The War of Four: In Touch

Retracing Our Steps, The Chase is on!
It was only a hour since the chaotic battle of the Convoy's defending Soul Reaper Forces, the Elite Mercenary group V-14, and the Anticipated Inner Circle Attack Squad all merged into a battle unlike any of the Soul Reaper foot soldiers had ever seen. Clashes of incredibly high, suffocating quantities of Spiritual Pressure. Buffeting winds from the immense explosive shockwaves emitted throughout the vicious battle. And the cries of anguish, anger, and malice raging throughout the road.

Even in the distance, a fierce and violent clash between Hankami were being fought out, even after the Dominator left their midst with the Reaper intending on ending two of his sibblings. While nothing but ashes that would never give birth to life within their wake was all that was accomplished, it was led to show more family tension and dysfunction that what was thought for the two parents of the Dominator.

With the sudden realization of startling proportions reached the ears of both the in charge Captains and the Head of V-14 of a supposed collaborative group of dangerous criminals, fleeing in the direction opposite of Yūrei Ōkoku, but to inhabited settlements along the way curving back to the Soul Society. Shinshin, a fellow pupil of Angelika Hartmann's under their mutual former mentor Asuka Sakamoto, that in order to ensure the mutually beneficial alliance brokered by Captain Aizen and Lieutenant Hayate, that it would be helpful to send any available forces of their own to hunt down the nuisances of escaped fugitives.

So it was led back to when Daisuke Hayate and Shinshin Fūten linked up with Rika Nakamura, the latter having effectively calmed the Dragonbird steed before letting them aboard. It wasn't until just a few minutes before take-off and getting their bearings correct, that the Punisher, Sakura Kojima, just arrived where they were re-supplying and preparing to give chase to the run-away criminals.

"Sakura!" Daisuke, having regained his jubilous spirits despite the heavy weight clinging to his heart underneath his regained cheerful disposition, smiled widely and waved out to her, "you've come to join us?"

"Thought you could use some help, still yet..." Was the smooth reply, followed by a smile of her own. Her arms were folded across her chest as she regarded the two with a calm and casual demeanor. "I don't think I'm done letting off steam just yet..." As she approached, she regarded the Dragonbird with a slight cautiousness. "Even though I still have my doubts on riding that thing..."

But even as she spoke, she was hiding her attitude on the aftermath of the battle that had been waged.

"Do you ever regret it?"

"...really? You think I'm a person to start regretting what I've done? I did what I had to do. She's the indecisive, cowardly bitch. I can't do anything about that!"

''"I know... but have you ever stopped to think about it? Have you ever wondered, "If I could turn back time, change things so that maybe she would've seen things our way, actually be there for her... would things have turned out differently? Surely, she hasn't left your mind entirely..."''

She could always count on her former lover to strike a nerve whenever he wanted to...

"It would benefit us greatly to have you around, Punisher," Shinshin spoke cooly as he walked past Daisuke and towards his equipment and belongings that he packed for the journey, as well as the anticipated conflict with their illustrious fugitives.

"Don't worry about him," Daisuke said pointedly moreover at the Dragonbird rather than Shinshin, noticing what her last words that hung in the air were understandably nervous, "he's a friendly guy once he gets to know you...well, once he gets to know you anyways, hehe!" Daisuke laughed nervously as he wrung his left hand, remembering his earlier "meeting" with the creature and how he panicked when the beast took his hand in its beak and Rika's needing to aid his arm's release.

"I don't intend on worrying about first impressions..." Sakura muttered, rolling her eyes and folding her arms across her chest. "What exactly did I miss, anyway?" Idly, she wondered if she should tell him about their encounter with the Reaper and the Nihilist. Had he sensed the ferocious battle waged from afar in the midst of his own? Had any of them?

Daisuke swallowed a dry lump that had filled in his throat from the sudden, yet not entirely unexpected query to their aftermath status. Scratching the back of his neck, Daisuke tried to mull out his words to make it sound like he wasn't hiding anything but couldn't bring himself to speak properly. "I...uh...what happened was...ummm..."

"The Gotei 13 brokered a deal with our organization," Shinshin cut in, fluidly injecting himself into the conversation as he swung a stringed bag over his shoulders before walking towards Sakura with a cool, practical gaze, "one of which we will finalize upon promising agreement with Captains Horikawa and Aizen when our points of buisness are completed."

"Wait a moment."

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise at the revealed information, blinking a few times in emphasis of her feelings. She took a moment to piece the puzzle together. Currently, she was technically "in alliance" with the Soul Society. From what it seemed, Mōka was in league with the V-14, the ones that had attacked the convoy in the first place. So if they were in alliance with each other...

The conclusion was enough to close her eyes and turn away, a scowl forming on her face.

"...of all the...!!"

Shinshin continued, despite seeing Sakura lose it when she heard the news for reasons only he could query about within his mind, "We also confirmed that our client was one of the prisoners on board one of the less protected carriages of the convoy. Apparently, he didn't approve of the additional security measures that Yūrei would be employing. Because this would be hampering his operations that he had been making for years out of sight, out of mind, he gambled on seeing a professional group retrieve his person off site..."

Daisuke blinking at the news, being the first to officially hear about it, asked Shinshin, "So it wasn't the Inner Circle who was in league with Shidai?"

"On the contrary. It appears that, like us, he sees the Inner Circle as competition and nuisances to his own particular dealings. No, I believe he was afraid that while he'd agree to paying the Inner Circle their fees for the rescue they'd attempt to suade him over to their side. Willing or no, he expressed his explicit concern of him perhaps not leaving the Circle alive," Shinshin continued, walking over to the steed in preparations for travel.

"This doesn't sound good. So these guys could end up linking back up to the Inner Circle for sanctuary, while liable to cause all sorts of trouble for the people out here," Daisuke looked over to Sakura, hoping to see her disposition brighten a little and gauge what was bothering her from the supposed good news.

Unfortunately, even when she turned back, she still had a scowl on her face. Hearing the news about the V-14 client did nothing to appease her about the fact that she would be working with the very one that had come close to taking her life. "So you guys are aiming to intercept them before they can reach any particular outpost owned by the Inner Circle. You got any particular idea of where these punks are headed?" She questioned, trying to get her mind off of her own dilemma.

"There's a small settlement just Northwest of the road that acts as a crossroads area for a lot of passerbiers from different Realms," Daisuke said, his eyes widening for a second seeing her perturbed the way she is, before pointing in the said direction into the thick of the forest, "from there, you can take routes back to the Soul Society, Aether, the lands south of here, or swing over to Tendan Dākusaido, which is a lot closer than any of the other provinces."

"There's a better chance these criminals would be heading to Tendan. Its a hive of the worse kinds of corruption and criminality you can even think of," Shinshin spoke in a intuitively knowing disposition, briefly unsheathing his sword to take in its condition before sheathing it back into its scabbard, "though since its the most predictable, it wouldn't be a good idea to assume anything the group or its leader is thinking of doing."

"It's also the most possible." Sakura muttered. "It would take a lot of resources to get to Aether. They'd have to stick with things like boat transportation, which would cost money and time. And these guys just got out of prison..."

"And have been sitting in a Sekisekki-laced carriage for nearly a half a day," Daisuke pointed out, walking over to the steed, awaiting for Rika to give the all clear so it wouldn't "attack" him again, "so their Spirit Energy reserves should be pretty low. Its amazing they were able to overpower any Soul Reaper in their path, let alone make a getaway in such a rapid, thorough manner..."

"Yeah, well, most of your subordinates were in a bit of a bind considering the Inner Circle were inexplicably raining energized meteorites left and right, I can expect these men to have taken advantage of that pretty well," Shinshin cooly pointed out.

"...wasn't it us that did that?" Rika asked in a confused tone, looking over towards Daisuke as he stood beside the bird. She raised a hand and gave an confirmatory gesture for him to climb on. "I mean... not us, but... Holmes-san who did that?" After all, considering the type of weapon Oliver had brought with him in insertion, it was pretty obvious who would be capable of "raining energized meteorites".

"No. While the hailing destruction initially was our doing, when the Inner Circle's Dragon came, she did something. She...warped space around herself...and ripped things apart in a manner not normally done before. The logic and rules that Sekisekki would have would not be valid in comparison the warping of space itself, thus why it was ripped asunder with such ease," Shinshin analytically conjurred up his analysis of the situation, as well as the terrifying force a Dragon of the Inner Circle could be.

"If a Dragon of the Inner Circle is that powerful," Daisuke could only speak lowly in a slight dread as he brought himself onto the back of the Dragonbird, second to the back, allowing Sakura a chance to sit either in front or behind him, "what kind of powers do their leaders possess? And on what scale?"

As the Hankami brought herself to sit behind her beloved, she closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "I've been around the world since the beginning of its creation, and I've grown to understand the choosing of the Horsemen..." She said coolly, gently placing her hands on Daisuke's shoulders. "Individually, they're weapons of mass destruction. I can guarantee you that they were and still are the most dangerous people within the Soul Society other than the Captains of the Gotei 13. If you were to take any of them on by yourself, you'd be taking a dirt nap within seconds. No joke."

"S-Sakura?!" Daisuke suddenly shuddered as he heard this revelation, despite the comforting touch her hands made on his shoulders. The thoughts sent chills up his spine, as someone as powerful as she is that she would tell of them as if they're in a league unlike any of them would ever face, "do...do you know who they are? Do you know what they're after?"

The incredulous tone that Daisuke took with her made her smirk and almost made her chuckle.

"Oh, sweet-heart, how you've underestimated me..." She said coolly, a casual but jocular tone in her voice. She applied a light squeeze to his shoulders for emphasis. "My immortality may be gone and my powers a shadow of what they used to be, but my omniscience hasn't faded quite yet. I know everything... but, of course, it wouldn't be very fun if I just handed people answers. That would ruin the sense of accomplishment for when you actually find out the answers for yourself, wouldn't it?"

This made Rika frown a little in displeasure, but she made no open move to acknowledge or express it.

"Fine by me," Shinshin said cooly as he got in front of Daisuke, his pack unintentionally smacking Daisuke in the face before setting to his side, speaking his mind without turning his gaze to the Punisher, "if you want us to survive its better to let us do so on our own two feet and earn our place in this world and the next. We wouldn't be worth saving or protecting otherwise, right, Hankami?"

Sakura's smirk grew even wider. "Primitive, and yet capable of understanding. I'm glad you understand... mortal..."

They were words that Rika simply wasn't comfortable with.

The girl wasn't one to distrust any of her comrades that often. But the Hankami, no matter how she presented herself, always seemed to be akin to a "snake in the grass". The way she spoke, carried herself, and even the attitude she displayed about her own power and status conveyed that much. It was no wonder Shinshin seemed to hold a cold attitude towards her. She could only wonder how the Shinigami Lieutenant didn't seem to do the same...

"COUGH!" Daisuke interrupted comically, as he waved while making his incredibly distracting fake coughs, hoping they'd get the hint, "COUGHLet's get movingCOUGH!"

"I agree," Shinshin, said as he crossed his arms and looked to Rika, "if we talk about philosophy too much, we might as well bomb Tendan from orbit because how late we'll be. After all," he spoke in a cold, yet comical fashion, as he narrowed his eyes to squinting, "its the only way to be sure..."

"W-wait a minute!" That was enough to shake Rika out of her disdain. She turned her head towards the three of them, her expression slowing slight alarm. "There were supposed to be a few more people accompanying us! Aren't we supposed to wait for them, too?!"

"From where they're coming from, Rika, it'll take too long to effectively stop the fugitives before they reach the safe haven of Tendan's dense population of scum and corruption," Shinshin said with a sigh, narrowing his eyes at Rika saying in a dark, suggestive tone, "unless you want to be the one to explain to Angelika that we lost our targets because we took too long to get going?"

"Shinshin-san has a point," Daisuke said, leaning over to peer over the said man's shoulder, with a sheepish smile as he concluded, "if we act now before they recouperate any further, we might have a chance in nabbing them quick. After all, we got Sakura with us, so its not like we can't handle them, right?"

"I--..."

Any comeback Rika had could not come up to the surface. For a moment, she stared at them in a somewhat helpless manner. She knew that it would've been reckless to go in with less manpower than what they needed. Relying on Sakura wasn't something she liked to do considering what had just transpired. But, considering that they didn't have much time, both of them had valid points. There was nothing that could be done about it.

With a heavy sigh, she turned back around and looked down at the bird, clicking her tongue in the special command that she used. In response, it quickly flared its wings up and boosted from the ground, taking to the skies rather quickly. The air pressure was quick to smack them in the face. But the size of the bird and the way Rika flew kept them at a comfortable seating arrangement. It would be an ordeal falling off.

"I'll be providing air support and surveillance from the ground." She explained, her voice having regressed back to its softer tone. "If I need to, I can cut off any possible escape routes with his flames while you engage them directly. Is that okay?"

"Tactically sound, and would be handy for us to give them chase in the event they should try to escape with others covering his retreat," Shinshin said in an approving tone, holding his cross-armed stance with his eyes now closing in a sign of self-meditation, "you will not need to directly engage the hostiles, Rika. Supporting us, will be enough."

