The Rule of Two: Realization

Under The Cover of Night; A Friendly Assimilation
Towards the shores of Okinawa Islands, a lone boat was moving through the calm and soft current of the ocean. The only sound within the area was the loud, rhythmic growl of the engines as it propelled the metallic body forward. Its sleek, grey form was constantly being slapped by the froth and splashing of the waters, but it did not stop, being the machine that it was. The moon-light shone on its form, almost as if lighting the way for the trio that was within.

19-year-old Atsushi Chiba looked over from the steering wheel for a moment to look over at Tamafune, who had Evelyn's head resting on her lap as she seat in one "bench" part of the boat. Evelyn's eyes were closed, and she seemed to ignore the fact that Tama was keeping one of her palms pressed on her forehead. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, clearly exhausted from having to travel for such a long time.

"How's your patient?" He asked dryly, prompting the young girl to look up.

"She's fine..." A small smile crossed her face, and she looked down on the woman in question. "I managed to stop the bleeding and seal her wounds. Obviously, I couldn't do anything about the fact that she has one arm, but.... she's alive, at least." Her own voice showed weariness, as if she had stayed up the moment they had started their trip.

"Ugh....good for her...." A slight groan came from Atsushi as he turned back around, flopping his head down onto the wheel. "I hope I don't have to do much more of this shit in the future. Can't believe I'm saying it, but I think the smithing was more more entertaining than standing here all day just to drive this boat...."

"No kidding...." Tamafune agreed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back so it could face the night sky. "I don't think I could drive a motorcycle again, after what happened."

Atsushi smirked, raising his head up and turning back around to face Tama. "What, couldn't handle a little Kidō? You must be younger than we all thought, huh, little sister?" His smirk only increased in size when he saw her bristle indignantly, jerking her face forward in order to meet his smug look with an annoyed look of her own.

"Stop calling me that, you jerk!" She snapped.

"What? Can't help but say the truth. You know it fits you...."

All of a sudden, the wind around them began to pick up and forced the boat to actually speed up slightly. The sloshes of water that were previously hitting them began to become somewhat stronger, and some of it actually ended up getting into the boat just enough to get parts of it wet...

"Oh, hell, no...." Atsushi growled, gritting his teeth slightly at the picking up of the wind around them. "I will be damned if we get a storm when we're almost there!" He gunned the boat even faster, pushing the speed in order to quickly get to the island. He ignored the slight protests of Tamafune as the bump started rocking and bumping a little.

Of course, this caused Evelyn to stir and the young girl to turn her attention towards her. "Ah! I see you're awake...." She commented, giving an encouraging smile. "You able to stand?"

"....yes...." After getting her ground, Evelyn grunted as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her eyes were shut, contorted in slight pain. She slowly reached to grasp the armless stump, now bandaged and cleaned up. "I'm fine.... for the most part."

The wind then began to oddly shift it's direction, this time opposing the boat rather than forcing it. This wind was sturdy and strong, but gentle at the same time. It was enough to essentially keep the boat in a slow pace, despite how hard Atsushi was pushing on the gas.

Suddenley, a crow could be heard cawing and eventually seen flying across the moonlight. It circled the boat nearly 3 times before landing on the right side of the craft's edge. It was rather large for a crow, and it's yellow eyes looked straight into the pained face of Evelyn.

As the bird certainly would have caught the trio off guard, none of them noticed a muscular, hooded figure with black hair strands flowing from his concealed head, standing on the very edge of the boat with just the tip of his boot. Despite his menacing appearance, a serene and peaceful aura could be felt around him.

Atsushi was intelligent to know that the wind's sudden change was not due to nature. Letting out an angry growl, the teenager abruptly spun around, expression and body language showing anger and annoyance.

"All right, who's the--"

However, he immediately stopped upon seeing the scene, eyes widening in surprise. Tamafune matched his expression, looking at the man as well as the bird and switching her gaze from one to another as the seconds passed. However, Evelyn did not react at all, although she did lower her arm to her lap and turning her face towards the man's direction. There was a silence as they looked at the silent, hooded individual stood on the edge of the boat.

Atsushi was the first to break it, eyebrows furrowing and a frown crossing his face. "Ok, Mr. King-of-the-World." He sniffed. "Please get off my boat's edge and explain why you're here and having your creepy bird staring at our evacuee, before I turn this thing and knock you into the water." His tone was rude, sarcastic, and clearly not welcoming.

The being kept his pose, while slowly tilting his head up to where the trio could see his solid orange eyes, his arms crossed as he retained his stance. "My apologies. I would have preferred to land on a solid surface rather than the water."

The crow then cawed as it flew over to the man's left shoulder. He himself then stepped off of the boat onto the water, standing on it as if though he was walking on solid ground while his arms were still crossed. "Is that more to your liking, boy?" he said with a calm, yet empty voice.

The boat ended up zooming past him due to his position, courtesy of his move to step out of the vehicle.

"....wow...." Atsushi muttered, looking forward as his boat left the man behind. To his relief, he could see that they were only a few minutes away from the shoreline. "Someone's obviously come from the mental institution of complete stupidity."

WHOOSH!

Before any of them realized it, the being Flash-Stepped right back into the previous position that he was in on the boat. His arms still crossed and he still stood on the tip of his boot, the crow still perched on his left shoulder. His hooded face tilted down to where no one could see his face or his eyes.

"Ah~!!"

A startled yell came from Tamafune, and she almost fell off the boat at the sudden appearance of the strange individual. "O-ok.... he's fast.... we know that now...." She muttered, unconsciously leaning against a silent Evelyn as she tried to regain her breath. "Probably would be better if we knew his name, but.... I'm too afraid to ask...."

"....my god, man." Atsushi slapped a palm to his face, holding his head down in annoyance. "We really don't have time for your horse-shit, whoever you are. Why don't you go back to whatever mental institution you came from? I'm sure someone's going to call looking for the crow-type, male version of an insane cat-lady."

The being simply chuckled as he looked towards Atsushi. "Institution? If by institution, you mean centuries of confinement and solitude on top of a large mountain range, then yes, I am from an institution. Based on your mannerisms towards your elders, I would suggest that you do the same at some point in time." He turned his orange eyes towards Tamafune. "Fear not. I am a friend of Qilin's. You have nothing to fear from me, young one."

He then looked over at Evelyn, noticing her missing arm. "You....I recognize your aura from someone I had thought long disappeared."

Hesitantly, Tamafune relaxed, but remained silent when he addressed Evelyn. However, her eyes widened in alarm when Atsushi narrowed his eyes and scowled, glaring at the masked man. "How about I suggest you to get off my boat before I shove my foot up your--"

"Ahem, Atsushi!" The young girl exclaimed, cutting him off before he could get any further. "Let's not start a fight here, of all places...." She relaxed when the boy snorted, rolling his eyes and turning back to his driving.

"Whatever...."

Evelyn had her eyes closed, yet her expression made it seem like she was looking him over. She bent over, grasping her staff in her hand and resting it on her shoulder. "Just who exactly are you referring to when you say that?" She questioned him, her eyebrows furrowing.

The being regained his pose as his crow flew off of his shoulder and began to circle the boat. "Well...two people actually. You are a McTavish, correct?"

"Yes." Traditionally, Evelyn answered honestly. Her body tensed slightly as she felt the boat slow down to a crawl upon reaching the sandy shores, and she slowly allowed herself to stand up along with Tamafune. "Who exactly did you meet out of my family?"

He then took off his dark hood, revealing a battle worn Hollow Mask and pale skin, along with shoulder length black hair. "Your husband and I fought togather a couple of months ago. Your daughter and I helped rescue him and his comrades from a high level security prison."

"I don't have a daughter." Evelyn answered, sticking one end of her staff to the floor of the boat. She moved aside as Tamafune and Atsushi moved to jump out of the boat and land on the sands. "Only a husband and son."

The man then stepped off of the boat as well, still keeping his gaze on her. "Hmm..."

He then remembered the story that Brina had told him on their way to New York, how she had apparentley butchered her parent in the deep of night and left her there, assuming that she was done and gone. But now that she stood before him, carrying a somewhat resentful aura around her in terms of her daughter, he quickly grasped the situation.

"I see...." he said as his crow landed on the sands and began to pick at a small infant turtle, before quickly slamming it's jaws down on the small creature and swallowing it whole.

"....I think I have a reason to fear birds now...."

As Evelyn stepped out of the boat, Tamafune cringed at the crow as it made short work and dinner of the poor turtle. She just didn't like to see brutality committed, even if it was animal on animal. What was unnerving her even more was that she thought to have seen the flash of teeth within the beak of the crow when it had bit down on the turtle.

"Gives you more reason to dismiss him as a loony." Atsushi sniffed, folding his arms across his chest and turning his head away.

The bird then flared it's white teeth and flew right into Atsushi's face, snarling and hissing at him as it's yellow eyes transformed into a blood red.

The Vizard snapped his fingers and the bird quickly withdrew to it's master's shoulder as he put his hood back on and began to walk towards the island beyond the sands.

Needless to say, Atsushi went from calm to angry in less than a second.

Tamafune, having been right beside him, had turned pale and almost fainted right then and there.

He clenched his fists, glaring daggers into the Visored's back as he walked away with Evelyn quickly following close behind, seemingly knowing where he was going. "That son of a bitch...!" He seethed, wanting nothing more than to punch a few holes into the man right then and there. The crow had acted on its own, and the Visored may have been only calling it back. However, it might as well have been just one possibility, the other being that the stranger had did that on his own. It was the possibility that he was leaning towards as well as the one used to justify his anger.

In a matter of fact, he was stepping forward after him in order to put his want to effect.

However, he was stopped when Tamafune placed a hand on his shoulder in order to stop him. Instinctively, he jerked his head towards her out of his anger, only to meet a worried gaze. She simply closed her eyes and shook her head - a signal for him not to attack. In response, he scowled and shook his hand off, moving to catch up. It was the only thing that was keeping him from becoming violent and aggressive towards the newcomer.

As Tamafune followed behind the boy, he continued to glare into the stranger's back as he caught up. "I bet you don't even know where we're supposed to go." He said irritably, his arms folded across his chest.

"On the contrary. I knew Qilin before any of you were born." the being said, still walking towards the top of the island before stopping and looking to his left and right. He then looked at his crow and nudged it with his shoulder slightly. "In fact, I helped him find this hiding place."

The bird then flew off of him and remained in the air as the being then crouched down, one knee on the ground and the other sat up, his hand on the standing knee. "I'll see you all there."

WHOOSH!

With a single Flash-Step, the man disappeared from view with no trace of his existance left behind.

"....I hope Qilin ends up killing that freak." Atsushi muttered, unfolding his arms across his chest and closing his eyes in disdain. "He's really getting on my nerves." He started walking again towards a slightly surprised Evelyn, stopping when he was near her.

Tamafune followed right behind him, folding her arms behind her back while looking at him in slight amusement. "Maybe you're getting on his. I'm surprised he didn't just kill you for even opening your mouth."

"Yeah, yeah...." Waving off the comment made towards him, Atsushi looked over towards Evelyn and cleared his throat. "C'mon, lady. We're going to take the usual route to the caves. Stay close behind us, or we'll leave you behind." Although still carrying a rude demeanor, his voice was a bit lighter than what it was before.

Evelyn nodded calmly. "I'm right behind you two." She assured them, her voice serene and calm.

Following this statement, the three vanished with their own Flash Steps, with Evelyn keeping pace behind what would be the slower leaders.

The Spiritsmith's Offer
The interior of the cave was a network of hallways, all of them made of the very rock that made up the cave itself. All of these hallways were lit up with torches, their flames seemingly burning eternally as they lit the way for anyone who traversed the cave's depths. One of the hallways led to the correct area; everywhere else was nothing more than a dead end.

The "right" area was an expansive area, vibrantly lit with torches in a manner that made it seem like there was artificial lighting instead of the natural fire that it was. In sections of the floor, there were pools of water that dominated at least half of the ground. The other half was dominated by earth. It was like standing out on an island in the middle of the ocean.

Within a section of the earth-covered ground, a lone man was sitting on top of the back of an unidentified creature's skeleton, the foundation as massive as a truck. The back was flattened and panned out in the manner similar to a wide table-top. He was blowing a stream of fire onto a sword every ten seconds before checking it, the metal white-hot. Then, he would blow on it again, hammering it so that it could meet a certain shape.

This was the work of 25-year-old Qilin, the Spiritsmith.

And sure enough, leaning up against the rock wall to his left was the stranger that the trio had met earlier at the beach, his arms crossed and his hood down. In the light, one could see that he was a muscular figure with no shirt, a purple piece of clothing around his neck that was his hood, his torso area down was covered in a black and purple garmet of sorts with various bone pieces and symbols, as well as a pair of boots and gloves with similar bone pieces on them. His mask was blank and his eyes were closed as his black hair dangled around his upper area.

"....you could at least say something, Kafezial."

Qilin stopped working on his sword for a moment, looking over at the man with light exasperation. "Appearing and just standing there without so much as a "hello" is kind of rude...." He said, a slightly complaining tone in his voice. With his free hand holding a hammer, he used his sword hand to raise up the blade and inspect it once more.

Kafiezial simply chuckled slightly, retaining his pose but glancing up at Qilin's direction. "I don't need to say hello. Ruexleez and I have already greeted these three, but I'll say it again if you so wish." Ruexleez of course being his crow, which was oddly no where in sight.

"You mean, those three." Qilin corrected him, putting down the sword when he was satisfied with how it looked. "I'm surprised you just decided to up and leave them in the dust like that. Though, I can probably guess why you did...." A small grin crossed his face. "Atsushi's rebel-boy attitude was getting to you, right?"

He chuckled a little more as he looked back up to Qilin once again. "Were you and I so different?" he said with his trademark serene voice.

"Can't really say...." Qilin admitted, cracking his neck to one side before allowing himself to his feet. "After all, I'm the one who might as well have raised Atsushi. You, on the other hand, just met the guy...."

He jumped off of the skeleton and onto the ground opposite of where Kafezial was leaning. He directed his gaze towards the entrance to the area, where he could see the figures of the trio as they made their way into the cave.

"Hey, Qilin!!" Atsushi called out, picking up the pace as he approached the older man. "Some masked freak just came onto the boat while I was driving it, claiming to be your friend or something like that. Did you kill him already?" The women behind him were silent, with Tamafune stuffing her hands in her coat pockets, and Evelyn simply standing there.

Kafiezial then casually stood up from his spot and folded his arms behind his back, waiting for his friend to answer.

"W-wait a minute, seriously?!"

From the rather innocent, curious look on Qilin's face as well as the way Kafiezial casually strode up from behind him (which irked him even more), the claim of friendship had been non-verbally confirmed. Tamafune had to chuckle a little at Atsushi's expression of shock and disbelief as he stared at the pair. "You're actually friends with this guy?!" He gasped. "Wow, what kind of wierdos were you hanging out when you were going to school?"

Qilin closed his eyes and shrugged, keeping a casual smile. "The best kind, my friend." He answered smoothly with a bit of enthusiasm, having gotten himself used to Atsushi's insults and jeers. He looked over his shoulder at the older man, folding his arms across his chest. "You guys haven't been formally introduced, have you?"

Kafiezial simply retained his pose. "No, I apologize. I have made a bad impression on him." He then tilted his head to where he was looking at Atsushi's face. "My name is Kafiezial. It is a pleasure to meet you Atsushi." he said calmly, knowing that the boy was only going to get worse, but he paid it no mind. He wasn't intentionally trying to jeer him after all...

"Oh, now you're trying to be nice while in the presence of your best friend." Atsushi said in a snappish tone. "What's the matter? You suddenly lose your backbone?" He continued to glare at Kafiezial as he spoke, causing Tamafune to slide a hand to her face out of slight frustration. However, she knew that once Atsushi was angry, he was going to keep it up, no matter what.

And he was right, as always.

Kafiezial chuckled somewhat as he held out his left hand. "You'll forgive Ruexleez..."

Suddenley, right from behind Atsushi's shoulder flew the same menacing crow from before, perching right on Kafiezial's extended arm, glaring at the trio with it's menacing yellow eyes. "...he's very weary of strangers. I'm surprised he didn't defy my order to return in place of biting you like he wished." he continued.

"Yeah, well, I would've crushed the thing's skull in and cooked it for dinner." Atsushi shot back, smirking. "What's a stupid bird going to do to the likes of me?"

Ruexleez's eyes turned blood red and it bared it's teeth again, hissing and snarling like before. Until his master thumped him in the right side of his head, effectively silencing it. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

"Yeah, whatever, you freak."

Scoffing, Atsushi abruptly turned away from the crow's master and walked off, ignoring a comically cowering Tamafune who was using the taller Evelyn as a means to make herself invisible to the crow. "I'm outta here, Qilin. Have fun with your boyfriend..." He called over his shoulder with a sarcastic drawl, before performing a Flash Step and vanishing from the area.

Once he was gone, Qilin sighed heavily and placed a palm to his face, shaking his head. "I'll say the same thing for him as you did for your bird. You'll have to excuse him, he can't adjust quickly enough to the likes of who he considers to be strangers...."

"Especially ones with such a creepy visage...." Tamafune whispered, still hiding behind the silent Evelyn.

Kafiezial kept his pose as his crow left his hold and landed in front of Evelyn, looking up at her with calm yellow eyes, almost as if it was curious about her.

His master simply sighed. "I understand. It's not every day someone runs into a Vizard who cannot rid themselves of this curse." he said, referring to the Hollow Mask that was permanatley merged with his face.

This managed to catch Evelyn's attention.

Not expecting the crow to turn docile so quickly, Evelyn leaned down towards the bird and inadvertently caused Tamafune to jump away out of instinct. However, the fact that the other female seemed to be calm around the creature resulted in her still being close while still retaining a cautious position. Out of the group, it seemed as if the crow was more interested in the blind woman than anything else.

"Talk about strange..." She thought to herself, looking on as Evelyn "looked" at the bird with her closed eyes. Then, Evelyn looked up towards Kafeziel and allowed herself to speak. "You have a rather interesting taste in your pets..." She commented, looking back up towards the bird and lifting a finger out, half-expecting it to hop up onto the said finger.

Sure enough, the now docile crow gently perched itself on her outstanded finger, almost feeling as if it weighed nothing.

Kafiezial let his arms fall to his side. "I don't know where he came from or what he is exactly, but I've had him with me ever since I was a boy." He then crossed his arms. "It's almost as if it's another being entirely. I've seen him get cut in half, courtesy of your husband, and even sacrifice itself for the sake of another...yet it always seems to come back to me. He seems to have taken a liking to you however."

