Something that he didn't show to anyone else.

 

[lonely_shadow]

Her sight was becoming more focused....at least for the moment as she stood still. The slightest movement and the whole world bobbed and swayed dangerously before her, distorting the faces of her closest friends as they drew nearer.

"Move."

She had calmed at Shuhei's voice, mostly out of fear and the recognition that she had unknowingly attacked a superior. She could hear the fighting, but it the strain of trying to follow such quick and fluid attacks as Leo and the unknown woman exchanged blows made her head throb painfully. It was over.....and in that moment she closed her eyes in yet another attempt to clear her fuzzied head, their opponent was whisked away by a pair of unknowns.....both men who glared dangerously at her group as if challenging them to interfere. The scythe wielder had barely hit the ground after being struck down and they were there attending her........

"Move."

Something was wrong. She couldn't tell what yet....like she had passed through a great storm that had taken its toll on her greatly. She had passed into the eye of the storm, but while she remained still, it continued on without her......

"Are you alright?"

Her teeth ground as she reached for the arm of the Lieutenant holding her steady. Thankfully, Leo had drawn near enough for his face to fully come into view. Her heart sank slightly as she watched his lips move, registering nothing at the moment.

"MOVE! HANA!"

She flung herself away from Hisagi, fully prepared to evade any grab Leo might attempt to make at her as well. Prepared, but perhaps not equipped, as the world lurched and she stumbled on, nearly losing her balance. Had Hana felt it too? The second Leo had driven his fist through the strange woman's chest?

The man long forgotten in the moment, silently hoping in his own fear to just remain forgotten.....had begun to bleed profusely from his severed leg, his face paling instantly and giving a small cry of alarm.

A cry that broke into a full blown scream a second later as she drove her fingers into the stump of the wound, ignoring the pulsing flow as it stained the sleeve of her kimono. Here there was nothing to ease his pain for now, no medicines or tonics that could dull the edge of her riatsu's intrusion of his body as she bent what little concentration she had left towards forcing the deadly tide to ebb in a different direction. It wasn't long before sweat broke out on her brow, her pulse racing and unsteady.

"Hana, I can't do this alone."

Her voice was quiet....and very much off. She was forcing syllables taken for granted for ages, no longer able to hear what she herself was saying.

"Keiya, if you're well enough, I want you to cut at my uniform. Anything beneath the knee goes. Hana can use the cloth as a tourniquet for now."

Her face settled into a weary and grim line.....the almost too healthy flush that had begun to infect her upon coming to this realm had long since faded into a wan pallor that spoke volumes of just how unwell she truly was.

"Leo, Lieutenant Hisagi......I know its a long shot, but could one of you please scout the immediate area for the lost limb? I'm sure the Captain will need it to see if there is any way to reverse the damage. The other should aid Keiya in watching over us until we have Kiraname stabilized again."

He had passed out. Good. The man's pained screaming had been the most taxing on her soul. Perhaps now that they only had to deal with the occasional twitch and involuntary response......

You're lucky you didn't drop me.

"So is he...."

The words were whispered softly aloud as she went to work. Their mission....far from over.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You were careless."

A soft, pained moan. By all that was named unholy, this hurt!

"Arrogant."

A sudden fit of racking coughs, a fine mist of dark blood.

"Did you even get to show them half of what you could do? Or did you just flail blindly around with that pitiful weapon."

There was scorn in the voice, blatant and open, and red tinted eyes raised to glare balefully at the speaker.

"Enough. Report Catheryne."

A bowed head and a moment of silence.

"Everard is right. I was arrogant. I had too much fun playing with the pet you gave me, sir. There were four of them, I had thought to use its surprise to gain an advantage. I wasn't expecting....."

A hard edged silence.....broken moments later.

"Expecting what?"

Soft cynical laughter as they all stood around her, listening intently. Finally, when the irony had ceased to be amusing....she spoke again.

"Ask it yourself. It's alive, isn't it? Probably trembling in fear at how easily its attack was anticipated....it never had a chance. The Lieutenant they brought with them somehow found it with ease and engaged it on its own plane. And I thought you said that Squad Eleven members don't use kido, Shio. That's not a sunburn on my back."

Another, distinctly female voice spoke up, surprise evident in the soft tones.

"A squad eleven member used combat kido? Are you sure?"

Her face settled into a scowl.

"Who else could it have been? The Squad Four healers were easy to take down. Got one with the business end of my scythe and the other with the butt end when she got cocky enough to attack me. Either way, they're all hurting. You know how I like to open my friendly sparring matches."

"What can you tell us about this Lieutenant?"

Her head turned, eyes focusing on the new speaker.

"He's fast. Very fast, Saito."

"Shunpo?"

A soft, definative nod. Met with a suddenly excited grin.

"Excellent."