Daisuke sighed, leaning back as he got over the momentary rush of vertigo as well as the wind flapping in his face slightly before calming. Leaning back against Sakura, he let his eyes close to half mast, letting himself rest slightly from his whole ordeal, his breaths coming slow and labored. "Sakura...there's something I've been meaning to ask you," Daisuke spoke in a slightly hesitant manner, despite his willingness to share it with his heart's desire.

"Hm...?" Sakura quirked a slight eyebrow at the inquiry. Her hands slid themselves so that her arms were wrapped around Daisuke's shoulders. "Don't let our company bother you. Go on and tell me..."

"Have you ever...wanted to erase the pain of your past at all?" Daisuke said with a slightly dreamy tone, though it carried a longing and sorrowful weight that was all too clearly recently brought up from his most recent confrontation, "I know the pain and conflicts in our lives mold and build our character, make us who we really are, but having that...weight...that ache within your heart...wouldn't it be better to find a way to get rid of it?"

Shinshin suddenly opened his eyes slightly, reminding that question of his own he asked himself. Why couldn't he release the pain that held him so captive over the century of absence from his mother, the abandonment that changed him from a passive, innocent boy who loved and cared with all his heart...into an emotionless shell of his former self, only bred and capable of killing and completing the mission.

"This boy...has the same pain I had as a child," Shinshin realized silently, clenching the sleeves of his coat as he felt some unnatural bond of empathy towards the boy...for what he's going through...and will transpire for him.

"Getting rid of it, you say...?"

Here was where Rika couldn't help but pay her own interest to the conversation as Sakura spoke, although she kept her eyes forward. "That'd be easy to answer to someone who's afraid of pain, someone who can't bear the weight of torture. But can you really expect an easy answer from me? Sure... the majority of my own life has been my own personal Hell. But that's just it... it's mine and mine alone. You see..."

She began to raise one of her hands, running her fingers through Daisuke's hair.

"I could've ended it at the barbed wire. I could've stopped it all and lived an easy life. But I didn't. Instead, I chose my way and put myself into the position where I would face agony over and over again for the rest of my days. I carved it into myself with my own two hands. Humiliation, suffering, despair... I grew to embrace it, enjoy it, and revel in it. I guess I can't blame you for seeing that what's on my mind is only a burden. But you have to understand... pain is my pleasure. It's what kept me going all this time. Without it, I probably would've never survived past the Civil War. It's pretty hard wanting to get rid of something you've grown to enjoy so much..."

"I don't mean physical pain. I mean...something that chews and gnaws at your very being, your core of your soul," Daiuske emphasized as he clenched his overcoat where his heart lied, "I'd choose pain of a physical kind over this...this aching...the kind that could break the staunchest of warriors. Or the mistakes made in the past that we wished to fix, also causing this pain," closing his eyes as he felt the soothing fingers flow through his hair, "I wish it'd just be gone forever after dealing with it so much..."

In this instance, Sakura allowed herself to chuckle a little. "What do you think I've been talking about? Stop thinking so little of me, you dick..."

However, she was quick to regress back to a more serious time. "Dwelling on the past isn't going to get you anywhere, Daisuke..." She said softly. "There are some things that we have to grow to accept, no matter how much we dislike them. Treating them as problems or even annoyances is just going to make everything worse for you in the long run. As bad as it is, your errors and mistakes molded you into the person you are today. 'Sides..." She lowered her head so that her eyes would meet his directly, her hair falling to touch his face slightly. "In the end, look at you now. Lying in the arms of someone who loves you... turning out to be a good Lieutenant to a highly respected Captain of this time..."

In a rare moment, a smile - a genuine smile - crossed her face.

"I think your predecessor would be very proud of you right now, wouldn't he?"

"Heh," Daisuke allowed himself to be submerged in the pleasurable sensation of being in such a romantic embrace with Sakura, smiling back brightly, but allowing himself to speak softly in thanks, "I guess I need a reality check once in awhile, huh? I appreciate that, Sakura-chan..."

Shinshin couldn't help but admire the true bond between the most unlikely couple had behind him. He couldn't help but admire the sincerity of the love they shared, something that few in any lifetime would find. He wondered if he would make a bond stronger than what he had with his mother...only time could tell.

"Shinshin-san..." It was here that Rika looked over her shoulder again, a slightly sympathetic look on her features. "Are you all right...?" Her voice was soft, unwilling to let either Daisuke or Sakura hear her for the sake of keeping the normally detached man's front up.

"Hm?" Shinshin looked to Rika, realizing she was talking to him and not for any tactical advice or lack of direction. Shinshin couldn't help but instinctively look passive at Rika while inquiring, "what do you mean, Rika?"

"You seemed a bit... dazed, when they started speaking. Did it... ring any bells for you?"

It was at the end of this sentence that Rika realized that she may have been intruding on personal grounds. A slight blush came across her face, as she averted her gaze away quickly. "Uh-- I mean... you don't have to tell me, I was just curious..."

"Your my fellow collegue's subordinate, Rika, there is no need to be hesitant towards me," Shinshin spoke in a calm, soothing tone, his own way of showing he was being sincere and "cheerful" in a way. Raising his eyes back up to hers, "my life...wasn't exactly one to be longed for when I lost my mother. Built on nothing but instinct and pain, I eventually thought I should kill the emotions inside me and hone them into my personal weapons to use against those I saw as my enemies. But...seeing as building up from that pain like he has...made him much stronger than I have with my own use of anger and hate. I wonder if I chose a weaker path than he has...?"

"...I don't think you have." The girl said quietly. "After all, you're still pressing on, just like he is, right? I mean, look at me..." Once again, she allowed herself to turn away, a wistful smile on her face. "I'm not a fighter like you all. I can't defeat armies by myself or stand up to a particularly strong enemy like you can. All I can do is sit on the sidelines and watch you from above. But still, I make due of where I can, don't I? It's not our abilities and powers that make us strong, but the will to keep going despite our faults and flaws. Right...?"

"There is more truth in what you say than you realize, Rika," Shinshin said calmly, allowing himself a small smile, unseen by all due to their positioning, "and if I were to imagine it, I can gamble if you had the means, you would be standing by our sides. Fighting alongside us. That's what comrades do, isn't it?"

Rika allowed herself a small nod, her smile becoming more positive. "Mhm!"

"Maybe you should ask my associate if he has a Spirit Weapon that suits you," Shinshin said in a calm, nonchalant tone, not sounding as if he was teasing, "maybe you could practice your own style of combat on the side when we're not out on missions?"

Was Shinshin actually suggesting that she learn how to fight?

It caught Rika's attention once again, and she turned her head to look over her shoulder. The glimmering look of surprise was evident within the gaze of her eyes. "Practicing combat...?" She repeated hesitantly. "W...well, I don't know. I'm really not that good at fighting, and I'm not sure if I have the heart to start trying so suddenly..." She lifted a hand to scratch the back of her head, a red tint showing on her face.

"My associate can teach you the basics pretty well. Before we joined up with your organization, Zaii was a weapons instructor for various mercenary armies, as well as some of Take Xanxus' elite guardsmen," Shinshin reassured her in his still calm manner, patting her head with an outstretched arm gently, "you can take your time and find your own suitable style. Even pacifists learn how to defend themselves, when necessary, so I'm sure you're quite capable of learning your own way of combat as well as the code you adhere to."

"Why must everyone feel the need to do that?"

Rika mentally complained as she felt Shinshin pat her head. It wasn't that she minded; plenty of people had started doing that recently. But in all of the times that it occurred, she couldn't help but feel like she was treated like some sort of dog. Sure, it was their way of expressing their kindness, but they always seemed to perform the action for her...

Maybe it was because she was a bit shorter the majority of the other V-14 members.

"I'm not a dog..." She voiced her thoughts with a mutter, folding her arms across her chest in a slight sulk.

Noticing the silence and lack of reply, not to mention the body language emanating irritation, Shinshin retraced his hand with a look of query. Furrowing his brows he looked at his hand before asking her confused, "Did...did I offend you, Rika?"

"Everyone has a habit of patting me on the head." The girl said, putting her hands on her chin as she directed her gaze forward. "I'm really starting not to mind it, but... it's like they do it exclusively to me. Like I'm some sort of wandering puppy that has a sign on it saying "Pet me, pet me"! I might as well just get a sign like that and wear it all the time!"

"Forgive my ignorance then, Rika," Shinshin said in a apologetic tone, bowing his head in emphasis before putting a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently, "will this be more to your liking?"

"A--!" The red tint of Rika's face increased ever so slightly. "All right, now you're just making me uncomfortable!" Despite this statement, she seemed to laugh a little, covering her mouth with her hands in order to stifle her giggles.

Shinshin retracted his hand altogether, blinking in confusion as he looked to his hand. Sighing, Shinshin admitted defeat, "Perhaps its best if I choose words instead of actions to express my empathy...?"

It was clear that as strong as he was, Shinshin wasn't someone who could socialize very easy.

His social awkwardness seemed to reduce the embarrassment that Rika herself was feeling. She lowered her hands, folding them within her lap and regarding the man with a soft smile. The red tint that had formed on her face had faded away. "Whatever suits you best, Shinshin-san..." She answered, giving him a smile of sympathy. Despite the exchange, she couldn't help but feel that the sense of "adorkableness" he had given off was somewhat adorable. It was a rather strange compliment for the stoic attitude he held normally, but a compliment nonetheless...

"Thank you, Rika," Shinshin said with a sigh of relief. His eyes decided to search elsewhere, wanting to be productful instead of causing unneeded awkward tension between his comrades. Even though he was comrades with the majority of V-14 now that he and Zaii were on the Beta Team with the hotheaded Hyōryū as well as the similar minded Shadō, he still couldn't entirely adjust naturally.

After all, he tried to kill both his mother and their teammate, so any natural distrust could be felt in their underlying feelings when being near him. Yet somehow, with people like Rika, they seem to accept him for who he was and not what he had done. This reassured him in some fashion-, "I see the crossroads settlement just up ahead," he pointed out to Rika, knowing she'd see it eventually herself.

"Mhm..."

Rika was quick to shift back to her slightly introvert and studying attitude as she turned her eyes towards their destination. She folded her arms across her chest, shifting her vision in order to scan for any sign of an ambush. "I don't see anything suspicious..." She reported. "I'll drop down and let you off so you can get set up. Surveillance will be constant. Make sure to notify me in the event that you need assistance from the air. I wish you the best of luck..."

First Introductions, The Trap laid in Plain Sight
"For a girl who carries herself like a piece of fragile glass..." Sakura lowered her voice to a whisper as she spoke to Daisuke. "She seems quite efficient and tactful, doesn't she?"

"Mhm," Daisuke nodded with agreement, "I think most women in the World of the Living are like that, honestly, but she certainly knows when its buisness time."

"You'll be the first to know," Shinshin said in affirmation, simply nodding before he looked downwards, awaiting for the landing of the avarian steed she currently controlled.

With a few clicks of the tongue, Rika got the Dragonbird to descend downward. The sudden move caused wind to briefly flare up in their faces. But it was nothing that could be considered much of an annoyance. It took only several seconds for the creature to fly down to the ground, flapping its wings in order to slow itself down.

As they were folded, Sakura was the first to slide off and land on the ground. "This place is deserted..." She commented smoothly, putting her hands on her hips and taking a look around. "Hope nobody was planning to move here..."

"I don't see many people around," Daisuke commented as well, hopping off to land near Sakura, taking a few more steps closer to the town, "maybe that rain storm earlier drove them indoors?"

Shinshin hopped off soundlessly, walking stoically over to the other three, peering his eyes towards the town in general. His keen eye sight in combination with his honed senses stretched out, trying to peer to anything of the unnatural. Then, he felt something odd, causing him to shift a little closer to the cropping of ramshackle shacks and the windmill tavern that dominated the town as its center, "I feel something menacing and foul in the air...keep your guard up. They know we're here."

Rika knew that staying on the ground would be dangerous in the event of an ambush. With a few clicks of her tongue, the bird spread its wings out and flapped them in order to boost itself into the air. She only needed a short moment to get herself back into the air, flying high over the area but keeping close enough to swoop in if she was called. She clicked her earpiece in order to establish radio contact with them, speaking a message of warning.

"If there are civilians here, the targets may attempt to use them as an advantage. Make sure to check your fire and stay on the alert."

"Gotcha..." Sakura said smoothly, taking in a deep breath. The stench and sensation of the energy within the air was giving her a sense of elation, and it wasn't too long before a smile of malevolence crossed her face. "I'll do my best to tone it down. I know how you mortals get in the face of overwhelming power..." One of her hands moved to rest on her sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

"Wouldn't you be classified as a mortal with your immortality gone?" Daisuke quipped, though out of total curiosity rather than mockery, as his eyes blinked at her owlishly, "I mean, you're still pretty strong, stronger than I could ever be! But you're not like capable of being unkillable, are you?"

Shinshin's eyes drew to the windmill. Despite the rain storm, he could tell it was long past since its original purpose was faltered, seeing a few chimneys running out from the top of its structure, with fresh clouds of smoke pouring into the air. But the lack of noise, banter, and crowd a crossroads settlement would have put Shinshin in considerable unease. Placing his free hand around the base of his scabbard and guard, he awaited the opportunity to be the first to strike rather than the first to be struck.