Slowly, Evelyn stood back up with the crow on her finger, smiling a little. "So I see...."

"Uhm, Qilin...." Tamafune had chosen this time to speak up to the spiritsmith, finding the courage to get from behind Evelyn and stand beside her. Her eyes were calm, yet curious. "Didn't you call Evelyn here in order for a job or something like that?"

"I did--? Oh, that's right!" Qilin was confused by the statement for only a split-second before he recovered, nodding in acknowledgement. "I apologize for forgetting...." He said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. Immediately, he turned on his heel and walked back over to his skeleton. "If you would, please follow me and sit with me so we can talk about my proposal. I'm sure you have many questions on your mind, as of now, and I'd be more than happy to answer them."

The crow looked at Evelyn for a few more moments, before gently flying off of her finger and out of the cave, going to find food presumidibly. Kafiezial simply nodded as he moved from the woman's line of "sight" for her to meet Qilin. As he did so, he glanced over to Tamafune and nodded to her in a friendly manner as well.

"Ok.... maybe he's not so bad...." As young as she was, Tamafune could read emotions as good as the next person. So when Kafezial nodded to her, she knew it to be a friendly gesture. So, she allowed herself to smile and give a nod back, her body relaxing from its tension as she moved to follow Qilin along with Evelyn. Maybe she would get along with him more than she thought she would have....

As soon as he made it, Qilin promptly sat himself down on the ground, which was somewhat flat and smooth. Evelyn followed suit, her staff in her lap and her lone arm resting within it. Her closed eyes were directing themselves towards Qilin, waiting for him to speak.

"Now...." Qilin, despite knowing that she was blind, would have been her straight into those eyes if her lids hadn't been covering them. Even as he spoke in a professional tone, it still held a casual and positive that could lighten potential tension within the area. "Before I follow through with this proposal, feel free to ask me questions concerning the events that happened prior to our present time."

Evelyn nodded in acknowledgement. "All right, then...." She began, her voice soft and formal as she spoke. "How did you know about me as well as where to find me?"

Qilin's smile grew wider. "Well, I'll be honest with you...." He said, leaning forward, folding his own hands within his lap as he did so. "Ever since your defection, the Inner Circle has been keeping an eye on you as well as your actions. A famous alias like yours doesn't hide behind popular ears.... Miss Tiger Snake...."

Slowly, Evelyn opened one of her eyes to a half-lidded position - a signal that she was surprised.

"Wait a minute, Tiger Snake?" Tamafune repeated, directing her attention towards her bladesmithing master with a mix of confusion and surprise of her own. "You mean to say that this woman is actually the sōjutsu legend of the Gotei 13?!"

Evelyn closed her eye. "I understand. It's hard to believe, considering I lost an arm to my opponent hours before...." She stated calmly. "And I never really accepted the nickname as my own, only tolerated it and took it with granted. I didn't think such a name would reach so far as to Soul Reapers within the World of the Living...."

"Normally, it wouldn't have." Qilin said. "But, like I said, the Inner Circle has been keeping a curious eye on you as of late. Considering how powerful and skilled you are in combat, they want to make sure that you don't become too much of a threat to their plans.... or, so I hear. However, I myself am considered neutral in their affairs, only serving as a messenger or some other light role apart from the dirty work that they're famous for. Make no mistake, I'm not trying to recruit you into anything you wouldn't want."

"Then what do you want?" Evelyn asked coolly, a bit of firmness and sternness in her voice.

"I want to hire you as my bodyguard." Qilin answered readily, the smile returning to his face as quickly as it had faded. "You see, because of my popular status as the Spiritsmith, there are some ruffians who want to push me out of my neutral and balanced position so that they can have blades to wreck the very fabric of existence. It's a royal pain in my rear end to have to deal with it on my own, and a powerful, jobless nomad such as yourself fits my standards to a T...."

"You expect me to take up my sword again, after I've tried to retire from a life of blood-shed?" Evelyn asked him, slight anger in her tone. "Just because you are too weak to defend yourself?"

Kafiezial decided to give in his take to assist Qilin. "Despite their prowess, I doubt that Qilin and his apprentices would be able to handle Rushifa Sureiya on their own." He lowered his head somewhat as he crossed his arms. "Gods know what he is planning to do now."

"I can guess...." Qilin offered helpfully. "Since we're the ones who helped you escape from his clutches.... he might use that to track me here. He'll find this island, and if he can, use us as bait to lure you straight into his hands."

The words were enough to make Tamafune pale immediately, her expression contorting to apprehension and horror. "Y....you mean that maniac could find and kill us?!" She repeated, her heart beating a little faster. She may have been brave when she had rescued Evelyn, but that was within the heat and thrill of the moment. In an environment such as this, she could not be worse off if they dared come knocking on their doorstep.

Qilin nodded. "Mhm... or at the very least, capture all of us and resort to much more torturous methods--"

"Ok, stop. Please." The young girl begged, placing one hand on one side of her face and lowering her head down. "I don't want to think about that. Ever. So please stop talking about it!"

A weak smile came across the Spiritsmith's face. "....sorry, Tama-chan. I was just stating facts, but I prefer not to upset anyone...."

Kafiezial turned his words to Tamafune in an attempt to comfort her. "Don't worry. Rushifa is persistant and ruthless, but he would never harm someone as young as yourself. During the chase on the highway, I doubt that he could fully recognize your age."

As he did so, Qilin allowed himself to turn back towards Evelyn, the smile fading away once more. "I know it might seem like I'm doing this out of my own selfish benefit. But, I assure you that it's not the case. Considering how ruthless the Black Wolf is, I don't want to see any more die because of his beliefs. We'll help you in any way we can...."

"How would being your bodyguard service me....?" Evelyn questioned him, unmovable in her position.

"Well, for one...." With a gesture, Qilin motioned to her arm (although he knew it was pointless, considering that she was blind). "We could take care of that arm for you and give you a better chance of protecting yourself. On top of that, you can also stay on these islands for the time being." The smile came to his face once again. "Don't worry. Not too far from this location is a beach house that my apprentices have been staying in when they're not working here. And I get paid more than I would've needed for my work, so...."

The man's shoulders raised and fell in a light shrug. "You're pretty much free to stay here and recuperate for the time being."

"....I see...." Evelyn lowered her head down for a moment, her expression contorting into slight thought. "If you really insist, then I guess I have no choice. I'll stay here for the time being."

"Excellent!" Qilin immediately clapped his hands together, his expression cheery once again. "Glad to see you've agreed. Tamafune, if you would, please show this woman to the home and get her accommodated."

Tamafune nodded, a small smile on her own face appearing. "Sure thing, boss...." Slowly, she stood up, looking on as Evelyn did the same. "C'mon, miss!" With that, she walked away, and the blind woman simply followed her in the cool and silent manner that she had came in.

Kafiezial waited until he was sure that the duo was out of range to be heard and seen before speaking to Qilin, his voice low but concerned. "She has been through so much, and there is darkness in her heart. Just like the Black Wolf's."

"Yeah...."

Qilin closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, allowing himself to stand back up on his feet. His hands dusted his pants off, and he continued speaking in his light, but serious tone. "It's quite an off-beat thought, you know? Such a similar bitterness within their hearts, yet such conflicting views they hold against one another. It's gonna be quite hard trying to move her out of that particular spot, but it can't hurt to give it a shot, right?"

The Vizard folded his arms across his back as he continued. "True. Everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of their previous lives. In fact, the only way that I can see them overcoming this darkness is to face each other once more..."

"Hm?" Qilin turned a questioning eye over towards Kafiezial. "How would that be? You know the only thing that's going to come out of it is them nearly killing each other again."

"I never said that it would be a polite conversation. Sometimes the best way to fight the darkness within one's self, is to face it's source head on." the Vizard continued. "Perhaps when one dies, they will find redemption and atonement in death, while the other will find atonement and redemption through vengeance." His words were cryptic and vague.

"You have such a way with words, you know that?" Qilin folded his arms across his chest and looked over his friend in amusement. Despite the cryptic words, they were more like poetry that the Spiritsmith could easily read - a result from being around him for so long. "Hopefully, it won't have to come to that, and both of them end up surviving their ordeal. I am curious, though...."

His eyes changed to a more curious demeanor. "What role exactly will you play in this? What do you plan on doing?"

Kafiezial let his arms fall to his sides as he let out a sigh. "I am here, both to see you again, and to see what path Rushifa will take when he arrives. I was his mentor many years ago, I know what he is wanting to do as of right now, but I know the boy. He will find his way hindered somehow. I want to see how."

"So you're just an observer for the time being...." Qilin summarized, shrugging lightly. "Eh, whatever floats your boat, my friend...." He turned around, reaching up to grab at the top of the skeleton before jumping and flipping back to his sitting position on it.

"Don't worry. If I am needed, then I will be more than obliged to help." Kafiezial responded.

"In the meantime, where will you be?" Qilin asked, looking over at the man as he picked up the blade again. "I mean.... specifically." He added as an afterthought.

Ruexleez then came to Kafiezial's shoulder, looking around and picking at itself. "I can't say. All that I know is that I will be on the islands. When I'm not on the mountain range, I tend to roam quite often..."

At this, Qilin let out a heavy sigh. "You were always the secretive type....well...." Once again, he stood up with the blade in hand and once again leaped off the skeleton. "Don't let me stop you from whatever you need to do. I'll be checking up on my cache..." With that, he started walking away, in the direction of a maw which led deeper into the cave complex.

"Indeed." was Kafiezial's response as his friend walked away. He then looked over to Ruexleez and nodded, before Flash-Stepping from view.

How Helpless Am I...
"....and this is your room!"

The door to a room swung open, revealing a beaming Tamafune as she stepped inside. It was no different from an apartment suite, with a king-sized bed within the interior of the main part of the room, as well as a dresser drawer at the opposite wall. On the bed's left side, there was a nightstand with a lamp-shaded light on it. The room itself seemed light in color, and the sunlight shining through the window only enhanced that particular effect.

Of course, none of it could be seen by Evelyn, even as she made her way into the room with a retreating, spinning Tamafune. She shut the door behind her, making her way towards the bed and sitting down. "You don't have to worry about me losing my way here. Once I get myself used to the room, I can find it again." She said softly, giving a small smile towards the energetic young girl.

In response, Tamafune stopped spinning and faced Evelyn, with one hand on her hip and the other hanging on her side. "If you say so, miss McTavish." She said politely, giving a nodding bow. "If you need anything or any help, don't hesitate to come find us, all right?"

She turned on her heel and started walking away to the door, grabbing the knob and pulling it open once more. However, she stopped at the doorway, taking a look over her shoulder. "Oh.... and do have a nice stay." She added, as an afterthought, before swiftly exiting and shutting the door behind her.

As Evelyn began settling in, the crow known as Ruexleez floated down on the guard rail that was outside of the room on the porch. Of course, following it was it's master, Kafiezial, standing on the edge of the guard rail with the same masterful balance displayed before with his arms crossed. He looked up at her with his unhooded mask. "Are you feeling well?" he said.

"As well as I'm able to when pursued by a blood-thirsty criminal...."

Evelyn's back was turned to him, and she reached behind her head to undo the pony-tail that was around her head. Once she took it apart, her black hair fell down her shoulders in a manner that made it seem as if it was ready to fall loose again. Beside her was what looked like a folded Shinigami uniform with a Captain's haori on it.

Kafiezial kept his stance. "Good enough. I can tell from the aura around you that you have been through much." he said. His crow was now nestled on one of the chairs on the porch, presumidibly sleeping.

"You're free to come in, if you wish." Evelyn said in a soft, calm tone. "I was just about to go take a shower." She stood up from the bed, undoing the sash around her waist just enough to allow her room to move the top part of her kimono. Then, she shrugged off her top part and let it fall around her shoulders, exposing the skin of her back. Around the upper torso, there was a set of bandages that had been presumably wrapped around her chest.

The man's eyes were closed since he had arrived, so he did not see anything. "It is fine. I prefer to stay out in the air, but I appreciate the gesture." Despite this, he stepped off of the railing and sat on the flat part of the porch in a meditative pose, the wind gently blowing his hair to his left side. He would allow the woman some privacy, despite her offers.

A smile, bitter in nature, came across Evelyn's face. "You don't have to keep your eyes closed and resist the urge to look in my direction. There's nothing to see anymore...." She used the kimono top to "create" a new "sash" to tie around her waist, out of respect for him. She allowed herself to turn around, reaching over to smooth out the clothes she had prepared.

He kept his pose, not flinching as the air breezed against him. "I am simply letting the air tell me what it needs to say. Do not mind me." he continued. Clearly he wasn't interested in coming inside, nor did he feel any urge to look in her direction.

Briefly, Evelyn turned her head up to his pose, reaching out with her senses.

No.... he wasn't lying. He wasn't fighting any urge to look towards her. It gave her somewhat of a mixed emotion. Half of her, the immature part, was annoyed that he wasn't getting any idea of looking towards a woman's body. The other, however, was acknowledging his courteous behavior and gentleman's fashion, though the exchange of dialogue made it seem like a war of politeness between her and him. She shook her head slightly at the thought, picking up her new clothing and slinging it over her shoulder. She walked away, into the bathroom which was to the left of her in the small "hallway" between the exit of the door and the bed.

Promptly, she shut the door behind her.

It didn't take her long for her to finish up, only several minutes at best. Once she was done, she pushed the door open and stepped out again, this time wearing her new clothes. Her face was directed towards the balcony where the Visored was meditating. Shutting the bathroom door behind her, she exited out onto the balcony and into the aura of the night sky. The temperature was moderately warm, making it a rather ideal for staying out. It was no wonder Kafezial was allowing himself to stay out here as long as he did.

She moved over to sit down beside him in an Indian-style fashion, her lone arm resting on her parallel knee.

"Do you hear it?" he spoke after a few minutes of silence, his pose unflinching and stationary, as if it was bolted to the ground.

"What would you happen to be referring to...?" Evelyn questioned back.

He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice calm and peaceful. "The voice of the winds...it is calling us....both of us to feel it's grasp." His manner of speaking was still cryptic and vague, almost as if he was telling her a poem. "What does it say to you?" he finished.

For a moment, Evelyn remained silent. Her head perked up a little as she registered his words, the wind softly billowing her clothing. "If it's saying anything...." She said, after another moment of quiet. "Then I am simply too deaf to hear it. Listening to the wind is something that cannot be done by people like me."

"Ah. Forgive me, I have spent so many years listening to it, I have been under the impression that others could hear it as well, it comes as natural to me as speaking." he said with his serene accent, his hair still flowing in the wind.

"What is it saying to you?" Evelyn asked, a slight bit of curiosity within her voice.

Another deep breath came into his nose and then exhaled gently. "It's manner of speaking is rather vague, one such as yourself would probably not understand it upon initial hearing. It is telling me...that the space around this island is conflicted with light and darkness. Good and evil reside here and they are fighting constantly. The wind wishes for it to stop, for this battle brings it pain."

"Deaf I may be, but I'm not ignorant." Evelyn said dismissively. "If it is telling you this.... then why doesn't it do anything to stop that pain?"

"It is the wind. It cannot fight, it cannot coerce, it cannot take sides. All it can do....is blow the ones who care in the right direction, and speak to the ones capable of hearing it." the Vizard said.

"Then maybe...." Evelyn paused for a moment, her head tilting back as if she was looking at the night sky. "Maybe it wasn't speaking to me, after all.... maybe it's trying to blow me in the right direction. I'm not exactly a vessel of the purest of hearts, mind you...."

Kafiezial let out a sigh. "No one is of pure heart. I am not especially, due to this curse put upon by the hands of my own foolish doing."

"Curse?"

He looked over to her without opening his eyes. "You cannot feel the presence of a Hollow signature around me?"

"I never thought of it as a curse, more than your own personal weapon...." Evelyn admitted. "You've tamed the Hollow inside of you for your own personal use, when it previously sought to consume your soul. You've managed to retain your sense of sanity through it all. How is it a curse moreso than it is an animal you have managed to bring under your control?"

He looked down somewhat. "Because whatever humanity and family that I had in the past is now gone because of this mask. I do not see it as taming the animal within me, so much as just tiring it out. In my youth before meeting Qilin, I was a foolish and destructive child who used this mask to augment my lust for destruction and bloodshed. Kings and Generals fell before my feet, mothers and their children begged for their lives...and I left none of them in my wake. Of course, I've paid the price for this power, I can never remove the mask from my face. I can force it off for a few seconds before it regrows, but otherwise, I am like this until the wind carries my ashes into the space between spaces."

"What about the present?" Evelyn questioned, his words as well as the conversation having garnered her interests now. "If you had not humanity, then we would not be able to speak like this. What of who you are now? Do you have anyone close to you as of now....?"

"My former apprentice, a man...or a boy that you are well acquainted with." he said as he turned back to his meditative pose. "I had many names for him, but he now goes by the name "The Black Wolf". In his heart, he is Rushifa Sureiya."

Evelyn did not show any physical reaction to it, but the slight suspicion in her voice could be heard as she spoke again. "You seem to be relaxed despite your awareness of my wanting to end his life for the sake of revenge...."

"It is the path that you have chosen. I will not hinder you from it, nor will I hinder his. I am here to see if the boy has found the path that he has sought for years, thus letting me know if I truly have retained my real humanity and truly capable as being a mentor of someone else." He remained in place. "His heart is consumed with fear and confusion, at this point in time, he has reached a point to where he cannot decide what he truly wants in this life. Revenge....or love, I am here to see what he decides in the end." he finished.

"I do not see how he can love anyone, considering how willing he was to toss lives away for the sake of pursuing me...." Evelyn said in a cold dismissal of his words.

Kafiezial sighed once more. "One would be surprised by the true mind of an individual when they have experienced that level of feeling. It is capable of completley derailing a person's motivations and can often change their lives, for better or worse."

To this, Evelyn remained silent, lowering her head a little so that her bangs would be overshadowing her eyes. She thought about what he had just said, what he had just given to her as information. If such was true for Rushifa, then wouldn't it be true for anyone else? What of his love interest, the one that had struck her down and left her for dead? Was she merely toying with his feelings....? Or was it genuine?

A heavy sigh escaped her own lips, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything in response to his statement.

Kafiezial noticed her silence and decided to speak to her further. "And what of you, hm? What path do you "see" laid out before you?"

"Nothing." The woman answered, a bit of grimness heard within her voice. "What can I do, other than live a life of peaceful isolation? My body has been destroyed for any sort of passion. My mind and heart have been broken for me to come back to the mother I once was. The hatred for her also pushes me away from the rest of my family. I have no path ahead of me, and no future other than death."