Another slight chuckle, ending suddenly in coughing, a gentle trickle of crimson leaking from the right corner of her mouth.

"He's cute too. You know I like dark and handsome men. But to think that we just met and he's already got his hand on my chest....well...."

The one named Saito only grinned further.

"Rest and recover, Catheryne. You're no match for him. You'll only end up dead if you pursue this bloody little romance. If it comes down to it.....I'll face him. My skills should prove more than enough to negate shunpo. At the very least, we'll get to see what else he can do."

A deep, baritone voice.

"They won't remain here for long now that they have what they want."

And another, silken smooth, undeniably male.

"Let them go. It's been an interesting test run. We've learned quite a bit. Not only how the Shinigami operate, but how they fight as well. We have as much time as they do. We'll meet again. I'm sure of it."

 

[AngelLightheart]

Hana Hikari

Hana blinked, hardly able to follow the flurry of movements as the man and the woman dueled.

She was fast.

He was faster.

But he still hadn't drawn his zanpakutou. Why?

He resheathed his Zanpakutou fully, and returned to the normal field of view.

Hana wasn't quite sure if she was ready for what happened next.

The pulse of crimson was sudden, and by all things holy it was powerful! She cried out as the pulse hit her and took a step back, holding up her arms to shield herself. When she finally lowered them to look, the man had his hand clear through the woman's chest. He pulled it back out, and Hana watched the blood drip off of his fingers.

That wasn't a Shinigami technique. That was...

That was something a Hollow would do. Just who was this man? And that reiatsu? It was crimson, definitely Hollow.

He looked like a Shinigami. He had a Zanpakutou. He was wearing the robes of the lieutenant of Squad Two, which now that she thought about it, the lieutenant still hadn't been replaced.

But everything else about him said otherwise. His reiatsu, his spirit ribbon, the way he fought...

Hana's eyes widened, suddenly realizing something. The downed shinigami was dying, no longer being stabilized by the woman's reiatsu.

Hana was running at him before Yuri even cried out to her. She was holding his leg, applying pressure and waiting for Keiya to cut off Yuri's robes. She growled to herself under her breath and did it herself, making sure not to cut Yuri in the process.

She tied the cloth around his leg tightly to restrict the blood flow. She tapped Yuri to say that she could stop working so hard.

"Yuri, if they find the leg, I'll see what I can do..." she murmured.

Very few knew her Zanpakutou's true abilities. What it allowed her to do. She had requested to be left at her current seat for a reason, after Captain Unohana learned of her abilities.

"To lower suspicion and curiosity." was her reason for it.

Her affinity was with the body itself.

 

[knight713]

Keiya was about to do as Yuri instructed and cut everything off below the knee, his vision was slightly getting better but something’s still appeared to be fuzzy. But within a few hours it should return. He was about to do it when Hana went ahead and did it, which was slightly for the better as he did not want to cut Yuri.

It was good to see that the injured shinigami was going ot recover but he was missing a limb. Which Yuri instructed Leo and Hisagi or one of them to look for it but as she said it could be a long shot. He was to provide guard duty and protect the three of them while they take care of Kiraname. Which ever one went to look for the limb the other one would stay behind and help him watching over them.


Keiya knew he might get asked on why he was able to use kido by the others as it is said all squad 11 members don’t use kido. He also knew that he must have surprised that lady to. But who ever she was she was able to beat them effortlessly but yet at the same time he could tell she wasn’t using all of her power or abilities.

“ Right I’ll be outside if you need me for anything just call “ Keiya replied as he dusted himself off and proceed to walk outside.

He saw what leo did he was able to fight the woman almost on equal terms but the technique hew used was no where near a shinigami’s its was something else more akin to a hollow ability. Keiya quickly appeared on top of the roof they were on it provided him with a good view of the surrounding area. He would assign who ever was to help him watch the ground area.

 

[LeoHawk35]

Leo

Leo stepped to the side and looked behind him, realizing too late what he had missed. The downed shinigami was suddenly bleeding profusely from his leg injury. Apparently the woman had been holding him together with her reiatsu alone. Leo followed Yuri over and watched as she and Hana began their work to keep the shinigami from passing on.

Leo nodded at Yuri's request. Without so much as glancing at Hisagi, Leo flash stepped away. The Lieutenant had been wounded and was not fit to be going anywhere alone, Leo was much less wounded and still quite capable. He stopped, peering over the edge of a building. He glanced down at his hand and flexed it, feeling the pain entering his joints. He shook it off and scanned the street under him, moving on to the next building, and doing the same thing, over and over.

Useful, huh? Oel asked, referring to his technique.

Slightly. Leo said dismissively.

He remembered the first time he had used it. It was an...interesting scenario. But that's a story for another time.