Thus, Sakura's anticipating mood was jaded, and her expression was quick to change to a slightly annoyed one. One of her eyes twitched. "Shut up, you're ruining my mood..." She grumbled. "Don't ruin the good thing I have going here."

"Shutting up now," Daisuke said promptly, before comically slipping his forefingers and thumb across his lips, smiling slightly before walking towards the settlement first, letting the other two follow. It came across Daisuke's mind that since Shinshin said they knew they were here, why couldn't they play coy? He looked over and said, "since they know we're here, can't we pretend we're just passing through looking for them? We might be able to get a gauge on what they look like and what they're doing..."

"Or they could be waiting for the opportunity with our swords not drawn and attack us on sight," Shinshin countered, keeping a cool, professional disposition as he thought things through rationally.

"Well, technically, our swords aren't drawn as of this minute..." Sakura pointed out, placing her hands on her hips as she walked behind Daisuke. "Besides, even if they weren't, I'm pretty sure all of us have good enough reflexes to detect any anomalies within our setting..."

GROOOOAAAAN!!!

"Good, hehe," Daisuke said, as he sheepishly rubbed his belly in emphasis of his declared hunger, walking towards the smoking chimney-laced windmill, "cause I'm starving, and if they're passing themselves off as cooks, might as well let it be their treat, right?!"

Shinshin could only sweatdrop at that logic, realizing if the fugitives were skilled enough, they could poison them and kill them all on the spot. Well, probably only Daisuke, as Shinshin was trained to have a high tolerance and immunity to poisons in general and the Hankami was the one who probably invented them to begin with. Shrugging, he followed the Lieutenant and trusted in his "on-hands" experience, only readying himself slightly more for an immediate attack if necessary.

"...what?"

Sakura, however, was more vocal in her reaction to it. As she followed, she fixed Daisuke's back with a quirked eyebrow. "Sure. Just walk nonchalantly in the area where it reeks of foreboding energy for some dinner. I'm sure it'll end well..." She said sarcastically, dropping her arms to her sides. "While you're at it, maybe we can ask them if we want to stay the night or two!"

"Thanks for the great idea, Sakura-chan!" Daisuke shouted back to her, placing his hands behind his head as he walked nonchalantly towards the place which he knew for certain was populated by people. He just hoped they would share some of their food...because it smelled delectable!

"I suggest we don't encourage him anymore," Shinshin spoke aloud as he slowed down to walk in sync with the rational person of the group rather than the village idiot.

Knock-Knock-Knock!

"Hellooooo? Can we have what you're having?!" Daisuke asked through the door, awaiting a succinct answer from those occupied within.

"God damn it."

The female shut her eyes and slapped a palm to her face, shaking her head sagely from side to side. Inwardly, she wondered if any of the residents of the place had actually seen the insertion. If they had been scared by it, she couldn't blame them. If at least one of them opened the door and pointed a shotgun in their face, she would expect it. But she was hoping that wouldn't be the case. The last thing she wanted was to go back to her siblings with a buckshot in her rear...

"God, how I'm starting to miss those breakout jerk-offs already..."

"Oi! The door's open for ya'!" A very Aethian, almost New Yorkan accent broke through the confines of the thick, makeshift door to the windmill turned tavern.

"He doesn't sound hostile...what's going on?" Shinshin thought as he moved his right hand away, leaving his left hand to hold the hilt in readiness despite the nonchalant attitude coming from inside.

"Awesome!" Daisuke said in a sincere attitude, opening the door to find it as he himself exepcted it to be. Warmer than outside, but pretty deserted with various stacked chairs and lanterns lighting up the interior.

A delectable scent could be found coming from the steam leaking from the counter and kitchen. From where the prior location showed a tall man with a peculiar tattoo or birthmark on his forehead and a dollop from his combed back, neat hair. Surprisingly tall, he looked like he was washing his hands with a towel while having an apron comfortably wrapped around his waistline as he looked up at them all with a cheerful disposition, "Good day, lady and gents! Sorry the door wasn't open, the weather outside was pretty foul so I kept them windows and entrance closed due to the potential drenched furniture I'd have on me hands. Is there something I can get all of you?"

If there was one thing that Sakura learned, it was not to be taken in by first impressions.

Quietly, she studied the man for a few seconds to take in everything about him. With the way he carried himself, he seemed like the common male resident just making a living. But as she took it into her mind, there was something... off, about the aura he was exuding. Having been around sincerely good hearts like a few of the Captains of the Gotei 13, she had enough knowledge to know that there was something less about the way he was acting. She would have to keep an eye on him for the time being, in the case that Daisuke and Shinshin couldn't.

She would play nice... for now.

Stepping beside Daisuke, she raised her elbow a little and gave him a rough bump as well as a somewhat annoyed look for his silence. It was enough to convey the message, "You're the one who decided to come in here! Speak up, stupid!"

"I'll have some soup with toasted bread please!" Daisuke said with an ethusiastic tone, smiling widely as he was greeted in such a nice fashion. If this man was the hostage, or even one of the fugitives, he certainly acted like a gentleman to those who looked as peculiar as they did.

"Herbal tea with soup," Shinshin said in a smooth, polite tone while his eyes kept a keen watch of this man's every gesture. Depending on how he carried himself or how he moved, he could very well hold the skills of a skilled and cunning killer or assassin. Anything odd or too in-sync might give a warning bell within Shinshin's instinctive analytical perception.

The man nodded to each of them, obviously not hard items to write down so it looked as if he'd memorize them within a few moments. Looking over to Sakura, he smiled while speaking courteously, "And what might you be havin' miss?"

"I might as well eat something, just to go along with the group."

"Three sticks of yakitori, please." She said readily, putting on a polite and charming (if not somewhat sheepish) smile of her own at him. Her hands were folded behind her back in a feint of nervousness. The dish mentioned was simply grilled chicken on a stick - a personal favorite of hers during her travels in her younger years.

"I'll have some of that too!" Daisuke said in sudden readiness, as well as wanting to have chicken along with his soup and bread, he felt incredibly hungry.

The man smiled a charming white toothy grin, before nodding to them all while repeating back, "I got you down for the gentleman on my left a spot of herbal tea and a bowl of our popping hot soup. For the lad with orange hair and black coat I got you down for a spot of our soup, some bread for dipping, and some yakitori along with the girlfriend in red."

"That sounds accurate," Shinshin spoke up cooly, but moreover sounding in a complimentary way than a suspicious one, despite his true intentions.

"Well, when you work with so many different people, you tend to start paying attention to what you're hearing," the man said in explanation, rather than accepting the compliment or simply going back to the task. Something a ordinary man would definitely say to a stranger's comment. With that said, the man nodded before walking away from them all, waving back to them, "just give me a fifteen minutes for the chicken and I can get your soup, bread, and tea in five!"

"Wow," Daisuke smiled with a little bit of a cheer in his voice, wrapping a arm around Sakura as he whispered in her ear, "its almost like we're having a date while out on a mission! Haven't done this in awhile since my beginning days at the D.C.O."

"You've dated before?" Shinshin couldn't help but remark that someone like Daisuke, as good looking and strong as he was, having as many quirks he has socially would have trouble keeping any steady relationship. Though, that was just his own personal analysis.

"I...uh...well...a little...," Daisuke suddenly blushed, realizing Shinshin's keen hearing and butting into the conversation made him feel awkward all of a sudden.

"Oooh...?" Sakura's curious coo didn't help matters. She gave a mischievous smile as she leaned into Daisuke's one-armed embrace, looking at him curiously. "Who was the lucky girl before me, hm?"

"Pleeeease, promise you won't say anything!" Daisuke whispered yet looked pale looking between Shinshin and Sakura. He looked helpless, as he couldn't get out of saying who it was, but hoped they'd have enough integrity to keep his secret. After all, the Queen of Hell and a known A-Class assassin were totally trustworthy now that one was his girlfriend and the other his ally, right?

"I have no gain from exploiting your secrets," Shinshin said matter-of-factly, shrugging as he nonchalantly added, "yet, anyways..."

"Don't worry. I may be many things, but a gossiper isn't one of them." Sakura added, her smile "What you say will never leave this room, as far as I'm concerned..."

"Alright," Daisuke took a deep breath, feeling exactly what it was to be on the losing end of a Truth-or-Dare game, "it was...Hana...Hana Yūgure," he squinted as he explained further, "we worked together a lot on occasions, to see how good we'd be in the D.C.O. She suggested since we've been partnered so often that why don't we take some time off and date while on or off assignments..."

Silence for a brief moment.

Then, Sakura started snickering.

The snickers turned into giggling.

And thus, she ended up having to clasp both hands on her mouth in order to stifle her laughter.

"Y...you, with her?" She repeated, keeping her hands on her mouth out of the fear that her laughter would become too audible. "It just had to be the one that had the ever so short history of trying to kill me, didn't it?"

Blushing hotly, Daisuke then voiced his complaints about it in a way to divert attention away from the obvious fact he was well aware of, "Despite how nice a time I had with her, she was always trying to beat the living shit out of me! I'm serious! I think half of her time she was trying to use me as her personal punching bag, and would try to shrug off my complaints with a make-out-make-up. Ugh!" Head-desking himself on the counter, he moaned that his current one and true love found his past mistake of a girlfriend a joke when it was misery half the time just thinking about it.

"I can just see it now..." Sakura placed her elbow up on said counter, her chin resting on the back of her hand and a smile of amusement on her face as she looked at Daisuke. "Hana sticking an apron on you, pointing to the kitchen and saying, "Make me a sandwich or I will backhand you to next year!"

"Let's just drop it please..." Daisuke groaned as he kept his face planted on the counter, his arms hanging limp with defeat.

"Why would a woman insist on the man making the meals? Isn't that a inverted way of thinking?" Shinshin asked with a perplexed look, obviously being very old fashioned in his way of thinking and how men and women should treat each other. Daisuke's relationships, both past and present, were very contrary to what most male and female ones typically are.

"That's exactly the point of the joke, " Sakura explained, turning her attention towards Shinshin to quirk an eyebrow at him. The smile faded a little. "And that is exactly what makes it funny. C'mon, that's something that shouldn't have to be explained. It ruins the humor."

"I'll try to adapt to a more appropiate way of recieving the joke," Shinshin bowed his head half-heartedly, still confused on the point of the joke and why a woman, in real life, would do something like that anyways.

"Heeeeeeeere y'are!" The cook then said with a jubilious tone, smiling his winning smile as he balanced a number of filled dishes on one arm. Looking to Shinshin, he handed him his pottery-crafted glass filled with herbal tea with the leaft still in it and the bubbling, delectable soup. He then handed the said soup to Daisuke, along with a plate of chicken and a few slices of bread, before finally handing a single plate of gourmet arrayed chicken for Sakura, "enjoy!"

"FINALLY!" Daisuke immediately broke out of his stupor of social depression, taking the utensils handed to him and began to taste the food, moaning as he could tell it wasn't tampered and cooked with incredible skill, "this is fantastic!"

"...eat food. Obtain a boner from eating it. It's possible!"

Then again, and despite her thoughts, Sakura couldn't help but see that the food had a rather attractive scent to it. After taking the plate given to her and regarding it with mild curiosity, she reached out to grab a stick between her fingers. With a casual gait, she put it to her open mouth, tore off a peace, and chewed softly. Although she wasn't going to act dramatically over it, the taste of grilled and seasoned chicken pleasing her taste buds. She found herself smiling a little as she ate the bite, nodding slightly.

"Not going to jump for joy..." She said lightly. "But yeah, this is pretty good!"

"Mmm," Shinshin said after taking a sip from his tea, nodding with acceptance with a slight smile on his face, "this is well brewed. Much appreciated."

"Great ta'hear that!" The man, just now realizing he was awaiting the verdict from each of his customers, replied earnestly, clapping his hands and rubbing them together. Briefly watching everyone eat, the cook then leaned back against the back counter where the kitchen began, putting his hands nonchalantly in his apron's pockets, "so brings such a colorful and entertaining group of upstanding individuals such as yourselves? You Soul Reapers huntin' some Hollows?"

"Something like that," Daisuke said nonchalantly, before dipping some of the chicken, wrapping a slice of bread around it and began chewing contendedly on it.

"We happened to come around this particular place in our search..." Sakura added in between consumption of her yakitori stick. "I thought it would've been a bad idea, seeing as it might seem as if we're intruding on someone else's property, but now that I know this is apparently a restaurant of sorts, I can say it's no big deal." She allowed her eyes to drift around. "Though, it seems pretty empty today..."

"Like I said," the resteraunt manager, for better title terms, shrugged nonchalantly as he waved his hand out, "the storm that hit must've been bad for the pilgrims and travelers. I usually get some through traffic throughout the week, but sometimes the weather can get very buggery around these parts," he then arched a brow at the three, as he queried, "if you're not Hollow hunting, what are you searching for?"