"Her?" he said, curious and concern evident in his voice. He knew who she spoke of, but he wished for more input from her side, as he already knew the story of the one she referred to.

"....I refuse to acknowledge who she is." Evelyn said simply.

He let out another sigh, he would certainly have to try harder to breach her outer shell. "I recall her end of the story. I would like to hear yours to fully grasp the concept as I cannot understand it while only hearing one side of what is clearly a two part story."

"What is there to say?" Evelyn asked him, her words becoming more callous. "She stabbed me in the back and killed me, leaving the crows to pick apart my carcass. She did it with that sickening smile on her face, enjoying every moment of my suffering. What more can I say than that?"

Kafiezial looked down and shook his head slightly. "That's...exactly what she told me. But when she told me that, she spoke of how the smile and the attitude was a vain self reminder that she was doing the right thing. She also told me how that the act grieved her and sickened her to the point of which she ended up killing several of her comrades, as well as terribly wounding the Captain that had given her the order to carry out this....murder."

"She was able to easily trick me.... how do you know her words weren't false?" If it was possible to demand things with a soft voice, Evelyn was certainly making it possible. "Deception is one of the Stealth Force's main methods of operation, after all."

"This is true, the Stealth force, as well as the Gotei 13 itself is known for it's deceptive nature." His thoughts seemed to trail off. "But I do not know if it was the wind or another strange sensation, but what she said felt true. She even went as far as to hunt her former Captain down and kill her, and if I recall correctly, she came dangerously close to doing so. But when she discovered that her former mentor was expecting a child, she withdrew her blade and spared her life." He looked up towards the night sky. "I don't know if that will help anything, but as I said before, love has a tendency to change the motives and feelings of others."

Immediately, Evelyn's eyes jerked open, and it could be easily known that she was surprised. She gritted her teeth slightly, her anger increasing as the Visored continued to push logical after logical statement on her. Her hand slowly clenched into a fist, and it was clear that her demeanor was fading quickly. He was taking the logic she had built up over the years and smashed it into pieces with each and every word that he spoke.....

"You... you wouldn't get it!!"

For the first time in her ordeal, her voice was raised and her anger came to the surface. "N...no amount of forgiveness is going to erase the damage done to me!!" She snapped, shutting her eyes tightly in her fury and helpless frustration. "It won't make me the woman I once was, it won't give me what I had lost to those scoundrels who used me for their own pleasure, and it won't undo what was done. Things will never be the same again for me, don't you realize that?! What would you...." She couldn't finish her sentence, as she slapped a palm to her eyes. The tears were flowing freely now, her teeth gritted in an upset snarl as she continued to cry.

Kafiezial opened his eyes for the first time since he had arrived and looked over to Evelyn's sobbing form. "I understand your anger, now that I have heard both stories." He then looked down, his eyes closed once more. "What was done to you was truly unforgivable, I can see that in your eyes. The hatred and darkness from so many years ago has truly consumed you and your mind. This is not your doing, but you are the only one capable of rectifying it..."

He inhaled once again, before exhaling once more. "I often find myself wondering: Would the world truly have been a better place had Ultharon the Mighty succeeded in his goals?"

If Evelyn hadn't been broken down crying, she would've gladly answered.

It was here that she realized how truly alone she was. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than her family back, for her husband to embrace her and comfort her while her offspring attempted to do their best to encourage her. But she was stuck on this porch, alone and alienated thanks to her own ephiphany prison. This was her fate; crying on her own without anyone else to help her.

A massive hand gently set itself on Evelyn's right shoulder, belonging to that of the Visored, his eyes open as they looked upon her. "As I said earlier, you alone are capable of rebuilding the foundation of your previous life. The hard part is done and over with, all that remains now is the final component..." he then stood up from where he was and stood onto the guard rail, facing the vast ocean.

Finally, Evelyn allowed herself to look up to him, a confused and stricken look on her face. "W....what would that be....?" She managed to speak, her voice cracking somewhat.

He still stood on the railing as the wind began to pick up more, blowing his hair to the right side of him. "...Violence will ultimatley lead to your destiny....but violence will not be the way to answer it."

It certainly would've been confusing to anyone else.

But Evelyn could make out what he was saying quite easily.

Slowly, she allowed herself to stand to her feet and lower her arm, a weary and moderately saddened look on her face as she did so. Her eyes were looking his direction, holding a bleak and abysmal light within the mirror that her pupils created. "What else can I do....? She asked quietly. "Other than kill the one who desires my blood the most?"

He looked back at her one more time. "Let the wind be your guide for these next few days. From what I've seen, you have earned it's favor." He then put up his hood and looked back at the ocean.

"May it lead you to sure happiness in the future."

WHOOSH!

And just like that, he was gone. His crow following close behind.

Once again, Evelyn closed her eyes again, her head hanging down for a moment as she stood there in silence. She turned around, escaping the cold night sky and into the shelter of her room. She shut the glass-door behind her, walking over towards her bed. It would be a while before she went back to sleep. She would think about what he had said to her, as well as the revelations he had gave to her.

Would the wind blow in her direction.... and in her favor?

The Greeting of Seasons: A Change in the Wind
By the morning of this day, the hotel room was bleak and lifeless nearly. Akisame and Evelyn lay asleep in their recliner, while Soifon sat on the front porch, watching the golden sun rise over the ocean's horizon. She had not slept since last night, choosing to remain awake and reflect upon herself and wait for her apprentice's reaction to the morning. Dread swept her peaceful form, would what they saw on the news bring back their past bitter conflict?

She let out a sigh as she closed her eyes and looked downwards, fearful of what would happen to her family should Brina become bitter towards her old master...

"You're far too empathetic for your own good, sensei."

As if fate had cued it, Brina's voice, low and somewhat hoarse came from behind her. She was leaning against the opening of the doorway, her bangs overshadowing her eyes. Her arms were folded across her chest, and despite any emotion she would've had at the moment, her gait was as calm as it ever would have been. "Don't you know that too much sympathy will only end up hurting you, as well?"

"Maybe so." she replied in a collected voice. "But it's too late for me to break any attachments with anyone that I hold dear to me."

Brina pushed herself off of the opening, walking over to Soifon's side and looking her direction. "....about yesterday...." She spoke, her arms folded behind her back in a somewhat hesitant manner. "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have allowed myself to outburst like that. But.... in all honesty.... I'm scared. I'm not sure how my mother will react to me once I see her again.... or how she would react to you...." Her eyes looked downwards as she spoke, implicating some nervousness.

Soifon stood up and faced Brina, her face calm and composed as she placed both arms on her shoulders, showing no emotion despite her words. "You have nothing to be afraid of. Evelyn isn't the kind of person to hold grudges like the one that you're thinking about, and if she does, I'll take full responsibility for it." She looked out to the sun once more, her face still the same. "I won't let anyone else suffer for my actions. This was my doing from the start."

"But....it wasn't...." Although hesitant, Brina's words were protesting of Soifon's willing to take the blame for herself. "You were under orders, just like me. You had no control over what had happened. You were merely making a tactical decision as a leader, nothing more. Who can blame you for trying to do the right thing?"

Soifon let her hands fall from Brina's shoulders gently, letting a sigh go out as she continued. "Although it pains me to say it, I feel that it would have been better if I had fufilled the deed myself, rather than send you out for her." Her fists tightened somewhat. "My damnable sense of honor and duty gave me the idea to have you do it, to see if you were truly worthy of being in the Stealth Force...but I couldn't get over that sense just once, and I destroyed our friendship in the process. If I had done it...then you would have though bad of me, and in my foolishness, I believed that having you do it instead would have been a better alternative..."

Brina smiled weakly. "I would've still been without a mother.... and I would've still been angry at you." She answered readily. "You shouldn't worry about what happened in the past more so than what's going on now. She's still alive, and there's still a chance of forgiveness for both of us, isn't there?"

She gave an equally weak smile as she looked back at her former apprentice. "You're right. Dwelling on it will get us no where. And there is still a chance for us, yes. If only-"

Her sentance was cut off when she heard Evelyn crying in the arms of her still sleeping father. She scoffed and quickly went inside and took the infant, slightly kicking Akisame's foot for his neglegance. She then returned to the porch with Brina, rocking Evelyn back and forth as her crying slowly ceased. "When I get home, me and Akisame are going to have a serious talk about his sleeping issues." she said, slightly annoyed.

Brina's expression turned slightly curious, and she looked over in the direction of her husband. "I don't think it's healthy to be sleeping in such a manner...." She commented lightly, folding her hands in front of her. "Have you had him see a doctor or something?"

Soifon shook her head somewhat. "No. He hasn't reported any strange feelings of the sort. I'd say that it's been happening because of staying up with little Eve is all. He's been doing that alot you see..."

She then held Evelyn out in front of her now silent daughter, giving her a playful smile. "You just have to give daddy a hard time, don't you? Don't you?" she said as she tickled Evelyn's stomach with her nose briefly, causing the infant to laugh some, before setting her back over her shoulder.

Brina couldn't help but giggle at the display, unfolding her hands and folding her arms across her chest. "Well.... I guess I'll get ready for today, then...." She turned on her heel, calmly walking off back into the inside. "Don't want to be a slouch doing nothing within the house...."

As soon as she stepped inside, Akisame was wide awake and looking at the TV, which was showing a "Breaking News segment." Akisame held his hand up to her in a signal not to move or make a sound.

''"In our latest breaking news segment, video footage of "The Black Wolf" was recovered from a crime scene that had recently opened only last night." ''it began. "This footage shows a group of middle aged people that appear to be in their late 30's through mid 40's having a small get togather in an apartment complex, only for a figure that matches the Black Wolf's description barge through the door and opening fire on the group. Parents, if your children are watching, we warn you that the following footage is disturbing, viewer descretion is advised..."

Sure enough, the video begins to play what appears to be a party of sorts, being hosted by people that both Akisame and Soifon (who had just entered behind Brina) could recognize as former Gotei 13 members from various divisions. As the party progresses, the camera turns to see the door break down and a lone figure with a black trenchcoat and red eyes standing in it's wake as he opens fire on them all. The camera turns to static for a brief moment before resuming the scene. The person holding the camera is the only survivor as the other members lie on the ground dead, their faces and wounds censored by the news team. The camera man holds his hands up in a surrendering pose, letting the camera drop down to where his feet could be seen. His pleading for mercy is cut short when he is apparantley shot in the head by the man and the force is great enough to propel him out of the window and down nearly 11 stories...

As "disturbing" as the video was, Brina did not react at all.

She simply stood and watched on with a somewhat curious look as the events unfolded in front of her. Her hands were folded behind her back once again, and one of her knees were bent slightly so that the tip of her toes would be touching the floor. However, she obeyed Akisame's silent order and remained unmoving and still throughout it all.

The news continued. "Witnesses report seeing the man just right after this order leaving for the lower level of the city, but so far, the police have no leads. We will be giving updates on the Black Wolf's status as we go through our morning schedule. With that, I'm Tricia Takanawa-" Akisame changed the channel to a set of commercials as he leaned back in the seat. "Well now....isn't that something?" he said to no one in particular.

"....I'll be in the shower, if anyone needs me."

That being said by Brina, the girl walked away, disappearing out of sight for the moment.

Soifon walked over and sat next to her husband on the bed, holding Evelyn in her still position. "Where have I heard that reporters name before?" she said.

Akisame sat up some more. "Not sure. But that Black Wolf fella has been acting alot more frequently these past few weeks." he said.

His wife looked over to him with slight frustration, putting her legs in a sort of indian style and resting Evelyn in it's center. "If he decides to come for us, he'll be dead before he even thinks of entering the elevator."

"So if everything's true...."

Brina once again had her bangs overshadowing her eyes as she walked towards her destination. "Then he's the one pursuing my mother." She thought to herself, her hands on her hips. Her eyes were contorted in slight helplessness, a frown on her face as she contemplated on what she would do. "My mother is a senior Captain and is fully capable of handling herself. If she managed to survive being attacked.... then surely she can continue to do so. But....eventually, one of them will kill the other...."

She stopped just outside the doorway of the bathroom, sliding the door shut behind her.

"What do I do...?"

"Akisame, we should probably leave." Soifon continued. "I know that we could probably handle it...but we don't need to put Evelyn in danger doing so."

His wife had apparently been arguing with him over whether or not they should stay on vacation or return to Yurei Okuko. "I know that you're wanting to let me and her have a fun time togather, but it isn't worth the risk." she went on.

"Yeah...yeah you're probably right." he said with a somewhat dissapointed sigh.

Soifon then continued to watch Evelyn play with her right hair braid some more, occasionally biting the golden ring on it's end. "Brina seems alot more disturbed about this than either of us do." she said.

Akisame looked at her some more, confusion slightly apparent in his gaze. "What makes you say that?" he said. From what he could tell, Brina was hardly any interested in the issue.

She looked over to him with a hint of annoyance. "Please. I've known her for years. It's in the way that she walks and speaks, her voice and her face." She then looked in the direction of which Brina had gone. "Right now, I'd say that there is a lot of things going through her mind."

Her husband looked kind of annoyed as well. "That doesn't really answer my question, why would she be disturbed at all?"

"How should I know?" she shot back. "Something's bugging her, but I don't know what....maybe she's worried about Eve?"

"Eh." he replied.

A few minutes pasted as they waited for Brina to finish, watching the various commercials whiz by on the monitor screen. Soifon reached over on the floor next to her and picked up Evelyn's toy cat that she was playing with on the previous night and gave it to her daughter. After a few moments, the infant began to utter a sound as she picked the cat up, then threw it down, only to pick it up again and repeat the action, making the same noises each time she dropped it.

"Eeee....chi!....Eeee....chi!....Eeee...chi!..."

Soifon's eyes widened and her mouth opened in gleeful surprise. Evelyn was a mere two month old infant, and she was already trying to speak.

And her first words could only be made out by her mother: Yoruichi.

She immediatley grasped both her daughter and the cat, hugging both of them in a strange state of comical joy. "You said your first words! And they were Yoruichi!!!" she said in a clearly happy voice. Evelyn's eyes became bigger and solid white with thick black outlines around them as she comically struggled for air.

Akisame gave a humored scoff as he leaned back in his chair, folding his hands across the back of his head. While he was happy that his daughter was trying to speak, he also found it humerous that his wife reacted in such a way.

After being let go by her mother, Evelyn continued to play with the cat in the same manner, much to the amusement of her parents.

"Don't let me forget. When we get home, Preacher still has to apologize for what he said to me." Soifon suddenley said.

Akisame chuckled slightly after hearing his name. "What the thing he said about your clothes? He's already apologized, hell he even managed to cut some more strings and let us have this room for a week with no charge for it."

Soifon closed her eyes and looked up slightly with an annoyed expression. "I don't care. I want him to formally apologize to me while on his knees and at my feet until I tell him that he can stop. You're the only one that's allowed to bring my attire into conversation that way, and I really don't even tolerate that." she said in a prideful and stubborn voice.

Her husband only laughed more. "C'mon Sophie, he's a busy guy. I doubt that he would need to miss anything important for kissing your feet."

"My mind has been made, make sure that he knows it." she said as she went back to fooling around with her daugher once more.

Within the shower doors, Brina had rid herself of her clothing and was already in the warm water of the spray. The moderate heat was like a wake-up blow to her senses, her mind registering what she wouldn't have done in a more drowsy state. She sighed in content, closing her eyes and allowing the warmth of the steady current embrace her. It opened her mind to what lie ahead, but at the same time comforted her through the pains it would give, if only for a moment.

"What am I going to do when I see Rushifā again....?" She asked herself, her expression contorting to one of slight frustration. "Should I confront him right away? Should I wait until later? Should I let it all play out on its own? More importantly, how should I bring this up to Sensei and Akisame....? It's not as if they're going to welcome the fact that I've fallen for the very terrorist they're afraid of with open arms...."

She turned off the shower head and stepped out of the tub, turning around and leaning over the sink to get a good look at her own face in the mirror. She was peering at her water-stained reflection, who stared back with equally squinted eyes. "This is the price you pay for opening your heart for someone everyone else considers to be pure evil." A smile crossed her face.

"Such the predicament you always get yourself into, eh, Brina?"

Suddenley, a couple of knocks could be heard on the bathroom door, the voice of her former mentor coming through bottom crack of the material keeping her sheltered from their vision. "Everything okay Brina?" she said.

Brina's eyes widened in surprise, and she turned her head in the direction of the door. "Just fine, sensei...." She called back coolly, allowing herself to straighten up. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself in a manner similar to a dress.

"Just making sure. We are all going down to the lobby for a few minutes, so we'll be there if you need us." Soifon continued.

"Mhm...." After drying her hair, the girl walked over towards the door, her bare feet treading the ground. She gently placed a hand on the wooden material. "You won't have to worry about me for the time being."

By the time that she said that, Soifon and her family members were already walking out of the door and down the hallway. As Brina entered her room, one could hear the sound of guitar strums outside of the open bedroom window on the roof. They were pleasant and catchy in tune and one could even hear a slight melodic voice that was parallel to the strums. The voice wasn't very loud, but he could be heard quite easily as the floor that she was on was just below the very top of the hotel.

"When I look out my window....many sights to see.....and when I look in my window...so many different people to be..." the voice was singing. It was vaguely familiar in tone, at least it would be to Brina...

This brought a smile onto Brina's face as she stepped inside of her bedroom. "Rushie, you seem to appear at the best times...." She thought to herself, quickly moving to her closet to change into her usual attire...

The song continued, but his voice remained in the same, low tune from before as the young woman changed. "...That it's strange...so strange...you've got to pick up every stitch....you've got to pick up every stitch....you've got to pick up every stitch...mmhmmm...must be the season of the wit~ch...must be the season of the wit~ch....must be the season of the wit~ch." It was almost as if Rushifa was beckoning to Brina like a normal human male would do to a female in their room, only this time the male was above the girl...

It didn't take Brina long to get ready, and once she was...

WOOSH!

With a Flash Step, she appeared on the roof a few ways off behind him, her hands folded behind her back, and her footsteps slowly walked towards him. Her feet, notably, were keeping a steady rhythm with the song. She waited until one of the song's pauses before interrupting him, the smile still on her face. "A catchy song...." She admitted. "But it's just not my type...."

Rushifa was laying on a blue mattress with his blue shirt and black pants, black socks being the only things on his feet. His eyes were closed as he continued to pick at his black guitar, albeit without singing. When he stopped, he raised his head up to where he could see her and cracked open his left eye. "It's a good way to keep me from falling asleep again." he said.

Brina cocked an eyebrow, stopping near him. She placed her hands on her knees, bending over a little to loom over him. "Don't tell me you actually slept here..." She chided.

