The War of Four: Persona Non Grata

Previous Chapter

The Extent of Your Resolve; Worthiness of Vitality
"Empresa's evacuation will spread like wildfire. No one's going to overlook the fireworks we made during the defense, especially not our enemies."

Casilda had her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the ones who would currently address her. She and they were standing within the meeting room of the D.C.O.'s main dimension, grouped together and discussing what would be the next plan of retaliation. After getting acquainted with the rest of them a bit more, they were quick to roll right into tactics and strategies. There was no time to waste, as there was the risk of the Inner Circle moving at any time without warning. Even if the supposed rest time after the assault was a few days, no one wanted to take any chances.

As of this particular time, the Primera was speaking. "The guard that were pulled out along with the citizens are a hardy breed. But their numbers are limited, considering they were drawn out from only a city. With the neighboring cities from Empresa alerted and prepared for possible invasion, though, I can at least take comfort that it'll take quite a lot if Sōsuke's wanting to take over all of Hueco Mundo. For now, the looks of things are saying that Soul Society should be the main attraction..."

"From what little intel we have on the situation involving the Seireitei, it appears that they're already starting to erect substitutes for the damaged structures around the Soul Society. Not to mention place their own monuments and imbue their propaganda within the captive populace and military," Hana declared, pacing back and forth across the 3-D layout table that currently was emblazoned red and showed various structures that were exceptionally crafted, despite being only several days after the invasion occured. Studying the Soul Society she stroked her chin as she spoke, "they also rolled in the bulk of their military power in a wide perimeter around the Seireitei, with airships with an even wider patrol to spot any abnormalities or oncomers of interest. Even the Senkaimon gates have been sealed, making ordinary access impossible and improbable..."

"There appears to be a similar invasion that had occured only half a day ago at Yūrei Ōkoku," Kukkyōna added, as he turned a sympathetic gaze to Avaron as he added, "we have lost contact with them as well. Needless to say, I believe every proximate Society, with the irrelevent exception of Tendan Dākusaido, is incapable of aiding us. All forces we will be utilizing will be what we have now."

The police commander had closed her eyes in solemnity upon hearing those words. Jūshin, Chidori, Shiro, and countless others were in the same predicament that they were. It was not pleasant knowing that she as well as what remained of her Dragonbird scouting force was the only portion that Yūrei would have within this effective fighting force. Still, she couldn't let that bother her, not with the stakes.

After taking in a deep breath, she opened her eyes to regard them all with a stern yet empathetic gaze. "It'll be all that we'll need." She said firmly. "I've grown to learn that even one man can make the difference between life and death, even on the likes of a grand scale. If it took the minds of a few to bring waste to our society, it can take a few to bring it back. We will not be the ones to just sit by while the afterlife burns to the ground..."

She was quick to switch her tone from encouraging to tactical fluidly, turning her attention to the 3-D grid. "As of now, the top priorities should be locating and securing HVIs such as the Captains left behind. I doubt the Inner Circle are above torture and interrogation to squeeze even more information out for possible use. Trying to dismiss them will result in possibly unattainable recovery for the Gotei 13, and considering the heavy casualties you all took, I doubt you have very much reserves other than what from the D.C.O. offers..."

Noriko let out a light scoff, but said nothing.

"We'll have to keep a low profile if we want to pull our guys out of there..." Qilin said lowly, keeping his tone casual and cool as he spoke. "The Horsemen, Aizen, Juhabach... there's no doubt that they'll be there to oversee everything. Even without involving the higher powers, there's the matter of the foot soldiers. Many of them have us outgunned with their technology, including Kidō guns, heavily modified melee weapons and the like. Their numbers outstrip ours, and they've proven themselves to have plenty of skill and experience over our own troops. Open confrontation with any of them would be a no-go when our injured are involved."

"We can't involve the Shinō Academy's teachers or students. They are the future and foundation of the three branches of our military, so they are considered top priority protection while they reside here, in a safe pocket dimension," Captain Hando insisted, pointing out their uninvolvement to be had in this campaign.

"It'd be more likely that we'd need to sneak behind enemy lines and distract the majority of their enemies from the real targets. If we can cripple their leaders, their men will be rendered into any chaos we can toss into their midst," Kaien Shiba added, as he observed the display himself, "but discounting that aside, the Dragons are the biggest concern of their generals. Each of them have incredible skill, and would require multiple skilled warriors of our own to defeat them, along with their subordinates."

"Its a pity we can't use the man power they have in custody within the Soul Society. While they didn't kill them, they still could be useful in battle if we're to further the seeds of chaos among them," Senna added, seeing it as an advantage.

"That would be risky, and probably fruitless," Renji pointed out, shrugging as he locked eyes with her and those around them of importance, "all those men who hadn't died are probably in a condition a fraction of what the captured Captains are. Not many of them will be combat worthy, and even if they will, their numbers wouldn't be worth putting them in a position to fight..."

"If we could possibly lure the enemy away from their positions, we could send a few squads to escort them out of the Soul Society until the battle has calmed down," Daisuke suggested out, wanting to escort as many of the Soul Reapers as they can, "significant to battle strength or not, they are still our comrades. Should they perish, we will most certainly be left with less than desired man power for any future battles of this scale..."

"So, in summary, you want to have someone serve as a guinea pig to turn resistance away from targets of opportunity..." Senkaku summarized. "For that to work, we're going to have to use combatants that will last a good amount of time against any level of strength put against them. That way, the time the actual damage teams have to get to their locations will be maximized to full effect. We don't want allies that will break under the will of Dragons and Horsemen if they are confronted by such..."

"We will also have to pinpoint and hit locations separately, if you're aiming to take out the leaders first..." Qilin added. "The Dragons and Horsemen won't stick together in one spot with the knowledge of a counter-attack. Each Horsemen will be within his or her own location, guarded by their respective Dragons. But if we're aiming to pull our guys out, we'll need to move quickly. What possible locations could they be hidden in that no one would be permitted to go normally?"

"That's what we're intending on learning, of course!" Kaze spoke in an exasperated tone, as he leaned over on his cane and looked to Qilin, then to the rest of the gathered, "as soon as we can get a few probes out towards the Soul Society, and maybe spare a scout here and there, we can collaborate a number of details for which we can track these targets of interest down-"

"Sorry we're late!"

"-here comes one of our volunteers," Kaze chuckled as he heard the voice of his long absented Lieutenant, taking Rukia and what appeared to be the Espada they've been waiting for. Regarding his uniformed appearance as hastily put on, he cocked a brow up as he inquired, "did you enjoy yourself with your company, Shio-san? Or were you cut short by our dilemma?"

"Not funny," Meikurai growled under his voice before clearing his throat as they arrived in front of the fully gathered alliance.

The moment that the trio appeared, Casilda was quick to turn her eyes on Lobo.

Though her gaze was mostly unreadable, there was a slight flicker of irritation within those eyes of hers. Although Rukia had reason to be sympathetic, the Primera was not one to overlook the fact that Lobo had went against orders for the sake of chasing someone that had been irrelevant to the situation at hand. By that alone, he would have been considered to have committed defection and treason. Had she had been Bernabe, she would've gladly made the decision of executing him right then and there.

But she wasn't her Segunda. So instead, she remained silent and allowed only her eyes to pass judgement on him.

This didn't seem to be picked up by Rukia, who was busy giving a respectful bow to the rest of them. "Our apologies for the late arrival." She said, giving a look towards Avaron in particular. The police commander seemed more than ready to forgive her, giving a dismissive wave of the hand in response.

"Don't worry about it, Kuchiki. You're here now, and that's all that matters..."

"Glad to see you could arrive to assist, de Norte..." In contrast to the attitude his superior was carrying, Senkaku's tone seemed more welcoming to the Novena. "I take it the injuries you sustained were taken care of?"

"My battle took me farther away from the rest of you than I would've liked, so I wasn't able to sense any of your presences," Lobo spoke honestly and straightforwardly, his eyes not meeting the Primera's as he looekd away in shame, "the only Spiritual Pressure I had been able to read was within the Spiritual Realm where Rukia Kuchiki and I had battled. After dressing my wounds, I narrowly infiltrated the resort before collapsing due to exhaustion and blood loss. I apologize for my weakness, all of you, for I am not worthy of forgiveness..."

"You really shouldn't put yourself down that much," Daisuke spoke out readily, causing the Arrancar's eyes to shift to his own. Daisuke beamed a smile as he gave him a thumb's up, "what's most important is that you escaped with your life, just like your comrades did. Sure you got sidetracked, but you kept yourself alive for your friends, didn't you?"

"Indeed..." Hachiro noted coolly, his arms folded across his chest. "There's no need to apologize to us. We're just glad that you three could make it as soon as you did." He glanced over towards Kaze, directing his tone towards the scientist. "Kaze. You mind explaining to him what you mean by "volunteer"?"

"I am grateful," Lobo bowed to them, glad to see his allies had as much understanding as his duelist partner to-be, but could only hope Senkaku would be not the only one to greet him with such enthusiasm. It was at this time Meikurai quirked a brow upwards, but made sure not to get on Kaze's bad side and allowed his Captain to explain.

"If none of you are aware of it, or have forgotten," Kaze pointedly rolled his eyes at Hachiro, as if blaming him for not remembering about Meikurai's abilities, "Meikurai would be the perfect scout amongst the enemy lines. His Zanpakutō, Kagami, allows him to blend in perfectly with his surroundings, no matter what amount of high tier perception or surveillance technology would prove futile. He can also lace illusions around people and objects, allowing him to send out false happenings around his environment and cloak his allies within fields of light refracting energy to keep them hidden as well as any Kidō would..."

"So if he's going to be one of the scouts, if not the only one..." Noriko inquired, quirking an eyebrow. "Then who's going to be serving as part of the teams? The Gotei 13 doesn't have much on its side who's capable enough, and risking the leadership here will just jeopardize us if they get captured..."

"Why not send some of the D.C.O. squad in?"

That was when Braeburn's voice cut in, with his form leaning against a nearby wall. His arms were folded across his chest. "We're trained in stealth, assassination and recovery." He explained, using a hand for the occasional gesturing purpose. "Sending a fireteam or squad out to the H.V.I.s would require maintaining a low profile, obviously. Since the 2nd Division's HQ got destroyed, I'm doubting the Gotei 13 itself has many reserves to go by... especially with the 2nd Division's Captain out of commission for the time being. While we do that, some of the Espada Afilado can take the role of providing the distraction. Considering they've fought in hardy and hellish conditions, they're the most capable of withstanding an onslaught. Better than the Shinigami, at least..."

He ignored the faint scowl that crossed Noriko's face, as he regarded each and every one of them from his position. "Of course, that's just an idea being thrown out. If anyone has any other ideas or advice, I'm all for it..."

"Quiet you insec-"

"Actually, Captain Sasayaki, he has a good point," Hana intervened before Kaze could hiss openly at Braeburn, looking over at the other Captains and the Espada that had gathered as well, "if we used the D.C.O. squads we have available, both Reserves and the Shadow Squad, we could be able to rescue the imprisoned non-combatants as well as set up special surprises for the enemy behind their enemy lines. That, and I think I have a far more important task selected for the Lieutenant..."

"You do?" Meikurai voiced aloud in query, his Captain also narrowing his eyes suspiciously at his protoge and current superior but dared not to say a thing and wanted to see how things played out, "what would that be?"

"The Captains. You're going to sift through all this chaos and free the Captains, as well as rejuvenate their health and Spiritual Power," Hana spoke aloud with the important task assigned to the man before her. Knowing the gravity of such a task she smiled with assurance in her voice, "you're one of the only ones that can make that particular rescue, as you have more information regarding locations they'd take prisoners of such noteworthy power and prestige, to hide them away."

This time, Hachiro was the one to notice it.

As he was shifting his gaze from one person in the room to the other, he could see the faintest of smirks on Qilin's face. Normally, it would have been assumed to have been from confidence in the plan. What kept him from assuming that was because that it was an abrupt transition from the composed and serious demeanor that he was holding moments before. This was reinforced by the smirk's disappearance fading quickly as it had come. Had he imagined it?

His eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent. His attention towards Qilin was brief, and he was quick to turn back to the rest of his comrades when Casilda chose this time to speak. "How many of the Espada will you need to turn attention away?" She questioned Hana.

"Four would suffice," Hana nodded with affirmation, "I'll leave the details to as to whom you would deem necessary for such an important task. You know  your subordinates and colleagues best, so I'll leave the exact persons up to you."

"Han-I mean, Head Captain," Meikurai stopped himself short, as he remembered his colleague's promotion, spoke aloud in a hesitant tone, "don't you suppose its a little risky for me to go into the heart of enemy territory? Its likely that they are heavily guarded by unknowns that could easily best me in combat. I'd wish to have some partners to back me up...or I'll most likely decline this mission indefinitely," he finished with a slight downcasting look in his eyes, holding a vague, mysterious hesitancy within them that hasn't always been present within the confident and skillful Lieutenant.

Kukkyōna himself noticed this, as he had been watching the unusual tension that Hachiro had while also monitoring everyone else's "visual signs" of emotional instability or stress. This however, looked masked to himself entirely for another purpose altogether. He could only narrow his eyes at the Lieutenant, wondering why he'd request such a demand.

"Well, considering that we're going through with my idea, you'll be accompanied by whatever D.C.O. the Captain-Commander picks." Braeburn said bluntly, rolling his eyes. If there was any strange sign Meikurai was exhibiting, he wasn't noticing or wasn't bothering to pay much attention to it. "So obviously, you're going to have backup accompany you. It's common sense..."

"If I know my Lieutenant, he wouldn't sit down and let himself get captured..." Noriko said. "There are quite possibly remnants of the Gotei 13's force still trapped within the Seireitei and on the run. They'll be keeping up resistance, and it'd be a good thing if we ran into some of them in case of assistance. So I think it would be best to keep an eye out for friendlies outside of imprisonment, because they'll most likely be expecting us..."

"As well as my Lieutenant. We should expect a sizeable resistance still hidden from the Inner Circle, despite their current hold over the majority of the imprisoned military and the captured non-combatants of the Rukonagi Districts and the Seireitei," Kukkyōna spoke in acknowledgement of Noriko's notation of the status possibly of their current MIA forces, "they should be able to reinforce our forces as they arrive."

"Then its settled," Hana nodded with finality, looking to Jōshōtsu and Shijū with a cool gaze speaking aloud to him in particular, "gather what men you can for a Stealth operation. I want you to comb the Seireitei as subtly as possible and pinpoint the locations of patrols for the IC forces as well as the Horsemen's location, and the Dragons' whereabouts. Once done, notify us immediately before heading back here to HQ. We'll launch a full offensive when we properly mobilize our men."

"As you wish, Head Captain," Jōshōtsu bowed his head respectfully, in sync with his fellow Whisper Squad Captain, as they both turned on their heels to head to their designated stations, leaving the rest of the briefing attendants to hear out their orders.