"To clarify," Shinshin said after setting down his plaster glass, sideglancing at Daisuke for emphasis, "he is the only Soul Reaper of us three. The lady on the far left is a foreign spirit and I'm just an ordinary soul," he then narrowed his eyes at the cook better, "we actually have come here to track down four fugitives who escaped this young man's Prison Convoy. We'd like your cooperation in helping us search here, as this is the only place for refuge for kilometers. And like you said....the storm is merciless outside, and almost anyone would do anything to get out of harm's way. Isn't that right?"

"Oh really?" The cook asked in a cool tone, still maintaining a easy-going disposition, even chuckling as he unpocketed his hands from his apron and walked towards the three of them, acting like he was truly intrigued, "and what makes you think they're here? As you can see, I'm the only one here, and I've been working to keep this place readily available for anyone who's passing by and as you just pointed out young lady," he winked at her while making a finger gun "go-off" in her direction harlmessly, "no one, has come to visit me until you three."

"Well, no offense..." The female said calmly. "But from the looks of things, this seems like a perfect place for runaways to hole up. Matter of fact, we were aiming to cut them off before they got to this area." The punctuation of this sentence was another bite of the yakitori stick she was eating. "You happen to poke your head out the window and see strange individuals coming in before us, by any chance?"

"I just told ya, sweetheart," the cook said in an amused, if not slightly irritated tone, flourishing his long right arm to the windows that had been locked up along with the door, "the storm was too bad for me to have them open. And even if I decided to take a leak outside, there would be no way for me to see anybody with a storm that bad going on, let alone would I be dumb enough to let them in-"

TK-SHK!

"I've had enough of your games," Shinshin said in a threatening, yet completely controlled tone as he narrowed his eyes and thumbed his sword part way out of its sheathe, causing the cook to open his eyes wide, "you wreak of deceit and this place holds the stench of murderous intent! You honestly believe a completely deserted town that has food, already cooking, enough to feed passing strangers is a passing alibi?! "

"Hey, Shinshin!" Daisuke tried to stop him from interrogating the poor man who didn't seem like the type who was the escaped fugitive.

Reaching an arm out, he tried to stop him, but Shinshin continued, "You were cooking it for them, weren't you? You were already in the progress of cooking a hot, piping meal for your weary comrades whom you pitied considering you all haven't had a gourmet meal for decades, or centuries, right? I can smell the creeping decay that hangs around you, fugitive! I smell the material of Sekisekki lingering on your wrists from when they were snapped off by the distortion fields...and I can hear your heart pounding before we even opened the door..."

"Hey now, buddy! There's no need to act so hostile! I-I-I'm just a cook here, see?! I mean no harm to nobody!" He waved his hands in a defensive posture, backing up to the counter that seperated him and the kitchen as well as the makeshift counter that made up the three's table.

However, Sakura would not help matters - at least, for Daisuke.

"Wait a minute..." She muttered, slowly getting up from her seat. Her eyes narrowed, giving off a hawk-like stare at the cowering man. "I'm pretty sure that the storm ended long after we came here. You would've had plenty of time to remove the locks on your window if you were simply keeping out the storm. Now that my friend's mentioned it, I do smell that sterile metal coming from you... and last but not least, I've known plenty of people to know who's putting up a bluff and who isn't." She placed her hands on her hips, slowly walking towards the retreating man with a calm, yet menacing gait. "With all that being said, I do believe it's time you came with us..."

After breathing a few times heavily, he then looked helplessly to Daisuke, the boy he seemed to think highly of for speaking so fondly of his cooking. But Daisuke himself crossed his arms, sighing as he looked between the two, "I'm sorry, but I can't deny the unease I have when I'm here and around you. Even if you're innocent, I think its best if you came with us, just at least to check you out and see if you're not harboring anyone untowardly here..."

"I see how it is," the man said with a sudden glint in his eyes, suddenly unstrapping the apron on his front...to reveal a ripped up, raddy appearance that could only appear on someone who just ran through the storm and if one looked below, he had no sandals or shoes to speak of, "I was hoping if I chose a more peaceful approach, I could cosy you up and see you on your way. Of course I was warned they'd send smarter people, but I was hoping it was only one of the grunts I knocked out on the way here...guess you ain't grunt, ey kid?"

"Lieutenant Hayate of the 9th Division," his title sent a spark in the man's eyes, and then rolled his neck as he heard the boy's next words, "I need you to come with me now. You have a long trip ahead of you, and I'd hate to see you being late."

Let's Dance! The Battle of Cops and Robbers!
"Sorry, Lieutenant," the man spoke as he spoke with a flourishing, gentleman's bow, "as upon the word of Hijō Gisei, I cannot be taken in after tasting freedom for the first time in forty years."

"Still a gentleman even after your curtain's swung open, eh...? That's too bad..."

Taking one hand off of her hip, Sakura placed it on the hilt of her personal katana. It was occurring to her that the Soul Society needed the targets alive. But of course, it was clear that this particular one was going to resist. So by standards, it would be okay to subdue him by any means necessary as long as the head was still in one piece. The Punisher would be free to sate her sadism with this man.

"I almost feel terrible for doing this..."

VOOM!

Within a blink of an eye, she appeared right behind Hijō - a demonstration of the immense speed that her Haya granted her. Her knees were bent and her body was twisted slightly in order to accomodate an exiting stance. Her crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation as she spoke one word to finalize her speech.

"Almost."

SHING!

With an iaido movement, she unsheathed her blade and swung it in a diagonal uppercut. The cutting edge was aimed toward the man's spinal chord - a clear attempt to cripple him and end the fight before it could begin.

"What the-?!" The man's eyes widened in alarm, never seeing something move as fast as she did, and clearly not expecting her to be the first to attack. Turning his head around with barely enough reaction/timing to register the movement, the Iaido slash almost appeared unstoppable...

Almost...

CLANG!

...until what almost looked like a creeping black shadow materialized on Hijō's back, stopping the blade with a loud metalic repulsion, sending a number of sparks around his body.

"Sorry, Hijō," a liquid-smooth, voice spoke out through the shadows and one that was immediately expected by the said man, "but it seems your ridiculous plan to play nice guy didn't work. Let me show you-"

SLURRR-CRACK!

"-what it is to play bad guy!" The voice announced as a fist struck out with a tenacious, insanely swift speed towards Sakura's chin from the shadows below her, intending on sending her straight through the roof with extraordinary strength and power that would rip the counters in front of the two.

Daisuke then sprung first, determined to take the assumedly weakened and powerless man down as soon as possible. Swinging his fist towards the man's face, Daisuke moved with incredible speed of his own, intending on taking the man by surprise as he moved through the buffeting shockwave with little effort and some shrapnel scraped harlmessly across his enraged visage.

However...

"Sorry, kid," the man said as he stepped forward and around his incoming fist, being nearly up close and personal with the boy, before swerving his left leg in a limber fashion to kick him in the side of the head, "but I ain't bein' taken like a common criminal-"

SNAP!

"No, you won't," Shinshin answered as he swiftly intercepted the foot within the blink of an eye with his left, crossed hand, while unsheathing his blade with his right, "you'll be taken...like a dog!"

SWIIIIIISH!!!

Shinshin swung his blade in a diagonal arc, intending on slashing him across his chest with a incapacitating force that may or may not be able to keep him alive. It mattered not to Shinshin at this point, for he intended on taking him down.

But instead...

WHIRL-CRACK!

Hijō swung his body up and around in an eliptical arc away from the cutting stroke of Shinshin's blade, before striking Shinshin's upper back with substantial effect, before flipping deftly away. In the end, within a matter of seconds, both Shinshin and Daisuke went tumbling forward into the debris caused by the unknown shadow-enraptured entity that attacked Sakura.

"These guys are certainly a grade above average, aren't they?"

WOOSH!

Sakura stepped back, the fist whizzing past her face and causing her hair to billow briefly in the wind wake. She pulled away, taking a few steps and keeping her weapon readied at her side. Her free hand was placed on her hip in an air of relaxation and comfort, even as she felt the back of her heel touch a splinter of what had been the counter. She let out a dark chuckle, twisting her blade and clicking it in a foreboding manner. "I'm going to enjoy every bit of this. Even if you're wanted alive, it doesn't mean I have to keep everything below the head in one piece..."

Then, she raised her sword.

FFFWOOOM!!!

In the wake of her swing, a crescent wave of blazing fire the width of a human torso was unleashed towards both of the fugitives. Obviously, they weren't at full power. But they would still be enough to cause serious damage and burns if not dealt with. The tongues of the flames that were unleashed even set a few nearby chairs on fire due to the intense heat coming from them.

"GAAAH!" Daisuke cried out in alarm, as he hadn't even donned his Zanpakutō, not wanting to be caught in the flames that would catch directly in between them and the actual targets. Daisuke used Flash Step to backpedal out the door, while Shinshin merely flipped over the flames, in a manner Hijō himself did to avoid the flames, wrapping his legs around one of the large ceiling beams while crossing his arms casually.

"You'll have to do better than that if you want to catch me!" He taunted in a still-light hearted tone, winking at Shinshin and Sakura to further annoy them.

"Annoyance," Shinshin drawled out, charging after Hijō as he aimed to catch him in their inverted dance within the rafters of the windmill ceiling.

Meanwhile, the entity from the shadows had merely reemerged within them, chuckling in a smooth tone that echoed around them all in a eery vibe, "You certainly aren't normal grunts, I'll give you that. But you're still no match for us!"

SNATCH!

The shadow on which Sakura was projecting was suddenly wrapping around her ankle. With a suddenly pivoting motion of incredible power, the shadow elongated and aimed to drag her across the shutter-locked windows around the interior of the rennovated resteraunt before slamming her into the center folded table of the dining lobby.

"Oh no, you don't..."

As the shadow lifted her into the air, Sakura called upon her flame manipulation in order to counter the grapple that the strange enemy had used on her. Within an instant, a burst of flames enveloped her ankle as her body bent forward. But this was not the only thing taking place; instead of her own appendage being set ablaze, it had converted into nothing but pure flame. As a result, they enveloped her enemy's shadow-like hand as well. It was a test to see if the shadow could suffer damage when "out of its element".

As she was landing, she performed a front-flip while in mid-air and landed on one knee, smirking all the while. The flames that made up her leg returned to their previous state.

"My my," the voice suddenly sounded a lot more coherent, as it emerged a safe distance to Sakura's left, appearing out of the shadows like it was made of water, before the dark haired, yellow-eyed man revealed to be unharmed by her actions, "you are quite the feisty one. Had I not used a shadow instead of my hand, you surely would've burned me quite badly," he then inhaled deeply, allowing the lights to somehow eerily flicker as he breathed out, "you smell quite nice. You're like a walking candy store to me," he began walking towards her with a predatorial gaze, as his body suddenly became enveloped in a vibrant, spirit energized-aura that almost seemed similar to Shadō's, as he reached his left hand out towards her in emphasis, "just filled with so much..."

BWOOM!

"ENERGY!" A ecstatic, borderline psychotically gleeful tone broke out as his eyes widened and glowed vibrantly, sending a shockwave of incredible Spiritual Power towards her that in someway, somehow...was mingled with her own Shinsei!

CRACK-WHOOSH!

"This place his History!" A suddenly comically-fearful expression donned on Hijō as he leaped out of the roof with a well-placed kick, jumping away from the exploding windmill/resteraunt. Much to his chagrin, he ran into the line of sight for a eager Lieutenant, charging up neon blue energy in his left hand, "sunava-"

"SOKATSU!" Daisuke snarled out, discharging his spell rapidly at the man, intending on catching him with the vibrant energy projection. Daisuke's feral smile however turned upside down in horror at what he saw next.

SNAP-BWAAAAM!

The man who looked helpless and unarmed to get away from the rolling fissure of energy, spun around with his left foot outstretched...kicking...the fissure in a controlled gesture before sending it hurtling into the row of unseemly shacks, causing them to explode in a pyrotechnic detonation.

The psychopath had shown himself.

The attack that he had used made Sakura's eyes widen slightly in surprise, even as she raised her sword over her head in preparation. She could sense the energy melded within his own. It was an unnatural occurrence in the case of Shinsei energy, as it was a pure kind and could not be utilized by the likes of anyone outside of the Hankami race. Of course, it was her power that she could sense within...

WOOSH!

With a swing of her sword, she disrupted the shockwave and scattered it. The deflection hit the walls, cutting straight through the material. In turn, this caused the foundation of the building to slide apart, the upper half collapsing to reveal the outside. But even as the wind blew in her face, she kept her eyes within his the whole time. The smirk had returned to her face as she settled into a stance, one hand on her sword and one on her hip. "Walking candy store?" She commented. "That's a new one..."

Then, with a swing of her sword, she called her flames up to her once more. The fire engulfed the length of her blade, extending a little beyond the tip. Bending her legs, she boosted off and threw herself at her opponent. Once she was in range, she swung the blazing blade down on his head. Her expression mirrored the man's in her own way, with widened eyes and a grin that expressed the manic feelings of her own as she made her move.

SHFT-BRAAACK!

The man deftly evaded, his body seemingly evaporated into thin air as her blade cut into a black misty afterimage of him, only to appear directly a few feet away, with his arms crossed. He blew out an amused whistle at the fire slash she preformed, "So your not utilizing Spirit Energy in the way I usually see it. Fascinating...could you tell me what flavor you're using? I've never tasted such delectable energies before...and being around you just makes me ecstatic!"