He closed his eyes and set his guitar down next to him, folding his hands behind his head. "Yep. Didn't really feel like going all the way down to the lower section with a bad knee. So I had some guys move my stuff up here for the time being..." he finished with a yawn that he closed with his left hand.

The girl walked around the mattress to the other side where it would have more space, sitting down on it. Her back was turned towards him, and one of her legs shifted over the other in a cross. She rested her arms down on her top thigh, closing her eyes and leaning her head back towards the sky. "I just got finished seeing the latest of the work you have been doing." She said. "You ruined a perfectly good party, you know."

Rushifa chuckled slightly, keeping his pose. "Yeah well...I had been looking for those guys for a while. Good that I found them all in one place like I did..."

His voice drifted off as he popped both eyes open to half opened positions, looking over at her. "Something's wrong isn't there? You act like you've seen a ghost...or something of that sort..."

"I told you.... all I've seen was your latest work...." Brina answered him, not turning to face him. "And that's not including the party crash, mind you. If the information hadn't been given to me, I never would've realized it and continued living in peaceful cluelessness. But now I just can't shake it off anymore." She turned her head to look behind her shoulder at him.

"I know my mother's alive. And I know that you've chosen her, despite the appetizers, as your main feast."

His eyes widened in surprise for a few split seconds, before closing them and wiping his face with his right hand and standing himself up, putting on his black shoes as he did so. "...Shit..." he muttered as he scratched the back of his head. "Well....this certainly changes things..." He then looked over at her with a dull red eye on his left side.

"Since you've figured it out...I guess I owe you an explanation, don't I?"

To this, Brina remained silent. She turned away from, still maintaining her sitting position. But the implication was clear - she wanted him to tell her every little detail.

He gave out a sigh as he remained in place. This was going to be a mouthful.

"As you probably know, I was once a seated officer in the 5th Division some number of years before you enlisted in the service. Your mother was the Captain of the 8th Division, and one of her most prominent officers was a young woman named Temari Utsukuchi, who at the time was my girlfriend." He chuckled somewhat as he recalled their memory. "We were practically inseperable. Even when we were on duty, I would always try to sneak into the 8th Division barracks just to speak with her. Evelyn would always nag and scold me for it, but that's all she ever did. In a sense, I think she came to see me as a troublesome son, and I saw her as a nagging old mom."

His smile left his face as he sat down on his mattress once more. "But one night...one night all of it changed. A wanted criminal came into my home on a faithful and rainy night, ironic isn't it? He was wounded and in need of treatment. I didn't know who the hell he was, so I set into healing him. As soon as I did, Evelyn, Temari and four other squad members came into my home to apprehend the man. Evelyn believed that I was his accomplice as I was helping him, and thus I would have to die with him. Temari became enraged over this and stood to defend me. After she berated the Captain's decision, she eventually drew her sword. Your mother never even bothered to talk her down, instead she impaled Temari through the stomach, mortally wounding her. I quickly grabbed her falling form and ran away as Evelyn butchered the criminal."

His mouth trembled slightly at his next words. "I made it about a kilometer before I had to slow down. I looked down at Temari's face, and I swear Brina...I've never seen a more heartbreaking sight....She was crying, crying from the pain that was inflicted on her. Blood poured from her wound and tears flowed from her eyes, all I could do was set her down and cry with her. In her last few minutes of breath, Temari told me to run away from Soul Society and to never return, before finally dying in my arms..." One could see a slight tear come from his right eye. "By then, your mother's teammates arrived and prepared to take me in. But then...Puraimaru Gansuringa spoke to me and told me it's name. Using it's new power, I easily killed the four of them...but then your mother came. Seeing her dead teammates must have set her off, so she charged at me in a rage. But in her distraction, I placed a Kido Bolt in her right shoulder and incapacitated her, letting me escape with my life."

He sighed again. "Ever since then, I've hunted and killed the members of this society, and yes, your mother was at the top of my list. But she's been hunting me as well. A little game of cat and mouse in a way..." Rushifa looked over to Brina. "That's my story, all of it's the truth."

"...I see...."

Slowly, Brina stood up and turned herself around to face Rushifa. The light of the sun behind her shadowed her face, giving off a visual metaphor of anger. However, when her voice spoke to him, it was nothing more than the serene and light tone she had always exerted. "Tell me, Rushifa.... what is it exactly that you want in life? Killing my mother won't bring her back. You and I both know that...."

He then stood up to face her, his face calm and his hands in his pockets. "Before we met...I wanted nothing more than to kill and slaughter every Soul Reaper that I could see." He kept his eyes locked onto hers, a sign that he was trying to tell the truth. "But now that i've met you and we've....well you know, like I said last night, my mind has been contemplating things. At this point in time, I don't know what it is I want in life..."

For a moment, Brina remained silent, contemplating her next words. It didn't take long for her to respond.

"Why don't you allow yourself to live first?" She asked him. "If you go on as you are, you simply risk yourself dying without purpose. Do you think Temari would've wanted you to go through such a fate? To have you throw your life away so pointlessly?"

Rushifa sighed a little more. "Too much blood on my hands to just quit this thing out right. Master always said that when you start a storm, you must also stop it." He looked back at her with reassurance. "That doesn't mean I'm going to kill Evelyn...but I have to face her again. I have to see how this will turn out."

"Very well...." Brina closed her eyes and walked around the mattress, turning and walking away from him in the direction of the entrance to the roof. "But, please remember this.... the woman I'm staying with used to be my greatest nemesis because we were able to forgive each other.... I don't know if my mother will, but... it would be a start if you chose to do the same."

"Do you hate me?"

Was his reply. He had taken her words into consideration, but he was still fearful over what her feelings over him had been reduced to. "I should have told you from the beginning, when it all began to change..."

"Of course not." Brina stopped once again, placing her hand on her hip. However, she didn't turn to look at him. "If I did.... then I would've aimed to kill you myself."

The man gave a slight chuckle. "And you would be the only one capable of doing it." His face became slightly more relaxed as she left. "So long Brina..."

With a curt nod, Brina made the steps needed to complete her trek off of the roof and disappeared out of sight, down to the bottom level.

Rushifa then turned towards a crude coat rack that held his signature trench coat and put the piece of clothing on, whipping out his cell phone as he did so. With an extended sigh, he dialed a number and put it to his ear. As soon as a line picked up, two words escaped his mouth. "Hit it."

Then, out in the distance, a rather large cruise ship could be seen in the ocean, a mere kilometer from the shore. After another 6 minutes, and for reasons unknown, the ship began to take a strange shift in direction, moving to it's right, before cutting back to it's original course. The phone then rang and Rushifa picked it up to answer. A masculine female voice could be heard over it as it speaked to Rushifa. "Crew's taken hostage and the Captain is dead. The ship is all ours boss."

He cracked a smile somewhat as he listened to the words. "Good. I'll be on in a minute, set a course for Okinawa..." He then slammed the phone shut and put his hands in his pockets, looking over to where Brina was previously. Letting out another sigh, he Flash-Stepped off of the roof, leaving his other possesions behind.

The Invasion
It was evening. The sky had turned from the morning red to the crystal clear blue. The sun was shining high over the islands, and the waves were gentle as they pushed against the shoreline. All in all, it was a good day to be outside, what with the warm weather and the peaceful state of the island.

Evelyn, a lone figure on the beach-head, was sitting in the sands. Her lone arm rested in her lap, and her eyes were closed. Her body was in an Indian-style position. Her Yari spear, with its blades sheathed, was resting on the holster on her back.

"The wind is quite this day, no?"

A voice seemingly from nowhere could be heard and it's source was that of the Visored who had visited Evelyn the previous night. He was wearing a black, tattered outfit that seemed to connect with his ragged black pants, both of which had his signature bone armor pieces on them. His hood was down and it appeared to be somewhat longer, like a torn purple scarf, and his arms were also covered by his outfit that hid his well toned upper body.

"It can change at any time...." The woman anwered him smoothly. "But yes.... it is quite peaceful...."

Kafiezial then walked over and sat next to her in a similar position, his eyes closed as well. "I apologize if I disrupted any peace that you desired last night. A curious mind is prone to bring grief to others..." he began.

"It's fine..." Evelyn cut him off before he could finish, although with a curt politeness. "Had you not said what you said, I would've not had the chance to think things through...."

"And how has that affected your feelings now?" he asked with readiness.

"I....."

The woman raised her hand to her heart, lowering her head a little. "I'm conflicted. I want to forgive her, but the irreversable damage committed still keeps me at a distance." She explained softly. "I just want to return to my family again.... but I know things will never be the same again even if I do."

The man let out a sigh as he looked out at the ocean. "You're right. Even if you do forgive her, your family will never be the same." He then turned his eyes to look over at her briefly. "But have you considered that maybe your family will be better than before should you forgive her?"

"Maybe it will, I don't know...." Evelyn agreed, a small smile crossing her face. "Of course.... I'll never know until I try...."

"Only one way to find out, is there?" he said in agreement. One could detect a hint of happiness in his tone. "And what of Rushifa? Should the opprotunity come, do you think that you would forgive him?"

"For that, I cannot say." Evelyn answered honestly. "He pursues me with great vengeance, yet at the same time treats this conflict as if it were some sort of game he is playing out of his own boredom. I cannot help but feel pity and disgust for what he has become, how twisted his views are."

The Vizard chuckled slightly at her factual words. "Ah...he always was the competitive type. Even during the most grueling of training sessions, he would always smile and treat it like a game. I remember when he told me about it, he said it helps him focus..."

He let out another sigh. "I never could fully understand that boy...even the wind could not make an opinion of him..."

"I can only hope that Brina has had somewhat of an impact on him...." Evelyn commented, taking in a deep breath before exhaling.

"She had an effect on me, being polite and whatnot. She even gave me a nickname that everyone else thought to be rather humerous..." he went on. The wind then began to pick up just a little bit, letting his hair float to his right side away from Evelyn. His eyes cracked open to a small pair of slits, something felt as if there was something wrong...

Evelyn was not naive to it.

"You feel it, too.... don't you?" She questioned him, a slight tension coming to her voice as she directed her "gaze" towards the direction of where she was sensing the disturbance.

"Mhm." he replied as he stood himself up and looked out towards the horizon. A black object could be seen coming in their direction. It looked to be a ship of sorts, but something felt rather strange about it. However, it only took Kafiezial a few seconds to realize what it was.

"It looks like we're about to find out whether or not Brina has had an effect on him..." he said cooly.

"He's not alone...." Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows, and she slowly stood up from the sands. "He's with a crew of his men, a small army to be exact. They'll kill everything that moves. I can't face him here, of all places."

Kafiezial then whipped out his two signature scythes that represented his Zanpaktou's first release. "Then be prepared to move....here it comes!"

Then, straight ahead of the ship, two black sphere like objects were flying right towards the two. These orbs had red lights in the center of them, and four forward swept like wings that circled them like a star. From their sides emerged what appeared to be orange flares. Upon closer inspection however, one could see that they were instead missles of sorts, and they zoomed straight for the Vizard and his blind comrade.

SING!

BOOM!!!!

With speed that was nothing short of awe inspiring, Kafiezial threw one of his scythes out towards the first set of missles like a boomerang, and managed to split them in half, thus causing them to explode midair. "Go Evelyn! Get to the other end of the island, I'll be right behind you!" he said with a firm voice.

Evelyn didn't need to be told twice.

With a Flash Step, she vanished from the beachhead. But instead of the other end of the island, she re-appeared within the entrance of the cave where the others were at. As she ran briskly towards the main area, she was greeted by Atsushi and Tamafune, both of whom had their swords out and ready.

"Miss Evelyn!" Tamafune said immediately, stopping once she got close enough. "What's going on?! We heard something that sounded like cannon fire and explosions!!" She looked as tense and alert as her partner.

"It's Rushifa..." Evelyn said darkly. "He's coming to attack the island."

"Oh, god damn it...." Atsushi scowled, gritting his teeth. "I knew bringing you along with us was going to be a problem! But no, no one listens to me-- OW!" He was interrupted by a sudden blow by Tamafune's elbow, and he jerked away a little out of reflex.

"This isn't the time, Atsushi!" She scolded him. "We've got to get ready!" She immediately looked back to Evelyn, who had a somewhat terse look herself. "Look, as skilled as I hear everyone say you are, I don't think you can fight with one arm. You'll have to meet him at the end of the island so you can escape."

"What about you?" Evelyn felt apprehension within her heart as she asked the question. It wasn't sated with the answer.

"We're going to stay here and hold them back."

"You realize Rushifa's skill is almost equal to mine, don't you...?" Evelyn continued to question her, keeping her voice calm despite knowing the threat they were putting themselves under. "He's capable of killing you easily."

Atsushi scoffed. "You worry about yourself, lady. Now get going before I have to shove this blade up your ass instead of his!"

Despite what seemed like a threat as well as the wince from Tamafune, Evelyn couldn't help but smile a little at his audacity. "Very well. I wish you all the best of luck...." With a quick bow, she vanished from the came and to her destination.

Tamafune quickly looked to Atsushi and gave a brief nod. "C'mon, Atsushi... we've gotta go find our hiding spots before they land...."

Without further word, they vanished from the cave as well in order to prepare.

Kafiezial in the mean time, was using his two scythes to hold off further missles, using their manipulation over the wind to act as high powered fans as they blew the projectiles away and away each time. But by then, the drones firing the missles had whizzed over him, a sign that he needed to move. Quickly Flash-Stepping from view, he reappeared close behind Evelyn, albeit on the side of one of the islands mountains, keeping his eyes on her as she moved.

Then the massive ship crashed upon the shore line with a loud moan. The massive craft slid up on the sandy beach, coming dangerously close to the large treeline behind the field of sand. Ropes then swung over the sides of the ship, and well armed men dressed in black, bullet proof outfits rappelled over the ships sides. A larger one of the group then signaled the others to slowly move up towards the treeline, advising caution as they did so.

Within the shrubbery and underbrush and hidden out of view, Tamafune and Atsushi were lying on their bellies. Their swords were gripped in their hands as they waited, slight beads of sweat falling down their faces. They remained silent, relying on their spiritual senses to pick up the signatures of the ones that were approaching the tree-line. Right now, they weren't near. So it would be a matter of waiting until they got into the perfect position.

Tamafune's heart never raced so fast before in her life.

The men etched closer and closer to the tree-line, weapons in positions to fire on sight. Despite being simple cut throats, these militia men were certainly professional in their movements. Their Kido rifles were small and of low calibur, but they were more than capable of filling a target full of holes...

PSSSSHHHOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

Out from behind the ship's bridge, a large blue flare shot out into the sky and went straight for the tree line. They were suspecting enemies in the first part of the forest, and they were going to try to lure them out.

Fortunately, Tamafune and Atsushi were deeper within the forest. Being within the tree-line would be suicide considering the bulk of the forces would be there and tear them apart. They were in a position to wait until they proceeded deeper, where they could engage with the need for cover subdued.

By the time that they realized that the flare had failed, the group was already entering the forest's first section. They continued their slow movements as the larger trooper led them onwards, occasionally looking behind him to make sure his fellows were following him.

As they moved, one of the younger, female troopers looked up to notice a crow staring the miniature army down. She shuddered slightly as the oddly large crow looked into her eyes with it's piercing yellow ones. Then, the bird's eyes transformed into blood red versions of their former selves and it bared it's razor sharp teeth to her, hissing and snarling as it did so.

"SHIT!!!!!!" was her reaction as she began to fire at the animal uncontrollably. As she was so overcome with fear, all of her shots missed her target, and before she knew it, the militia leader had placed a well aimed Kido Bolt through her head. A punishment for her incompetance and distraction.

Clearly, this group was there to kill, nothing more, nothing less....

However, this distraction served another purpose.

The ambush made by the two.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~!!!!!"

In order to take them further by surprise as well as scare them, both Atsushi and Tamafune let out angered and battle-roused screams as they ripped themselves from the underbrush and jumped the group, equally furious expressions on their faces. Their respective blades swung down, instantly killing two of the militia before they realized what was going on. They were waging guerilla warfare, and they were in the perfect environment to do it.

The rest of the group, numbering nearly 2 dozen, noticed the ambush and the leader began to issue the order to fire, untill...

SHTICK!!!!!!

Kafiezial's monstrous crow returned to the scene and with another vicious snarl, ripped it's talons into the mans eyes, causing him to scream and thrash around violentley. His comrades were at first confused, but the majority of them aimed at the crow and opened fire upon it. But the bird was more intelligent than the realized and it forced the man to move around more and take the bullets for it. Eventually, the crow released it's grip and flew away towards the deeper end of the forest, leaving the militial leader a bloodied mess on the ground...

That upped the advantage of Atsushi and Tamafune.

They immediately rushed the number of twenty-four, their blades swinging at the gunman in a coordinated and skilled fashion. Tamafune was using more acrobatic movements as she swung her blade, jumping off and rebounding off the trunks of the trees, striking her targets with hard and karate-style kicks to the face, and even diving between the legs in order to keep herself from being targeted completely. Atsushi was not too far behind, deflecting the bullets back at their shooters as opposed to the vicious evasion that Tamafune was using.

It was two separate styles.

Yet their users blended in so perfectly with each other.

One by one, the militia men fell to the blades of the younger warriors. The ones left standing continued to fire in vain as they were awe struck as to how two mere children were dominating them, when numbers were clearly to their advantage. One trooper fell to the ground leaned up against a tree, grabbing a small radio and talking into it with fear and shock in his voice.

"Sir! Sir they're killing us out here! We can't hold them off much longer!" He said with his trembling voice, his head covered in sweat and his body covered in the blood of his fellow mercenaries.

''"Oh well." ''was the radio's reply after cutting the line, and leaving the man on his own...

It was unfortunate that yet another one would come through to his position.... in a brutal manner.

A large hand plowed through the tree trunk and completely covered the man's head in a grab before squeezing immediately, popping the skull open and spilling even more blood into the forested floor. The fingers slowly straighgtened up, letting the grisly remnants fall to the forest floor. The arm was yanked out of the trunk, and the body of tree fell to the ground with a large THUD. Tamafune turned over her shoulder, a wide smile on her face as she saw the monstrous figure.

"Kyokan!" She exclaimed happily, to which the blue-eyed semi-giant responded with a low and guttural growl.

"About time you made it, big guy...." Atsushi commented lightly, turning himself to the remnants of the force. "Now... let's finish the job...." A dark smile crossed his face as Kyokan lumbered over to join him and Tamafune. They readied their swords in a threatening manner and approached their final kills.

With all three of them, the remaining troopers, who were now a mere 10, stood no chance. One of them even fleed from the sight of the massive new creature, but they didn't get very far...