What was heaviest on Leo's mind was how easily the woman had gone down. He had noticed that she wasn't giving the fight her all in. Had she not expected him? Did that mean that she was expecting just the Shinigami? Interesting. Whoever her superior was had good intel. But not good enough. He had known that the Shinigami would send aid for their them, but they had counted on them only sending Shinigami. They hadn't counted on Leo showing up, or there would have been more there to stop him.

And he also knew that she wasn't dead. Not yet. Unless they had a good healer, that wound was a deathblow. Eventually she would be dead. A sudden death with no hint or warning. The target's strength often determines how long it takes for the wound to kill them, if they aren't killed by the initial wound. Which they usually are. That woman had a strong reiatsu. She would live for some time at least.

But she hadn't died. He could feel it, just as he could always feel a person after using it. Not in an intimate way, at least not as far as he knew. He just knew whether they were dead or alive.

It is a rather useful move. Never expected. Tenebras commented.

So it is. Leo responded simply.

You could always use those other things I taught you. Oel stated.

I could. But there is no need for them at this point in time. When I need them, I'll use them. Leo responded.

Good. You don't use my power much anymore. Do you realize how long it's been since you used my full potential in a fight?

I'm well aware. I don't need that kind of power for this.

Well, I'm bored. We should fight sometime. Oel suggested.

After I've thought things through about this mission. We haven't heard the last from that woman and whatever group she's a part of. Leo said to him.

Very well done, Leo. Tenebras murmured, and it was for his ears alone.

Leo spotted what he was looking for. The leg. It was laying in the mouth of a dark alleyway, most likely where they had been attacked. And there...was the dead shinigami. He flash stepped down, through the body over his shoulder, picked up the leg, and flash stepped back to where he knew his companions were. He set down the body and laid the leg down on the ground next to Yuri and Hana. They were very into their work, almost seeming to not notice anything outside of their work. Their world was the downed shinigami in front of them.

His world was everything around them. He needed to be alert to keep them alive. Though he got the feeling they were done with encounters for now.

Leo stepped back, turning again into the calm, cold figure he usually was when in any sort of combat scenario. Most times, now that he thought about it. Few times did he let himself out of it.

 

[lonely_shadow]

It felt like forever.

Between the four of them, they had worked quickly, staving off death for now at least. That was all the poor man could hope for. Panting softly, Yuri watched as Hana's own kido combined with the tourniquet worked to clot the terrible wound enough to where he would no longer be in danger of bleeding to death. The shock of his injuries....and the effect of Yuri's treatment.....would no doubt linger much longer.

Yuri swayed slightly, jumping just a little at Hana's touch.

Yuri, if they find the leg, I'll see what I can do..."

The surgeon squinted, trying to make out the words, and frowning when she utterly failed at doing so. This was becoming frustrating.

"Hana. I can't hear you. I think that initial attack......yeah. I can't hear anything."

The words were spoken softly, though she couldn't tell. The pain that swept across her sweat slickened features were much more than those of simple rigorous combat.

Remain calm. You know that if there's anything that can be done....

A deep breath, a slow closing of her eyes as she struggled for control of her rising panic. Kiritonen's advice filled senses that a sonic attack had no chance of quelling.

And if there isn't?

The question was asked flatly, and she wasn't really expecting an answer......so it came as a surprise when the zanpakuto spoke again.

You're strong. You'll continue on. And you have friends who will help you. You know this.....you're just too stubborn to lean on them more than what you do.

Everything still seemed slightly out of focus, and she swayed dangerously as she rose to her feet once more. The more Yuri moved, the worse it got.....until she found herself leaning on a nearby wall just to stop the spinning. When her eyes opened yet again.....it was to look upon the first bit of good news she'd had all day.

Leo.....and from the looks of it, he'd found Kiraname's missing appendage. A weak and weary smile greeted him as their eyes met. A kind of warmth spread through her as their visual contact broke way too soon.....his eyes ever moving and watchful.

A shadow played across her vision, and she glanced upward.....easily spotting Keiya and again for a moment their eyes met. Yuri nodded....knowing exactly what was going on now.....

They're protecting you. Your friends.

"Let's not take that for granted then."

The words were again spoken aloud, her ability to comprehend speech from inner dialogue compromised for now.

"He's gone."

Thin fingers reached for him, gently brushing against Leo's shoulder before settling more firmly, leaning just a little of her weight onto him.

"I sent the Lieutenant back to report. I should also tell you.....that....at least for the moment.....I'm completely deaf."

Her words were slightly slurred, more forced syllables. The slight quaver beneath the words however.....were unmistakable. Her free hand reached out and brushed lightly against the coldness of the limb he had found.

"Keiya."

She turned, gasping softly at the motion and the discomfort it caused.

"We're going home. Would you open the path? Let's get this man to a place where he can be better cared for...."