SNAP-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

With a simple snap of his fingers, a number of shadows projected transparent blades. Elongating and moving like snakes, the blades surrounded and slashed all around her, intending on cutting her to pieces or slowly wear her down with shallow cuts. Whichever came first, of course...

"You've got to be kidding me!" Daisuke shouted out, comically stating while pointing his hand at him, "that's cheating!"

"Its not cheating, you backwards carrot top!" Hijō countered back, flailing his arms in emphasis with a couple of angry veins protruding from his forehead, "do you realize how many tireless years I spent to do something as awesome as that?! It is badass, not cheating-"

"I've had enough of you!" Shinshin spoke up, as he appeared behind Hijō unexpectedly, forcing the latter man on the defensive. While in mid-air, the two began an acrobatic, high-sped dance that Daisuke could barely follow with even his own intuitive senses and keen eye for detail. Each one of them moved their limbs in a tango of death, intending on catching one in a mistake and finishing it in a swift execution. In Daisuke's eyes...they looked to be respectively on par with each other!

A short laugh was Sakura's response. She readied her sword once more, the flames glowing brightly as the metal was raised in the air. There was a brief but considerable increase of heat, a pulse singing the very air around her. It would be the signal of her putting the pressure on him a bit more, seeing as he seemed to be comfortable for the time being.

PLOOSH!

When she swung the sword down, the flames on her sword shifted and extended. Within seconds, a whirling cyclone of fire twice the height of herself and the width of an elephant formed around her. The heat of the blaze ripped apart the physical shadows attempting to do the same to her. The height of the cyclone expanded, the top closing off and changing its shape to a comet-like projectile twice the size of a humanoid body. The formation of the fire, in general, now appeared to be that of a massive snake that loomed over the structures below.

As soon as it was formed, the comet head of fire threw itself at the man. The wake of the fire seemed to incinerate the very air, distorting the space of the area itself.

"This is unreal...!" The man thought as he witnessed the excruciating heat exuding from the woman's blade. Seeing her effortlessly create such a torrentially vibrant aura of flames that could grow in size and shape, even nature to the point any of his powers could be nulled in comparison. The towering serpent didn't help much for the man's perception, as he balled his fists and snarled up at it.

"Give it..." He began growl, even as the fiery snake manifestation reared its head and began plunging head first towards him with incredible, exhilerating force, "give me...THAT POWER!!!!" He shouted out, reaching out his hand in a blind fit of rage as he attempted to ready himself to absorb the power rushing towards him entirely...

SHFT-VOOM!

Instead of being struck head on by the fiery serpent like he should've, another entity intervened. With a swift outstretch of his hand, a powerful warping force blew back the flames, causing them to be dissipated with ease and thundercracked into the sky from the force utilized. It all happened...right in front of the original combatant, with his form standing still and in shock of what had transpired.

"No, Namakubi," a voice emanated behind a dark hood of a equally disheveled clothed man, that exuded an entirely foreign aura. Something that not even the likes of the Punisher would've felt in all her years of living within the worlds she's traveled. The voice also bore a pair of blue-red star-shaped irises that shined vividly behind the veil of shadow that cloaked his visage, "do not lose sight of our goal. That is an order."

"Datenshi...I..." the man was at a lost of words, trying to reign in his emotions and try to make a way to grasp a hold of his once fearless disposition. After breathing in and out, he then stood up straight and let his arms drop to his sides, "forgive me."

"Forgiven," The newcomer, dubbed Datenshi, spoke in a low and stoic form. Looking straight at the Punisher with a gaze of fearlessness and bridled rage, "now, I'd like to ask what you are and whose orders you were sent here. I'm not one for playing games with tempermental children, so no bullshitting, got it?"

"This is getting intense!" Hijō said with a easy-going smile, albeit breathing a little hard as he broke away from the cat-and-mouse game he was having with Shinshin, "can't believe your girly forced Datenshi to intervene. She must be quite the kicker in the rumps-"

SHFT-CLANG!

"Be careful of what you say about her! She'd crush your insignificant ass before you could blink if she was in the mood for it!" Daisuke retorted, using Flash Step to get up behind his opponent and unsheathing his sword to attack him in a fluid gesture.

While the blade met the man's energy-emblazoned wrist, the force was enough to cause him to skid back a handful of meters due to Daisuke's own substantial strength against the other man's, causing Hijō to chuckle, "I guess I know which one of you is on top, little Lieutenant..."

It was certainly a surprise to see such a newcomer approach her - especially one that she couldn't recognize by signature.

"And what exactly is this...?"

Her crimson eyes widened as she saw her fireball deflected, followed by the appearance of "Namakubi"'s protector. As they spoke to one another, her expression shifted to one of confused analysis as she regarded "Datenshi". Judging from the way he carried himself as well as the way he interacte with Namakubi, he could be classified as a leader of the quintet, if not the leader. The foreign energy she could feel from him was enough to reinforce that. Obviously, he was going to be a tougher challenge to deal with.

When he finished speaking the threatening words to her, she allowed herself to laugh. Her shoulders heaved a little in rhythm with her vocalizations of mirth. It was a laugh that contained her amusement and entertainment at his boldness. "Too bad. When dealing with the likes of you, bullshitting is my favorite past time..." She retorted, keeping her sword at the readied and lowered position. "Besides, you'll be going back in your little cages soon. What does it matter?"

"No one will cage me again," Datenshi spoke with a even-toned, stoic response as he walked towards her, grasping the hilt of a sword sheathed on his back as he readied his chance to engage in combat with her, "never again. I will happily perish by the sword before reentering that Hell they sentenced me in!"

"Be careful, Datenshi," the other one spoke as he plunged himself feet first back into the shadows, "she's a lot stronger than you think. She may even be stronger than-"

"No one is that strong, Namakubi..."

SHIIIIINK!

"...not a single soul will ever be as strong as our Leader," Datenshi emphasized with the unsheathing of his sword, emanating the same Spiritual Pressure residually as a Zanpakutō!

As Daisuke grinded his own Zanpakutō against the incredible martial artist, he then narrowed his eyes at him, "I'll give you one last chance: Surrender yourselves peacefully and I swear you will not be harmed."

"I give you guts for standing in my way kid," Hijō said with a smile, pushing back Daisuke's blade with a little exertion before speaking menacingly, "but asking me to go back to where I came out is like casting me into darkness itself. There's no way I'd go there willingly, both in mind and body. I'd rather die than go back there..."

"Then you leave me no choice," Daisuke spoke out in a stoic tone, as his body flared up with a brilliant, fiery aura of Spiritual Power, sending down a luminiscently heavy Spiritual Pressure throughout the air. Despite his rejuvenated strength, even the martial artist felt the sincere weight and hidden malcontent within the Spiritual Pressure about to be released.

"Blaze Eternally..."

"Shit!-"

"...Kyōi Abāta!" Daisuke roared out, causing the blade to turn into its double-edged broad-sword appearance along with the two spikes protruding from either end near the edge. The flames that traveled down its base caused a sudden instaneous combustion at point-blank for Hijō...

SSSSHFT!

...making Daisuke slightly unnerved as the martial artist fugitive appeared to have moved utilizing a form of a Fast-Movement technique, with a slight akin to the Flash Step itself.

Shinshin rushed to aid Daisuke, intending on catching Hijō off guard once again as he rushed in with the incredible speed of his nearly unparalleled Flash Step. However...

SWISH-CRACK!

...the shadow-enraptured form of Namakubi surged upwards and blocked Shinshin's advances, causing him to face off his own respective opponent and analyze his newly revised situation.

"A dog speaking of its master like a god. What misplaced devotion you have..."

Slowly, Sakura lifted her katana and pointed the tip straight at her new opponent. "I'll make sure your tail's tucked in the right place when you crawl back to him..." She whispered, summoning her spiritual pressure to the surface. It filled the area with a mixture of heat and the sensation of suffocation. The vision around the ones affected would warp slightly, as the very fabric of the air was being distorted once more. "Maybe then, he'll see the futility of sending trash like you to contend with the likes of us..."

The man stood stoic before the onslaught, unlike his other two comrades who, along with their opponents, paused to stand in awe of the pure malevolence emanating from her being. That, and the unquestionable weight of the world constricting around them all. Only Daisuke, seemed to be bearing a smile, as if it was a warmth to his heart...having felt that power before...and knew where it came from.

"You speak as if you are a god, woman," the man stood in front of her, his own body taking a warped black, dark green aura with a Spiritual Pressure unlike anything anyone has felt, "but there are no gods in this world. Or the next. There is only..."

SHFT-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

"...Monsters!" The man emphasized in a dark, stoic stern tone, swinging his blade in a series of blindingly swift attacks in a style that looked more stemmed in a intertwining style of discipline and street fighting. All in all, it was fast, furious, and incredibly dangerous to assume there was an end or a defined weak spot within the way he carried himself or the way he fought.

And so, a duel of the masters began.

''CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!''

Datenshi's blade met Sakura's in a clash that could only be described as ferocious. His speed was met with an equally rapid, furious, and aggressive defense that could've only come from the likes of a war veteran. Whatever strikes that were thrown at her were parried and blocked with expert timing and precision. Her body moved in a quick, acrobatic, and flexible manner as it positioned itself for defensive maneuvers and evaded the attacks directed towards her in a deft manner. In the case of nothing but swordsmanship, it was anyone's game.

But throughout it all, there was something Sakura was doing that Daisuke would recognize right away.

Keeping her eyes closed.

"Unreal," Hijō spoke in a gasp, his eyes wide at seeing his formidable companion take on such an experienced opponent, "she's toying with 'em! How the Hell is she doin' dat?!"

Daisuke could only grin excitedly as he saw Sakura fight with ease against the strange entity. He almost...felt eerily familiar. Something that put Daisuke's mind at work. Where had he felt such a signature before? Who's Spiritual Pressure had emanated that samed warped...non-existant feeling?

CLANG!

After one more slash, the man simply swung his hand out in a crescent arc towards Sakura...

BWOOM!

...sending a fissure of energy that seemed to effortlessly shred and incinerate anything in its path directly to the Punisher. To the eye and sensation, it almost felt like a Cero, but it felt too precise. Too controlled, to be a Hollow technique. Discharging such a condensed yet explosive energy within a split second seemed something that nearly no Arrancar or Hollow could be capable of!

In a counteracting movement, Sakura raised her sword and swung the blade downward in a diagonal arc in order to perform her own counter-attack.

PLOOSH!

When the sword connected with the fissure, a waist-high arc of flames was unleashed from the steel. The power of the flames was enough to dismantle the foundation of opposing energy, roaring as they were unleashed into the world. The arc of fire continued to race towards their target, leaving a trail of burning earth behind it. But even above the roar of the raging inferno, Sakura's soft chuckle could be heard. It was almost as if she was right behind Datenshi.

And soon enough...

VOOM!

Just as the flame wave came close enough, the Hankami re-appeared behind her target with her flaming blade raised in the air. In that brief moment, her free arm would be seen hanging against her side in contrast to the one holding the sword. Her form was basked in the shadow of her own light, and the crimson of her eyes could only be made out. All in all, it presented an eerie and terrifying appearance for the ones who would lay eyes on it.

Then, she swung down.

BOOM!

Whether or not Datenshi would actually be hit by either attack had yet to be seen. But the close-quarters flame attack and the long-range one would meet each other in a house-high blaze. Massive winds would be generated, blowing out the windows of the nearby structures unfortunate enough to be there.

"Datenshi!" Hijō yelled out, suddenly incredibly astounded of this woman's power. He truly believed, as skilled as he was told he was, that a move with that speed and ferocity...he'd have to be incredibly endurable in order to withstand an attack just like that. Turning his head, his eyes instantly lost their charm and easygoing spirit as he eyed Daisuke with a loathing that even made him take a step back, "you people...you people...you people...are all..."

SHFT!

"MONSTERS!" And just within an instant, Hijō moved with a speed Daisuke couldn't counter. Raising his flaming blade to strike at him, Hijō skirted around it and landed a palm heel into his chest, grinding it in a piston fashion before throwing him downwards...

SCREEEEECH-BOOM!!!

...before he landed with a thunderous crash that seemd to dissipate the majority of the flames that were nearby the Punisher.

Shinshin was also attacked ferociously, as Namakubi seemed to move in a rapid fashion he couldn't ordinarily sense. While he utilized a series of slashes, thrusts, and flips, he couldn't land a hit upon him, and began to take a series of physical blows that forced him to the ground and onto the defensive.

"You are truly a stunning woman..."

Despite the angered, renewed vigor that gave the upperhand to the fugitives against the enforcers, a calm voice broke out through the flames. Stoic, and unaffected, even gracing with a smile was the brown-haired and multi-colored star-eyed form of Datenshi, with his entire left side burnt to the bone and ashen muscle, having barely evaded the lethality of the attack by leaping away a meter at the last second.

"...I've never seen anyone but suspected our leader to possess the sheer strength you've just displayed," he said with a smile, totally unfazed despite all the pain that he should've been feeling, showing, or emanating. With him literally only a foot away from the grave, he should've been at least showing fatigue or exhaustion from holding himself up from being torn apart so brutally.