The last one was already wounded, his left leg impaled at the thigh as he crawled away from the trio, laughing in a crazed manner as he did so. "Heh, you guys....you guys think you have a chance against him?! The Black Wolf! He'll...he'll butcher you all! He'll feed you to his children! He'll..."

A final sword strike from Atsushi decapitated the man, and he said no more...

However, they were given no time to celebrate in their initial victory. With a slight russle of the leaves, the static noise that only be made by the Flash-Step could be heard right behind them, and there leaned up against a tree, stood the man that the deceased soldier mentioned earlier. His head down with his hair overshadowing his eyes, and a slight grin across his face as his arms remained crossed, his black coat moving with the wind.

"Well damn. Here I thought I wasn't going to do alot of fighting....should have gotten some better knuckle draggers..." he said.

That was when all of their blood chilled within their veins, the spiritual energy washing over them like bad water.

Immediately, they turned towards him, the shock more apparent within Tamafune's face as she locked eyes on him and his grin. The way he carried himself, and the calm composure he held even when in the face of his friends' killers.... there was no doubt in her mind.

Despite the apprehension he too felt within himself, Atsushi narrowed his eyes and put on a cocky grin of his own as he readied his blade threateningly towards the man. "Let me guess... you just happen to be this Rushifa Sureiya psycho Qilin was talking about before." He summarized. "You sure got a pair, wanting to face all three of us down, pal...."

His smile only widened as he revealed his own weapon in it's sealed form, concealed by a black sheathe. "Eh. I've faced worst. Much worse, than a group of misfits...."

He then picked himself up off of the tree and faced the group, his sinister face still present as he held the weapon in his left hand. "If this spiritsmith fellow of yours knows so much about me, he surely would have told you that I've killed Soul Reapers that were of much higher calibur than your own...." he said.

"Oh, really?" Atsushi mocked, grasping his katana in both hands and settled into a stance, spreading his legs apart. "Is that why that target of yours always ends up slipping through your fingers.... time and time again? Is that why she's still alive?"

Beside him, Kyokan let out another growl, this time much more threatening and angry as he glared at the man that stood so confidently in front of them.

As he let his grin remain, Rushifa waved his hair to his right side briefly, taking it out of the way of his eyes. "Slip through my fingers? Heh, nah man, she's right where I want her to be. Trapped like the blind little mole that she is..."

He then grabbed onto his sword's handle and jerked it up slightly, letting the sheathe fall to the ground as the white blade was revealed, it's tip now pointed at the trio. "Just a fair warning kid, If you're going to point a sword at someone...you'd better be damn ready to swing..."

"Sounds good to me, you psycho...."

Grinning in return, Atsushi pushed his legs forth and threw himself at his opponent. His blade was gripped in two hands in preparation for a power-enhanced swing. Not too far behind him was Tamafune, her eyebrows narrowed and her eyes widened as she gave her own glare at Rushifa. Once they were in range, they both swung their swords down on him in a combined strike, with Atsushi aiming for his head and Tamafune moving to one of his sides.

WHOOSH!

With a Flash Step, Rushifa was gone in just a second, reappearing with his back facing them as they both landed and his grin still present.

"Not quite fast enough." he said in a mocking tone as he turned to face what would surely be another assault of swings.

That was when Kyokan attacked.

With one of his massive fists, he thrust his arm out in what would seem like a bone-crushing punch towards his enemy's direction, his eyes having gained a blood-red color.

Rushifa's eyes widened in surprise as he felt the force of the attack coming straight for him. Flash Stepping was out of the question, the swiftness of the attack meant that he would have to move manually. Quickly shifting his body to his left side, Rushifa could feel the fist hit his right ear, the force would surely have been enough to blow him apart.

Flipping back onto his feet, Rushifa's expression of shock went straight back to the same wolfish grin, his red eyes looking straight at the trio. "Big fella huh? Maybe this will be fun after all." he said looking at Kyokan.

In response, the semi-giant swung his arm horizontally in a follow up to his previous attack, the very force of the attack rippling the air. It was like swinging two tree trunks at a more hapless prey. The only difference was that his target wasn't hapless or foolish....

WHOOSH!

This time, Rushifa had enough reaction space to use a Flash Step, quickly reappearing above and behind the being that was nearly four times his size, his middair form tilted slightly to the left as he raised his right leg up. With his right foot, Rushifa gave a strong horizontal kick to the semi giant's right side face.

This time, it was the giant's turn to be knocked aside.

The force of the kick was enough to send a concussive force through Kyokan's brain, and he let out a pained yell as his body was thrown back a few feet. He slammed into the ground head-first, kicking up a cloud of dust as he traveled. Tamafune's eyes were widened and her pupils shrank as she saw her strong comrade go down, shocked at the display of physical strength on her enemy's part.

"He was just knocked aside as if it was nothing...." She thought to herself. "Just what are we dealing with here....?!"

Rushifa landed back on his feet, his back facing the other two with the left side of his face somewhat visible. "Well now." he said, dusting off the right shoulder of his coat. "That sure was a dissapointment. I honestly thought he was gonna give me a run for my money..."

He then turned his head slightly to where his left eye was looking at Tamafune and Atsushi. "Do you two think you can do better than him?" he said with a cool and somewhat bored voice.

Atsushi gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes, clearly not liking where the tide of battle was turning to. "Quit talking to us as if you're hot shit!!!" He snarled, immediately throwing himself at his opponent with his sword once again in two hands. The cutting edge swung in a diagonal uppercut, its wielder intending to tear through his chest.

Rushifa's grin became slightly wider as he blocked the upper cut with his left hand held sword, the tip of it's blade pointed at the ground in a downward sloped right diagnal position. Sparks flew from the impact, certainly the younger warrior had put a great bit of power into the attack, and even Rushifa felt his feet pushing back by an inch.

But he maintained his ground and began to push the locked blades back towards Atsushi, his red eyes looking straight into his. Rushifa then began to tilt his head slightly and his mouth began to open as if he was going to say something, just before he let his blade come back to him, giving Atsushi a brief opening to strike, until...

WHOOSH!

With another Flash Step, Rushifa reappeared right behind Atsushi, their backs facing one another. "Try again." he said, hints of mockery apparent in his tone.

"Son of a....!"

As Atsushi immediately twisted around, swinging his sword again in a backhand strike, Tamafune could only bring herself to watch. Her blade was at the ready, but she made no move to help him. Their fighting styles, against only one opponent, would only clash against each other and make them get in each other's way. But she also knew that their opponent was potentially too strong in order to face off alone. What could she do....?

TING!!

Holding his blade up to where the tip was pointing the ground, Rushifa blocked the next attack with less difficulty than the last strike. Smiling only wider, the warrior grinded his weapon upwards, sending Atsushi's up slightly with it. He then quickly spun around Atsushi like a spinning top, switching his blade to his right hand as he did so. When he stopped, the weapon's glistening white metal was but a mere inch from Atsushi's neck. Rushifa prepared to rear back and swing, aiming to decapitate his foe...

She had to do something.

Stunned from the dizziness, Atsushi could only jerk back out of reflex before the blade could slice through his neck. However, at the same time, Tamafune used a Flash Step to get behind him, aiming her own wakizashi's blade in a total of two horizontal strikes. The speed of these strikes was considerably fast and reflexive, and her body spun around in two 360-degree turns in order to unleash each one.

Fortunatley for the two of them, the move took Rushifa by surprise.

Not expecting her to attack so quickly, her first attack managed to cut Rushifa's upper back slightly, and he turned to block her next attack. With another hint of sparks, Rushifa locked blades with the young fighter, his face actually somewhat friendly, though still raring to fight.

"Hey I remember you...you're that Harley Davidson kid that nearly totalled by truck." he began. "Sorry if I gave you too big of a scare back there, knee wound was kind of getting to me..."

At first, Tamafune's expression contorted to one of slight surprise at the friendly expression and apology, even as they locked blade. However, she immediately put on a smirk. "Glad to see I've left an impression on you." She answered. "But don't start talking to me like I'm a little kid!"

Following that statement, she dropped low and performed a slide right past his body, kicking up dust and debris as she did so. However, she quickly rebounded off of the ground and leaped at him, her wakizashi unleashing a flurry of fluid, fast, and vicious strikes. In order to keep him off his guard, she added high and low kicks aimed towards his face and his feet respectively.

Quickly turning to face his new opponent, Rushifa met her sword strikes with equal speed, but one of her low kicks successfully made contact with his right foot and nearly caused him to lose his footing...

...until he Flash-Stepped behind Tamafune and flicked her in the back of her head, putting a descent amount of Spiritual Pressure into the move with just enough force to push her forward a few feet.

"Ah~!"

A startled yelp escaped Tamafune's lips, and she found herself lurching forward involuntarily. She recovered quickly, moving her body in a roll when she the ground. She swiftly turned towards him in a crouched position, her blade ready once more and a determined scowl on her face.

Rushifa was still smiling at her, rather than a blood thirsty look on his face, his expression seemed to be that of a friendly competitor's. It's almost as if he was fighting her just to fight her, not to kill or anything of the sort.

He pointed his weapon towards her with his right hand and then quickly Flash-Stepped to her right, swinging his blade from around his left shoulder in a downward slope, as if he were going to cut her from the right shoulder down...

"He's smiling....?"

The girl didn't have time to think about it, as Rushifa's blade was swinging down too quickly. She twisted her body around so that she would be momentarily on her back, one of her legs swinging in order to kick the flat edge of his blade aside. As she did this, she dug her Zanpakutō into the ground and swung it, unleashing a good amount of dirt towards her opponent's eyes in order to stun him for another strike.

"Not again!"

Rushifa's thoughts were somewhat comical as he recalled how Evelyn threw debris from the sidewalk of a Tokyo street in his eyes and it nearly cost him his life.

Tossing the thought aside, Rushifa spun around, letting the dirt get on his black coat instead, and then twisting himself to have his blade ready to parry her next attack.

He was just in time to block another strike from Tamafune, who held her sword in one hand as she struggled against her opponent for dominance....

However, the struggle did not last - for a tree was shot like a missile in Rushifa's direction, diverting Tamafune's attention for a brief moment. However, it was enough to spawn a look of complete shock over her features. Immediately, she performed a Flash Step to barely avoid getting hit by the natural weapon.

What the...

SHTICK!!!

"GAH!!!!"

Before he even realized it, Rushifa had been slammed by the massive tree and was sent flying towards the beach line, smashing into it with a pillar of sand and debris.

Tamafune grinned, immediately turning her head just in time to see Kyokan lumbering back out. "Nice shot, big guy!" She cheered, turning towards the spot where Rushifa had been sailed into.

"Yeah...." Atsushi grumbled, resting his sword onto his sheath. "Couldn't you have done that earlier instead of waiting around....?"

"Put them down.... Puraimaru Gansuringa!"

A flash of black and blue energy shot out from the cloud of sand, clearing it away and revealing Rushifa's composed form, despite the fact that he had just been hit by a tree. His weapon was now his signature gun/sword hybrid and he had it pointed at the trio, his face now slightly annoyed.

"That freakin' hurt." he said with a voice that matched his face.

"....I think you made him mad..." Tamafune muttered, sweat-dropping. Kyokan simply let out a satisfied grunt, and she could've sworn to make out what looked like a smirk on his face.

CHITOW!!

Before any of them could react further, Rushifa fired a Kido Bolt straight towards Atsushi's chest...

"AAAAGH!"

Atsushi hadn't seen it coming, the bullet too fast for him to react to it. It tore through his chest, and he let out a strangled yell as he collapsed onto the forest floor. Tamafune's eyes widened in horror at the sudden move made towards the man, and she instantly turned towards his fallen body.

"Atsushi!"

Kyokan, however, wasn't so slow to attack.

He let out an angry roar as he charged at the opponent with frightening leg speed, throwing himself at Rushifa and hurling another punch towards his face.

"Okami no Suryna."

Rushifa then discharged another bolt from the gun. This time however, the projectile was black and cyan in coloration and it was a sphere instead of a bullet. It traveled slower than before, and when it made contact with Kyokan's chest, a massive burst of energy was let loose with enough to send the semi giant flying...

Of course, that was what happened.

By the energy, Kyokan was punted back and smashed through the tree-line, smashing through several more trees in his flight path. As Atsushi continued to groan in pain and attempted to stand up, Tamafune's expression was nothing short of fear. It occured to her that he may have just been playing around with her and she had been caught in the moment when fighting him all alone. She had forgotten that none of them could take him on their own.

And now, she was the only one standing.

She readied her sword defensively, but the apprehension was keeping her rooted to her spot. Her eyes were forced to look into Rushifa's, the future of the battle looking all too clear to her.

Rushifa then looked around before sealing his Zanpaktou and re-sheathing it as he casually began to walk towards Tamafune with a collected expression. "Don't worry." he began. "I aimed just above his heart, he'll be fine."

Tamafune was far from collected.

"Stay away from me!!!" She snarled, reflexively taking a step back. "I mean it! I will kill you!!" She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes in a vain attempt to scare him and prevent him from walking towards her. However, she knew that he would keeping walking. He knew that his strength was a far cry from her own, as did she.....

"Whoa now easy. Here, use this on him..." he continued as he pulled out a special vial from his pants pocket and tossed it towards her. "It's medicine that you use to treat Kido Bolt wounds. Give him a bit of that and it'll be healed in no time, though it will knock him out for a while..."

Instinctively, Tamafune raised a free hand to catch it and look at it for a moment in dumbfounded confusion, then switched her gaze back to the man as she shook the vial a little bit. She could immediately tell it was no poison, being a medical healer herself. "B....but, why?" She asked, her voice somewhat hoarse. "Why are you helping us? We all know you have us cold...."

"...I apologize for all of that." he said as he came closer and sat down a few feet away from her, resting his left arm on his stood up left knee, his face somewhat calm and even a little bit sad. "I knew that the Spiritsmith would have security, but I didn't think that it would be in the form of children, no offense of course." he continued. "I was expecting a smaller army such as the one that I brought, hence the blood thirsty freaks..."

Tamafune took this time to kneel over Atsushi, holding his head with one hand and lifting the veil to his lips with the other. "You're sounding as if you're looking for him as well as Miss Evelyn...." She commented, narrowing her eyes slightly and frowning.

Rushifa let out a sigh as he closed his eyes and looked down slightly. "So...you guys know about that too, huh?" He then laid back down in the sand, not caring that it would get his clothes dirty. "Yeah...been looking for her as well."

Tamafune let out a scoff. "What do you think we've been fighting you for? Our amusement?"

"I was thinking for your home." he continued. "Found out she was coming here, so I prepared for what I initially believed would be a battle, but I got you guys instead. Still, you all put up a hell of a fight."

This caused the young girl to smile a little. "And you still managed to defeat us...." She said lightly. "You know, for a killer, I thought you would be a lot worse than what you are now.... especially from the nature of the goons you picked to fight for you."

He sat himself up and gave an equally friendly smile. "People like them are easy to manipulate. Unlike them however, I usually kill for what I believe is a legit reason. They just kill for money and other worthless things."

"And what's your reason for wanting to kill miss Evelyn....?" Tamafune questioned him. "She seems like too much of a nice woman to just oust so coldly...."

His expression became a frown somewhat as he closed his eyes and looked down once more. "Well...no point in lying about it. She's already told you guys her end probably..."

Rushifa then let out another sigh as he opened his eyes to look at the girl. "A long time ago, probably before you were born, Evelyn and I used to be part of the Gotei 13. We were friends, well in a scolding mother to an annoying son kind of extent. But certain...conditions, caused us to be in conflict. She killed someone that was very close to my heart in cold blood..."

He then pulled out his wallet from his right coat pocket and pulled out the picture of him and Temari and showed it to Tamafune. "This is me and her before Evelyn killed her..."

Tamafune gently relieved him of the picture so she could see better, her eyes wavering as she saw the picture. "So you and this girl.... you had a thing going on, huh....?" She commented, her smile becoming slightly weaker. "She doesn't seem like the type to do that.....to kill someone in cold blood...."

"Well..." he began, sitting himself up better. "...there must have been something else going on that night, or she was just really ticked...but she did it...." he trailed off in thought, recalling Temari's screams of pain.

''Rushifa! Rushifa Please! Please help me I can't-! GLURGAAAAAAHHH!!!!''

He shook his head to relieve himself of the thoughts. "A criminal in Soul Society, bad dude, came to my house one night. He was wounded and he asked me to help him. I didn't have a clue who he was, to me it was a guy who was bleeding and needed help. So I set into healing him right as Evelyn and five of her subordinates, including Temari, that girl there, came into my house as well. Evelyn saw me heal the dude and she assumed that I was his accomplice, thus we were to face the same punishment. Temari refused to believe it and she stood to defend me, she even drew her sword at one point. And that's when she..." he looked back at Tamafune. "Well you can probably guess the rest at this point."

He was met with a slightly alarmed expression from the girl. "Th....that's horrible...!" She exclaimed, reflexively leaning back a little. "But.... if that's the case, then why are you killing other Soul Reapers?! Shouldn't you be focused on her only?"

"For a while, I thought she was dead." he continued. "After Temari was killed, I ran away from the scene and stayed in the human world for a decade or two, but not before I managed to kill the four other subordinates who were chasing me, as well as incapacitate Evelyn. Eventually found me a teacher who helped me learn how to fight better so that I may one day avenge Temari's unjust death. But I then recieved word that Evelyn had already been killed by someone else...someone who was ordered to kill her...someone who was in the Gotei 13."

He clenched his fist somewhat. "I was just so angry...I lost the love of my life, and I couldn't even avenge her death...I began to realize that Soul Society was nothing more than a corrupt hierarchy, hell bent on domination. I also found out that these, "retired" Soul Reapers were nothing but undercover operatives, still performing their jobs within the human world..."

Rushifa looked out towards the right side of the beach. "...So i've taken my anger out on all of them instead. But now that I know that she is alive and still willing to kill me over her subordinates..."

"What kind of messed-up logic is that?!"

Tamafune's expression turned to one of clear anger and frustration, and she glared at Rushifa with the unhidden emotions. "You're just going to kill every Soul Reaper known to man just for the actions of some of them?! Have you ever considered just who exactly it is that you're killing, that there's something beyond a biased opinion?!"

His expression didn't change as he continued to look out at the islands. "Rage is a hell of an anesthetic kid...and it's a hell of a good way to drive a man insane."

For a moment, Tamafune didn't speak, her fists clenched tightly on her thighs as she sat on her legs. "That's funny...." She said lowly. "Because you seem quite sane to me considering that you're speaking to me as easily as you would a companion."