"Kaien," Hana spoke to the Sword Squad Captain with an equally serious gaze, guesturing with her hands as she spoke, "I need you to take your Deputy Squad Captain and round up all able bodied Sword and Reserve squadsmen to prepare for battle. We don't know if this dimension is secure, for IC forces might find a way to penetrate our defenses sooner or later, and we need them ready for the final push as well."

"I'll get the men prepped. Leave everything to Senna and I," Kaien said reassuringly, smiling to the young proxy Captain Commander as he looked to his Lieutenant, "right, Senna-chan?"

"Leave it to us, boss!" Saluting enthusiastically, Senna beamed a smile as she spun on her heels and waved to Rukia as the two of them left the debriefing room swiftly, "see you later, Rukia-chan!"

Although keeping herself silent, Rukia allowed a smile to cross her face as she gave a wave back to the bubbly woman. Hers was more reserved and composed than Senna's, but nevertheless expressed an equal amount of well-wishing and support.

"Renji," Hana then looked over to the senior D.C.O. Lancer operative, crossing her arms as she leaned next to the holographic display table, "I need you to gather all Lancer operatives available and pull out any of them in current operations. You are the strongest independent force within the D.C.O., and we need every fighter available for this battle."

"Right, don't know if they're going to listen to me, but I'll give it a shot," Renji said with a reluctant sigh, scratching his head before turning around and heading off as well, "if any of them happen to grab our allies in route to our location, I'll let you know, Hana-san..."

"Braeburn-san," Hana finally turned to her lover-turned-subordinate, smiling as she gave him her own orders to the capable McTavish, "I need you to go with Takashi, Yōki, and Rokotsu to back up Meikurai. Since you know them best, it'll be the easiest to form a strong team to protect one of our best standing Lieutenants."

"And the most reliable..." Braeburn noted with an acknowledging nod, sliding the balaclava over his face to mask his visage once more. His eyes shifted towards the mentioned members within the back, hanging out near the ones who weren't focused on tactics. "With them around, I assure that any ideas of needing a small army to reinforce him will be popped right out of his head." After securing his head and facial mask, he looked over towards Meikurai to give a gesturing motion for him to follow before beginning his approach to the soon-to-be escort team.

"Senkaku," Casilda herself began to give directions towards her own subordinates, gaining the attention of the Tercera. "I want you, Tierra, Genjō and Caballero to prepare yourselves. You're going to be serving as the diversion for the rescue and evacuation teams. Make sure to give it your all, for if you slip up even once, the enemy will not hesitate to destroy you this time."

"Yes, my Lady..." Senkaku gave a bow of acknowledgement. "We will make sure to hold out for our Shinigami allies." With that being said, he turned on his heel and walked away to the direction of the allies he would be bringing along with him.

"I assume that the rest of us will be taking part in the counter-attack, then?" Nicolao inquired, to which Casilda gave a slight nod.

"Most of you, anyway. But I need some to stay behind for maintenance of security and surveillance. You in particular need to do so. After what happened to you on the battlefield, I can't risk a mind like yours to the hands of the enemy..."

Nicolao gave a slight chuckle of amusement, folding one arm behind his back and another in front of him to give a more expressive bow. "Nice to understand you care so much about my well-being, my Lady..." He said smoothly, causing Casilda to roll her eyes slightly at his somewhat exaggerated formality. "But if it pleases you, I will do well to stay within your boundaries."

"Good. I leave it in your hands..."

With that being said, Casilda turned away from him to focus her attention on two particular Arrancar out of her command - Starrk and Lilynette. She approached them with a calm and composed gait, taking her time in walking towards them.

It was a good thing too.

For Starrk, unsuprising to anyone who knew him, was fast asleep. Sitting in a chair that was leaned up against a wall, of which, he himself was leaned up against, he was snoozing in a calm, relaxed manner, no snoring or anything and with his arms crossed. Lilynette, on the other hand, was sitting in his lap wide awake, her elbows on her knees with her hands propping her head up, she looked rather bored. Having been listening to the group strategize for several minutes in Starrk's place, she was eager for something else to happen.

And when she saw the Primera approaching them, she also saw her chance.

Her eyes widened and she quickly hopped up in a brief panic, shaking Starrk's knees with her hands as she tried to coax him up. "Starrk? Starrk! Wake up dammit! She's coming here right now!!" she said lowly but loud enough for Casilda to potentially hear it.

"Hrm? What...?" he lazily popped his two eyes open and groaned, leaning forward and scratching the back of his head, before raising an eyebrow at Lilynette with an annoyed look. "What now...?"

"C'mon! Look like somebody!" she continued to quietly plead. "In case you didn't notice, she is coming. Right. Heeeere~!" she finished quietly, speaking behind her gritted teeth as her eyes pointed back and forth between Starrk and Casilda.

"Who is 'she'?" he began at first, rubbing the back of his neck before his eyes glanced forward and spotting the woman of interest. Here, his eyes opened wider and he stopped all movement as she finally came to them, causing Lilynette to quickly back up from them both.

"Oh ah...it's you again...Sorry about that, I...must've dozed off for a while..." he said in a calm, and yet subtly nervous fashion.

Try as she might, Casilda couldn't help the corner of her mouth that tilted upward in an amused smirk. Despite their similar desires to sit back and relax, at least he had the luxury to easily doze off whenever he felt like it. Lilynette's efforts to rouse him didn't help her restraint, despite the fact that she had the composure to easily keep herself from laughing at him. "Sorry to have interrupted your nap, sleeping beauty..." She said coolly. "But I was hoping to talk with you about something. Is that all right?"

"Um....sure?" he replied with a blink, though he did manage to put up a slight smile. "I'm awake anyhow, so I can listen."

"Right." The smile was quick to fade off of Casilda, and her gaze held a bit of solemnity in it. She tilted her head to the side slightly, folding her arms across her chest. "Obviously, you're not someone under my command. But I'm under the impression that neither of you," She took a momentary glance to the "younger" half. "Will be sitting this one out. What exactly do you plan on doing here?" It wasn't a question of demand, but one of curiosity.

"Whatever you say, of course!" Lilynette began with an upraised fist, upside down U eyes and a big grin, holding a thumb up. Only to have Starrk's hand quickly go onto her mouth before speaking in her place.

"What she means is..." he began, standing up straight with a slight groan. "...we aren't exactly leader types. We're better at taking orders than giving them. We'll do whatever you need us to. Just don't expect us to be particularly enthusiastic about it..."

"Preaching to the choir on that one."

Casilda didn't bother to voice this particular thought out to the former Primera. "If you insist..." She acknowledged smoothly, before settling into a more explanatory manner. "When the counter-attack commences, we'll be one of the spearheads aimed towards the very leadership of the enemy forces. Considering that we're two of the only ones with comparable strength to any of the Horsemen, Aizen or Juhabach, I think it'd be very fitting. I'd like you to accompany me personally."

"Of course. I get to fight the strong ones...again."

It seemed to just be his luck with this sort of thing. He was strong, so he's pitted against the strong guys. It seemed like a fact of life that he wished wasn't real, but if it was for the better of them all, he didn't have much room to complain.

At first, he let out a slight sigh, but regained his calm, half lidded composure afterwords. "Well, if that's what you need, you've got it."

He then took a more serious and still level expression in his next statement. "Though, when I had that brief encounter with Aizen, I was only scratching the surface of his true power. If we end up going against him, there's no telling what all he'll have in store for us."

"I know..." Casilda closed her eyes briefly, furrowing her eyebrows as the memory of her near-death experience came to her. It seemed that despite his methods against her, he wasn't above using illusions in order to deceive his opponents. She had potential immunity, but obviously it hadn't worked for Tome. That alone made Starrk's note very clear. If they wanted to beat him, they would have to keep on their guard. "I'll trust you to be the eyes in the back of my head in the event that happens. I'm not aiming to give him, of all people, a second chance to blindside me."

"Good to hear." he commented as she spoke. "Last thing we need is him pulling some mind trick crap on us..."

"Starrk!" Lilynette looked up and grabbed his arm, speaking in an excited tone. "Starrk! Aren't you going to tell her about you know who? We need to tell her while we're here!"

"Who again?" he replied with a blink, glancing down at her briefly with an honest confused tone.

"Ugh!" she groaned, before looking at the Primera, speaking in a slightly louder, serious tone. "On our way to help you guys, we saw someone that might could help us along the way."

"Hm...?" Casilda raised a slight eyebrow, switching her attention to Lilynette as soon as she was addressed. Obviously, she was referring to another individual that she had yet to meet, quite possibly Arrancar. "And who would that happen to be?" She questioned.

"Oh...you mean him..." Starrk sighed with an obvious hint of reluctance in his voice, scratching the back of his neck as he did so. "Yeah, on the way over to your fight, we thought we saw someone along the way, an all too familiar face...It may not be him, but from the spiritual pressure and what appearance I could make out, I could have sworn it was Ulquiorra Schiffer."

The curiosity faded into slight skepticism right away.

"Okay, now I know that it couldn't be that..." Casilda said in a matter-of-fact tone. "The former Cuatro had disintegrated and dissolved into the air when he died, based from what was recorded in the archives. You might have just seen an imposter..." Of course, seeing Sōsuke and Juhabach alive and well after presumed to be dead was throwing off her assurance that the deceased were capable of staying deceased. Ulquiorra coming back to life, although seemingly far-fetched in logical terms, certainly wasn't an exception.

"It's true!" Lilynette pleaded, only to have Starrk's hand come down on her head to keep her planted in place.

"I know it sounds crazy..." Starrk went on, giving her a serious and yet honest gaze. "...but i'd recognize his Spiritual Pressure in an instant. No other Hollow gives off that kind of aura, not that I'd seen. I'm not sure if it's possible, but he could have reincarnated back into his Arrancar self shortly after that incident."

This time, Casilda averted her gaze away briefly, a pondering look on her face. The slight frown on her face still indicated a bit of skepticism. But when she turned her head back, that frown seemed to fade away. "Well, you know him and his capability better than anyone else..." She said. "I'll just have to take your word for it. Where is he as of now?"

"Last we saw him, he was sticking around this white tree not too too far from Empresa." he replied plainly. "I looked like he wasn't planning on leaving it either. That's probably our best bet to find him."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me..."

Empresa. The very place occupied by enemy forces. Ulquiorra was still within that particular area, not too far from the zone of occupation. It was just Casilda's luck that he would still be there. Voicing that particular thought would have been rude at best, as she could understand the value of a certain keepsake, landscape or otherwise. But this was a state of emergency. How were they supposed to retrieve him when he willingly stayed within proximity of the enemy?

"My luck always has to be between bad and worse, doesn't it...?" She muttered under her breath, swinging her attention back to Coyote. "Sounds to me like he decided not to come with us. You sure bringing him back would be okay?"

"No. I'm not." he replied plainly, almost as if he knew the danger that would be involved with this operation. "And yeah, I understand where you're coming from. But from what i've gathered, we need all of the help that we can get for this fight. And having someone as perceptive as Ulquiorra will be undoubtfully beneficial."

Lilynette couldn't help but smile at the way Starrk was acting. After years of trying to coax him into being more active and having to be his motivation, he himself had finally gotten his own motivation. But she couldn't help but wonder, was it because Starrk had just learned to be that way? Or was it just because of Casilda...?

"You need help with something?" A voice suddenly interrupted, but within a smooth transition as the sentence ended from Casilda's mouth. It was none other than Kukkyōna Hayate, the scarlet haired man enamored with a silk-woven scarf and the Shikhakushō designed with the Hayate Clan symbol along with his 6th Division Captain Haori. His voice was smooth but sincere, in its request if he could be of aid, "I couldn't help but overhear something about Empresa...did we leave someone behind?"

"...well, if I knew that I had an audience, I would have kept this conversation to a lower volume." Casilda quipped, turning her head to look over her shoulder at the noble who had addressed them. "Did your Head Captain not have anything for you to do in particular?" Inwardly, she was a bit miffed at him for interrupting her talk with Starrk like that. Weren't Shinigami supposed to have much better manners than to cutting in between two people talking?

"My apologies," Kukkyōna bowed his head, before raising his gaze back to Casilda, "the Head Captain insisted I aid you in any form of missions that would be outside of your control or that you would need assistance in general. She's placing most of the Captains on standby, but she asked me in particular due to my...expertise...in helping other allies."

"Sheesh, you Shinigami are so rude!" Lilynette complained, hopping up on Starrk's shoulders (causing him to grunt and flinch in annoyance along the way) and raising a fist. "Can't you see we're talking?? This is special stuff. Need to know basis only! Other guys not allowed!"

She then crossed her arms, retaining a pouting expression. "Besides. How could you help us bring back someone like Ulquiorra? You know he despises Shinigami in every since of the word, right?"

"You're right," Kukkyōna nodded with admission, turning his head to look over at his son and mutual subordinate, Daisuke, "perhaps someone with a bigger heart than mine would be someone more suited in aiding you in retrieving your comrade. After all, he holds no bounds or grudges towards any race, no matter the origins or history of bloodshed involved," looking back, Kukkyōna locked his eyes with all three Arrancar, looking to all of them with equal seriousness, "after all, it was through his heart that he managed to help stave off oblivion for both the Spirit and Material world. I think at the very least, this infamous ally of yours would be...intrigued...by his character."

"That good, is he...?" Casilda drawled, cocking a slight eyebrow in inquiry. Her own conversation with the Lieutenant had shown that the man was more intellectual than she would've assumed, and she was smart not to take anything for granted. "Well, then. I guess I can't dismiss the word of a noble as a simple bluff. I trust he'll be fine with a second trip to Hueco Mundo, then?"

"He won't argue once he knows the details-"

'''AWHOOOOH! AWHOOOH! AWHOOOH!'''

"-after...wards...?!"

"Intruder alert! Intruder Alert! Sectors A-D are compromised! Initiating Code Red Procedures! Intruder Alert...!"

"What the Hell is going on?!" Hana yelled out from the debriefing room, turning quickly to the table and typing a few commands on the holo-display, "give me a layout of headquarters' affected zones, now!"

Within a few moments, the image of the taken over Soul Society shifted rapidly into what appeared to be a very large box-shaped infrastructure, hanging in the middle of a blue-black storm space. A number of the levels, primarily the middle to top ones, were showing flaring red signs and multiple signatures of hostiles within. The Alliance's forces, were under attack!

This seemed to garner everyone's attention.

Noriko was the first to voice out her reverie as she turned her attention to the flashing red alarms above their heads. "They've managed to reach even the likes of here...?" She muttered, almost to herself. It was beginning to be very clear that any place to hide was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Truly, the Inner Circle had an indescribable bound of reach if they were to penetrate even the likes of here. Or, should it have been something to be expected by now...?

Considering that the Soul Society's security had been compromised too many times, Hachiro was a bit understanding that even the D.C.O.'s pocket dimension would be invaded at any time. Therefore, he was much more responsive to the alarm of hostiles within their territory. Quickly, he clicked on his earpiece, a look of pensiveness and seriousness on his face. "All teams, this is Captain Horikawa!" He said, his tone sharp and commanding. "Get into your stations and prepare for imminent contact! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!!"