But that changed...

THRUM-SSSSSSPRLURKIK-KI-KI-SPHT!

...when his body emanated a light green aura, and the muscles, blood vessels, flesh and bones reconstituted within seconds, and showing no pain projected from his clam visage. It was definitely...unnerving, to see the calm visage and smile plastered on his features as his body finally put itself back together.

With a few audible, painful sounding cracks, he regained all sense of movement in both his leg and arm, and even tested it before Sakura's eyes and held them up to the assured chagrin of his observor, "Ahhhh...good as new! Maybe even better. What do you think?"

And sure enough...

Sakura's smirk was wiped off of her face when she saw the wounds regenerate, all of the damage done to him wiped away within a few seconds. Her eyes widened slightly, and the grip on her sword tightened ever so slightly. She had allowed herself to think that one move would've ended it, that she would've gotten the chance to bring out the ringleader of the bunch. But upon seeing him heal himself, she knew that she would have to do a lot more than that if she wanted to bring him down.

But then again, the game wasn't fun when it ended quickly...

Slowly, the sadist's smile crossed her face once again. Her tongue licked her lips in an anticipating, excited manner. "I think..." She said lowly and menacingly. "...that I won't have to worry anymore about inflicting too much pain on you. In fact, now that I've seen that excellent display of regeneration, I'll open a window for you. You say there are no gods, that there are only monsters? Well I was referred to as both by the lesser beings. A god by those who revered me, and a monster by those who despised my very being. As far as I am concerned, they are one and the same. Executioner of the wicked, nightmare of the accursed, and the reaper of existence's corruption..."

FWOOM!!!

"I AM THE PUNISHER!!!" She allowed her voice to rise to a roar as mighty as the flames that erupted around her in a blazing inferno of a pillar. "AND I WILL BE THE ONE TO SEE TO YOUR ETERNAL JUDGEMENT!!!"

Even as the flames discharged in an incredible, awe-inspiring shockwave with an inferno that neraly decimated the entiriety of the town, but moreover stretched high into the skies. Like a raging twister of sheer rotating flames, with her at its epicenter, she truly appeared as a demon to anyone uneducated, but also a monster to those who knew or didn't know of her.

Even as Datenshi skidded back to avoid the entire potency of the flames, his stoic calm wasn't interrupted even as she declared the title. In fact, it made him amused. "The Punisher? You mean that entity of punishment and ruler over all the dominion of Hell? You're the Child of Izanami that was born of pain and torture? Oh really...this will just give me the first opportunity to actually enjoy myself..."

PLUMP-SCOOT-SCOOT!

"Alright, boss! I think I'm going to leave this one all up to you!" Datenshi called out, even as he crossed his legs and sat on the dirt only a couple dozen meters away from the incredibly luminiscent, pyrotechnic display of fury and wrath before himself.

SHFT!

Standing in between the two combatants was a lithe, dark-robed woman that sported a beautiful violet-black hair that flowed down past her shoulders and a pair of violet eyes that shined with enthusiasm, interest, and feral ferocity behind them. But above all else, she bore a slight smile at seeing her, even as she bore no weapon or immediate energy signature of her own...yet...

"You're Senkoku, the last pureblooded daughter of Izanami, correct?" She asked in an anticpating tone, as if she was reveling in the answer she'd give her.

Ghost of the Past, Who is the Real Enemy?
"Huh...?"

The Punisher's expression quickly changed to one of slight surprise as the said "boss" appeared before her. Under the shift in emotion, the flames that had extended so far in the air had quickly dissipated. For a moment, she didn't allow herself to respond to the query. She looked at the other woman with an investigative curiosity, lowering her sword for a moment. It didn't get past her that the subordinate had chosen to sit down on the dirt. Although it was a clear indication he wasn't going to get involved, she couldn't help but wonder why he didn't simply take cover. Was he assuming the battle was going to end quickly?

It was an arrogant thought, at best.

"I'm surprised that there are people that know of my real name..." She commented smoothly. "I've heard a lot of promising things about you, "boss". Your subordinate claimed that you were unchallenged, unbeatable, that no soul could ever hope to touch you when it comes to combat..."

"That's because, little girl," the entity spoke with a cool, if not eerily knowing tone. Something incredibly familiar if not foreboding was coming from her whole essence. In fact, it felt almost nigh similar to how a Hankami would feel around another Hankami...and yet, she didn't have that distinct trait that made her a sibbling and relative of hers in any level.

And she was completely in control of any power she had yet to produce, other than the next words that exited her mouth, "I witnessed your birth from a great distance when I was still young myself. I heard your wails as those barbs ripped through your flesh, your blood threatened to suffocate you, and your bones threatening to snap under the strain. Your pathetic, insignificant beginning has caused me to have only one form of emotion towards you since then: Pity."

"It's starting to become less and less of a wonder how these bastards escaped..."

The Punisher's eyes narrowed, a scowl forming on her face as she stared at the girl with intensity. At the same time, there was a glimmer of curiosity within those crimson orbs of hers. It was clear that was she was facing down wasn't a simple soul, but rather something much more ancient. There was no dismissing the claim as simple cultist knowledge when the energy signature of the woman screamed denial of such a case. That was the only thing that kept her from firing off a retort of her own. Instead, she shot back a simple question.

"...who in the hell are you?"

"My name is Senkakusha, formerly daughter of the 3rd King of my race, the Korai. Your race wiped out my own systematically and without mercy, in a unprovoked war of untold centuries of bloodshed and agony. I am the last of my kind that I know of and I herald the destruction for any daughter or son of Izanami, or their daughters and sons following them. You will end just as you began, Senkoku: a pathetic, pitiful, screaming child," Senkakusha spoke without moving an inch closer to the Punisher, speaking in a promising and stoic tone as a violent wind picked up and the faint rumbling overhead promised another bout of thunderstorms.

"Oh... really?"

If anything, the Punisher seemed more amused by this than anything else. She placed a free hand on her hip, raising her sword blade up to point at her enemy. "A girl stung by a bee wishes to burn down the whole hive..." She said casually. "Oh, how you remind me of my dear, beloved, and weak-minded daughter. But if you really think you're capable of killing me, then I dare you. I'll be glad to reunite you with all of the other fools burning in my domain."

"I don't think you understand, the gravity of your situation..."

VOOM-ROAAAAR!!!

"...you're no match for me, as you are right now, with the shell of your former self you've become," Senkakusha spoke with a sudden flare of Shinsei Spiritual Power, discharing in a maelstrom of reverberating, blue flames incinerated the matter around her as her eyes lit up and sent shockwaves that created a indenation in the earth for a great distance. Her hair flourished violently around her in sync with her dark robes, but something peculiar happened nearly afterwards. As a sword materialized in her right hand in a singing sound manner, a slit formed on her forehead...

...and revealed a third eye, glowing brightly in sync with her other two eyes, revealing the true origins of her race and its heritage. All the while, she kept a cool, controlled, and stoic gaze towards her in contrast to the malicious, wrath-filled gaze of her Shinsei-wielding counterpart.

"A third eye?!"

The Punisher's eyes widened in shock as she saw the split on Senkakusha's forehead. She had to brace herself against the shockwaves that were created, her hair and clothing billowing violently in the face of the blue flames. A look of amazement was present on her face as she met the gaze of her enemy. It had been said that once a Korai's third eye was opened, certain doom was spelled for those who looked at it. It was one of the most treasured weapons in their arsenal... and it was the very reason Hankami feared their existence.

With a wide grin, she stretched her arms out tauntingly. "You speak as if you know every atom of my being!" She jeered. "And yet, that knowledge couldn't save you or your race from being dominated by us. How can you expect your precious gift to help you now when it couldn't help you then?"

"You destroyed yourselves by our Will," She spoke in a hidden, knowing tone as she walked towards her, noticeably debris began to rise in a zero-gravity effect before disintegrating around her, "the one you called the Reaper? He was our instrument of retaliation against you, along with a number of your precious sibblings. Through your own civil war, you reduced the sheer numbers you once praised yourselves having to less than a dozen. And I know all of you by name...and I know for a fact you are by far not among the strongest..."

SHFT-SFT!

"...which makes this...painfully easy for me," Senkakusha moved with unbridled force and speed, rivaling that of her own kind, appearing within a single instant leap behind her. And she was using just her innate speed, rather than a spirit-fast-movement technique, a testament of her own stamina and power.

And with a single swing of her blade diagonally across her opponent's torso...

SSSSSS-IIIIIING!

...the cutting power was so terrifyingly precise and fluid, it cut a ribbon of matter behind her with the accuracy of a laser, as trees and even a far-off hill was carved away by the perfect swing of her blade. It wasn't spirit-derived. It wasn't even Shinsei-derived. It was a pure, declaration of how powerful she was through just her body and her blade.

"Oh, sweet mother--"

WOOSH!

With a reflexive Haya movement, the Punisher boosted herself to a nearby structure that hadn't fallen under the stress of the battle. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the hill collapse under the power of the strike delivered. It sent a vicious chill down her spine, multiple beads of sweat falling down her face. Once again, the boast of Senkakusha rang in her ears.

"The Reaper was being manipulated?! The whole time he staged that war, it was just a ploy made by their race!" She gritted her teeth at the thought. "Damn it... I should've paid attention to Oracle when she was speaking to me!!"

SHFT!

"You're wide open," Senkakusha whispered, as she moved again to Sakura's side, while swinging her blade along with her incredibly swift movement in a horizontal arc, before following up in a number of rapid-swung and accurately timed slashes and thrusts. This began causing another painfully fluid cutting ribbon to be exerted, cutting through matter behind her with such destructive precision, it rivaled the human mind's comprehension. Trees, shacks, landscape, and even insect life were cut by the precise thread of her sword slash.

"Tch--!!"

Gritting her teeth, the Punisher swung herself around brought a flaming blade up to meet the blade of Senkakusha's. The flames seemed to ignite even more once the opposing weapon came into contact with them. Against the barrage of attacks, the Hankami countered with aggressive swings while retreating back. It was a furious exchange between the two combatants, with neither one giving leeway to the other. Throughout it all, she couldn't help but think.

"Reaper... were you controlled when you were engaging us before? Was all of it nothing more than a puppet's display? Where was the real you?!"

"Get back, bitch...!!"

FWOOOM!!

With a vicious swing of the sword, she unleashed another inferno in Senkakusha's face to push her back and hopefully envelop her within the fire.

CLANG-FWHOOOOOSH!!!

Senkakusha raised her sword swiftly, before releasing enough pressurized force in the face of the violent inferno, to backlash onto her opponent. The flames seemed to flow around her body, but a thoroughly concentrated exertion of her Spiritual Pressure kept the flames from even touching her. Utilzing just raw strength and masterful swordsmanship, she turned her own enemy's attack onto herself.

"I thought I told you, Senkoku," the Korai spoke with all three eyes staring impassively at her as she held her sword in front of herself, her hair and cloak flourished around herself in a dramatic show of promising power to rival the Hankami's own, "as you are now, there is no way for you to defeat me."

"Nonsense!"

FWOOM!

The Punisher intercepted the blast by putting her sword in front of its focal point. The flames swirled around her person, but it was her affinity with them that shielded her from being burned. Within seconds, she swung the blade and dispelled all of the flames, leaving herself and her opponent to face each other once more. She lowered her sword to the side, meeting all three eyes with her own stare.

"How many of my enemies have spoken that exact same line prior to their demise? All you're conveying to me is the message of a broken record." She retorted. "Regarding me with that passive stare, acting like you have this entire situation under your control... it is always the ones like you who will fall the hardest!!"

VOOM!

With that being said, she took to the air and engulfed her blade in flames. Gripping the hilt of her sword in two hands, she raised and swung to unleash a massive arc of flames toward her opponent. But this time, the arc split into several snake-like constructions similar to the massive one that had threatened to kill Namakubi earlier. They raced down towards Senkakusha, moving in a manner to surround and crush her.

"You fool..."

Senkakusha spoke as she spread her feet and body into a sword stance, bending her knees and body forward, as she took her blade in one hand while the flat of it rested against her waistline. Even as the flames began to manifest into snakes, she only subtly began to manifest blue flames around her body, as they dove upon her and caused a magnanimously, vibrant and luminiscent explosion. Something else, could be felt within the flames that caused an instaneous flash of orange and yellow...

VROAAR!!!

...a giant column of blue flames swallowed up the mushroom cloud of orange-yellow flames, discharging upwards to swallow the Punisher within its deathly flames. The foreign-like attributes threatened to rip her Hankami body apart from the sheer force of it...

SHIIIIIINK-CRACK!!!

...before a blazing, blue-emblazoned blade stretched out and slashed towards her, intending on forcing her across the sky and towards the nearby hill she had sliced a portion of, as well as cut a deep gash within her body, as intended if not catch her aflame.

"...I've foreseen this conflict already...with your failure absolute..."

"HRAAAH!!!"

In response to the flames that were conjured up by her opponent, the Punisher swung out her blade so that it pointed directly at the oncoming blaze. A barrage of orange fire erupted from it, connecting with its counterpart and stopping it within its tracks. The power generated was enough to make her shield her eyes momentarily in order to keep the heat from getting in them.