He smiled slightly. "Well...I've killed plenty, but I won't go as far as to kill a kid. I've started recontemplating things for the past few days. See, if this was the me from nearly 20-30 years ago, I probably would have killed you by now. But as I said, recent events have had me rethinking my actions and my past deeds...I know there is no hope of salvation for me, but still.."

"Well....." Tamafune's expression had lightened somewhat at his smile and words. "What...do you plan on doing now? What will you do when you see miss Evelyn again?"

He chuckled a little bit. "Well that depends on what she does when she sees me. We're going to end up fighting, no way around that. But..."

He let his smile fade slightly. "...I'm hoping not to kill her. If anything, I hope she gives me an opprotunity to apologize for what I did in the past, and if she gives me the chance, maybe I can forgive her as well."

This caused the young girl to smile in satisfaction and appreciation. "That's a good way to start...." She remarked. "But...." Her eyes narrowed, the smile fading. "If you're going at all, go quickly! Or else she'll escape!"

Rushifa's face became comically freaked out as he stood up. "She's leaving??!!"

A comically deadpan crossed Tamafune's face. "Uh....yeah. We were holding her off so that she could get off the island." She drawled. "You didn't really think we thought we could stand a chance against the likes of you, did you?"

His expression became more comically sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah...that does make sense..."

Rushifa then gave her a serious yet thankful gaze. "Thanks kid."

He then began to run towards the treeline, hoping to meet Evelyn in time.

vvvvvrrrrrooooooooo BOOM!!!!

With another masterful throw, Kafiezial magaged to bring down the last of the attack drones deployed by Rushifa's goons. There were apparentley six of the crafts deployed and they had done significant damage to the section of the islands that they were on. Smoke reached high up in the clouds and a small fire had started from the crash of one of the drones, but Kafiezial's wind curents managed to force it to die down.

Landing on the edge of a large rock formation, Kafiezial looked to see how the woman that he was guarding was holding up.

Despite having only one arm at the moment for a spear, Evelyn was doing fairly well in defending herself. With the last of them gone, she stood her pole on its tail and looked down on the man guarding her. Her clothing was slightly scratched, but otherwise, she seemed fine.

Kafiezial crossed his arms and looked up at her. "Where to?" he said. He was letting her lead this whole time, and even he didn't know how they would get off of the island.

Evelyn nodded her head in the direction of the coastline they were headed in. "Qilin's presence is just ahead of us." She said calmly. "He's taken the boat that brought us here to the shoreline so we can leave." She informed him, turning on her heel. "We need to move quickly."

He let his arms drop to his sides. "Very Well. You go first so that I may protect you should Rushifa come from behind."

Evelyn's shoulders laxed abruptly, her body motion indicating a jerk. Then, she looked over her shoulder, her eyes open and half-lidded in what looked like an exasperated glare in his direction. She remained silent, but the implication and nonverbal statement in her words was clear.

"Did you really have to word it in such a manner?"

The Visored looked up at her and gave a slightly annoyed shrug. "Well? Go!"

"....men...."

Evelyn rolled her eyes before kicking into a Flash Step in order to gain headway. Her hair was whipping behind her, her eyes closed once again. As she reached behind her with her senses, she could feel that the energies of the apprentices at a weaker level than they were before, with the exception of the young girl's. They must've been defeated by Rushifa beforehand... but none of them were dying.

At least, for the moment.

It wasn't long before her feet landed on the sands once again, Qilin's voice greeted the both of them a few feet away.

"Hey!"

He was sitting in the boat that would take them out of the area, a driver sitting in the seat in replacement of Atsushi. The Spiritsmith was waving over to them, a moderately enthusiastic look on his face. "Glad you didn't get caught by Rushifa yet!" He commented, with Evelyn silently walking towards the boat.

Kafiezial landed right behind Evelyn and also began to walk towards the boat, but he then stopped and turned around to look towards the direction that they had just come from. After a few moments, he turned to look at Qilin. "Will your apprentices be alright while we are gone?"

"They'll be fine." Qilin assured him, folding his arms across his chest. "They're resourceful and can pull themselves out if the situation gets too dangerous."

"Very well." was the Visored's response as he made his way onto the boat as well, his massive form not affecting the boat in the slightest hardly.

Evelyn allowed herself to climb into the boat, as well, sliding into one of the seats. She rested her pole on the floor, raising her arm in the rest of her to rest on her lap.

Kafiezial himself sat on the floor in an indian style next to the door that allowed them to enter the boat. "Where are we headed?" he said with his eyes closed.

"Nobody knooooooows~!" Qilin answered with a comically ghoulish voice, holding his arms out in the air to emphasize and bringing them down slowly, his fingers moving in a rather creepy fashion. He paused for a moment, before proceeding to wiggle his fingers for a few more seconds.

Kafiezial comically popped his right eye open as a sweat drop came from the back of his head. "Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?"

With a growl of the engines, the boat immediately took off from the shoreline and sped out into the ocean. "Eh..." QIlin muttered, leaning back in his seat and looking upwards at the sky. "I'm not sure about the exact location yet, but we'll think of something, won't we?"

The Visored let out a slight sigh as he closed his eyes once more. "Oh of course, we were the best of thinking of things at the last minute weren't we?"

"Mhm...." Qilin smiled in amusement, closing his eyes along with his friend. "Because plans are no fun...."

"It's always better to be surprised." Kafiezial added with a calm voice. He looked over to Evelyn briefly. "I assume you weren't too badly scathed on the way over here?"

"Only the fact that I am missing an arm...." Evelyn answered readily, her eyes naturally closed and her body moving slightly underneath the movement of the water. "Other than that, I am fine."

Kafiezial then looked back at Qilin. "That needs to be the first thing to be done when we land. So long as she has one arm, regardless of her prowess, she will be at a disadvantage to whoever she fights..."

Their conversation drifted away, just as the boat that carried them, off into realms unknown...

Breaching of Barriers
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AKISAME!!!!!!"

Those were the words of a now enraged Soifon, who wore a bath gown over her slightly wet body as she was on top of her husband Akisame, strangling him in a comical fashion.

"What did I tell you about messing around with me like that while i'm in the shower!!??" she continued, her eyes big and white with tiny black lines inside of them, of which symbolized her iris'. Akisame on the other hand had equally big eyes with no iris' and thick black outlines as he struggled for breath.

"It was...GAHCK!!! IT WAS JUST A GLASS OF COLD WATER!! GET OVER IT!!!" he replied, now regretting ever having dumped a cup full of freezing water on his wife while she was in a hot shower. He had forgotten just how easy it was to irritate his wife...

Evelyn on the other hand was sitting on the recliner, holding her black cat as she laughed at her father's torment.

"Everyone's so noisy today...."

Sitting on the floor beside the recliner was the other ex-Stealth Force female, one of her eyebrows raised an question and a comical frown on her face. She looked over towards the child. "Eve-chan, why can't you be a sensible child and go talk some sense into your parents?" She complained jokingly.

Evelyn then stopped laughing and looked over to Brina breifly, before looking back at her parents. Without her expression changing, the infant threw her toy at Soifon. Despite the animal being soft and plush, it hit Soifon with enough force to comically knock her off of Akisame and onto the floor next to him. He picked himself off of the floor and pointed at Evelyn and Brina. "I owe you two everything." He then ran outside into the hallway, hoping to elude Soifon's grasp while she lay on the floor.

As she picked herself up, she clenched her left fist as her eyes closed and her face comically infuriated. "Be glad you intervened Eve. You would have been raised with a single parent had you not otherwise." She then let her face relax as it sheepishly looked over to Brina. "Sorry about that. He always does stuff like that at the worst of times."

"No problem, sensei...." Brina closed her eyes, crossing her legs Indian-style and folding her hands within her lap. "I understand. Sometimes, you're just stuck with the most inconvenient of people...."

Soifon nodded in annoyed agreement. "Very inconvenient people."

She then went back into her bedroom and shut the door. It wasn't two minutes before she came back out, now wearing a dark blue t-shirt and a pair of black sweat pants, her hair still hanging down to her neck as a result of not being dried all the way. She walked over and laid on her stomach on top of the bed, looking over at Evelyn as she spoke. "I think this boy that you're going out with is going to have a much easier time with you than Akisame did with me..."

"If only you knew...hehehe...."

An amused smile crossed Brina's face at her thoughts, and she closed her eyes. The result was her appearing as if she was meditating. "Don't jinx me yet, sensei." She remarked. "I still have a long way to go before I'm at where you are."

Soifon smiled slightly as she rested her chin with her now folded arms, looking over at her daughter. "And what are you thinking about, hm?"

Evelyn then giggled as she reached out for her mother, who sat up and gently took her daughter off of the seat. Now sitting up on her knees and holding Evelyn, she playfully looked into the child's eyes. "You're happy because you managed to hit me with that cat aren't you?"

Evelyn laughed in agreement as Soifon hugged her against her shoulder. "To think...just a few years ago I told myself that this life wasn't for me. Now I'm happy that I didn't miss out on it." she said to Brina.

Brina huffed, turning her face away from her mentor in a somewhat playful manner. "I still think it's made you a bit soft." She said lightly.

Soifon looked over to Brina with a hint of annoyance. "I can be just as ruthless and cruel as I used to be. Don't let this new lifestyle of mine make you think otherwise..."

She then looked back to Evelyn in the same playful expression from before. "...Because I can't be like that in front of little Eve now can I?" she said as she sat down on her bottom and began to tickle her daughter a little more, causing her to laugh again.

"Of course...." Brina commented coolly, a joking tone in her voice. "That would be potential trouble for at least both of us in the future."

The woman stopped tickling her daughter and looked over to Brina, a hint of worry in her voice. "I'm starting to get a bit worried about Eve though..." she began.

"How come?" Brina tilted her head over to look towards the woman, a curious look in her eyes.

"Well..." she continued as she sat Evelyn back up in her lap a little more. "...I know that she's a baby and all that, but her Spiritual Pressure is just...a little too high to be normal. I mean, here..." Soifon then picked Evelyn up and handed her to Brina gently, the baby reaching out for the younger Soul Reaper as she did so. "...feel the energy inside of her. It's pretty high for her age isn't it?"

Gently, Brina took the girl away from Soifon and peered down. "Hm..." She muttered, idly flipping her tongue for a moment in a manner distantly similar to a snake's. "Yeah.... now that I'm paying attention to it, you're right. Maybe she acquired most of it from you, considering you having Captain-class energy...."

Soifon crossed her arms and closed her eyes, her head facing the ceiling in a thoughtful manner. "Maybe so, but even then, it still seems a bit too high..." She looked back down at the infant. "I mean, I think it was high enough to where somehow, she was able to speak to me through her mind, even as a baby in the womb. If it wasn't that, then I don't know what it is."

"You sure that's from the energy and not the fact that you were.... connected?" Brina supplied. "I mean, she's not doing it now or recently, is she?"

"No...she's not doing it now." she responded, giving a sigh as she continued. "But how often do you hear about a child who can communicate with it's mother while inside of her womb?"

"Not much..." Brina admitted, looking down at the child in her arms and lap curiously. "Just saying that it might not be related to the fact that she has an abnormal amount of spiritual energy. If it was, she'd probably be able to do it at anytime she wanted to." A smile crossed her face, and she reached with one hand to poke Evelyn's nose. "Isn't that right, little Eve?"

Soifon kept her pose and smiled slightly as the two played. "Heh, maybe it's all in my head."

The infant giggled slightly in response to the action and reached out to take Brina's finger, sticking it into her toothless mouth and pretending to bite it.

A deadpan stare came across Brina's face, but she made no move to take the finger from Eve yet. "My finger is not your chew-toy, dear. Wait until you actually get teeth...." She said lightly.

Sure enough, Evelyn let go of the finger and looked at Brina with her bottom lip stuck out in a sad manner, earning a scoff from her mother.

"You little kiss up." she said with playful annoyance.

Brina smiled, lifting her hand away to gently tickle the girl. "Oh, don't be such a sourpuss, I'm just messing around with you!" She said, a bit of laughing in her tone.

Evelyn's face became happy as she started trying to jump in response to Brina's tickling.

Soifon kept her smile as she rested her chin on both of her hands, her gaze teasingly set on Brina. "So...when are you going to meet this boy again?"

"Donno...." Brina shrugged, being honest. "Probably'll be sooner than later, but I just can't say the exact time. He appears at the most unexpected of times...."

"Hm." Soifon said. "Funny...Akisame always happened to appear at the absolute worst of times back when we met, and during Ultharon's attack." She chuckled somewhat while remembering the moments they had togather. "Heh, I would beat him to death for flirting with me and joking around all of the time...but eventually I found him to be somewhat enjoyable and sometime after the...incident that you and I had, we were practically inseperable..."

"I suppose a tragedy has it's upbringings, after all...." Brina commented, her gaze turning slightly serene at the words. "Even if it's not what you expected...."

"Speaking of tragedies..." Soifon commented in good humor. "Where is your father at? I haven't heard from him in quite a while."

"Oh, him....?" Brina scooped the infant up in her arms and handed her back to Sui-Feng, stretching out her arms over her head once she completed the transaction. "I can't really say. The last time I called him, he was saying something about taking a vacation of his own for a while. But he didn't say where. Seemed really enthused about it, though...."

Soifon then took Evelyn out of Brina's arms and held her against her right shoulder, rocking her back and forth. "I shouldn't be surprised. Like you said, he's such a loner." she said with a somewhat bored voice.

Evelyn then began to make little gooing noises, which caused her mother to look over at her in amusement. "Well I was wondering when you would start doing that." she said as she began to gently pat Evelyn on her back repeatadly, which eventually caused the infant to burp slightly, of which made Soifon chuckle.

The baby then looked over to see her toy cat and began to reach for it. "Eeechi! Eeechi!" she exclaimed, this time making Soifon laugh as she grabbed the toy and gave it to Evelyn, watching her play with it as she spoke to Brina. "Oh yeah, she spoke her first words. Bet you can guess what they are." she playfully said.

"From the way she's speaking now...." A coy smile came across Brina's lips. "Yoruichi?"

Soifon chuckled more and closed her eyes. "Yep. She says it whenever she sees this black cat that I bought her..." She looked down to watch Evelyn play with the toy, facially motioning Brina to watch with her.

And as she expected, Evelyn began to pet the toy animal gently, acting as if it was the real thing. "Eeechi." she would say during each stroke. "Eeechi...Eeechi...Eeechi..."

"...Yoruichi." Soifon whispered to her daughter, a slight tear coming from her left eye as she watched.

Brina watched silently, a somewhat solemn look seen in her eyes as she spotted the tear fall down from her face. But she knew that she had said the words concerning the deceased woman earlier. She knew it wouldn't erase all of the pain.... but she hoped it would be enough to quell it completely for the time being. A slightly weary smile came over her face.

"You know...." She stated, standing up from her position only to sit down in the chair Evelyn was in. She shifted one leg over the other. "I can't help but wonder what Yoruichi-senpai would say about this, looking at this particular scene." She huffed slightly, folding her arms across her chest and pouting a little. "It's really no fun when you're stuck wondering about someone else's reaction when they're not even here...."

"Please..."

Soifon looked towards Brina with a serene yet somewhat stern gaze. "...Brina if you don't mind...I would rather not speak about it...I don't need to dwell on things like that...not in front of Eve..." she said as she wiped the tear from her eye. Evelyn then stopped talking and intead pretended to bite down on the cat's nose, her eyes looking in idle directions as she did so.

"If you insist...." Brina shrugged lightly, keeping a nonchalant aura around herself and her tone in resolution. Inwardly, however, she mentally slapped herself for her failure to have lightened up the mood. "But you do realize...." She turned her head to the side slightly, her eyes keeping a gaze locked onto her mentor. "....that she might ask about it later on in the future...."

"...If she does." Soifon cut her off, keeping her gaze yet holding up her right palm. "...then I will tell her nothing but the truth. Everything that I know about Lady Yoruichi I will tell her. I won't resort to keeping secrets, or lying to my daughter." she said in a serene voice.

"Don't hide behind the lie...."

Upon hearing part of her "last" words being repeated to her, Brina smiled toothily and somewhat cheekily. She pulled her legs up into the chair for an Indian-style sitting position, folding her hands in her lap. "Glad to see you remembered my words...." She commented.

The older woman gave a calm, toothless smile as she relaxed her face. "Of course. How could I forget..."

Then, without warning, Evelyn began to blubber and after a few more moments she began to out right cry. She even began to shed tears and her face became blood red as she threw her arms up and down alongside the crying.

Soifon's look immediatley became concerned as she held up the infant and hugged her slightly, speaking playfully. "Hey...hey now what's wrong Eve? What's wrong with the little..."

Her eyes then widened as she looked out towards the room door, suspicion and worry in her expression. "Brina..." she said, keeping her face locked on the door. "...take Eve for a second, something's not right." she continued as she handed the still crying infant to Brina, standing herself up and making her way to the door.

"Hm?" Brina didn't seem to notice yet, although showing her own version of concern towards Evelyn's sudden change in mood. She took the child in her arms, holding her close and rocking her a little in an attempt to soothe her.

Soifon steadily walked up to the door and opened it slightly, slowly letting it open all the way to reveal her seemingly exhausted husband. A bit of saliva came from his mouth, a sign of continued running, and his outfit was somewhat ragged and scarred.

"Well it's about time, do you have any idea how upset Evelyn is-" she began, cutting off her initially angry words in exchange for a more concerned tone. "Akisame, what happened? What's wrong?" she continued.

Akisame then slowly walked into the room, leaving the door behind him open as his wife wrapped her left arm around his back as he did so. "Is...is Evelyn alright?" he said somewhat wearily.

"She's fine, now answer my question." Soifon said in a stern voice as she helped him next to the bed. "What happened?" she continued.

"It's...It's an...an Arrancar...a..really powerful Arrancar...." he looked over at Evelyn who was still crying, albeit quieter than before. He gave a sigh of relief as he saw his daughter alright, before looking back at Soifon, and then to Brina. "You guys...you didn't hear the explosions...?"

Soifon's eyes widened in shock as she looked over to Brina. "Did you hear anything?"

Brina's eyebrows furrowed as she looked over at the other two. She shook her head. "No, I didn't hear anything at all...." She admitted. "Or at least, it didn't come to my ears...."

Akisame then stood himself straight up, albeit still breathing wearily, and drew his signature golden sword out of a case under the bed. Holding it down to his side as he spoke. "You two...you two need to leave, get Evelyn as far away from here as possible..."

SLAP!

His orders were met with a comical, yet painful slap on the back of his head from his wife, who's expression was somewhat annoyed. "You're in no condition to fight, let alone defend anything. You take Evelyn to safety, Brina and I will stay to handle this Arrancar that you speak of." she said in a commanding voice.