"Guess that's my cue..." Avaron muttered, reaching under the table to grab a Kidō rifle she had laid against it. As she cocked and primed it, memories of what she had been before flashed through her mind. A soldier, a cold-blooded killer, and a machine under the command of a government. Once again, it seemed as if she would be made to fight like that once again, if it meant to preserve the way of life as they knew it. Although she clearly hated that thought, she was ready to bring up arms and battle in what was to be a very bloody war. "I need to regroup with my Dragonbird squad. You know where we'll be!!" With that, she quickly sprinted away, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

In contrast to these attitudes, Qilin was surprisingly calm. He shoved his hands in his pockets as Hachiro gave out his commands, closing his eyes and exhaling a light sigh. He tilted his head from side to side to work out his neck before putting it back into its regular position. Anyone would've chalked it up to be simple mental preparation, something expected long ago. But no one would've heard his thoughts at that moment.

"Last stand. No second chances..."

His eyes slowly half-lidded as he looked at the screen, analyzing the grid carefully.

"No turning back..."

One would've sworn they saw the smile of a slasher fall across his face.

"No mercy. No mercy."

Although to a lesser extent, Braeburn found himself within a composed and controlled mood.

He turned away from his teammates and to a different dimension, his senses picking out something familiar. It would be significant in a different way for the rest of them if they bothered to pick it out. But when he felt it, he felt a slight sense of apprehension and worry. It wasn't because of anything meager than power over him as well as his allies. It was the fact that he could identify it immediately and personally. He breathed out a sigh, remaining silent.

Among the enemy was his beloved sister, Brina McTavish.

"By the grace of Izanami..." He thought to himself, a bit of sadness flashing through his eyes. "I hope that we don't have to cross paths... not like this."

"Aw man!" Lilynette whined, leaning back and intentionally falling off of Starrk's shoulders and on the ground, crossing her arms and pouting. "Just when I thought we'd get to go out and have fun!"

"Yeah really..." Starrk mused, glancing over at Casilda. "Looks like we're going to have to wait for that trip."

Casilda didn't respond immediately.

She had her head turned away from him, remaining silent under the alarms that were blaring. Although he wouldn't see it, she had a slight expression of annoyance and bitterness within her eyes as she stared at the alarms. These bastards would never be satisfied until they razed and destroyed everything. Briefly, her fist clenched, her nails threatening to dig into her skin. As long as this continued, great injustice would be done to both Hollows and Shinigami.

She would destroy them.

As her fist relaxed, so did her expression as she turned towards Starrk once more. If she just left now, she would feel as if she left it on a bad note. Stuffing one hand into her pocket, she allowed herself to approach him for what would probably be the last time for that period. If he wasn't going to be enthusiastic about it, she could at least try to give him a reminder to keep him going. It was the least she could've done. So she did something that would surprise even her.

She stood up on her tip-toes, placed a hand on her shoulder to boost herself a little more, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Come back alive..." She said lowly, lowering herself back to the bases of her feet to walk away. "I, for one, wouldn't dare want you to fall into the fate you saved me from..."

Starrk initially couldn't think of anything to say.

Did...she just kiss him??

He remained frozen in place for just a brief few seconds, a slight tint of red on his cheeks as she left. For the first time in a long long while, he actually had a human-like interaction with another Arrancar. The sensation didn't look like much on the outside, but inside, he was going crazy. For the first time in forever, he felt like...he really had a companion, someone he could not only have around, but feel for and connect with.

Now he knew what he was really fighting for.

Going back to his original expression, he slowly walked behind her, planning to do what ever he needed to to ensure that both he and his newly found comrades make it to fight another day.

"Right behind you..."

"Tetsu-san! Meikurai-san!" Daisuke urged the two other Lieutenants to move with him, as he took the lead of moving out of the debriefing room, "let's head to the D-Level Armory! We have to keep the enemy away from our stockpiles of weaponry and tech!"

"Brae-san!" Yōki flourished around with her crimson Lancer coat on, having Rokotsu on one flank and Takashi on the other, as she beckoned Braeburn to follow her, "we're going to hit the C-Level cargo bays. It'll be perfect for our coordinated team, as well as wide enough area for our speciality in long range and mid-range tactics!"

It was enough to bring him out of his reverie, the light returning to his eyes once more. Although he remained silent, he allowed himself to nod in acknowledgement towards his superior officer's order. Then, he broke into a small sprint in order to catch up with his allies.

"Hachiro! Noriko! Let's go to the Barracks at B-Level," Kukkyōna spoke aloud, nodding his head towards the exit, "the enemy's strongest will most likely be there to tear apart any number of subordinates they can find, as well as the strongest independent fighters there..."

"They won't get far..." Noriko growled, with Hachiro giving an agreeing nod after he had finished giving out orders. One of her hands rested on the hilt of her Zanpakutō, readied to draw and use at any time. At this point, she was itching to use it on some unsuspecting I.C. operators. "Not as long as I breathe!!"

"You all go! I'll maintain contact with you here and keep updating you on the status of the base!" Hana urged everyone as she raised her hands and pointed to the exit, "move out! I don't want a single IC scumbag left alive, do you hear me?! No mercy!"

With that being said, everyone moved out towards their respective locations in order to engage the enemy, determination and resolve clear...

A Monster Among Us! Comradery vs Bloodlust!
"We're heading towards cargo bays where we're housing most of our conventional supplies and technical equipment for maintenance for the base," Yōki briefed her comrades as they sprinted down the wide corridor, as various D.C.O. operatives and Soul Reapers of many mismatched Divisions that had been rescued. Her blonde hair cascaded in a whirl as she rushed towards their destination, "hopefully they don't make too much of a mess so we can use that equipment to fix whatever mess they make out of the base..."

"If we can fix the base!" Takashi growled out as he heard the various rumblings and tremors of the violence taking place within their only sanctuary, "how the Hell could they have found us here?! Isn't this a Dimension outside of the normal parameters of transportation but for the highest of D.C.O. operatives?!"

"This stinks! Why can't the bad guys leave us alone so we can plan out their demise?! URRRGH!" Rokotsu threw a tantrum in mid-flight, shaking her fists up and down comically in enraged infuriation, "they have to play so unfair, it makes me so mad!"

Throughout the trip, Braeburn had fallen silent.

As he pumped his legs, his eyebrows were furrowed and a frown was on his face. Even in the presence of Rokotsu's humorous display of frustration, he did not allow himself to respond to it. He had learned long ago that even the toughest of security could be breached. Interdimensional travel was nothing new within the spiritual realms, so it wasn't exactly surprising that they found a way to get to it. But his mind was on other things.

In summary, he was conflicted, with the reason being his very sister.

If they met her, he was certain that she wouldn't engage them. After all, she had been the one to tell him to "stay alive". He had belief that she would rather run than strike. But what if, under some unexpected circumstance, she didn't retreat? What if they did have to fight her? He could never bring himself to raise a malicious blade towards the likes of his own blood. So he was inwardly praying that it wouldn't have to come to that, that they wouldn't have to cross blades.

She had already been forced to kill one of her own family members. He didn't want to be the second.

"Hey," Yōki looked over at Braeburn, still keeping in motion while her eyes could see the turmoil his expression had projected unintentionally, "you alright? I don't want a comrade of mine going out here to face the odds when there's something holding him back, you know?"

For a moment, only silence was her answer.

Then...

"If it is one thing I've grown to learn, it's that the McTavish have strong ties to their family." He answered smoothly, momentarily closing his eyes. "We will stand by each other, fight and bleed by one another if the time calls for it. When we are made to turn on each other, we will bite the hand that swayed us with extreme prejudice and ruthlessness. Even within the haze of our bloodlust, we will not forget what has created us, gave us life, and raised us to who we were..."

Slowly, he opened his eyes, a hardened gaze being made out of them.

"I can sense my sister within their ranks." He said lowly. "And right now? I don't think she's in the best of moods..."

"B-Brina McTavish is here?!" Yōki's eyes flared open with alarm, realizing just how massive the operation now appeared to be, "you're sure?! Wait a minute, of course you're certain, dammit!"

"So what's so bad about this chick? Just cause she's a McTavish she's...what...another nutcase philosopher who was framed for a crime she didn't commit?" Takashi asked in an incredulous tone, speaking purely out of ignorance of the past and what had truly happened.

"STUPID!" Rokotsu shouted at Takashi, causing him to sweatdrop as she glared at him, "if you don't know who Brina McTavish was to the 2nd Division's Onmitsukidō Militia, then you shouldn't ask dumb questions, Taka-baka!"

"Geeze, Rok-san, no need to be so nasty-"

"Brina McTavish was the former Lieutenant and prodigy of the Stealth Force. She was considered to the prior Captain as a member of her own family, which made it all the more painful as she was given orders from the top, to eliminate a traitor from within their own ranks. One whom of which was her own flesh and blood, Evelyn McTavish. I don't know exactly what happened but," Yōki looked to Braeburn, her eyes filled with a serious glint as she spoke lowly to him, "but if your sister comes onto the battlefield in front of us, I will not hesitate to cut her down. Family or not, she made her choice to be an enemy of all things that is freedom and purity for her own selfish ideals. Its high time you think about stepping off the fence and choosing what's more important, Brae-san, and whom you're really fighting for..."

When Braeburn heard her direct her tone to him, his eyes widened briefly in a show of angered expression as he regarded her. However, as she continued speaking, the fire in his eyes was quick to fade as comprehension sunk in. He seemed to pay more attention to the words "purity" and "freedom" more than anything else, although the last sentence was also taken to mind. She might have been truly genuine in her belief, and he could respect that. But he found such words to be nothing more than the propaganda of the Gotei 13 long ago. It amused him to hear such words spoken to spite Brina, even more so that she would declare to cut her down. But the mention of "stepping off the fence" managed to destroy whatever defensive nature he could've brought up to the surface.

So, he didn't get angry or annoyed with Yōki. He didn't scowl or snap quickly. He didn't even ignore her as a controlled individual certainly would've done to keep anything from escalating to an argument. Instead, he did the one thing that probably wouldn't have been expected.

He grinned.

It was a smirk that conveyed his humor at her choice of words. But it was also challenging, expressing the desire for his eyes to see him personally raise a sword to her and cut her down. Those two would be the most prominent out of the messages that would be read from the nonverbal expression. But even so, this would be emphasized by the chuckle that escaped his throat. After looking at his superior for a moment more, he turned his head back to forward position.

"You really should watch that tongue of yours, ma'am..." He said coolly, though there could be a bit of taunt clearly heard. "Sounds to me like you've picked a day to talk reckless..."

"Tch, you're picking a day to be insufferable, Brae-san!" Yōki rolled her eyes, briefly winking at him, before she nodded up ahead at the massive doors that would lead to their destination, "we're here!"

"About time!" Takashi crowed out, landing onto his sandal covered feet as he held onto his straw hat, looking more like a Soul Reaper than a D.C.O. agent this time around, "let's go give our unwelcome guests the boot, shall we?!"

"Yup-Yup!" Rokotsu chirped cheerfully, despite the fact she hefted her already released giant axe Shikai over her shoulder, "let's go knock some heads tog-"

However, any further cheerful commentary would be cut off, as a thunderous sound could be heard...

BOOM-WHOOSH!

...sending a large wind past the towering, bent out of shape cargo bay doors...

VMMMMM!

...and a ghastly, bloodthirsty Spiritual Pressure the likes none of them had felt in a long time. If any one of them had a particular apathetic disposition towards the legacy of the Kenpachis...this would feel entirely justified, as the ravaging pressure would feel so overwhelming, that it would feel as if it would threaten to choke the life out of any ordinary being within its vicinity.

"ether....?!" Rokotsu croaked out in finality, as she barely gulped down her breath as she felt the immense power surge from within the compound they were about to reinforce.

"What the--!!"

It was here that Braeburn abruptly stopped himself, his pupils dilated in alarm as he felt the pressure wash over him. His feet skidded in the dirt as he spun around to face the direction that the spiritual pressure was being emitted from. His hands tightened into fists, and his body tensed up. The atmosphere, thanks to the power being expunged from what he presumed to be an assailant, was thick with nothing but malice and a desire for blood. It was clear that there would be no jokes when it came to the likes of this particular opponent.

A bead of sweat fell down his face.

"Well... at least this isn't Brina we're dealing with... but if it was, that'd be another reason why I wouldn't raise my blade to her..."

"Don't just stand around like a bunch of idiots!" Yōki shouted out to all of them, before charging through the gateway, "we can't let any enemy, no matter the martial strength, continue wrecking our sanctum unabated! Let's move!"

"R-Right!" Takashi shouted out in sync with the nervous Rokotsu, as all four of them would charge on through the gatway...and then lay their eyes upon the main attacker.

Having a crop of dark blue hair ontop of his head, with a grey-like complexion that was more like that of a shark's, the aquatic humanoid looked intimidating. Standing amongst a large pile of carnage and destruction, cloaked in a distinguishable black overcoat with crimson clouds bordered along it, indicating the sign of the Takuji Elite Branch. Wielding a large bloody, bandage-wrapped blade in hand, the entity looked around at the remaining exhausted troops before sniffing the air, drawing his eyes over to the D.C.O. squad heading his way.

"Well look at that...they sent me an entree to settle after this buffet of snack-bites. How nice, hehe!" Taihen growled out with anticipation and ravenous bloodthirst, his tongue sliding out across his thin lips in a grotesque emphasis of his wanton for their blood, "I hope you can at least keep up with me! These guys were so boring, and I wasn't even able to wreck that much of this dump around me..."

"And we just keep getting paired up with the psychos..." Braeburn growled, clenching his teeth as he glared daggers at the shark-like figure staring down at them. The fact that he had managed to overwhelm so many of their operators was enough to convey he was no cakewalk. Even fighting against him simultaneously wouldn't give them an advantage against the likes of him. "Who in the hell are you, fish-head?!"

"Yeah, answer quickly or we'll make you into chopped sushi!" Takashi barked aloud in additional retort against the bestial freak's features, as well as his monsterous disposition he currently held towards those around himself.

"Hehehehehehe! Now isn't that a good question?!" Taihen chuckled gutturally, turning his spiked-tooth-filled grin towards Braeburn in particular, "I'm not entirely sure what I am. Maybe I'm the spirit of a bloodthirsty shark, given human form? Maybe I was eaten by a shark in another life time, but I managed to somehow gut out the shark with my own bones and teeth? None of it matters, you decide, but here's what you should know," Taihen pointed his blood-dripping, bandaged-sword towards Braeburn and then in a methodical turn to all four of them, "I am Taihen Takuji, the Head of the Takuji's Assassin Corps and personal adjutant to Lord Seigi Takuji. With the strength I possess I will overwhelm all in opposition to me..."

SSSSHINK...!

"...and bleed dry those that I crush under my heels!"

...BLAM-BWHOOSH!

With an insane yell, Taihen moved with undeterring, unexpected speed towards Braeburn, swinging his blade around in a billowing arc above his head before smashing it directly downwards, releasing a fraction of his Spiritual Pressure within the excess of his cutting power. The damage it created would cause an immense fissure of uproaring steel and concrete, sending dust and exuding force that would cause a deterring wind to send the other three skidding and flying back away from their comrade.