However, it was a moment that allowed for a fatal mistake to be made.

When the blade stretched out, her eyes widened in shock. But beyond that, she had allowed herself to react too late...

SPLURCH!

The blade ripped a deep gash in her stomach, and she let out a pained gasp as the fire ate at the already opened wound. The force of it made her spin around momentarily in the air before descending back towards the ground. However, in the neck of time, she managed to flip herself so that she could land on one knee. She pressed a hand to the burning wound, using her own power to suppress the flames licking at it. Her head was lowered, beads of sweat falling down her face. However, a small smirk had crossed her face even as the pain coursed through her.

"Is that a promise, dearie...?" She whispered, a shiver running down her spine as she spoke the words.

"The future is never certain, Senkoku," a solemn gazing Senkakusha walked towards her, speaking in a matter-of-fact that bordered on chiding, "you of all people should know this..."

SHFT!

"Boss," Datenshi spoke in a hushed tone, as he was now off his simple observing position and now placing a hand on her shoulder, "Hijō and Nama have sensed a series of incoming entities, all of them strong. Its possible that they could overwhelm us at our current strength-"

"I understand," Senkakusha spoke in a low tone of her own, her third eye closing before sealing itself on her forehead, showing the sign of resignation, "tell them to move towards our destination as planned. These people are in no position to follow us now," looking over at the Punisher, a small smile spread on her face before resuming her stoic impassivity, "none of them."

"Understood," Datenshi spoke, backing up a few steps before leaping into the air, shifting out of visibility and soon after, out of all sensation. The other two subordinates of the Korai's also soon began to leave at high speeds, leaving the battle-scarred landscape and desolated, uninhabited crossroads settlement. It was just Senkakusha who took a few moments to look at Sakura, with a hidden emotion behind her impassive front, before she sheathed her blade within the recesses of her robes.

"We'll meet again, Senkoku," She said before her body enraptured in a misty, flickering aura of flames before she too disappeared with only her lingering voice to be left behind, "of that, I am certain."

"They're retreating?!"

The Punisher jerked her head up in disbelief as she watched both the leader and her subordinates disappear into thin air. Slowly, she stood back up, her free hand clutching the wound that had been left behind. As she took a few steps forward, she could feel the gash in her stomach slowly heal itself back up. Nerves were stitched back together, blood vessels resealed, and cells began to regenerate in order to fill the void. In seconds, the laceration was gone, although the throbbing ache still remained.

She opened her mouth to call out for her teammates, but another voice cut her off.

"I see you've started the show without us... couldn't wait for the fireworks?"

She abruptly turned her head to see a woman come out of the shadows of one building, a sword sheathed at her kimono-draped waist. One hand was on the hip while the other lay at its respective side. She looked at the area with a casual curiosity, as if she hadn't stepped into a battlefield. She furrowed her eyes at the strange woman.

But before she had time to question it...

''WOOSH! VOOM! VOOM!''

Three more figures appeared within the area. Two of them were people she recognized right off the bat, the white coat and black outfit making it very obvious. But the other, a figure of a bandaged visage was yet another stranger. They must have been more members of the V-14 serving as reinforcements.

"It seems that we were too late to cut them off..." Shinji muttered disdainfully, narrowing his eyes as he looked over each of the combatants. "Are you all stable?"

"I am standing, but our dear Lieutenant is still unconscious," Shinshin spoke in a low, impassive tone as he looked at Shinji before looking more thoughtfully to Asuka, "I am grateful you came when you have. I feared our godly protector was being outmatched this time around."

"Go suck a dick." The Punisher snapped back immediately. It was a rather immature insult and comeback, but it was her that said it. Who was she to care?

The words didn't go unnoticed by the others.

The unidentified female's eyes widened, and she placed a hand to her mouth in a clear, subtle and polite display of disgust. In contrast, Shou flinched involuntarily - something that went unnoticed by his superior. But Shinji and Genesis didn't show much reaction to it. For the former, it was just because of his naturally stoic attitude. For the latter, it was because she had grown to get accustomed to the woman using such crude language. It didn't help that she had a habit of doing the same.

Shou took in a deep breath and sighed heavily, looking over towards the unconscious form of Daisuke. "Genesis..." He said, grabbing his subordinate's attention right away. "Go and revive the Phoenix. I need to speak with Her Majesty..."

"Yes, sir. Right away!"

With a quick salute, Genesis quickly turned herself to the said Lieutenant and jogging over towards him in order to perform the said action. In turn, her boss walked over to their mutual one, an expression of slight confusion crossing his face. He used his arms to gesture towards the area. "My Lady... before crossing into this territory, I sensed energies of a Class-A type. Was there--?"

"Yup..." The Punisher placed her hands on her hips, giving him a solemn look before switching it over to look at the area. "I just got done fighting a Korai."

Shou's eyes widened considerably, and leaned back slightly in alarm. "A K-korai?! But... we were under the assumption that they were all dead! The Hankami had terminated them all, by what the other Daitenshi spoke to me!"

"That's what I thought, too..." The Punisher's teeth gritted slightly as she heard their assumptions being flung back at them. "But apparently, there's at least one still kicking. I don't know how in the hell the Soul Society managed to capture one alive, but that was definitely a Korai. And I'm willing to bet that there are at least a few more that managed to survive the massacre. It's always typical of a supposedly extinct race to get back up on its feet, just like that..."

"...I see..." Shou closed his eyes and hung his head, folding his arms across his chest. "I apologize for my lateness. Had we come sooner--"

However, he was stopped when the Punisher raised a hand to cut him off. "No. Don't start thinking that your very presence would've changed anything." She said sternly. "What happened happened, and there's nothing that could've changed that. Just shut up, count your blessings, and be thankful that we're all still in one piece."

"Yes, my La--"

BOOSH!

The serious mood that had settled over them had shattered instantly when they heard something crash into a nearby building.

Their eyes spun around, joining the eyes of the others to see Genesis's foot raised and Daisuke's body gone from her sight. This display and the billowing cloud of smoke from the building indicated that she had punted Daisuke into the building. The culprit herself had a bored look on her face as she lowered her foot, turning her gaze towards Shou. She seemed oblivious to the comically incredulous looks directed her way. "All right, the shock should be enough to stir him out of his dreams. My work's done here--"

"Genesis..." Shou spoke slowly, one of his eyes twitching. "When I said "revive him", I didn't mean "kick him through a building like a football". Did you even take it into account that might've just made possible injuries worse?"

"...well..." That statement, once it was completely processed, caused Genesis to cringe slightly out of embarrassment. "He is a Shinigami, so I figured he could've taken it...?"

Shou slapped a palm to his face in a show of exasperation, annoyance and embarrassment. "I may just have one of the dumbest subordinates ever..."

Shinshin could only stare in amazement at how poorly executed the attempt of understanding her superior's command was done. Walking to Asuka, he turned her head to Shou with slight apprehension before going back to her, "Mother...who are those people? They have the stench of brimstone and death hanging over them..."

Meanwhile...Daisuke's previously unconscious form, was now verily conscious.

"OWWWWW!!!" Daisuke hollered from the collapsed building, before promptly heaving the debris off him with one arm, with a very irate and pissed off look in his eyes. Despite the comical of the situation, Daisuke's eyes momentarily glowed red of a hidden malice...and unquenchable anger, "alright. Who is the wise guy who decided to kick my ass?! I'll gladly return the favor...!"

"Excuse me?!"

Whatever Genesis was about to answer to Shou's statement was cut off when Daisuke said his piece. Needless to say, she didn't like it.

Quickly, she rounded on Daisuke with a scowl and glare on her face before her commander could say anything. She stormed over towards him, baring her teeth to reveal sharpened canines. "I'm the one who did it! And I sure as hell don't like being called a guy!!" She shot back, balling her hands into fists. "You wanna do something about it!! C'mon, I dare you!!"

A sweatdrop came over Asuka's face, and she chuckled in a nervous manner. "Those two are Daitenshi, dear..." She explained calmly. "They may radiate of dark and warped energy, but in reality they're just like any of us. Both of them are relatively harmless... unless, of course, you happen to anger them..."

"Oh really?! Why does it-" Whatever Daisuke himself was about to say, ended when he saw everyone around looking in his and their direction. As well as the Daitenshi who effortlessly defeated him through their mismatched fight, "-have to be the damn girls who kick my ass?"

CRUNCH!

With a effortless heave of his arm, he threw the pile of debris a few meters to his right before walking towards Sakura, realizing how foolish he made himself out to be. Again...

"So I see," Shinshin said with a sigh of relief, "I was just curious why they smelled of brimstone, so now it makes sense. Still," he looked over at Shou and the Punisher's direction, "I overheard something while there was a pause in my confrontation. Apparently, their leader is supposed to be one of the last of her kind and is something on par with the Hankami. Does the name, Korai, mean anything to you, mother?"

"Korai...?"

As she watched Daisuke walk towards the Hankami's direction, Asuka's eyebrows furrowed in thought. She folded one arm across her stomach, the other propped up by the back of its hand. The secondary hand had a finger bent across the lips in a thoughtful position. "Now that I think about it... the term does sound faintly familiar. I heard it from my brother a while back when he was telling me about the Red Sun theology. The Korai were a race said to have rebelled against the Hankami centuries ago out of envy and jealousy of their power. Ultimately, they were defeated against the said "superiority and might" of the Hankami. Of course..."

Her eyes drifted over towards the Punisher's form. "Considering how you put it, I doubt all of what the scriptures said are truthful..."

"You all right, champ?" The said Hankami called out, placing her hands on her hips. Behind him, she could see a seething Genesis following close behind him - almost as if she was ready to pounce on him for what had happened.

"Just peachy!" Daisuke growled in annoyance, something that was a bit uncharacteristic, but everything about them being beaten by supposedly friendly or helpless fugitives irritated him like none other, "I just got my ass kicked twice in the last hour. Once when I was conscious, and the other when I was unconscious," Daisuke looked behind his shoulder hissing slightly, "no thanks to some of your subordinates feeling the need to be violent every time they see something have a sign of life in them..."

"I ask because I remember there is something that might actually give us a lead back to finding her," Shinshin spoke in a slightly knowing tone, though it came slightly hesitant, as his eyes showed a troubled look when he looked over at the Punisher, "though it will have to be slightly more subtle than this particular encounter we had..."

"Hm?" Asuka looked at him questioningly. "Whatever do you mean?" She switched her arms to a folded position, waiting for his answer. When he looked over at the Punisher, she couldn't help but glance in that particular direction, as well.

Genesis closed her eyes in an expression of disdain, her arms folded across her chest. "It's not my fault you're such a pussy." She answered bluntly. "If you didn't want that happening, you shouldn't have fainted in the first place!"

"...anyways..." After passing a slight glare to the girl, Shou turned away from the group in order to click his own personal earpiece. "Yoshizawa to Nakamura..." He said coolly.

"Yes, Shou-san?"

"The targets have been lost. Our team, however, seems to have come out of the ordeal relatively unscathed. Come to Junction 2-A for extraction."

"Roger!"

When the connection was cut off, Shou drew in a heavy sigh as he folded his arms across his chest. "Not exactly the best career day out of the V-14 yet..." He muttered. "Sorry that our efficiency wasn't up to par to standards today, Phoenix..."

"Well, we really didn't expect any of them to be in fighting shape, let alone have the strength to defeat us. I think we should've played it safe and waited for back up, hind's sight," Daisuke sighed, as he crossed his arms before looking to the Punisher, "though I'm pretty curious to see what foreign malevolence washed over me that was greater than yours, Sakura."

"Take Xanxus, my former employer, had a number of invaluable works of art stashed away off site in a personal musuem of his own making," Shinshin began speaking, crossing his arms as he breathed out a sigh, "one of the items, which I'm sure you know of, is a copy of the Red Sun's Philosophy Scrolls, depicting a lot of their prayers, customs, and worship during the Time of the Ancients. However, there is another artifact known as the Eye of Ragna. It is, as depicted in the runes on a tablet accompanied by the item, depicting a battle of the mystical entities known as the Korai against the Demon Lord of Pride, Septimus Atrum. It also happens to be the recounting of the final days of the Korai's legacy and their eventual demise..."

In all honesty, Sakura didn't seem very approving of the statement.

Momentarily, she allowed a scowl to cross her face as she looked back at Daisuke. But it lasted only for a brief moment before she exhaled a slow breath. Her gaze softened, regressing back to a more solemn tone. "What you felt was the energy of an old enemy..." She said. "Of not only me, but also of my race. We had all assumed them to be extinct years before. But apparently, a few of them still remain to be thorns in our side. Tell me..."

She suddenly gave Daisuke a rather interrogative stare. "What were you doing, carrying an individual of such power in a measly carriage?" She demanded. "Did you have any idea who you were carrying in those chains of yours?"

It was here that Asuka gave a slightly confused stare. "I was under the assumption that the building had collapsed due to the stress of the battle we had with Xanxus..." She said. "It didn't?" Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Shinji taking a few steps to the center of the area and peer up into the sky - presumably for signs of Rika.