BOOM!!!!!!

Outside in the hallway shot out a massive wave of green energy that Soifon recognized as a Cero. The blast travelled down the hallway past the room, creating a loud moaning noise as well as leaving a massive whole in the other end of the building. This obviously forced Evelyn to begin screaming in fear and dread, causing her crying to go back to it's piercing loud form.

"....it always happens to the best of us...."

Calmly, Brina pushed herself onto her feet. She walked over towards the bed, kneeling down and reaching underneath it. Despite the child crying loudly, she was whistling casually as she did so. Then, she pulled out what looked like her sword, fixing it within the sash on her waist. "All right, sensei. I'm all set." She said, keeping the smile on her face. "I'm right behind you."

Soifon's face was serious as she looked over at Brina and nodded, Flash Stepping into her room and emerging from it after a manner of seconds, wearing her traditional Onmitsukido uniform with her Zanpaktou fixed around her lower back as she normally had it. She quickly came over to Akisame as the man relieved Brina of the infant, holding her man's face as they looked into each others eyes.

"Please. Keep her safe Akisame." she said to him, to which he nodded in response. "I promise. You two be careful."

With that, the couple kissed briefly before Soifon quickly kissed Evelyn on her forehead. "Mommy and Brina will be right back, okay?" she said playfully to the infant, despite the destruction unfolding outside. With a Flash Step, Akisame vanished with the baby in tow.

Soifon then looked over to Brina with a cocky expression. "Let's go."

With that, she Flash Stepped outside into the now bare hallway, noting the presence of what was undoubtably a powerful Arrancar. Her expression calm yet stern, she looked around to find it's source before feeling the being to their left side, her eyes widening upon seeing him.

Floating middair outside of the destroyed building floor was a tall Arrancar, with shoulder length black hair and a white outfit with a green sash around his waist. What really made him stick out however, was his face, of which was concealed by a white mask that stared into both Soifon's and Brina's souls with emptiness.

"Well..." Soifon began, retaining her pose. "...at least he wasn't hard to find."

"Sokatsui!"

Brina did not hesitate to act. With a thrust of her hand, she unleashed the powerful stream of the electric-like spiritual energy at their target. She did not bother to use words with such an opponent; one side was going to die, either way, so why did she have to bother?

Holding out one hand, the Arrancar held onto the powerful blast of energy and kept it in place without moving. Then, with one swift motion, the figure threw the blast aside to his right, forcing it to arc across the sky briefly before it decipated.

SLAP!

Soifon's face became comically annoyed as she gave Brina a swift slap to the back of her head. "Hey! Who said that you get to attack first!? Did you even bother to feel this person's Spiritual Energy? He's on par with the likes of an Espada! You should have let me go first to see how powerful he is in combat before attacking like that!" she criticized her former apprentice.

"Ow...."

The younger woman held her head down in pain and embarassment, a sweatdrop forming and her body in a crouched form. "Forgive me...." She mumbled, a comical waterfall of tears running down her face. "I didn't want to waste any words with it...."

The older woman sighed as she looked back at the Arrancar, who was still staring at them. "We don't have to, but since we've already gotten a taste of how strong he is, I think it's safe to say that it will take both of us to do any damage to him." she said as she spread her legs in a defensive manner, not bothering to draw her sword just yet. "Just follow my lead, like we used to when we were enlisted, alright?" she continued in her commanding voice.

"Mmm...." Brina confirmed in agreement, slowly allowing herself to stand back up to her feet. Her gaze was now locked onto the Arrancar. "Just like old times. Hopefully, your skills haven't dulled too much in your time away from the 2nd Division...."

Soifon gave a cocky grin in response while still looking at their new enemy. "This time...I don't have a kid in my stomach..."

WHOOSH!!!

Her eyes widened just a slight bit more in surprise as the Arrancar vanished from view using what she could recognize as Sonido. She looked around a few seconds, trying to pinpoint his new location. Regardless of the Arrancar's Spiritual Pressure, he was certainly masterful when it came to hiding it....

Then, a strange whirling noise could be heard just below the floor they stood on. Soifon looked down and the signature of a Cero could be picked up.

"Brina move!" she yelled as she Flash-Stepped off of the spot. As soon as she did, the massive green Cero shot up into the sky, almost entirely decimating the top section of the hotel building.

"Easy, sensei...."

With a Flash Step of her own, Brina boosted herself into the air, maneuvering out of the way before the Cero could hit her. When it passed, she sped up and out of the hole in order to get to the outside and have much more room to fight in.

But before she could do anything further, the Arrancar used his Sonido to reappear right next to her on her left side. Using the right end of his right fist, the being reared back and thrusted his arm towards her with unusually high speeds...

It was at this moment that Brina was glad she had been part of the Punishment Force.

With reflexes that only a member such as her would've possessed, she caught her opponent by the wrist with one hand. The collision caused a shockwave to echo between the two fighters, although minor at best. Her eyes were in a concentrating look as she pulled his arm off to the side, swinging her lower body upwards. Her legs gripped the middle of his arm, her hand releasing it before. With a grunt, she bent her body back in a backflip, her legs hoisting the Arrancar up and aiming to toss him with her own strength to the ground.

The Arrancar then showed the McTavish his own display of strength as he was right above her in the process of her throw.

Twisting his hand around, the opponent successfully grabbed hold of Brina's left ankle, of which was still wrapped around his arm. As he came closer to what would be the point of which Brina would have thrown him, the Arrancar emited a slight grunt as he tore his arm free from her leg grasp, right before using his hand that had her ankle to hoist her upwards in a similar position to what she had him in, and then thrusting her forward, aiming to send her plummeting to the ground.

That was when Brina's eyes widened, her mouth contorting into a pleased smile as she saw him readily fight against her hand-to-hand combat. It was apparent that this was going to be more of a challenge than she first thought.

Immediately, she raised her free leg, her foot struck the hand holding her ankle. Her captured foot pulled itself away, and she followed suit in an elegant backflip before skidding back in the air.

That was when Soifon made her move.

Using Brina as a distraction, she managed to sneak around to the Arrancar's back side and twisted around in a horizontal manner, before slamming her right leg into the Arrancar's upper back. The impact caused a powerful shockwave to shoot out from the opponent's front side, but the figure himself remained motionless, albeit his body from the waist up went forward slightly before retaining it's original stance. Soifon's eyes squinted as she attempted to feel more of the Arrancar's power within the brief few seconds that she could...

...but before she could get a good grasp on it, the Arrancar quickly twisted around and grabbed her right ankle and shifted his body to throw her to his right. But Soifon wasn't so quick to give him a chance.

Quickly shifter her body to her right, Soifon brought her left leg over and slammed it into his head with enough force to make it fling to the right. His grip loosened, Soifon managed to elude his grasp, Flash-Stepping next to Brina.

"This one is strong, there's no doubt about that..." she began, directing her words to her apprentice. "We're going to have to attack it at the same time on both sides, catch him off guard and eventually force him to give us an opening."

"As you wish..." Brina said simply, settling into a ready stance.

The Arrancar then looked over to both of them and extended his left hand as if he was going to find a Cero at them...

WHOOSH!!!

Before either of them knew it, the opponent vanished from their point of vision, only to reappear right in front of Brina. Soifon even widened her eyes slightly in response to his speed, but she quickly turned to see his next move. A green sphere began to form at the end of his finger, symbolizing the Cero that was sure to fire at the young Soul Reaper's face at point blank range.

But before he could, Soifon quickly shoved Brina to her left, moving her away from the Cero's radius before twisting around and preparing to slam her right foot into the being's left side head, while she was expecting Brina to do the same with his right side...

"What the--"

Because of Sui-Feng's sudden action, Brina's stance was effectively broken. She let out a grunt as she was shoved aside, just before the Cero could consume her within its light. She had to take a few seconds in order to re-gain her balance again. However, even if she attacked again, the Arrancar would have enough time to push away her master and counter-attack her.

That thought irked her.

"Dammit!"

Soifon's mind cursed at Brina for not regaining her pose quick enough and following through on her end of the attack...

And sure enough, the Arrancar successfully dodged Soifon's strike by tilting his upper body area to his right. But Soifon still had him in a bad position, all she had to do was improvise.

Quickly shifting her body to her left side, Soifon brought her left leg into his stomach area, right before shifting her right leg to his lower back area, and then tightenied their grip as a means of keeping him locked in place. She then arched her back forward and wrapped both arms around his neck in a firm hold, forcing his back to arc slightly to where his torso area was vastly exposed.

"Hit him now Brina!" Soifon sternly said to the younger Ex-Stealth Force member.

At this moment, Brina wondered if it had been irksome to take orders back then. She really stayed away from the Punishment Force for far too long.

Nevertheless, she rushed forward, her palm open and thrust outward in a strike powerful enough to cave in the chest cavity. It would ensure an instant killing blow to her opponent and end the battle quickly.

"Tesshō."

Soifon maintained her grasp as Brina charged towards the Arrancar...

"You forgot about my arms." the Arrancar said with a slightly empty, Russian accent.

The former Captain's expression became one of shock as the being almost instantly grabbed her by her head with both of his hands, and shifted her head to where it was facing his chest, albeit upside down.

Unless Brina reacted accordingly, Soifon would end up taking the blow in the Arrancar's place....

"I have no patience for carelessness."

Despite her carrying a serene look as she said it, Brina's voice was cold and reprimanding as she spoke to her former master. She halted the technique's force, lessening the stopping power to a minimal degree. However, she didn't stop her hand from twisting and grabbing her former Captain's head. She lifted her body and moved sideways, making a shearing movement with her legs and unleashing a devastating kick towards her opponent's head.

"Kazaguruma!"

Soifon was able to catch her apprentice's words as she felt her hand grab her head and throw her to the side. Skidding middair and with a snarl, she watched Brina make her next move.

Maybe I really have fallen out of touch from what I used to be...

The Arrancar then tilted his head upwards, Brina's feet skidding the right side of his masked face. He then quickly lifted his left hand up and grabbed Brina by her hair. Thrusting her body downward, he then threw her towards Soifon's direction...

"NNNNGH~!!!"

A sharp pain shot through Brina's body as the Arrancar yanked her by her hair. She gritted her teeth, a mixture of agony and anger on her face as she was forcibly moved against her will. However, she was able to fight against the pain and keep her body mobile. Bringing her legs to her front, she swung them behind her in a manner similar to a donkey buck. Her feet struck the ribcage of the Arrancar with immense force, knocking him off of her and sending him a good distance away.

The Arrancar let out a slight growl of pain as he was sent away, albeit keeping his feet "planted" on the air. He briefly held his ribcage before retaining his still pose, looking back at Brina with emptiness.

"You're not very aware of your surroundings are you?"

A voice from behind him caught his attention, but as soon as he turned to face it's source, the bottom of what appeared to be a black shoe slammed into his face and sent him back towards Brina's direction, a signal for her to attack him again.

Brina didn't hesitate to use it to her advantage.

"Rikujōkōrō!!"

Six beams of light slammed into the Arrancar's mid-section, preventing any movement for the time being. Brina quickly unsheathed her sword, holding it in a reverse grip while stating the release command of her Zanpakutō.

"Suppress....Jadoku!"

The katana briefly glowed white, before shifting to her Shikai form. All the blade had to do was touch an area of the opponent... and he would experience a new level of pain and agony. The thought made Brina smile as she used a Flash Step to get behind him, swinging her knife to his back.

But before she could move accordingly, a green sphere of energy began to form from his left hand, of which was strapped to his side via the Kido bonds around him. He then discharged a green Bala in her direction by flicking his wrist towards her, the projectile slamming into Brina's chest and forcing her back a good ways. The Bala appeared to be non combustive as it pushed her away from him. He then began to emit a rather powerful blast of Spiritual Pressure that successfully destroyed the bonding around him, giving an angry snarl as he did so.

"Oof--!"

A grunt escaped Brina's lips as she skidded back, slowly standing back up and readying her knife in a defensive position. "Wasn't expecting him to still be able to move after that...." She thought to herself, her fingers tapping the hilt of her weapon. "Then again.... I suppose a strong opponent like him wouldn't be subdued so easily...."

The being then looked over to her and held out his arms to his sides, his hands nearly 2 feet from his waists. Then, with a strange hissing noise, two menacing swords quickly slid out of his coat sleeves. Both of them were rather long and they had wider blades near their ends, serated edges emerging from their white steel.

Soifon Flash-Stepped next to Brina with her eyes set on the Arrancar. "Dammit..." she began, grasping her sword with her right hand, slowly unsheating it and holding it horizontally with the blunt end of the sword facing her bare upper back. "...I was hoping that I wouldn't have to draw my blade for this fight."

"Don't let pride get in the way of killing someone, sensei...." was Brina's answer.

"Hmph." Soifon replied, positioning herself in a defensive pose. "I'm going to go first. I'll try to catch him off guard long enough for you to stick that knife into his spine." She let a cocky grin come across the left side of her face. "Let's make the bastard suffer for threatening my daughter..."

A thin-lipped smile came across Brina's face. However, hers was without cockiness. Rather, the best emotion that could be seen within it was sadistic anticipation lamp-shaded by a pleasant nature. "I agree completely...." She said.

Soifon then lowered herself slightly, retaining her grin, before springing forward in a Flash-Step. Reappearing behind the Arrancar and swinging her sword down in an attempt to sever his left shoulder.

TANG!!!!

Quickly twisting himself around, the Arrancar horizontally blocked her vertical strike with his right sword, using the serated edge to bring her sword to her left and quickly bringing his left sword up to cut off her leg. However, Soifon expected the move and successfully caught the weapon with both of her feet. Using the blade as a leverage, she donkey kicked the weapon away and flipped around horizontally, just in time to avoid another swing from his right sword.

She then swung her blade to the left side of his face while she was still spinning, of which he successfully blocked with his left sword. He then raised up his right sword, while his left one was still locked with Soifon's, and slammed it down onto said blade. This caused a minor shockwave that made Soifon shiver as she struggled to keep from being overwhelmed by the two larger blades. Soifon knew that Brina would see this as an opening, seeing as how his back was now facing her...

...but the Arrancar had different plans in mind. Holding his right sword against hers still, the being turned to point the tip of his left sword towards Brina and discharged a rather large green Cero towards her. Perhaps the Arrancar knew of their plan, and was trying to nullify it by keeping Brina at a distance?

WOOSH!

Brina, as she was closing in, defly used a Flash Step to evade the Cero and re-appear behind her target and in front of the opening that her master had left her. She once again swung the knife with accuracy and precision.

SING!!!!

Using the sword that was still pointed in her direction, the Arrancar barely managed to lock blades with the significantly smaller knife, barely struggling to keep from letting it fall through his defense that he was struggling to maintain.

Soifon then took her opprotunity.

Rearing her right leg back, she then horizontally slammed her knee into his stomach area, causing him to grunt in pain and letting his defense fall slightly, leaving him open to Brina's next attack as Soifon pulled away from him.

"Gotcha...."

With a triumphant sparkle in her eyes, Brina pulled her knife away and thrust again in a fluid, rapid, and successive motion in order to keep him from putting up another defense.

SHTICK!!!

It was then that her small knife made it's way into the Arrancar's left shoulder. He whinced as it sunk completley into his skin as it's devestating effect began to come into play.

Tearing away from the duo, the Arrancar dropped his right sword to the ground and tightly held onto the wound spot, grasping it slightly as the pain within that area began to reach almost unbearable heights...

...but he wasn't yelling. Infact, the only noise that he was making was pained breathes as blood oozed down his left shoulder on down his white uniform.

Soifon then stood straight up along side her apprentice, pointing her blade at him. "Before you die....tell me..."

Her sword then began to glow with a blood red light as she stated four words:

"Sting all enemies to death, Suzembachi!"

The red light then engulfed the sword and it's form changed into her signature yellow and black stinger, still pointed at the Arrancar. "What is your name, Arrancar?" she said with a stern voice.

The being looked up and made direct eye contact with both of them, his voice empty despite the pain in his shoulder. "I have...no name...my bretheren refer to me as...Auron Giovanni....but names do not matter....not whilst carrying out the last will of my master..." he said.

"And just who is your master?" Soifon continued, her voice now somewhat mocking. "Did the Primera decide that you were too weak to be part of her service? Therefore sending you to death against me and my apprentice?"

He continued to speak, his voice not changing. "No.....I do not serve...the pretender....I serve...the True King...of Hueco Mundo...."

Soifon's eyes widened in shock and she let out a surprised grunt as her weapon almost lowered slightly. "H...How...His last....will...?" The title that the Arrancar referred to was unmistakable.

He was referring to Ultharon...the Mighty.

"What was his will....?" Brina demanded him, pointing the tip of her knife towards her enemy.

"Before he and...the current Head Captain met in battle....Lord Ultharon ordered me and several others to preserve his blade should he be defeated..." The Arrancar began, standing straight up while still clutching his wound. He was doing everything he could to just speak due to the pain.

"But it was shattered during the fight...and the seven pieces scattered around the Soul Society. Survivors of the battle, myself included all scrambled to find them. As the only survivor....I now have all seven pieces with me..." he continued.

Soifon raised her weapon back to him, her voice angered and annoyed as she spoke. "What use is a broken sword to anyone? Even though you have all of the pieces, it's not as if you can simply reforge them on your own."

He actually began to chuckle somewhat as he went on. "There is only one being that can reforge this weapon, going by the name of the Spiritsmith."

Soifon's eyes squinted as she glared at him. "The Spiritsmith? Ha! You must truly be deranged if you believe in myths such as him..."

"And besides...." Brina commented smoothly. "Even if he was real, you're not going to leave here alive in order to see through to that last will. It's such a shame, too... if you hadn't run into us, then maybe you would've stood a chance at fulfilling his wishes. Now you're going to die like a animal, like all Hollows do..."

He then laughed slightly as he let his arm fall to his side, telekinetically calling his weapon back to his right hand. "You forget....we animals nearly destroyed your precious Soul Society while the majority of you cowered in my master's wake...and I forgot to mention...I didn't come alone."

He then held his head up slightly, looking towards the sky and let out a loud yell.

"GRAVICH!!!!!!"

WHOOSH!!!!

Out of nowhere, a massive shadow lurked over the Soul Reaper duo, it's hulking figure dwarfing both of them as it stared down at them with blank yellow eyes. Soifon almost instantly recognized the Spiritual Pressure, her eyes widening in horror as she turned her head to where her left eye could see him.

"Y...you..?!"

"What the...?"