For a moment, Braeburn almost felt guilty that he had gotten the chance for regular and personal spars with the current Head Captain. His teammates had trained as hard as he had in order to fight, if not for the purpose of becoming substitutes for fallen Captains and Lieutenants. But still, the display of power and only a fraction of it at best had been enough to blow away their foundation like a Lieutenant being thrown aside by the exertion of a Captain's spiritual pressure.

Only he had been left standing.

But he couldn't waste time feeling a bit spoiled.

When the sword came down on him, he instinctively raised his forearm in order to block it.

When it connected, it didn't cut into the skin or slice off his arm. Instead, like a stone bouncing off a wall, the blade recoiled back and reverberated briefly, its blade resonating like porch bells. There was no damage left on the arm itself, other than the scratches left on his clothing. He stood firm against the winds that blew away his comrades, his hair billowing against the intensity.

Following that movement was an immediate counter-attack.

"HRAAH!"

With a yell, Braeburn pulled his defensive hand back in trade for a thrust of his other palm, repulsing Taihen away from his person. It was backed by nothing more than pure physical force, with no spiritual energy to bolster it. But it would be potent enough to blow him off of his feet and send him flying a considerable distance away from the current location.

When Taihen's immense, blood-soak-wrapped blade came down upon the Soul Reaper, he became shocked that the force he utilized wasn't enough to pulverize him. In fact, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he was literally forced back by his new opponent, stumbling a few steps as he briefly uttered,"What the-?!"

WHAM!

Taihen felt his mouth choke out a wad of saliva as his feet left the floor and his heels grated the torn ground. Forcing himself to slow down by dragging his blade across the metalic-concrete flooring beneath him, he was only given enough time to stand back up when he was attacked from behind...

"TAKE THIS, UGLY!" Rokotsu shouted out, swinging her yellow-black axe around with a visibly daunting, high-sped slash, Taihen barely had time to move around and raise the base of his blade to counter the strike. The visible clash sent electrical sparks in the air as the force drove Taihen even further back than before.

From behind once more, Takashi raised his blade to point at his staggering form, before letting loose a swift extending thrust from his Shikai. The blade had a emerald hue as it moved with visibly lightning-equivalent speed, cutting through his cloak, as Taihen used a burst of Flash Step to move above all of his attackers, getting nicked in the side from evasion.

And if it wasn't all over, he was mistaken again, as Yōki had appeared to raise his blade up parallel to her eyes so Taihen would see her own Zanpakutō was released within the time he had been fighting them all at once. One of the spheres within her broadsword was missing, and with a slight twitch of her sword hand's wrist, Taihen would find that sphere...

WHIIIIZ-CRACK!

...rotating and slamming onto his backside with incredible force...

WHEEEEEW-BOOM!

...before sending him directly onto the ground below, causing an uproaring fissure of explosive energy and dust to rain throughout the air, effectively imbedding the enemy Soul Reaper into the earth before the squad. Rising from the dust, the sphere rotated as it flew through the air and returned to the open compartment of Yōki's Zanpakutō, clicking audibly into place.

"WHOO-HOO! Score one for the good guys!" Rokotsu fist-pumped into the air, still holding her behemoth axe with one hand as she smiled cheeringly.

"It ain't over though, but this is a good start," Takashi muttered aloud, turning around to the dazed D.C.O. operators and throwing his hand out to them, "what are you standing around looking stupid?! This whole base is under attack! Get the wounded to safety and join with another distressed area, pronto!"

"Y-Yes sir!" One of them said, and the rest scrambled for the exit, allowing the new squad of skilled professionals to take their place as they quickly moved out.

As soon as they left however, and as they awaited their opponent to rise from the earth, Yōki arched a brow as she smirked at his form, eyes shifting up and down, "I got to say, Brae-san...I knew you were in good shape but damn! You must have had a Hell of a workout with Hana-chan if you could take a swing like that with no damage!"

Braeburn was now sporting an anticipatory grin on his face, his eyes narrowed in newfound confidence. He let out a short set of laughter as he raised his fists up to a defensive position, looking over the spot in which their mutual enemy rested. "This is great!!" He declared. "Now that particular test has been cleared, I think this is going to step along nicely. Yoki? Takashi? Rokotsu? Let's waste this bastard!!" Each and every word radiated his spirit as well as the desire to commence this fight.

Then, came a blood curtling laugh from the spot of impact their opponent had made...

"Ehehehehehahahahahahahaha!" Taihen laughed aloud as he rose to his full height, his cloak torn away to reveal a matte brown D.C.O. grade armor vest, with a searing point of tearing from the combined attacks sent by his opponents. With a toothy shark grin on his face, Taihen rolled his neck around in a circle, causing a series of audible snaps to be heard, "that was great! They actually DID send someone worth killing! I thought this was going to be a typical meatgrinder assignment, but you...you're something! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

VMMMMMM-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-WHOOSH!

"I might have to get serious around you kids, ehehehehehe!" Taihen cackled madly, as his eyes glowed blue and his body oozed crackling neon blue Spiritual Power, as the pressure cracked the atmosphere and the force created a crater from which all the combatants within his proximity lowered slightly at the sudden decline in landscape. With crackling fissures of energy running amok the enlarged cargo bay, it appeared as Taihen was truly releasing a good portion of his true power before his opponents.

"Th-This is the real deal, huh?!" Takashi shouted out in acknowledgement of the sheer density of power sent by their opponent.

"Why are ugly guys so strong?! UGH!" Rokotsu protested at the feeling of such power, never having felt it since the time they fought 666 on the bridge all those years ago.

"I can't believe he didn't get crippled from an attack like that!" Yōki snarled aloud in partial frustration, partial anticipaton for the elongated battle ahead of them, "same as last time, Brae-san! You take point and the rest of us will follow!"

"That's a little more of his spiritual power..." Braeburn thought to himself, settling into a readied stance. He couldn't help but stumble a little at the release of power that leveled the ground Taihen had crashed. He squinted his eyes in concentration, trying to sense the depths of the man's power. From the attitude he was exhibiting alone, he was still holding back somewhat. That was fine by him - this looked very promising, and he didn't want to rush what was going to be an impressive battle.

Upon Yōki's command, he threw himself forward...

WOOSH!

...only to vanish out from in front of Taihen, re-appearing a few ways above and behind him. A leg was in the process of swinging towards the head, with his kneecap having the potential to crash into the jaw. The physical power put behind the attack would be enough to send his enemy's head flying from his shoulders like a ball from a cannon.

"I see what you did there," Taihen spoke lowly, as his face seemingly caved in from the immense force, quickly shimmering away into the aftermath of a deftly employed Flash Step's afterimage. His left arm already grasping his free retracted ankle, he swung his blade up to parry the anticipated lunge sent by Rokotsu, causing the blade to scrape against the barbed-like material from beneath the bandage-wrapped weapon. While still holding onto Braeburn's ankle, he then acrobatically backflipped over the lunge sent by Takashi's blade, before deftly throwing Braeburn's body towards him, intending on colliding the two D.C.O. agents together as he backstepped from the last enemy, "you use the first guy as a rushing tactic to set me off balance, making me lose concentration off of the leader's attack, from which her Zanpakutō! From which I see once again one is missing," Taihen noted, as Yōki appeared shocked at the perception their enemy had, as he turned around to swing his blade towards the anticipated rotating discharged sphere, "and then get hit by the flying ball-"

CRACK!

"?!?!" However, instead of meeting the rotating crimson-energized sphere he expected, a thick aura of explosive energy was also wrapped around its high-intense rotating form. The force was enough to send him back across his heels, even with the Spiritual Pressure he exerted, until the aura itself discharged a violent crimson explosion...

BOOM!!!

...enveloping his person in a large ten meter width blast of explosive power, before the sphere itself spun around and began to strike at him from different angles, keeping him distracted with its ferocity to get the others to recover from the entity's attack.

Prior to that movement, Braeburn had found himself within a predicament. He gritted his teeth in slight frustration as he saw his kick get caught, and because he was in mid-air, it seemed as if he had been rendered helpless. But with a kick of his other leg, he struck the wrist holding his ankle captive. This had prompted Taihen's grip to loosen immediately and allow him to lunge away before he could even start to be hurled at Takashi. Thrusting his hands out to meet the ground first, he landed in a handstand before flipping and twisting to a standing position in masterful acrobatics.

"--and then everything explodes." He finished smugly, settling into a stance. "Right?"

"That was close!" Takashi spoke aloud, as he noted the enemy's skill, "guess this guy isn't as dumb as he looks, is he?"

"Wouldn't that go the same for you, Taka-baka?"

"SHUT UP ROKOTSU!" Takashi yelled back at the cheeky Rokotsu, even as Yōki continued her barrage of attacks from her single sphere, discharging blasts of energy intermittenly as she kept rotating her weapon kept up its attack indiscriminately upon her target. However, something didn't feel right. Not wanting to voice it aloud, she let out a gasp as she could feel the structure of her opponent remain steadfast, despite how many times he was struck by her sphere. Even the explosions were knocked away from his skin by the subtle discharge of Spiritual Pressure from his pores, and slowly and surely began to evade his weapon's attacks. Then, he swung his blade around towards his enemy's projectile, uttering lowly...

"Shred 'em up!"

WHAM-CRACK-PHEW!

"SHINKAI!"

Within the last series of barragwe

"That tickled," a voice called out, as a shark skin-barbed blade slammed into the rotating sphere, sending it off course and crashing into a large stack of crates and parts. The force rivetted the entirety of the cargo bay, and Taihen smiling as he exposed his crude looking weapon, "this is my Zanpakutō's true form, Shinkai! Along with being hard enough to repel most concussive and sharp materials, it controls one fundamental element..."

WHAM!

"Ōtsunami!"

WHOOOOOSH!

By slamming his blade into the earth beneath him, a thunderous blast of water was created. Moving in all directions, the wave grew up to the size of ten stories and spread out to cover everything within its reach. The force that would immerse the enemies beneath his high rise point would be enough to send them off course and possibly result into crushing contorsions and injuries.

Within the wave of water, a number of crimson orbs were generated. These orbs themselves were condensed and high-powered Shakkahos, kept within the waves like depth charges...

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

...exploded remotely to send his enemies further off course and across the vast cargo bay, along with the gaseous and liquid alike, sending Takashi sprawling into his backside against a large crate, Yōki head over heels, before landing onto her feet while heaving her breaths, and Rokotsu landing head first into the ground itself.

Getting hit and submerged into a tsunami was bad enough.

The Kidō bombs just made it worse.

BOOSH!

"AGH!" Braeburn found himself being blown back, forcefully maintaining a stable from within the air. When he touched down to the ground, he skidded on both his hands and feet, his gloves providing partial protection against the friction. As soon as he skidded to a stop, he regarded Taihen with eyes of apprehension. The enemy's Zanpakutō was a water type, and right now, he had soaked the cargo bay within the liquid. Right now, it was clear who had the advantage here.

When he spoke up again, it was towards his teammates. "Talk to me, are you guys all right?!" He questioned, having felt the pressure of the wave itself. Thankfully, he had managed to withstand the force of the attack without any serious problems or issues.

"THAT...HURT...OWWWWW!" Rokotsu screamed out, thankfully used her axe as a brace for most of the pressure thrown her way and keeping her head from being too damaged from the fall. Standing upright, she couldn't believe that the Soul Reaper before her had generated so much moisture when they were within a climate controlled facility.

"Hardly felt a thing...ow!" Takashi muttered out, brushing off the wood and metalic parts from within, sighing as he felt a slight crick in his back from the attack. Twisting his body around, he audibly snapped it back in place, allowing him to sigh in contentment, "yup! Still good!"

"Barely felt any damage, but my head feels dizzy," Yōki grumbled as she held onto her head in emphasis, looking straight towards her enemy with a visible glare, "but that man...monster...whatever he is, is strong! He took a full barrage of my attacks and found time to study the pattern in which it moved. He even managed to anticipate its flight trajectory and had enough strength to send it off course," raising her blade up, her indented crimson sphere luminated with Spirit Energy and flew back into the hollow spot of her blade, clicking into its passive stance to allow Yōki to change strategems, "this man is just toying with us. He's surprised about our power, but that's the only reason we keep landing attacks upon him. Its as if his power is barely being tapped into at all...!"

"Yeah, that's what they tend to do on the first date..." Braeburn said sarcastically, the alarm receding now that he heard that they were okay. He straightened himself up to a standing position, keeping his eyes on the target. "When he expelled his energy the second time, I could sense that he was holding back. He's taking his time, having fun and trying to drag it out as much as possible." At this, he allowed a small smirk to cross his face as he slowly clenched his fists. "It's only natural..."

"And yet, we're not giving it our all either," Yōki said with a smile, looking over to Braeburn she winked at him as she spread her feet out on the wet, room-filled puddle that was created as she readied her stance, "we're just beginning to fight this guy, isn't that right?!"

"Damn straight!" Takashi shouted out in a calvalier tone, raising his blade to the ceiling before turning it down in emphasis, "this bastard's going down!"

"I wanna cut him up so baaaaad, now! HEHEHE!" Rokotsu said with an eery, sadistic glee as she spoke in her passive sing-song tone of hers. Her body radiated a fiery spirit rivaling the rest of their own, as she couldn't wait but feel excited to fight seriously against such a strong opponent.

"You'll have to beat me to it, then..."

WOOSH!

And with that being said, Braeburn launched himself at Taihen with newfound vigor, his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched together...

Hilarity and Despair, the Tragic Comedic Reunion!
Had it been any of the other Dragons, there would've been certain to have been a voice.

Kunō had relayed malevolence and hatred. Daigomi had treated it like a game that he was winning. Yashin was sadistic and bloodthirsty, looking to enjoy a hunt. It could be something that could've been assumed with each and every one of the Dragons of the Inner Circle. But if one assumed that, then it was clear that they didn't know their enemy as well as they should have. Thus was demonstrated with Brina as she walked down an area occupied by what her enemy referred to as the D.C.O.'s "Sword Squad".

Just like all of them, any and all attempts to slow her and her escort down had proven to be futile.

WHACK!

A single hand...

POW!

...a single finger...

SLICE!

...or two. That was all that was needed to fell each and every one of the agents that had attempted to ambush her. She moved quickly, striking down each and every one of them before their blades could even begin to reach her. Although her hand was quick, her gait was calm and collected as she continued to walk within the home of the D.C.O. In terms of honor, this was the cruelest thing that could've ever been done - the refusal of even acknowledging her enemy's presence. She held a calm and cool expression on her face - a clear indication of how effortless each and every one of her movements were.

When those within her section were down, she raised her bloodied hand and waved her index and middle finger ahead of her - a gesture for her escort to keep moving forward.

"Well, when you said you were going to clear a path, Brina-san, I didn't know you were going to stain it with blood in the process," Choku spoke with morbid humor, as he used his right forefingers to push the bridge of his glasses up his nose, causing it to reflect an eery refraction of sinister light as he looked around, "satisfying and gruesome in one passive gait. You are a poetic inspiration to all of us..."

