User:EternalJunior/Patrol of the Sandy Dunes

The orchre hall boomed; shinigami bolted down the hallway readying themselves for their routine patrol. Shrouds of pure darkness converged into a large pack, standing side-to-side, they stood erect while all staring at a single point: 113 year old Shihoun Rin, nephew of current 2nd Division Captain and Onmitsukidō Commander, in addition to having an authoritative stand over much of the Patrol Corps and Covert Ops, therefore, leading said mission.

He glanced through the crowd before him, patiently glaring at each one, "I understand that all of you are aware of the recent string of deaths of spirits near in the World of the Living. The balance has been dwindling. We, the Onmitsukidō will regulate this anomaly." Every syllable that escaped his lips came out full, pin-point and on beat, as if reading off a piece of paper. "From the 8th Division I've gotten intel that multiple adjuchas and at least one Menos Grande was detected in the area. Be on guard at all times. Hollow are vile beings, but in a pack, they are methodical; deadly. Proceed with caution" with his parting words, Rin vanished from view, fading into nothingness; simply gone. Deep down, he wished they all wouldn't die into todays venture, and without concern for himself, he sincerely wished he could protect them all...

---

Rin's red eyes snapped open as he appeared on the other side, him and twelve other shinigami lorded over Karakura Bay carefully floating above the water, attuning their spiritual frequency as to not be detected, while at the same time searching for Hollow.

"Dammit...at the minimum their are fourteen hollow and one Menos Grande..." He remained silent, still analyzing for more enemies. His Onmitsukidō colleagues remained silent also, like him, strucken with fear. His eyes remained calculating for another moment or so, before he shunpo'd; his peers following suit, they all appeared floating patiently over a large bridge stripped with thick metal wires that line down its base to the ground, keeping the construct in its towering position.

Soon, the small army of shinigami stood before a malicious group of hollow. Disembodied and lurking, blood drooled from their teeth as the multiple attackers growled and snarled, barking distastefully as they inched forward for their feast. While those abominations lorded over the innocent domain, a jagged scar tore open in the beautiful blue sky, forcibly making those witnessing to quiver in unanticipated and palpable fear, hidden by a considerably weakened bravado. Meanwhile, shaken but not stirred, Rin let out his own grumble of anger toward his own arrogance "dammit! I knew I should have brought more men. Dammit!" He slammed his fist down at his thigh angrily.

The darkness coalsced into one huge being - Menos Grande! The shinigami in black-clad uniforms slowly, patiently glanced at their leader, in hope of getting some reassurance; as if his somehow meaningful glare would ensure their survival, a feeling of warmth and protection is what they sought...to no avail. Cooly, Rin stepped forth, "I'll take care of the Menos Grande. Leave him to me." He said, gulping. "Remember, if you see your allies losing, that's your chance. Don't step between them. Take the enemy down from behind. And if the enemy is so strong you can't even do that, then just watch your ally be killed. That's what it means to be Onmitsukidō." With the word of "onmitsukidō" escaping his lips, he bolted forth with staggered shunpo. An after-image remained withal has be began his attack, with it, the entire platoon moved out.

Clangs of metal against hierro rang like a bell, hissing of bala and cero being shot off tore at Rin's ears. Unholy screams of flesh being torn from skin and teammate after teammate failing, dying in the line of duty. To the left and right, his soldiers moved to avert their methodical onslaughts but numbers was not on their side today. Skillful precision and timly attacks executed well helped somewhat but the capabilties of the Hollow proved formidable. Rin vaulted in the air as he dodged an incoming bolt of unleashed purple; a cero amassed from the Menos Grande, just barely getting out of the way.

Rin shot an intimidating scowl before glancing back to see a dismebodied body disintergrate. Rin weaved his way through the blood, and dying bodies of Hollow and shinigami alike, stopping and suddenly jolting; grabbing hold of Aki, the dying female Onmitsukidō shinigami. "...A--Aki.." he whispered, clearly shooken by her death.

"Everyone I know eventually ends up dying. Heh, maybe I just am bad-luck. Just like those men though---like everyone thought all those years ago." he said solemnly.

Rin stood, letting the body fade into nothingness. His red eyes unveiled onto his remaining five teammates, two of which were dead and one critically injured. He then looked on the other side, "Ten Hollow including the harmed Menos Grande. Heh, what a pivotal position I'm in." Suddenly, the Hollow moved toward him, including the large Menos Grande whos steps shook the water beneath, its spiritual pressure malevolent to the senses.

"Hurry, everyone! Take the injured Rakuyo and open a Senkaimon using my Jigokuchō. I'll preform Konsō onto the Souls that these Hollow sought as well as defeating them. Well, -- Go on! Go!" He shouted, immediately the shinigami remaining scrabbled onward, fleeting moments of fear uprooted by Rin's command.

A hollow quickly shot after the fleeing shinigami, only to be intervened by Rin, who shunpo'd to intercept; his legs slim as he stood erect, he spun on the ball of his feet and extended his right leg, consistently striking the Hollow in its horned white mask three times before shattering it, killing the hollow. With his death, he scowled at the remaining beasts. "You monsters don't deserve to be reincarnated into Soul Society. No, I will destroy you for harming my pride" he declared, whether his anger originated from Aki's death or his own failure to act was so far unknown. His spiritual pressure jolted into existence, carving outward and forcibly stunning the Hollow that quickly converged onto him!

Suddenly, blue hellfire formed into his palms and as the beasts met him, he met them with his own statement! "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws." His palms discharged forth blue energy that swarmed over the Hollow that attacked, vaporizing them all on contact like a raging sea!

However, panting heavily, Rin hunched down, glared up to see the Menos Grande, for the most part, unharmed. "Troublesome aren't you."

---

"Unfortunate for you---you threatened my pride! Escape for you is impossible. Death will be a mild pain compared to what I will do to you!" he declared poetically, his tone not angered but soothing, and true. His words were stone, once dictated they became true. Rin rarely spoke lest his pride arose, even his colleagues were aware as to not approach Rin unless directly spoken too; his traumatic experiences as a child having forcibly withdrawn his once energetic demeanor.

The Menos Grande meanwhile, was charging and quickly unveiling a widened purple beam of spiritual power! Ripples generated and shook the foundation of Karakura Town, while, Rin gulped, his own reality and pride would quickly tumble down upon him if he didn't do something soon!

The blast discharged, and Rin stood boldly. He focused his spiritual force to his wrist and forearms consequently lining the katana drawn, with what remained of his spirit energy. The scabbard was black and tightened against his waist, and his sword was a slim, cool steel and his hilt was a vibrant midnight black.

He reeled back as the Hollow reared its monstrous head, suddely dispatching the cero atack! Rin didn't hesitate; no flinch, no twitch of the eye or bead of sweat drove down the flowing texture of his face. He swung his blade heroically, slashing the titanic-like force of the cero, causing energy to burst at the seams like wildfire. It flared all around his blade and arced around Rin and the contents of the sky before dissipating, however, the beam was resilent; maintaining its force, he inched forward and began to lean, with hope enough to slice right through the attack and strike the Hollow.

Before his plan could entirely come to fruition, a large garganta opened above the Hollow. Before Rin could even think a powerful Negación, protecting the dying Menos from further harm, but trapping Rin at the same time! Rin glanced up to see who was the culprit but could see nothing, meanwhile, the Menos beside him slowly dissipated from the deftly slash given prior. "Looks like I'm going to Hueco Mundo, Kurama-taichō is going to love this story" he thought. Next Story > Patrol of the Sandy Dunes Part II