Immediately, Brina raised her head in order to look at the eyes of the creature, her expression innocently surprised. "Such an immense spiritual pressure...." She thought to herself, her senses immediately hit by the sudden presence of the new individual. "This one has to be a Vasto Lorde...."

Before she could react further, the being raised up his right fist and with a snarl, swung down at Brina. Soifon's hand immediatley took her apprentice by the right shoulder and shoved her to the side, allowing her to barely avoid the strike.

As they both moved away from the new opponent, Soifon stood in her defensive pose. "How the hell did you survive Gravich!?" she said, anger and frustration obvious in her tone. "Captain Sajin Konomura killed you during Ultharon's assault!" She kept her gaze set on the Vasto Lorde as she directed her words towards Auron. "What kind of trick is this?!"

Gravich looked over to her and chuckled with a deep, threatening voice. "Did you really think that that mongrel could kill me so easily? I guess that is the same arrogance that allowed me to defeat you so many years ago." he continued, looking over to Brina with dissatisfaction. "And you have even weaker company with you now than you did then. And here you refer to my kind as pathetic."

Soifon gave a snarl of her own. "He wasn't a mongrel! He was a hell of a lot more sophisticated than you or your pitiful master were!"

"You must be somewhat nervous...." Brina commented, her hands folded behind her back as she continued to float idly. "Usually, those who deem themselves stronger would simply take their time in destroying their opponents. But you attacked me right away...." Her bangs were overshadowing her hair, a smile crossing her face once again. "What could you be possibly afraid of, Arrancar?"

Gravich immediatley turned back to Brina, pointing at her with intimidation. "Do not compare me to the likes of them wench. I am pure Hollow as my master was. Had it not been for Lord Ultharon's sympathy, then this pitiful Arrancar next to you would find his skull crushed under my fist." he said referring to Auron.

Soifon glanced over to Brina with a dead serious expression. "Brina. I want you to focus on the Arrancar, let me handle the Vasto Lorde..." she then held her stinger in a diagnol position. "He was Ultharon's right hand man during his attack. Despite your training, there's no way you can stand a chance against him, not while he has back up..." she ordered.

Brina gave an acknowledging nod, turning her attention towards Auron. However, she did not allow herself to move into a defensive position just yet. She regarded the Arrancar silently, keeping her hands folded behind her back and one holding her knife in her hand. It was good to hear that she could fight on her own now, without her master having to hold her hand.

Gravich then extended his wrist blades and held his own defensive pose. Soifon crouched low and then Flash-Stepped right in front of him, violently jabbing her stinger at him in an attempt to finish the Vasto Lorde off quickly. But Gravich was still capable of holding her off, using his wrist blades to parry her blows as he struck at her as well.

Auron then held out both swords and then spun towards Brina in a horizontal top like manner. The weapons were moving so fast, it appeared to be nothing but a large white circle heading straight for her.

"Shunkō!"

The flaming aura erupted around Brina's body as the Arrancar came close enough. The pulses she gave off would hinder his speed, and the surges of pain would throw him off his attack pattern, giving her room to strike back without fear of a counter-attack. She rushed forward in order to finish closing the distance, unleashing a flurry of strikes with her knife.

Auron let out a slight grunt as he felt the energy tear through his body. He at first tried to parry her blows with both of his weapons by swinging them violently towards her, but the woman's Shunko was already taking it's toll on him. One by one her knife strikes pierced his body, his only form of reaction at this point was keeping his distance.

With a strange whirling noise, Auron discharged a smaller Cero from the center of his face towards Brina...

BAM!!!!!

With a powerful blow to her gut area, Gravich sent Soifon flying into the side of the hotel and out of it's other end. She regained her pose by skidding middair, but her form was already hurt somewhat. She held her stomach with her left hand, trying to calm the pain from the Vasto Lorde's strike. She then noticed how well Brina's battle was going, and smiled somewhat as she held out her right hand.

"Shunko!"

An electric white aura crackled around Soifon's body and the air was full of ripples from it's initiation. Glaring at Gravich with piercing white eyes, she charged towards him in a hyper version of her former speed and smashed his chest with a powerful left kick, sending him flying towards another building and sticking into it's side with a snarl.

All Brina had to do was leap over it, retreating from her attack and using a Flash Step to appear a distance away. Her eyes were squinted shut, her hands once again folded behind her back. "The pain won't go away." She said coolly. "And now that I've made so many injuries on your person, it's obvious that your body is wearing down under the intense agony you're feeling... or maybe that's just the burn of the shame you feel for failing your Lord's last wishes."

The Arrancar was breathing heavily from all of the wounds and blood loss that he was sustaining. He was doing everything that he could just to keep his pose as the Soul Reaper's Shikai began to take his toll on him.

But then, Auron began to chuckle slightly, and eventually he started cackling in a maniacal manner as his head turned up towards the sky, before resuming his lifeless gaze on Brina. He then pointed both of his swords at her serene form, his arms trembling as he did so. His body then began to emit a black and green aura as his voice became deeper and deeper, eventually becoming monstrous.

"Terrorize.... Jefe Militar."

With those words, a massive column of black and green energy shot out from his form, reaching up to the blue sky and causing the atmosphere to darken slightly. The sensation was enough to distract both Soifon and Gravich as the former successfully kicked him away from her and down dowards the ocean. She looked on as the energy reached up to the sky.

"Oh no...." she thought to herself, she knew just exactly what Brina was in for.

The black column then disappeared and Auron was no longer visible, instead, there was a taller being with pale white skin and green energy surrounding him. His hair was now longer and solid black with several horns prolonging from his head, a massive pair of demonic wings sprouted from his upper back, and a pair of smaller wings sprouted from his lower back area. His face was solid black with blank green eyes being the only visible hints of emotion. A long demonic tail with a furry endpoint whirled around like a whip, small spiked protruding from it's beginning point. The figure then pointed at Brina slowly, the black and green energy still swirling around his demonic form.

"Tell me...Soul Reaper....where is the Black Wolf?" he said, his voice now a raspy version of it's former self along with a disturbing echo.

"....what makes you think I know....?" Brina peered at him, maintaining her stance as well as an unknowing aura around her. "I do not keep track of the likes of terrorists...." Inwardly, she had the apprehensive feeling that he somehow knew of her knowledge of who he was. She hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Do not take me for a fool...." he continued, still pointing at her. "...I watched you two on the day of the light show, as well as when you both conversed on the top of the building that now lies in ruins."

"I may not know the details, but it's quite obvious that you know him to an extent. He will lead us to the Spiritsmith." he went on, his aura slowly disappearing.

If she had been a lesser woman, Brina would've certainly allowed shock to cross her face. However, she kept a serene frown, her eyes betraying nothing. "He will lead you to your death." She answered coolly. "I have heard little of him, but from that, he seems to prefer working alone. Everyone else is expendable to the very end. You'd have better luck killing yourself to save time."

WHOOSH!!

Using a masterful Sonido, Auron reappeared right in front of Brina and tightly wrapped his tail around her form, holding her face a mere two inches from his own. "He must not have thought you to be expendable when you two made contact with one another..." he said in his darker voice as he slowly ran his right index fingernail across the left side of her face.

Soifon noticed the move and prepared to step in to help her apprentice...

BOOM!!!

Before she could do anything, Gravich reappared right behind and above her, slamming his left fist into her back with enough force to send her flying towards the ground, even with her Shunko.

"GAH!!!!" she screamed in pain from the sudden impact as she smashed into a sidewalk just below them. Struggling at first, Soifon managed to regain her footing and her Shunko, albeit breathing slightly heavier. She then sprung back up to face Gravich once more.

"I told you...." Brina gritted her teeth, her eyes turning into slits as the grip of the tail tightened around her body. "I have done no such thing...." She growled, trying to ignore the nerve-irritating touch of his finger across her face. "You don't know what you're talking about...."

With a slight snarl, Auron tightened his grip on her further as his voice became more demanding. "I watched you two on the night of the light show! And I watched you exchange words on the top of that building! We Hollows aren't as ignorant as Society would have you think..."

His voice began to drift away as he chuckled slightly, closing his eyes for a brief moment before returning his gaze to her. "Heh, I couldn't help but notice the idle chatter of humans here after the Black Wolf's bridge scheme..." he began, slowly extending his tail away to where she was now two feet from him. "...amoung one of the alleged victims was a woman named Evelyn McTavish, who's name is widely spread amoungst other Soul Reapers that Gravich and I have slain. I also know that she also had a daughter named Brina McTavish, a name that your partner referred to you as, as well as being a woman that has a very close resemblance to her physical description..."

He then inched himself closer to her, his face blank as he spoke, seemingly telpathically as his mouth didn't move. "I wonder what she would think, knowing that her daughter is in love with the man who hunts her blood?"

"If you are keeping tabs on him...." Brina whispered, her voice low and somewhat irritated by his persistance. "Then aren't you able to find him yourself? Surely, with your surveillance, you must have the knowledge of his whereabouts already."

The Arrancar contemplated her words before speaking again. "Hmm. Very well, you truly don't know his location...but you're going to help us find him." Auron said with menacing satisfaction.

"Go to hell...." Brina fired back readily, before quickly taking in her breath.

"Nenshō!"

A blaze of fire erupted from her mouth at the point-blank range they were at, their caster hoping to free herself from his grip and do serious damage to him at the same time.

Auron loosened his tail grip of the woman just enough to let her free herself. He gave a snarl and backed away from her as he pointed his left index finger at her. "Just keep trying to delay me Soul Reaper..." he went on. "It will only make your death all the more-"

"HERE!!!!"

Out of nowhere, a large white object smashed into the back of Auron's head with enough force to make blackish blood spurt from his "mouth". As he turned to see where it came from, he could see that the object was indeed the head of his partner: Gravich, severed as if cut by a blade. And it's source was none other than that of Soifon herself, also the source of the loud word that was shouted at him. She was standing upright in the air, her Zanpakuto sealed and her Shunko disspelled, her body drenched in her foe's blood and her own bruises.

"I-Impossible!!" Auron said, clearly shocked by the death of his comrade.

Soifon then reappeared next to Brina, her expression not changing as she looked at Auron. "Bastard made a remark about Evelyn..." she said in a low, grumpy sounding voice.

A toothy smirk crossed Brina's face at the remark. "I suppose that settles it, then...." She commented lightly. "You're finished, Arrancar." To emphasize, she readied her blade and pointed it within his direction while holding it in a defensive manner.

Auron looked back at the duo and spread his arms, preparing to battle them both.

"I have to admit, I'm more dissapointed in you now than I was before, Arrancar." Soifon began. "You tried to recreate a Vasto Lorde that was clearly stronger than you are, but you failed to the point in which I was capable of killing it."

The Arrancar chuckled as he heard her words. "If it were the real Gravich, then you would not be here to say those words." he said, still pointing at them.

Soifon turned her words to Brina. "He's clearly stronger than he was before, it's definatley going to take both of us to get him now. It should be easier now that his pitiful puppet is out of the way, but we still need to use caution."

Brina closed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah...." She agreed. "I'm with you...."

The older woman smiled a little bit. It was good to hear her student agree with her like she used to when given an order. "God..." she said, closing her eyes in disgust. "...I'm going to be smelling like this for days, and I just got out of the shower too!" she said, referring to the blood drenching her.

Then, with a white flash, Soifon's Shunko reinitiated itself as she glared at the demonic appearing foe. Using a more advanced version of her speed, she Flash-Stepped next to the Arrancar's left side and gave him a series of fast and fluent punches, all of which Auron managed to surprisingly block with little difficulty. She continued her assault by adding in a few kicks to his person as well, keeping the pressure on him long enough to give Brina another opening.

Once again, Brina kicked into her Shunko and used a Flash Step to expose the opening that her former mentor had given her. Once there, she unleashed her own series of kicks and punches, all of them made in an acrombatic, fast, and fluid manner.

"You're both so predictable." the Arrancar muttered.

Taking Soifon by surprise, Auron slapped away one of her incoming strikes in the form of her left arm with his right arm, before following up with a powerful kick to her stomach area. Despite the force, all it really did was propel Soifon further into the sky, doing no significant damage thanks to her Shunko.

Quickly twisting himself around, Auron then slammed his whip like tail into Brina's chest area, giving a sinister glare to her as he did so.

"Oof--!"

Brina shut her eyes as the whip struck her chest, and it sent her skidding away in the opposite direction. Becauase of the lesser defense of her own Shunko, it had actually done some damage. A stinging sensation was left behind on her skin, and she instinctively clutched the area where he had hit her. "What's going on...?" She thought to herself. "My pulses should be affecting him still.... yet, it seems as if he's shrugging them off...."

"Confused Soul Reaper?" Auron said as he looked back at her with his blank expression.

He then slowly began to walk towards her casually and menacingly, waving his hand as he spoke. "I guess this is the first time that you have battled a released Arrancar then. You see, our release acts as a sort of "Bankai", heightening our prowess and our endurance. When an Arrancar is released, their Hierro, the Hollow's means of defending the body, becomes increasingly powerful. Making it to where much more power must be utilized to pierce it. Your Shunko acts as a means to damage the nervous system by sending pulse waves towards them. But in my release form, my Hierro is strong enough to protect me from even those."

He then stopped and pointed his right index finger at her, a black and green sphere began to form at it's tip. "And this is the Cero that only higher powered Arrancar such as myself are capable of." The sphere then made an echo noise as it grew to be the same size as his own hand.

"Cero Oscuras." he said as a massive wave of black and green energy shot towards Brina's form...

"My god--!!"

BOOM!

All Brina could do was put her arms in front of her in an X-cross, not having any time to move. The Cero Oscuras enveloped her in its light, covering her body from view as she was consumed by the powerful attack.

...But it wasn't her that took the attack. Right in front of her, stood her mentor Soifon, her white Shunko slightly dimmed but still up. Her arms were in a cross shape similar to Brina's, the side of her arms that took the blow burned slightly from the impact that was strong enough to at least do that much damage. She was shaking slightly, as if the attack did more to her than she thought.

"And you call me out...for being careless..." she said in good humor, turning her head slightly to where her right eye could see Brina's face. Her voice appeared to be slightly weary as well, perhaps Brina's Shunko Pulses hit her as well?

"....that was careless...."

Though calm, Brina's tone had somewhat of a disdainful manner within. Mentally, she was shocked by the sudden interference by her master. There had been no need to take the attack for her. It was an unnecessary and senseless move! So why did Soifon, her very teacher of the 2nd Division principles, execute it?

"If you had the time to defend me.... then you could've easily used it to strike the target when he had his back turned."

"Heh, forgive me..." Soifon began, her voice still trembling. "...Forgive me for trying to protect you from harm, for trying to keep from losing you again. Had I not intervened, that Cero would have blown you apart..."

Her voice then became somewhat sorrowful, but without tears. "I've been...I've...I've lost so many things in my life...all five of my siblings...my former Vice Captain...several of my fellow Captains and Soul Reapers...I lost Akisame nearly twice...I lost you nearly three times...I lost Lady Yoruichi....and I almost lost my daughter...I'm done losing the things that I hold dear to my heart..."

Her Shunko then began to brighten more and more as the atmosphere began to shake slightly, her fists tightening and her voice becoming more angry. "So you'll forgive me....for doing what every teacher should do for their students...and you'll be a little more grateful next time that I do so..."

With a violent burst of energy that was strong enough to surely send Brina skidding back a good ways, Soifon Flash-Stepped in front of Auron and began a powerful assault on his form.

"Ah~!"

Brina found herself shoved back even more as Sui-Feng knocked her aside with the shockwave of energy. However, once she recovered, her former mentor was already on the assault once more. All the former apprentice allowed herself to do was stand and watch as her partner fought against the Arrancar. Her eyes had lost their light completely at the words said, her arms limp at her sides. "You really have fallen...." She whispered, though she doubted that the other woman could've heard it.

"You taught me all I know. My abilities, my strengths, my resolve, and maybe even myself.... all of it I managed to learn about because you allowed me to see it. But in all those times, you never once showed me how to display gratitude. Have we really become so different....?"

The relentless attack on both sides continued, the Arrancar and the Soul Reaper flying at speeds that were so quick, one would not be able to even see them. Arms clashed against arms, legs smashed against legs, blood spurted from both of the warrior's various wounds as their blows caused violent shockwaves to ripple through the air.

WAAAABAAAAAAAM!!!!!!!!

Soifon and Auron then smashed their fists into each others faces, blood shooting from both of their mouths as the did so. They both found themselves flying away from each other nearly 30 meters apart before regaining their poses, Soifon just a little higher in the air than Auron was.

"It's time...to end this game..." Auron said, struggling for air. He then pointed his right index finger at Soifon and prepared his Cero Oscuras.

"My words exactly!" Soifon returned, blood pouring from her mouth as she pointed her right fist towards the Arrancar and forcing all of her Shunko into one powerful blast of energy.

PSSSSSSSSHHHOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!!!!

The two massive beams of energy collided with one another and initiated a powerful wind surge that caused the entire area to shake. The attacks went back and forthe, one side constantly trying to overpower the other. Soifon's entire body trembled as she struggled to maintain her position, her arms lowering more and more as the Cero Oscuras slowly began to over power her blast. She soon found her arms all the way to her sides, her Shunko barrier barely awake and alive as the black and green wave of energy made it's way towards her.

"Brina....forgive me..." she muttered, hoping that her apprentice could hear her.

BOOM!!!

The blast then struck her and caused a massive explosion of black and green fire and smoke. From the bottom of it fell Soifon's lifeless form, hopelessley falling towards the city below....

"NO!!!"

Brina let out a shocked scream as she saw her master fall, reflexively stretching out a hand towards her. She kicked into a Flash Step in order to intercept her, her arms catching the woman before she could fall too far. However, she was fully aware that she had just opened herself up to potential attack from behind. Instinctively, she jerked her gaze behind her in order to see him coming and evade effectively.

Auron simply looked down at her and pointed his right index finger towards her descending body, not caring that she had an unconcsious victim in her arms.

"All of this could have been avoided if you simply coopereated with me..." he said as he prepared another Cero Oscuras. "...but now it seems you will have to pay the ultimate price."

He then unleashed the powerful wave of energy towards Brina and Soifon...

WOOSH!!!

Immediately, Brina Flash Stepped away while she still had enough room to evade the blast. It continued on, however, consuming the unfortunate buildings as well as other objects that happened to get in the way of the vast attack range and power of the enhanced Cero.

BOOM!!!!!

The beam struck a city street below them, dragging along the road as it consumed cars and bystanders unfortunate to stand in it's way before finally disappearing.

Auron wasn't ready to give Brina any breathing room. He then set into firing numerous barrages of Bala towards Brina in what could only be seen as a bird chasing it's prey through the massive array of towers.