"There's nothing satisfying in the way these warriors are killed," Valeur spat, but kept his voice low none-the-less as he followed their assigned leader. Having observed all the deaths and mortal injuries their enemies sustained while none of them had to raise a finger, in contrast to their assignments to other Dragons, he found it all the more cruel to his honorable enemies, "no acknowledgement, no even-standing ground between opponents, no farewells given. This is the epitome of dishonorable death. To be forgotten, alone, and not even regarded as a being of prowess or individual worth. There is no Pride in this form of warfare. No pride can come of this at all..."

A dark chuckle escaped the lips of Tenshina, although he observed the slaughter with a chill running down his spine. "Not that it matters much..." He added in his own comment, keeping both hands within his pocket. "The Shinigami aren't much for pride either, even when it comes to keeping the peace. They kill the residents they're supposed to protect to keep the balance, kill their own without hesitation. You saw how the Head Captain was out there. War isn't made to be pretty or honorable. As far as I'm concerned, all of these bastards had this coming to them..."

SNAP!

Brina wasn't the only one actively taking part in the murder, for there were those finishing off ones attempting to escape or fight again.

After crushing the throat of another hapless member with her bare hand, Kameyo tossed the body aside like a useless piece of trash. "These soldiers were not prepared for our arrival. This was an error that could have been overseen, but overlooked by the enemy." She said. "This may be a rather... immoral...practice to use even in the midst of war. But they only have themselves to blame for the lives lost here..."

"Tch!" Valeur turned his head to the side, looking away of such distasteful execution employed by the one he believed to be a shining gem in his heart. Perhaps she had more stomach than he did, or didn't care about manslaughter on such a scale, but he didn't have to like it.

As the bloodbath continued, Choku pressed a switch in his analysis lenses and began to take in account the number of slain and their current ranks, "Well, if it means anything, these are supposed to be the weakest of the aledged "Sword Squad" of their DCO. If there's any real high-ranking combatants, like the ones we've faced, we have yet to cross their paths-"

And an untimely event would bring Choku's cautionary words to life...

SSSSHRK-BOOM!

...as a violent blue blast of energy enveloped the path before Brina and her men. The energy stemming from Kidō, coming from the palms of a descending, black coat enraptured Soul Reaper, whom he was followed upon by his Deputy Captain and his Reserve Sword Squad member, whom is also part of the Lancer Corps.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Dragon, but you and your subordinates kill no more!" Kaien spoke resoundedly, but held a canine grin of anticipation and revelling to the conflict to come. With a pair of steely gray eyes that hinted a spark of blue within them, as well as a subtle aura of daunting Spiritual Pressure about his presence, the man whom was revealed by Brina's associate, Daigomi Bandai, stood before her now.

Senna stood by her stoically, her eyes glaring upon the squad of executioners and the woman whom was believe to have been responsible for Captain Tensai's hospitalization and current recovery. For this, Senna couldn't forgive any of them, no matter their standings within this battle. This is a matter of surival, not principle...

"So you're the one who helped give Daigomi so much trouble... Kaien Shiba, if I'm not mistaken?" Brina asked rhetorically, a corner of her mouth curling upwards in a smirk. "I'd be surprised at the appearance of you and the former Memory Rosary, but I've begun to realize that maybe the dead just don't know how to stay dead..."

"....you really had to open your mouth, didn't you, Brainiac?" Tenshina said sarcastically. ""Oh, we have yet to meet up with the superiors of this bunch!" Well, I hope you're happy, because there they are!! What's next, are you going to..."

As he continued his tirade, the member accompanying both Senna and Kaien had positioned herself so that she would be latching onto Kaien's shoulders with both of her hands. Considering that she was quite short, she could easily perform the feat and still keep herself off of the ground. She looked at each of them with her own scrutiny, though it wasn't as intense as the gazes of Senna and Kaien were. Her focus was on the one who was ranting at his friend. She puffed up her cheeks, tilted her head back...

"Ptewie!"

...and promptly unleashed a spit-wad in his direction.

SPLAT!

With impressive accuracy, it connected right into one of Tenshina's eyeball.

He froze immediately, stopping his tirade and trading his annoyed expression for one of shock and surprise. Then, after a few seconds...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~!!!!"

He started screaming, a hand slapped onto the affected eye. He started staggering around aimlessly due to the severe agitation. "MY EYE!!! THAT LITTLE SHIT JUST SPIT IN MY EYE!!!" He screamed, falling to his knees. "WHAT KIND OF PERSON DOES THAT?!"

"Whoo~!" The small girl cheered, pumping a fist in the air. "I got a bullseye!"

"Good job, Yachiru-chan," Kaien spoke with an approving tone, smiling as he raised his hand up for her to high-five in reward for her accomplishment, "I think you broke a record with that distance of spit-balling!"

"W-What kind of superior applauds such behavior?" Choku sweatdropped in sync with Valeur's shock of the comedic take-down of one of their comrades. The fact not only had she been out of their senses, but the accuracy of which she could use a simple spit-wad showed an incredible mental perception for weakpoints. Choku, despite his barely contained chuckling at the hilarity and increduality of the situation, knew to be wary of her. Bending down, he tried to help up his writhing friend along with Valeur on either side of his arms, "are you alright, Bokujin-san?"

"Ahem," Kaien cleared his throat, before locking hsi gaze back to Brina, the leader of the group he intended to stop, "I wouldn't exactly be offended if you referred to the method of my...rebirth...is seen as immoral. But for the matter, I'm here to stop life from being taken rather than encourage it. I'd rather not see an enemy who practices in such dark deeds to discuss ethics with the likes of you, Brina McTavish..."

"A mass of germs and bacteria just landed itself into my eyeball, courtesy of an archer's spit-take. What do you think?!"

Although even the likes of Kameyo couldn't help but deadpan stare at Tenshina and the "wound" that had been inflicted, Brina simply kept her gaze onto the three targets even as Yachiru slapped a hand against Kaien's triumphantly. "That's fine and dandy..." She said, retrieving both hands from her pockets to fold her arms across her chest. "I'm fairly certain none of us came here for a discussion, so let's skip to the point."

As Tenshina was starting to recover from the spit-wad thrown in his eye, Kameyo walked to stand beside Brina. Her crimson eyes stared passively at the three, but one of her hands was unsheathing the blade secured at her waist. With her other hand, she reached behind her to unsheathe the chokuto holstered on her back. She lowered them to her sides, ready to strike at a moment's notice. "My Lady," She whispered, earning Brina's glance. "Let us kill them. It is unfit for a person of high stature to have to keep dealing with filth like this..."

"Here," Choku reached into his coat pocket, he handed him a small bottle that had a tear-drop logo on it, "these are eyedrops I use to relieve pain in my own eyes. Maybe a drop or two would help that eye out and clean it up, hm?"

"What's that I hear?" Kaien arched his neck to the side briefly as he overheard, or rather, read the intention behind Kameyo's speech through the movement of her lips, "Perhaps you'd like a demonstration, young lady..."

However, any form of display of power would be suddenly halted...by an unexpected and unintentional arrival...!

CLAP-BOOM!

Within a emerald flash of light, nearly blinding anyone whom was before the small scorched space that separated the group of warriors, a sudden visage appeared before both groups. While Valeur blinked away, and Choku's lenses automatically shielded his eyes from the sudden flash of light, Kaien and his two associates had to blink away the momentary brilliant flash that had came and went as suddenly as the uninvited guest...

"-tcha tell you not to interrupt a mate who's spe-" a mid-ranting of a tall, burly man whom smelled of alcohol and appeared out of uniform in comparison to those around him. Blinking away the flash of light that had consumed his own vision, he suddenly realized he wasn't with everyone and saw that he was present amongst an anticipated battle, "oh sonuvawallaby! What the blasted outback Hell did that cyborg send me?! Eh?!"

"...or...not...?" Kaien stopped his entire provocational speech as he was suddenly interrupted by the Kidō-Transportation arrival of a strangely familiar entity. If not by face, then by reputation and files, he knew had heard of this conspicuous man somewhere...

"The heck is he? A hobo hermit?!" Senna spoke under her breath incredulously as she blinked with comically enlarged eyes, her jaw twitching at the hilarity of such an interruption just after her comrade induced a comical fit of pain to one of their enemies.

"He looks like a punk rocker!" Yachiru quipped, after raising herself from hiding behind Kaien to keep from being blinded. "And he sounds like an Aussie!"

When Brina and Kameyo lowered their arms from their faces upon the light's fading, they were most certainly surprised by the sudden appearance of the newcomer. Kameyo was naturally subtle about it, her eyes widening in the slightest manner. However, Brina's apathetic demeanor was shattered upon seeing his form, her eyes widening and the underside of her eye bent inwards to fully express it. Tenshina was too busy planting a few drops within the affected eye in order to pay immediate attention to it. But once he did, the only reaction he expressed was a few blinks of the eyes.

"Well, uh..." He said, almost to himself. "Did we happen to call for any extras? I've never seen that guy before, and he doesn't look like he's from the Deep Cover Ops..."

The response from Brina would most likely shock them all.

"Uh... Uncle?"

"U-Uncle?!" Choku choked out, as he blinked in response, moving his head back and forth between the two, clearly no seeing the resemblence, "th-this is your uncle?!"

Valeur could only blink, planting a hand into his face to slide it down as he almost about had it with all the surprise entries. It was almost expected, considering all of the "unexpected" debuts of reputable and unrecognizeable entities as of late, now was becoming more and more expected to happen in general. Perhaps he'd add it into his strategy to expected "unexpected" arrivals from now on...

Kaien could barely restrain laughter of increduality. He heard the report of Jack McTavish, the Wallaby, whom happened to be the estranged uncle of one Braeburn McTavish. He should've expected him and the other Crimson Knights to have reappeared sometime again, seeing as dynamic entrances were their thing, but why here? It seemed almost too coincidental, but Kaien shrugged it off, "He's with us, Yachiru-chan. Senna-chan. He's Jack "The Wallaby" McTavish of the Crimson Knights. Believe it or not he's a reputable fighter and an accomplished bounty hunter..."

"You sure about that?" Senna asked incredulously as her eye twitched at the man's nearly vulgar appearance, despite his physical endowment, "he sure doesn't look like it..."

"'Allo ladies and gents!" Jack flashed a dashing rogue smile towards the Soul Reapers, saluting with his forefingers halfheartedly before scratching the back of his head, "sorry about the late act, but my boss got a little whanked when he found out you split town. As we traced the scent your magician Cap'n left in the pale outback, we accidentally went sideways in the middle of a loop-to-loop, timey-wimey...ah, well, we got separated when we just got here, is all!"

Jack then sniffed the air, and found himself blinking in surprise. Looking over at the group of somewhat intimidating entities to his left, he couldn't help but lock his eyes onto Brina's. With a big, wide grin of surprisingly pearly teeth, Jack leaped over and gave his niece a big, bear hug as he shouted in glee, even spinning her around as if seeing her for the first time in ages, "My Dandy Bree! Its really you! Oh how I missed your soft mane and lovely scent! Its been forever, ya silleh shielah!"

"Oh, fu--"

"Ah--!!"

A startled yelp escaped Brina when she was swept up in Jack's strangely affectionate embrace. The sudden movement had simply shocked Tenshina and Kameyo even more, although neither of them bothered to change their expressions. On the other side, however, Yachiru cocked a skeptical eyebrow as she watched the supposed uncle of the Dragon wrap her up in a bear hug without any concern for who she was. "You sure he's with us?" She asked, peering in suspicion. "He seems to be very happy seeing that psycho lady..."

"Do I look like a horse?!" Brina complained. "Don't say things like that, it's creepy!" Nevertheless, she didn't bother fighting the welcome from her uncle, despite how bittersweet it was.

"He's...definitely a lunatic," Choku concluded as he heard what he spoke to her as well as his mannerisms. Pushing the bridge of his glasses up once more, he spoke lowly in a cautious tone, "but he feels...dangerous...none-the-less. I shouldn't let my guard around him..."

"Oh? Sorry about that," Jack spoke apologetically, but kept up a friendly demeanor as he set her down onto the ground and backed up a foot. Once again, he sheepishly scratched the back of his neck as he regarded her, "I haven't seen you since you graduated from dem Jap's Academy into the service. Before then, I used to call you that as a wee lass...but you're a full-blown Shiela now, and I should dignify you with proper names," his eyes suddenly drew to a serious gaze as he looked her dead in the eye, "after all, you are the one who murdered my brother's wife. That's something I can't forget, Brina. Not for as long as I live. Its why I am here, after all..."

"!!"

Brina's eyes widened in surprise, only needing a second to comprehend what he was talking about.

Brother's wife...

Her mother...

Evelyn.

The way he spoke kept her from feeling outright shock at the last words he spoke. There was the simple fact that he had gotten word about it, of course, considering she assumed that the 2nd Division naturally restricted information about the incident from circulating. But that only took up a portion of her surprise. The larger part of it stemmed from the fact that it seemed as if he didn't know the full story, the details that only she had gotten a chance to learn. To her, it was something to be relieved about. In a situation like this, the man only needed to know what was on the surface.

So, she did the only rational thing in order to maintain the flow of the situation - feed the deception.

Her expression slowly transitioned from surprise to amused as she looked at him, a small chuckle escaped her lips. "Oh, so you're here for her?" She repeated. "Because from what you're telling me, I thought you were only here due to an accident. But apparently, fate has decided to smile on you today. Yet, I can't help but wonder. Would you really raise a blade to your own blood so easily? And in addition to that, do you really think you're capable of lifting a candle up to me?" Her eyes narrowed into slits as she met his stare.

"The dreaded Tiger Snake, Evelyn McTavish. Captain Sui-Feng. Sazuke Tensai. I've torn them all down and broke them to their basic building blocks. I don't know what kind of mistakes that you've made in your life, uncle... but challenging me may be just your gravest one yet. So I'm giving you one and only one chance to walk away with your life and person intact. I could care less about family. Anyone who dares to cross me will be terminated with extreme prejudice."

"You're a bad liar, Brina," Jack allowed himself to smile a bit menacingly, if not knowingly, as his eyes looked into hers, "you caught your mother by surprise. Your mentor didn't use her full mettle, and from how I hear, it was the Shiela Tensai that pummeled you to the point of wailing like a baby. Only your deranged joey-boyfriend kept you from death's door. And besides," Jack's body slowly began to seep a violet-red aura of Spiritual Power, slowly but surely rising as he spoke, "I know you were a wee Shiela back in the day, but my brawns is more than a match for your moxy. Anytime..."

VMMMMMM-CRK-CRK-CRK!

"...anywhere!" Jack's body suddenly bristled with a powerful force of Spiritual Power, so much so that it would've exceeded his own brother when he was within his prime. Causing the others to cover their eyes, if not look away entirely as the power weighed down and intended to push everyone way, if not draw only his neice towards him, with the sheer intention of forcefully boxing them away from the others.