"Like I said, it was stored Off-Site," Shinshin explained, taking slight interest in the heated conversation between the Hankami and the Lieutenant couple, "it was approximately a kilometer or so away, and much more heavily reinforced and guarded than Take's Panic Room. If what you said of his son taking over his criminal regime, then he probably has details on the location of the museum as well as blueprints. I think its possible this Korai leader might intend on redeeming the artifact from his possession..."

"We didn't!" Daisuke growled back at Sakura, realized she was acting like it was up to him or accusing him of the whole ordeal, raising and waving his hands and balled fists in emphasis, "we had no idea that any of them would even have the strength to move! I didn't even think we had a entity like that within our Prison! I was never debriefed on their identities! Shidai Kagai was after all the target of priority, wasn't he?!"

"That's not an excuse!!" Sakura's voice was quick to rise in volume as she glared back at Daisuke. Suddenly, fury had overtaken her, and all she could do was look for an outlet to release it out on. She ignored the somewhat shocked looks from her servants. "God damn it, how could you not know that you were carrying the closest thing to a god with you?! You might as well have been asking for them to break out!! I can't believe--"

And then, she cut herself off. Slowly, that look of anger faded to one of a bitter solemnity. The fire in her eyes was still there, but it had clearly dimmed down to faint proportions. She fixed the Lieutenant with a look mixed with weariness, bitterness, and frustration. Then, she lowered her head and simply stepped past him without further word. By this time, the Dragonbird that had dropped off the initial troops was now descending towards the ground.

Asuka watched silently as the Hankami made her way past her and Shinshin. "I understand..." She muttered. "Considering that none of us have taken serious damage, I believe we can make the trip there..."

"Considering we have numbers, as well as you, on our side, we shouldn't have a problem overpowering them this time around," Shinshin spoke confidently, even as he saw everyone gather near the Dragonbird for transportation, he knew it was more fact than belief. Despite being weathered, their forces didn't sustain too much damage, and the enemy has yet to gather enough strength to repel a substantial force. This appeared to be recognized by their leader, the next thing close to a Hankami in natural strength, as they withdrew before the battle could be renewed with the newcomers.

"No, we didn't," Daisuke hung his head in shame, realizing in a way it was the Gotei 13's fault, and indirectly, his own for letting this occur, "I didn't even recognize any of the prisoners that were being transferred. My Captain, or Captain Aizen, would know more than I would, but I don't think we would willingly transport someone so dang-"

Then, the idea, the supposition of the unthinkable occured to Daisuke...

"-unless the Korai wanted to board the carriage when we didn't detect her?!" Daisuke just realized the possibility, his eyes widened and his breath hitched at the potential risk their leader would go through.

It was a question that made Sakura stop in her tracks.

She stopped within her tracks, her body freezing abruptly in place. For a moment, she didn't allow herself to move from that spot. Her mind took the time to process the suggested idea. It would make sense that Senkakusha would willingly allow herself to be taken in just for the sake of selecting individuals powerful enough to aid her. Desperate criminals who wanted to escape their prison were one of the easiest kinds of people to sway to one's side...

She placed her hands to her hips, shaking her head from side to side. "Then I really do feel sorry for those souls who follow her..." She said solemnly. With that being said, she reached out to grasp onto the Dragonbird's side and hop on to its back. She landed just behind Rika, folding her legs in an Indian style position. "So, we're heading back, right?"

"On the contrary, we're heading to complete this contract. After all, I think it would be bad if we showed back up to Angelika empty-handed..."

The voice that cut her off was Asuka's. She approached with a casually soft gait, her hands folded behind her back. Shinji was following behind her. "According to Shinshin, there's a little something that your friend wants. It's called the "Eye Of Ragna". Does it ring any bells to you, Sakura-san?"

"...the "Eye of Ragna"...?" Sakura squinted one of her eye and cocked an eyebrow at the mention. "Only heard it tossed around a few times. You know what it is?"

"The Eye of Ragna is a crystal that's attuned to what is known as the Third Eye," Shinshin spoke with a knowing tone, as he was once the head of security for Take Xanxus and all his possessions, "obviously, its referring to the ascended Korai who've gained the Third Eye. For all intents and purposes, the Eye of Ragna was a weapon used by the King of the Korai to smite the King of Hell, also known as the Lord of Pride," Shinshin then looked cooly at the Punisher pointedly, "you know him as your predecessor, Punisher, as Septimus Atrum."

"Do you think...that she'd use that against us?!" Daisuke looked slightly alarmed, as he realized should they fail, a weapon would fall into the enemy's hands and allow them near unstoppable power.

"It wouldn't be a far fetch if she was backed into a corner," Shinshin said with a shrug, "the Eye of Ragna was spoken to be in the X-Class Spirit Artifacts, on par with the Hōgyoku and Ōin. Should she use it on a whim, great disaster will spell the Realm she's in..."

It was the catalyst that shocked the Hankami out of her confusion.

Her eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze forward, feeling the presences of the rest of them as they climbed aboard. "Then I got the feeling that I might not be the only Hankami chasing after her..." She muttered. "C'mon, driver. We've got a potential apocalypse to prevent and a manipulative bitch to kill!"

"Y-yes..!" Though somewhat disagreeing with the tone taken, Rika did not hesitate to utter the calling clicks to the Dragonbird.

Once again, it took flight, ascending into the air and rising high over the damaged civilization foundation. However, standing on top of one building would be a figure that none of them would've spotted in that altitude. But most likely, all of them would've recognized it. After all, the black hood and robe without a face could only belong to one of the most dreaded beings in existence. He watched silently with his arms at his sides, his head following the bird as it moved away.

Then, with a poof of smoke, he was gone from the area...

Welcome to Tendan Dākusaido, The Hunt for Mystic Eye!
"Well...guess Tendan does have a welcoming committee," Daisuke quirked, as he leaned over to the side on the Dragonbird, suddenly seeing what very well appeared to be a number of Terror-Class Air ships flying towards them.

They angled and looked almost very like black & silver birds of prey, as their metalic wings shifted and flapped around like a semi-sentient organism when it was merely a revolutionized piece of technology. Packing enough firepower in their twin repeating Kidō cannons to take on a small army, it was always a wise idea not to fight back or resist their terms.

When one of the Terror Ships flapped next to the Dragonbird, a clad air-vested leather garbed uniformed man turned his head towards their direction, speaking through his mask, "Where are you from, and what's your buisness in Tendan Dākusaido?"

"Oh, no..."

The first one to show reaction towards the ships was Rika herself. The very sight of the twin cannons was enough to make her face pale and her body stiffen. She turned over her shoulder, fear and nervousness showing in her eyes as she looked at her comrades. "Um..." She muttered hesitantly. "S-shinshin-san... c-considering you had connections, m-m-maybe you could be the one to talk to them... y'know, before they decide to do something drastic...?" She voiced these last words with a hint of desperation, clearly not wanting to be in the middle of a potential dogfight.

In the case of other reactions, to it...

"Can I blow them up?" Genesis asked politely.

"NO!!!" Was the immediate response from both of her superiors. The annoyed tone that both of their voices took caused Genesis to recoil, placing her hands up in defense.

"All right, all right, just asking! Jeez..."

Shinshin smoothly cleared his throat, before gaining the visual attention of the patrol man. Needless to say, the pilot did a doubletake when he saw Shinshin's face clearly, "Sh-Shinshin Fūten?!"

"I'd appreciate we skip the pleasantries, patrolman, and allow us to dock in the hangar," Shinshin spoke in a smooth, yet underlyingly menacing tone as he turned his cool gaze to the man's goggle-covered eyes, "unless you want me to call Zaii here...-"

"Nonononono!" The pilot, now donned as patrolman, waved his free hand and head in emphasis, "you're c-c-clear to l-land in the Eastern D-D-Docking Wing at H-Hangar A-13!"

"You're too kind, as always," Shinshin said in a detached tone, as he turned his gaze away from the man, causing him and all three of the Terror Wings to flap away and as opposite a direction as they could manage, "we can go now..."

"I wonder what Shinshin did for a living that caused those two to get so spooked," Daisuke muttered aloud, allowing Sakura and Asuka to hear his words as he nervously gazed off at the retreating, high-tech Air Ships flapping away.

"Trust me..."

Asuka had her arms folded across her chest as she watched the birds fly off, not looking at Daisuke as she spoke. "You're better off not knowing..." She said smoothly. Of course, it was expected for her to know considering the proximity she had with Shinshin. But just for the sake of not disturbing her comrades, it was something that she would not allow herself to say.

Rika herself sighed in relief, the heavy burden lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you very much..." She cast her eyes towards her flight path, turning the bird accordingly. "What exactly is the plan for approaching? I don't think I'll be able to give proper air support with the patrols flying around, and I don't wish to engage in any unwanted fights..."

"Fly-bys are permitted in Tendan," Shinshin began explaining as their avian transport moved towards the multi-ringed docks, contianing a number of steeds, vehicles, and air transports similar to the ones they encountered, "its only if you have a potentially lethal weapon on board or in your possession, its suggested you take it to the ground. You definitely don't want to get on the Guardian's bad side if you start a aerial battle, so try and keep just a bird's eye in the air, Rika-san."

It seemed to reassure the pilot, as she gave an affirmative nod in acknowledgement. "Right..."

"I think I might have an idea on how to get in..." Genesis commented, shifting one leg over the other as she looked out at the passing city. Naturally, this brought the attention of the others, particularly her colleagues. "The Korai and her group is after this artifact thing, right?"

"Yeah...?" Sakura muttered, raising an eyebrow.

"If this place is highly guarded as your V-14 friend says it is, then why don't we just let our targets do the work for us? We can follow close behind them while they dismiss the guards, keep ourselves hidden while we do so, and when they actually get to the artifact, we can jump 'em! I mean, we're outnumbering them in numbers and strength, right?"

"That could work," Shinshin spoke in a impassive tone, "but think about it. If they get their hands on the artifact itself, it would mean that all our efforts of letting them do the work, would be for nothing..."

"It would work," Daisuke surmised, as he rubbed his chin in thought, before a smile graced his face, "if we swapped the real one with a fake."

If it was a show, there would've been the sound of brakes SKREEing and a car crashing for background noise.

"Uh..." Now Sakura was regarding Daisuke with the quizzical look, which also held a certain extent of disbelief. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm serious!" Daisuke implored, as he looked over his shoulder to Sakura, "if we can talk to the current owner of this artifact, convince him he should have a forgery made in the exact likeness and relocate the original...then we could get the drop on the guys getting the fake, without any risk of them making off with it!"

Silence.

Looks of various reactions came from each and every one of them, aside from Rika. Sakura was regarding him a look that conveyed nothing but skepticism. Asuka, Shou and Genesis were looking at him with slight curiosity. Shinji was regarding him with a piercing stare - something that was his default look. Neither of them spoke for a moment, even when they felt the Dragonbird descend downward.

"You make it sound like it's so easy to just conjure up a faux ancient and supernatural artifact that could be deceiving enough." Sakura said bluntly. "We're dealing with someone with the third eye. Y'know, the ability to see just about everything, even the future?"

"Besides..." Genesis muttered, frowning. "Wouldn't that take up too much time? After all, they did get a headstart on us..."

"Its not like they know exatly where the vault is, right?" Daisuke tried to sound convincing, but really found himself lacking tact and confidence when in the face of so many doubters.

"Take Xanxus has a number of vaults from which he selectively moves items at random around Tendan," Shinshin explained aloud, trying to think things through factually, "the Korai would need to set up a base of operations in Tendan, get proper equipment and intel, before heading out. My former master knew the ramifications of having a Korai artifact would mean an entity of that race, or one like it, would try to steal it for themselves. So each vault and chamber is designed to look precisely the same, even architecturally," he then looked over at the group with a curious eye of his own, "it could work...if we wanted to pursue that option of course..."

That got them all thinking once more.

They all looked at each other, switching glances from one to another. In the way that Shinshin had put it, it made more sense. The Korai would need time to fully prepare, and thus it would allow time for the fake artifact to be developed. Combined with Genesis's suggestion, it would give less time to the enemy should it succeed.

It wasn't until the Dragonbird's land that Sakura spoke up. She gave a light shrug of the shoulders. "Oh, what the fuck? Giving ourselves more of a chance couldn't possibly hurt that much. I say go for it."

"...I still think this is a bit of a stretch..." Genesis muttered, a somewhat sullen and pouting look on her face. "But if that's how you're going to put it, I don't have any problems with it."

"Neither do I..." Shou said simply, giving a nod towards Daisuke and Shinshin. Shinji and Asuka gave one of their own, with the former remaining silent and Asuka giving a slight thumbs-up.

"Good," Daisuke said, finally letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, smiling that his idea didn't seem like such a crazy one after all, "so, where do we find this Xanxus guy?"

"He's dead," Shinshin spoke plainly, without a hint of remorse before hopping off the Dragonbird deftly, starting to walk away from the group, speaking with more volume so they could hear him, "but his son is in charge now. Rai Xanxus is one of the biggest corportations for brokering deals with both the government and the black market here in Tendan, as well as a supplier for a number of illicit groups working within Tendan. Look for the signs and someone will bound to point us to his new HQ, as his father's is currently a pile of steel and rubble..."