"Nnngh--!!"

Tenshina gritted his teeth, finding himself throwing his arms in front of his face in an attempt to shield his face from the oncoming winds. His ponytail billowed and whipped around violently, and even the digging of his feet into the ground couldn't keep him from skidding back a little. "Jesus Christ, this is ridiculous!!" He thought to himself. "None of us could take this guy with that kind of spiritual pressure!!"

"Th-This is bad! Maybe we should take our fight with these Soul Reapers elsewhere!" Choku suggested hastily, as he looked at the deranged, if not completely unexpected power-filled uncle of their superior's, "I rather not get caught in a crossfire of a...volatile...family feud, right?!"

"It wouldn't be right to step in between her and this man's quarrel. With your permission, Serah McTavish, I will dispatch your enemies in another location so you may have this man's wish of a proper battle," Valeur spoke in an eloquent, if not cautious tone.

Kaien on the other hand remained silent. While his eyes flared in shock of the man's immense power, the fact he could sense a great well still remaining within his inner being surprised him even more. A non-Soul Reaper spirit containing this much Spiritual Power was nearly unheard of...but then again, he heard of worse surprises.

"Permission granted..."

Although Brina's smile was soon to fade upon the moment Jack started speaking again. Although her hair was billowing in the intense winds and pressure generated, she stood stubbornly like a stone wall. Her blue eyes seemed to glow brightly as she slowly raised her fists up to an idle fighting stance, continuing to regard Jack with narrowed eyes. "I entrust their deaths to all of you." She said. "I will kill this one myself. The Horsemen might like a few heads of the officers on their tables..."

"Just try..." Kaien thought as he gripped the hilt of his blade, narrowing his eyes to the Dogs of the Inner Circle. With a sudden whooshing motion, all of the combatants moved with incredible speed and fury, quickly separating from each other respectively and moving to an alternative location.

Leaving the two McTavish's alone...

"Its been awhile since I've tangoed with you, lassie," Jack spoke with a grin, his fists balling up as he spread his legs out into a fighting stance, pulling his arms close to his sides, "this will be as damn nostalgic as it is a whopper, Shiela!"

This time, Brina didn't allow herself to respond. For a moment, all she did was remain silent and allow the tension to take over the area. The silence was deafening, dominating what was soon to be their combat area. Although her stance was casual and comfortable in comparison to Jack's, she was fully prepared to attack and defend at a moment's notice.

It wasn't long before that silence was broken.

Breaking Blood Chains; Time To Feed The Monster - Part 1
WOOSH!

With a Flash Step, she reappeared without warning to Jack's front. Her arm crashed into him and presumably his guard. From there, she proceeded to unleash a relentless stream of fists on him, using her close proximity to lessen his chances of blocking effectively. Despite her barely increased muscle mass, each blow would carry a considerable amount of physical power behind it. Even as she moved aggressively against him, that reserved and composed look still remained on her face. All that could be seen was concentration as she fought to overpower and overwhelm him.

And yet, it appeared he kept up with her.

With a dazed, almost soothing look in his eyes, his body moved with unimaginable speeds throug his limbs to parry the first blow and the blows that followed. Strikes that visibly appeared to make contact seemed to be absorbed and dispersed, and the counterstrikes utilized by his arms and legs themselves seemed to get stronger with every passing second. And within one moment her strike almost connected...

SNATCH-FWT-CRACK-WHOOSH!

...he grappled her arm, moving underneath her guard as he spun around her to move into her blindspot, twisting her left arm that had extended around into a near breaking point while snapping his elbow into her spinal cord, then moved her into a circle in the air, and threw his forehead into her facing nasal cavity, intending on doing some damage to her within the fluid and relentless counterattack.

Pain.

When he moved around her, Brina clenched her teeth together as she heard the bone with her arm emit a painful pop. But even as the burning sensation shot through her arm, she did not allow herself to falter. Even as she was lifted off of her feet, she was ready to deliver a counter-attack of her own. Still, she could not help but briefly think over what she had just experienced. Every blow of his seemed to increase in strength little-by-little, a clear sign that the progress of undoing his restraints.

Then again, she was doing the same.

POW!

Before she could be spun around, she swung her free elbow behind her. The bone of it collided with his face, and the force not only made him release her arm, but also send him back several meters. With a reflexive spin, she threw herself after him. She wanted to pressure him, leave him no ground and shatter whatever defense he had. She was going to put all of her effort into winning this fight and crushing her opponent. Failure wasn't an option.

"Not again."

Her eyes were narrowed into slits as she charged.

"Not ever..."

Even as the elbow slammed into his face, his body slid back intentionally as his palms swung out, bracing himself to throw back into the fray. While no visual cracks or external damage was shown by the attack, it did stun him and made his vision blurry enough for her to move away from him before returning to the fight.

Jack knew he wasn't dealing with an ordinary opponent. The sheer tenacity, the killing intent feeding her aura, felt like this battle was much more personal than a simple commanding order. There was no impassion but passion in her attacks. While disconcerting, Jack allowed his grin to expand a little, as he knew this battle should be taken to its fullest.

As she would swing another barrage he initiated an unknown form of Fast-Movement technique before her eyes...

SHFT!

...disappearing deftly before her eyes, before reapping a good dozen meters away. But instead of attacking, it appeared he held a large bottle of some form. While ordinarily, it would be custom for him to release his immense Spiritual Power's reserves deep within his form. But this particular brand of whisky had the title, "Tendan Spill," on its exterior, and if anyone would know what that would mean, it would mean one thing: the strongest liquor known throughout the Spiritual Realms to date.

"Bottoms up, Shiela!" And with that, he unplugged the cork and began gulping down the entirety of the bottle's contents, filling his body with its mentally unstable elements and bodily changing chemistry mix. With this done, who knows what could happen?!

"...?"

Oh, if only she took a better interest in foreign culture.

Brina quirked a slight eyebrow as she watched Jack guzzle down the alcoholic drink, though making sure to keep her guard up. She knew better than to assume that he would have done anything to inhibit himself in any way. If anything, it was something to bolster him, to give him an advantage over her. So whatever it was, she had to stay alert. She remained silent, waiting for the effects to kick in.

SMACK!

After releasing his lips from the bottle itself, Jack quickly developed a drunken, glazed look over his eyes. Hiccupping, his cheeks flushed red, and soon nearly his whole body turned into a dark shade of red to depict his drunken state, "H-Hey there...sheila...HIC! W-W-Whatcha doin' over dar...? He he he he....come to Uncle Jackie and give him a big kiss on the smackerooooooooo..."

PLUMP!

After puckering his lips disgracefully and confoundedly, his body fell straight onto his back with a loud thud, and an emitment of pain followed by a series of giggles could be heard by the man. It clearly looked as if Jack had really lossed it...!

"..."

This disgraceful display was enough to make one of Brina's eyes twitch.

"Or, maybe that was actually something to make him shut down completely."

It simply did not add up. The seriousness he had displayed before contradicted what he was displaying now. Wasn't he here to avenge Evelyn in whatever way he planned? Certainly, he wasn't going to do that nearly passed out on the floor. Brina's immediate thought was cast aside in favor for these more pondering ideas. She was no fool. Whatever he was doing was some sort of trap, and once she let down her guard, she would fall straight into it.

"Do you really think I'm that foolish, uncle?"

Slowly, she raised one of her fingers.

TZZZT!

A single Byakurai spell was shot at his prostrate form, aiming to burn a hole through him from the feet up.

WHIZ-CRACK!

Instead of striking what Brina would percieve would be her stationary, prone uncle, would actually be a afterimage, as his body rolled a meter to his left, and firmly planting his thumb into his mouth, suckling it like a child. Muttering incoherently, he gave her a sideways glare of annoyance, as if he thought it was rude to fire a death-bearing bolt of destructive spirit energy at him.

Another twitch.

"Okay, no."

TZZZT-TZZZT-TZZZT-TZZT-TZZZT!

Brina began to unleash a stream of Byakurai bolts at Jack in follow-up of the single one she had fired, concentrating her fire but making sure to keep them spread out just enough to make it harder for him to dodge.

Countering, Jack began rolling across the ground back and forth, curling and wiggling almost like a worm in motion of his drunken-state dodges. The speed was nearly incomprehensible, and hard to follow, even as the streaks of lightning blasts tore chunks out of the D.C.O. wall and flooring, creating a cloud of dust in the wake of so much firepower in such a rapid discharge.

Then, Jack spoke within the midst of the final shot, slurring his words out, "You're being a baaaad girl, little Bree-Bree! Hehehe...bad girls need to be spanked...spanked...spanked-"

WHOOSH!

In mid-sentence, Jack's form dove low to the ground and fast, moving with an indescribable blur of speed as he moved to pass directly underneath Brina's spread legs. As he reached halfway, he swung out his arms so his elbows would connect to the backsides of her knees, intending for her to go down just as he would fully pass by...

FWHOOSH!

...before propping his hands onto the flooring behind her and donkey kicking her hindquarters with unprejudiced force, intending to send her form careening into the ceiling where it would meet the high-rising walls, "IN THE ASSSSSSSS!!!!"

"Wait a minute..."

Although the collision with the backsides of her knees was enough to make her fall over, Brina was quick to react to it.

With a boost of her feet, she initiated a back flip over Jack before the donkey kick could connect with her body. As she sailed over his head, her eyes regarded her uncle with slight surprise as she realized what he was doing. This did not change even as she performed a stream of back flips and hand springs away from him. Once she got to a considerable distance away, she stopped and readied herself once more.

"Now I see what he's doing. This is the style of Zui Quan, way of the drunken fist. Irregular movements, unpredictability and the general assumption that he's left vulnerable. I'm starting to realize why he's regarded as so dangerous..."

As Jack finished his kick, his body flipped upright, though staggered drunkenly as he did so. An eery grin was plastered on his face as a glint of killing intent could be seen projecting from his eyes, his reddened skin seemingly crackling with a ominous rise of Spiritual Power. After a few slurring words, she'd know he was serious, "Hey Dandy Bree? Whya...movin...so sloooooow?"

SHFT!

Within the end of his sentence his body vanished with an irregular form of a Fast-movement technique, appearing vividly before her eyes full in stature. As he staggered to her left, his right hand moved with unprecedented speed to gouge her eyes out, while his left hand simultaneously moved to hook punch her in the gut. However, it wasn't the devestating strength behind the punch that was dangerous, but rather...

BOOOOM!

...the large exhale of unexpected destructive energy that would enrapture nearly the entirety of the corridor, scorching its durable plasteel material and cracking the metal within the air like popcorn as its crimson energy billowed to explode violently at the end of hallway, reverberating with an immense shockwave of aftermath force.

At first, it seemed to work.

The last action that could be seen from Brina was her throwing her hands up to meet his before the blast was unleashed, enveloping her within its crimson light. Her spiritual signature seemed to vanish within the massive flow of power that swallowed her whole - a sign that she had been completely annihilated by the attack. That moment seemed to have sealed Jack's total victory.

That is, until the smoke cleared.

Brina was shown to have stopped both of his hands from reaching her, his fist caught in one hand and the other grasped firmly by her other. Her form was virtually unscathed, save for some slight scratches on parts of her face and torso. All in all, she was still standing formidably against him despite the power that she had witnessed and experienced. The vanish of the spiritual signature had been courtesy of Brina's own volition and a result of her precise energy control.

"H-Huh?" Jack's voice came out, blinking as he saw Brina still intact. From at first it appeared as if he felt her disappear, but then reappear just before his very eyes, without a scratch on her. Jack snickered as his eyes glinted with mischief and hidden menace, "you're still there...hehehehe!"

Then, the next attacks struck...!

SHINK-SHINK-SPLURCH!

...as Jack's fist suddenly generated and discharged a arm-wide pike of shredding energy to pierce through her hand, while his outstretched hand generated a barrage of sharp energized projectiles, blackening and disintegrating the durable material at the far end of the corridor and flooring, intending on shredding her with the unanticipated counterattack.

Time slowed down.

Brina's eyes widened briefly as she picked up the sudden spike within both of his limbs, the volatile spiritual energy making itself clear for only a millisecond. It was only thanks to her quick perception and reflexes that she was able to formulate a counter to his aggression. When the threads of the attack formed, a flash of white emitted from her palm for a brief second.

And when the attacks would manifest...

BOOM!

...all of Jack's energy would be used against him in an explosion of his own reiatsu. The direction of radius would be kept away from Brina to leave her uninjured, while the full force of it would be unleashed on her uncle's position. He himself would be blown several meters back, with varying injuries dependent on how much he had used. At this she lowered her arms and stared at him dispassionately.

"Out of all the people in the world to avenge her, what do I happen to meet?" She said coldly. "A stinking drunkard named Wallaby. She must be so ashamed, knowing that the ones who defend her honor fall so horribly..."

WHUMPF-KABOOM!

With the immense recoil of energy being thrown back upon him, Jack spun wildly back before crashing into the wall from the haphazard blast of ricocheting energy. The shockwave billowed an substantial gust of wind, sending the cloak of the Dragon's cloak, sending a cool aura about the easy takedown she used against her own uncle. That is, until a belly-aching laugh could be heard from the hole...one filled with both lamenting and taunting...

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Its what you deserve, Dandy Bree!" Jack walked out, wobbling out with surprisingly little damage shown other than his jacket and jeans shredded from the force of his own attacks, and a few scrapes showing blood on his skin. His eyes stretched incredulously as he spoke aloud in an unusually cruel tone, "you were a downright disappointment to all of us! If there ever was a black joey amongst the pouch, that'da be you! Going out of your way to follow a sheila's orders without question, despite how whanked it was! Killing your own mum and going bitch-psycho like a half-cocked wanker! You don't have an ounce of your daddy's pride...and I bet not an ounce of your momma's respect, for what you've done, sweetheaaaaaaaart! HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHA...!"

Despite him partially being wrong in some regard, Brina felt a slight snarl being made out of her lips. Her fists clenched tightly as her ears picked up the words, and the urge to deliver a fist to the teeth within that open mouth of his became briefly at its strongest point when she heard him laugh. It was a spiteful, sadistic laugh - something that she never would have expected to hear from her own blood.

"You deluded fool..." She whispered venomously, holding a bit of condescension within her tone. "Those things mean nothing in the midst of combat and are easily dismissed in times of war. In the end, all that counts is being on top, no matter what the means to achieve that position. Apparently, you have been sheltered for far too long to understand that. But don't worry, I will show you the full extent of what you have been deprived of for so long. Anyone who dares to cross me will be terminated..."

She tensed her legs.

"...with extreme prejudice!"

BWOOSH!

Then, with immense physical strength overshadowed by her build, she launched herself at Jack in order begin a new assault on him.

Jack's laugh immediately cut, and his demeanor changed as he heard his niece's tone. When he heard the killing intent, the anger, and the raw seriousness ebb from her being, he knew what had to be done even before she launched herself upon his form.

"Bout time you showed your true power, Brina," his voice became disturbingly clear, as his stance shifted slightly to the side, his eyes glazing over with an intense burning brightness mirroring his unconscious resolve to kill, "guess I got no choice but to pull out my wild card. Let me show you why..."

SHFT-FWAP-WHAP-CRACK!

"...I forced your daddy into using his Bankai against me!" He spoke in excess of the following movements he did. With a slight electrical flow through his spiritual network, powering his muscles and speeding his synapses indefinitely, Jack's body moved with both unprecedented speed and unpredictable maneuvers. As she would lunge towards her, he would appear as if he would fall in two directions away from her area, while his body had moved below her lunge, throwing the weight of a double elbow thrust towards the weak points of her knees.

Rolling around her body during her brief lapse of being attacked, his body shimmered away and out of sensation and sight, reappearing above her, swinging pivoting kicks to either side of her waistline where her defense would be weakest, before slamming two knifehand strikes simultaneously towards her neck, intending on delivering critical damage. All the while, the force used would be immense, pointed, and concentrated into the key vital nerve endings for maximum damage.

A simple flip in mid-air had been made to avoid the double elbow thrust.

One arm had been bent and lowered in order to block one of the kicks.

But the other half of the attacks had managed to make their way through.

WHAM!

She let out an audible grunt when the other kick managed to score with the corresponding him, making her lean briefly in that particular direction. One eye was shut in reaction to it, opening once again once she attempted to regain her balance. However...

POW!

...she was stopped abruptly by the knife chops that collided with each side of her neck. She staggered back a few steps, her eyes shut and her head bent back a little as she made to regain her steps. Inwardly, her mind was working up a storm, taking in the newfound release of power Jack was exerting.

It was within the staggering movements, that Jack launched a devestatingly swift punch to her gut, twisting it as he utilized both force and Spiritual Power within the single strike. Within its final twisting movement, Jack projected a column of sheer destructive force, intending on sending her across pinwheeling like a ragdoll, as well as rip up the surface of much of the surrounding environment from the strike he utilized.

But he wouldn't stop there.

He moved with a relentless pursuit of her form, whether or not the punch did the intended affect, as his body moved in criscrossing and bending movements of unpredictable speed and directions. With a mixtures of blurring movements, afterimages, and Fast-movement employments, his array of knife-hand strikes, palm-heels, hook punches, and elbow and knee attacks would come in with the same ferocity and power as he had shown before.

All the while, his eyes would be glazed over by a burning fire of Killing Intent and pure Instinct. His aura crackled with ferocious and nearly overpowering Spiritual Force. His true potential was unleashed and committed into killing her...or breaking her to the point of submission.

POW!

WHAM!

THUD!

In summary, Brina had changed from attacking aggressively to being on the brunt end of Jack's ferocious attack. Not one hand was lifted in order to counter the attack, his speed and power seemed to have a dominating effect on her. Fists, palms, elbows and knees crashed into her without mercy. Knife strikes seemed to pin and stun her long enough for the full weight of Jack's wrath to crash down upon her. It surprised her to know just how ferocious the man really could become, even against her own blood.

"You have really became a monster, haven't you, dear uncle?"

CRASH!

A final blow sent her skidding face-first to the ground, her body leaving behind a small ditch as it was grounded into the floor. When she stopped, she remained deathly still. There was no movement, no sign of life and no indication that she was going to get back up again. But her fingers slowly dug into the dirt as they clenched into fists once more.

But within this state, Jack had no morals or obligations to allow his enemy to get up...especially one he loathed so much.

WHAM-BWHOOSH!

Jack's feet slammed directly onto her back, employing a great deal of force and pressure, so much so that the indentation of which her body laid prone cracked out a good extra ten meters, sending a gust of air-popping wind that further wrecked their chosen battlefield. Jack would then keep jumping up and down onto her back, intending on breaking her further, indenting her with more and more force with every jump he landed upon her backside. It appeared that Jack had no mercy to show towards her, and no intention of stopping till she was a bloody piece of crushed meat underneath his boots.

WHAM!

Merciless.

WHAM!

Unnecessary.

WHAM!

Brutal.

WHAM!

Torturous.

This was no longer the kind and goofy uncle that she had come to know and accept. This was nothing more than someone focused on completely destroying and annihilating the presence of another. He spoke no words and possessed no emotion, dealing only pure violence. It was both amazing and horrifying to see Brina's body endure the constant pressure being forced onto her form. The only sign of pain were the muffled grunts she emitted as well as her twitching fingers every time he smashed into her. Once again, it seemed like Brina would meet her fate at the hands of a physically stronger foe...

But, then, the unexpected.

WOOSH!

On the next landing, Brina would vanish from underneath Jack before he could connect with her, resulting in him obliterating the ground that replaced her. But this time, her spiritual energy had once again vanished. For a moment, there was nothing more than eerie silence that permeated the area. Then, after the atmosphere of the situation had sunk in, Brina's laugh began to sweep through. It was a poison to the already war-torn setting.

"I believe you said something about me using my "true power", right?" She asked patiently. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to correct you on that. You see, I've only barely begun to tap into my reserves while you've already pulled out your so-called "wild card". I'm sorry... but to this battle's end, you will never see my full strength. That is only reserved for the one I want to end my life. You, a mindless killing machine, are most certainly not that one..."

Jack stood absolutely still.

After standing back to a staggering erect posture, his instincts began to reach out with his naturally heightened senses for the location of the voice. Shifting back and forth on the balls of his heels, Jack rolled his knuckles around within tightened and relaxing fists. With eyes that moved back and forth, he smelled the air and even licked his lips in anticipation.

Then, he flexed his body's physical muscles, and in turn...

CRRRRRRK-VMMMM!

...sent a vibrant pulsation of Spiritual Pressure to rock through the corridor, touching every fabrication of the battle scarred and war torn material they had marred through the course of their battle. And then, he felt the irregularity that his Spiritual Pressure would course over and around, allowing him to pin-point the exact location of his enemy.

With a sudden smile that curled onto his face, his body moved with once again, unprecedented and unexpected speed towards his prey. Moving with power and purpose, Jack approached Brina's blindspot, using both palms to strike at both sides of her head, with the intention of sending a vibrant imploding affect of Spiritual Power, killing her within an instant of the internally coursing force he directed at her brain.

This time, Brina did not fall.

POW!

The sound was equivalent to a gunshot, reverberating through the massive space they were in. Following after that was another tense silence, with only the whistling of the wind. But what would to have been assumed to be Jack's killing blow would be actually a move that would show complete transition of the battle's status. Brina's head would remain untouched by Jack's hands. But there would be another brutal injury inflicted.

Brina's elbow had connected with Jack's throat, partially marking a depression into his neck. The power of the blow no longer held what it had upon Brina's very first attack. Now, even the immense durability of the male McTavish was rendered void by the newfound strength she had placed, enough to nearly shatter the larynx and top of the trachea. Temporary loss of breathing would occur. But despite it all, she had a calm and somewhat annoyed look on her face as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"You can't even hear me now, can you?" She said with a hint of resentment. "It's what I thought. You had to throw away your own mind just to fight me at your fullest extent. From the start of this fight, you couldn't even muster up the resolve to kill me. You had to rely on your precious beverages and alcohol to talk for you. There's nothing left behind but an animal, nothing less of an inner Hollow when it possesses from a Visored's body. You'll never kill me..."

She parted her elbow away from his throat, turning herself around and walking a few steps away from him.

"Not like this."

The Honored, The Honorable and the Pragmatic - Part 1
SHFT-SHFT-SHFT!

"This looks like a good corridor to dance in," Kaien said with a smile, his hand already unsheathing his blade as his other two opponents stood a good ten meters away from him. Grasping the hilt of his sheathe in both hands, Kaien settled into a Kendō stance, his body brightly emanating a neon-blue glow of Spiritual Pressure, reverberating the area with his magnanimous and substantial power for display for his two particularly dangerous enemies, "shall we get started?"

"We shouldn't take this man lightly, dead man or not, Serah Tenshina," Valeur spoke lowly, as he grasped both handles of his spears, meticulously and purposely unfurling them from their respective, tubular sheathes, before bringing them full to bear in rapt anticipation of the coming battle. Looking briefly to the side, his yellow left eye looked towards Bokujin's, "this Spiritual Pressure is just a fragment of his true power, and his stance speaks volumes of a trained swordsman and warrior. We should outflank him, and make sure he has to let his guard open to counterattack..."

"No shit..." Tenshina grumbled, flipping his balisong knife and transforming what would possibly been a harmless weapon into a sharpened katana. He leveled it to the side, keeping it readied as he looked at Kaien. "It was already was a pain bringing down that Yajū guy, so I know that this has to be seven times worse." He didn't bother to mention the attack on his person by Renji, considering that he had decided to retreat before another fight could even start.

"At least you an ally by your side," Valeur spoke with confidence, smiling as his hands gripped his spears tightly in acknowledgement of his commitment to the battle at hand, "I will not forsake a comrade. Not as long as I draw breath. Remember me that way, Serah Tenshina..."

And then, they took off...

Valeur moved with both great dexterity and precision. Utilizing the advantage of having two mid-range weapons against Kaien's, he moved slash and thrust in a simultaneous, synchronized series of attacks. The only countering in doing so is that his strength was halved in using both weapons with one hand, whereas Kaien's substantial Kendō stance allowed him both fluid movement and powerful counters to each and every thrust made by the spears' attacks.

But this left him open to Bokujin's own choice of attack...

TSEW-SET!

A Bringer Light movement would bring Tenshina directly within Kaien's blind spot, his sword poised for a lunge. A smirk came across his face as he thrust the blade at his enemy's back, aiming for a killing blow. The faster they could get this over with, the better, after all...

"Got you!" Valuer thought with a smile, as he slashed his two spears in a X swing while his comrade attacked him from behind. With the simultaneous attacks coming from either side, it would be madness to try and counter both blows and not come unscathed...

SHFT!

CLANG-CLANG!

...which was why it should've been expected, as Kaien disappeared from their midst with a sudden and deftly timed Flash Step, causing both combatants to strike their weapons against each other, sending them temporarily off balance. What was more surprising, was the fact Kaien appeared directly in the same place after avoiding the initial attacks, his body already perpindicular to his two opponents.

Swinging a blade towards Valeur, he created a concussive gale of pressurized air, forcing the latter warrior to cross his spears in front of himself instinctively, causing him to be forced back. The heels of his boots dug into the durable material with incredible vigor, and managed to shrug off the superheated air with a double slash of his spears, glaring heatedly at his enemy.

Simultaneously, Kaien had swung out his left palm towards Bokujin's direction...

BLAAAAAAAAAM!

...sending a silent, yet completely controlled Sōkatsui spell towards the Fullbringer, an incredible pillar of white-blue destructive Spiritual Energy funneled to take over his form within an instant, also aiming to send the versatile and skilled warrior a good distance away from his vicinity if not harm him in the employment of the Kidō technique.

"!!!"

Tenshina's eyes widened in shock as he saw the attack approaching, only having time to raise his sword up. Once the blast connected with him, all he saw was a brilliant bluish-white that pushed against him, trying to overwhelm and destroy him. He could feel his feet skidding in the dirt as he fought against it, taking him away from Kaien. Although it felt like an eternity, he only moved so far back before he was able to counter-attack.

"HRAAH!"

With a yell, he swung the blade and blew away the blast. Its energy dissipated into thin air as he did so. A bead of sweat fell down his face as he looked at Kaien, gripping his sword tightly in one hand. "Who am I kidding? Yajū might have well been a baby compared to this guy. He was the one who blew Daigomi away. If not for those freaky regeneration ability of his, I guarantee that he would've been killed..."

A ghost of a smile came across his face as he slowly raised the sword to a defensive position. "Still, I've got Valeur working with me this time. Together, we can kill this guy, no problem!"

"This is going to take a bit," Kaien spoke aloud in affirmation to their skill, as he looked side-to-side at his opponents, seeing them virtually unscathed from his own counterattacks, "I might actually have to push myself to defeat the two of you..."

However, Valeur had no intention of letting the battle drag out...

SHFT-SHFT-SHFT!

...as he used a trio of Flash Steps to move in a triangular movement to move around to Kaien's blindspot, he began thrusting out with one spear, trying to get through his seemingly impenetrable defenses while keeping his other arm free for defense and counterattack. And it appeared to be working to a degree, as Kaien began using his sword hand to parry the series of attacks and moving in tandem with the knight-errant's thrusts and attacks, though appeared visibly unphased by the calculated ferocity of the attacks.

And, within a moment, Kaien dropped his sword guard low...

SNATCH-WHOOSH!

...and grasped Valeur's spear, pulling him directly past his backside while making sure to roll around so sword's pommel would move into his guardless zone, slamming it into his backside as he past by. While it visibly looked as if Valeur himself got caught in the deft grappel-counterattack, his body shimmered upon physical contact...

SHFT-WHIZ-SLAM!

...having released his hold of his own weapon in mid-pull, Valeur utilized a well-timed Flash Step of his own, flipping around in mid-air as he reappeared, using his own spear to initiate a stunningly powerful thrust towards Kaien's body. The only unfortunate thing as when the spear moved into cutting range, is that Kaien held onto a familiar cousin to the weapon that his own Zanpakutō. As when the spear finally thrusted, Kaien deftly crouched and swung Valeur's own secondary spear in a counter slash, sending his thrust off course, to stab into the ground past him.

SHFT-SNICK!

Only thanks to another brief application of Flash Step, Valeur was able to narrowly escape the counter-thrust of Kaien's own katana, grasping the rear of Kaien's newly acquired weapon, and swinging a kick that would scathe his cheek, causing Kaien to backpedal away from his opponent as he reacclamated himself, as well as try to draw his attention back to his other opponent.

It would be here that Tenshina decided to try his hand.

TSEW-SET!

A Bringer Light movement once again brought him in close range of Kaien, his blade swinging as soon as it came close. Once he swung that one time, he threw himself into a flurry of aggressive but precised swings. His wrists twisted with reflexive quickness, and each swing flowed into another quite naturally. His teeth were gritted and his eyes were narrowed in concentration as he attacked, trying to take the heat off of Valeur. Inwardly, he was annoyed that his partner had allowed himself to release his own weapon to the enemy so easily.

Then again, he had done it in the fight with Takashi...

Kaien spun on the balls of his feet in a high-sped spin to face his newly acquired opponent. Flowing through the motions, Kaien began parrying the seires of aggressive and accurately timed thrusts of his opponent. There were times where Bokujin's blade nicked his uniform and even cut a few of his hairs, but all of them were out of reach for surface contact as they were skillfully countered by Kaien's swordplay.

The sparks flew, the resounding and nearly deafening sound of metal crashing against metal reveberated the air, and the cool intensity between two skilled warriors echoed between each other as they fought to a near standstill. That is, until Kaien swung his left, free, hand out in a surprising Karate-style thrust, twisting it and vibrating it simultaneously to allow the force of his arm to send the blade off course and intend to slam into Bokujin's face with prejudiced force.

"What--"

POW!

Surprised by the unorthodox attack, Tenshina couldn't move out of the way in time. The palm struck its mark, and he was once again thrown back from his enemy. He staggered back several steps, retreating back to a safer distance.

However, it was only following this movement that Valeur grasped onto the spear imbedded into the floor that he pulled it up while letting a simmering flourishment of manipulated, concentrated Spiritual Energy dive through the flooring and back upwards where Kaien's feet would be...

BLAAAAM!

...causing a yellow, fan-like projection of incinerative Spiritual Energy to crackle and blast to life, appearingly to have caught Kaien's body at first within its superheated gale.

CRK-SHFT!

Unfortunately, following this, Kaien's coat was left behind in the sudden and surprising blast of energy to be incinerated in place of his own coat-less form, appearing a good dozen meters away from the two opponents via Cicada style Flash Step.

Holding a serious stare towards the two, while keeping his blade levelled towards them, he could only measure their full potential was being released from his brief bout with them thus far. His mind began to devise his next strategy, as the two competant warriors of the Inner Circle did in turn...

"So..."

Tenshina was the first to speak to Valeur, his blade steadily raised as he regarded his enemy. He had regained position and was now standing beside his partner. "Any ideas you'd like to share on beating this guy...?" He questioned, keeping his voice low in an attempt not to let Kaien hear him.

"He's strong, but it appears he doesn't favor fighting multiple opponents at once. If you've noticed early on, he tried to attack us both at once, giving us the impression he can fight both of us at ease," Valeur spoke after feeling a bead of sweat travel down his usually untouched forehead, sliding down the bridge of his nose before falling to the battle-worn ground beneath his feet, "but if you had noticed, he can barely keep up with us. Either he's holding back, or he doesn't want to have a single opening for either of us, probably with no knowledge of our abilities. But we're going to have to kick it up a notch before he gets any funny ideas, otherwise he might concoct a strategy to pick us off one at a time," Valeur looked to Bokujin, as he kept Kaien in his peripheal vision, asking lowly, "anything you think you can do to unsettle the environment to give us an advantage over him?"

"What can't I do?" Tenshina snorted, almost as if the very question was an insult. "Just tell me what you want and we can finish this off before we both know it..."

"Do what you do best," Valeur spoke with a grin, spreading his feet as he raised his spears in a parallel alignment for his legs, "and I'll do what I do best...close encounters!"

"Rankle upon the Seas and the Heavens..."

FWHOOOSH!

"...Nejibana!" Kaien spoke aloud in declaration, his blade spinning as it turned golden with spirit energy before turning into a magnificently designed trident. Within the transformation, the blue-furred trident appeared in his hand, and a large wave of water circled around him, acting almost like a barrier. With his eyes narrowed and glistening with seriousness, he spoke lowly as he renewed the battle, "Let's dance!"

Sleeping Beauty, Will You Remember Me? - Part 1
SHFT-SHFT!

Having arrived within another similar corridor, Senna and Kameyo, shimmered into existance within the vast open space of the particular section of the D.C.O. headquarters. Senna's eyes glistened with a similar serious edge her own superior had, not to mention gritted her teeth in resentment for Kameyo's wanton manslaughter of her comrade.

However, before she began, she inhaled...and exhaled, calming herself as she closed her eyes for the coming battle. Then, when she opened her bright hazel eyes, she smiles brightly before bowing her head politely to Kameyo, "My name is Senna Kasumiōji, Deputy Captain of the Sword Squad. I'll be your opponent right now. May I ask your name and your rank in return?"

If Senna had not took the time to calm herself, the air within the area certainly would have been filled with negative attitude.

The polite and seemingly positive aura Senna was giving off was a stark contrast to Kameyo's - or lack of. Her red eyes stared at the woman with a naturally piercing gaze, though her face held no expression. She held her blades readied at her sides, keeping them readied in an almost idle position. She tilted her head to the side slightly when Senna asked of her name and rank, almost curious as to why the woman would bother asking that.

But if anything, Kameyo wasn't rude.

"Kameyo Takaki, Dog." She said simply, meeting Senna's hazel with her crimson. "And I will be your murderer today."

"Wow, so much for trying to cheer up the atmosphere," Senna thought dryly, as she looked blankly at the woman with a keen interest. Unlike the others, she had no emotions within her eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of a Mod Soul...or a machine...manufactured for the sheer purpose of murder and destruction. She looked empty. Emptier than even a Hollow. As if she didn't live at all.

For this reason, Senna couldn't help but frown a little. Propping her hands into fists onto her hips, she almost gave a pouting look to Kameyo, "For someone who says it like that, it almost sounds like a chore rather than something you'd enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I don't take the slaying of life casually, I just find it...weird...that you have no attachment in this battle. Don't you have something you're fighting for? Some reason why you do the things you do? From what I've gathered of your companions, they all have the look of people who fight for something or do the things they do, but you...you look lost," Senna couldn't hold back the sadness in her voice, her eyes somehow had a penetrating look as she looked into Kameyo's impassive stare, "where are you right now, Kame-chan?"

Silence.

A flicker of confusion and a bit of her curiosity crossed Kameyo's expression as she picked up the new words. Of all the things that her enemy could have said to her, she would've never expected those choice of words. Why would an enemy be curious as to what her reasons and intentions were for even picking up a sword? Why would an enemy be interested in something that should have been considered pointless? She couldn't understand it.

"You are a very curious woman, aren't you?" She questioned, no hint of mockery or taunt within her voice. "We are on the edge of crossing blades and yet you want to understand my reasons for what I do, who I... fight for? It is natural for the words of your enemy to fade away from memory in due time simply because of the fact that you oppose each other. Therefore, whatever words I say to you will be eventually lost, even if I am to remain alive. But if you're so curious, I will ask you this first. Will you remember what I say to you, up until your eventual demise?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, Senna looked up towards the ceiling, as if really thinking hard about the matter. After but a few seconds, that felt like eternity, Senna smiled sheepishly as she shrugged, saying honestly, "Well I can't promise I'll die so easily, but I'll promise to remember your words as long as I live. Is that alright?"

A nod was Kameyo's response, and she didn't hesitate on beginning.

"Before I joined under the service of Lady McTavish," She said, her voice quiet but perfectly heard in the silence of the area they were in. "I was nothing but an isolated orphan and a serial killer that roamed Rukongai district number 66. I was an outcast, bullied by both the residents of the schools and my own family. Before I killed them, they knew me nothing more than meaningless and a mistake. Before I became introduced to the Inner Circle, I was... worthless, and dysfunctional."

She slowly closed her eyes. "That was how Lady Ninaru found me. She took interest in my ability to terminate the lives of others. She took me in, gave meaning to both my name in my life. She gave me friends and comrades that have stayed beside me no matter what - something that I never would have gotten had I continued to live the way I did. She molded me, helped me put my talents to use, make me realize new things I was capable of. All of them have earned my loyalty, my heart and my sword ever since..."

She slowly opened one of her eyes. "You may think that I'm lost, that these eyes do not show interest within this battle. But that is only because I have learned to realize there is nothing to be interested in. My motivations for fighting are always kept deep inside of me, out of the way so that I won't be blinded by emotion. Outside of that, yes... this is nothing but a chore that I carry out because of my orders. How can anyone else not say the same, once they have made a living out of slaughter and bloodshed?"

Senna allowed the words to soak in, so that she would remember every sentence spoken. She couldn't help but feel lower lip curl inwards, her upper row of teeth biting down as they quivered in near uncontrollable shivers. Her body began to shake and her eyes began to well up with tears. As she sniffled and began wiping her eyes, she laughed in a bittersweet tone,

"I'm sorry, I'm not meaning to sound like someone who pities you. I'm just a little...saddened...we hadn't gotten to know each other sooner. Cause I know that all you really needed was a friend. Someone to hold you when you felt down and someone to laugh with you to cheer you up," she smiled as she wiped away her tears, locking her eyes with Kameyo's as she spoke sincerely,

"I know I am a warrior, someone who's pledged to fight in the name of peace and order. But...I do it for more than that. I fight to help people I know who are feeling the same pain I would feel if I felt alone and isolated. I fight for my friends, as well as myself. For I know winning a battle in of itself is meaningless...unless you have something more worthwhile than simple means to an end, you know?"

"She... feels remorse for not being a figure within my life...?"

Although still composed, Kameyo could not help the confusion from crossing her face as she watched Senna shed tears. Her lips were parted slightly, and she opened the other eye to fully express what she allowed herself to of her bewilderment. Because of this, she couldn't bring herself to say much of anything. The opponents she had faced had no interest, no empathy and only regarded her as a threat that needed to be destroyed. This one was someone new, a high official still able to feel considerable empathy towards even her enemies.

"Valeur..." She thought to herself in contemplation. "Were you also thinking like this, when you watched me kill those D.C.O...?"

"I know it would be wrong of me to ask you of this, but please," Senna spoke with a serious, almost pleading tone as she placed her hands over her heart in emphasis, "walk away. I don't want to fight you. Not because I pity you, nor am I a coward, but...I can't rob someone of what life she has yet to live, when I've lived so much of my life already. It wouldn't be fair at all. So please, just walk away..."

And the funny part?

Kameyo was seriously considering that option.

Unbeknownst to her, the hands that gripped both weapons started to shake a little. Her face slowly shifted from confusion to shock as she heard the words spoken to her, a growing pain stemming from within her own heart. With only bare words, Senna had delivered a staggering blow to what should have been perceived as her enemy. All of it was because she never had an opponent who was willing to sympathize with the remnants of her past - no - someone who valued life so much that she would beg for an enemy to walk away because of it.

Even the enemy found value in her vitality, to some extent. That was something that absolutely couldn't be overlooked.

"...no." She spoke after a moment of silence, her expression turning to that of solemnity. Her eyes were wavering a little. "You are still young, as I am. You have too much ahead of you in order to die pitifully in this fight. You and your merciful words have swayed me well enough. It will be disobeying the order of Lady McTavish... but I retract my earlier words of murdering you." This was followed by the sheathing of her chokuto onto her back. It seemed like she was really backing out of a fight.

Until,

"But," She continued, making her face return to the passive one she had been donning. However, even as she raised her remaining blade to Senna, there was a subtle flicker of life within those crimson eyes of hers now. "I have become curious. I want to understand the extent of your mind, how you can think in such a manner and still have the power to be a veteran within the battlefield. So not out of a desire to exterminate, but a desire to know... I wish to fight you, until one of us cannot fight anymore. And if that happens to be you, I will show you mercy as you have shown me. Will you grant me this... Senna Kasumiōji?"

Senna blinked in slight surprise. She couldn't tell at first but she felt sincerity coming from the other woman's mouth. With a slight smile, Senna nodded in affirmation, feeling as if she could trust her. She wouldn't be looked down upon if she refused to show her strength just now, "I can do that. I will show you just how much strength I have gained...to ensure the people I love and the lives I cherish are safe, because of it!"

VMMMMM!

With a slight flourishment of vibrant Spiritual Pressure, as a golden hue surrounded her body, a magnanimous blast of wind exuded her being. With an uncanny manifestation of autumn leaves in the Spiritual Pressure's wake, the billowing wind had a strength to it that would be hard to stand firmly against. And then, Senna attacked...

WHOOSH-CRACK!

...as her body moved with a sudden silence, as her movement almost went unnoticed as she unsheathed her blade deftly within the midst of a Flash Step employment, while swinging her blade towards her shoulder with incredible pressurized force and cutting precision. A bright fire burned in her eyes that showed anticipation and almost, joy, that she could fight without fear of purposely slaying the girl in front of her. She felt vibrant, alive, and as colorful as her aura projected.

The moment after Senna moved, Kameyo unleashed her own attack to counter the one made her way.

Their blades would make a cross as they clashed, their clashing powers resonating from the point of collision. Throughout it all, the crimson-eyed Dog kept her gaze focused into Senna's own. Her passive expression did not change, in spite of the powerful swing that she had unleashed against her opponent. As she battered the blade away for a countering thrust of her own, she couldn't help but note the manifestation of leaves that formed from the energy Senna exhibited. In contrast to the aura she gave off, this girl seemed so...

Alive.

Messianic.

Holy.

Youth and Experience! A Battle of Wits and Steel! Part I
SHFT-SHFT!

Choku couldn't help but feel his luck was the worse off among the collaborative pairings of opponents. Just after reappearing  within a deft employment of Bringer Light, he saw the young and child-like D.C.O. operative appear within a deft Flash Step of her own. Seeing the accuracy of which she managed to spit a wad of viscous liquid to hit a target at that distance (even if Bokujin was unaware) was no small feat. Not to mention she had a certain...unsettling...aura about her. As if she placed a mask of innocence over the face of a demon...

Shivering, Choku cleared his throat to knock him out of his euphoric state and redirect his attention at the child-aged opponent he had to face. Grasping the pen at the crook of his right ear, he whispered lowly, "Iron Pen," causing it to light up with emerald energy before transforming into a European broadsword, engraved with a series of latin words at the mid-section of its metalic form. Raising it to an en guarde stance, Choke spoke lowly to his opponent, "I don't intend to hold back because you look like a child, Soul Reaper! Prepare yourself!"

What he would see would be an unorthodox way of approaching such a challenge.

Yachiru, instead of standing up to face him down, would be found sitting Indian-style on the ground with her hands gripping her ankles. She was glaring at him with a pouting look on her face, regarding him with scrutiny only a child could give to an adult. She made no move to draw her own blade, despite the move her opponent made to raise his own. His declaration was met with her silence for a brief moment. Then, after she was sure that the atmosphere sunk in, she swung her head to the side in a huffing motion.

"No!"

"W-What?!"

Choku's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets and nearly fell over from shock. Much to his chagrin, even as he pressed the bridge of his glasses back up, growled slightly as he began observing her. He had no idea why she suddenly lost her energetic self, nor why she spoke in such a way. Is she really nothing more than a child...?

"What do you mean, no? Are you not one of the Elite Soul Reapers, tasked with the objective of destroying the enemy?"

"No!" The girl said, turning her head back towards him while still sporting that annoyed expression on her face. "I'm Yachiru Kusajishi! You could've at least asked who exactly you were fighting before you did anything. Didn't your mother ever teach you manners?" She followed this with a contortion of her lip into a pouting expression. "Now, you tell me your name!"

"T-This girl's annoyed that I didn't go through formalities?! Ugh, why couldn't Valeur fight this girl instead of me?! I'm no good with fighting fair and crap...!"

Sighing, he couldn't help that the girl's vendetta was his own rudeness of wanting to get the battle over with. In all honesty, Choku would've rather helped Valeur and Bokujin fight the D.C.O. Captain, but unfortunately got intercepted by the tike.

Clearing his throat while straightening his tie, Choku reacclamated himself to renew the fighting spirit within himself, as he tried to appease his enemy. Taking a humble bow, Choku spoke aloud, "My name is Choku Kanshin. I'm one of the many Dogs, as you might put it, that is contracted with high-risk missions for the Inner Circle. One of which is to allow them to attain world dominance, as I had always believed they would, by slaughtering their enemies. Now what is your name?"

This seemed to satisfy the pink-haired girl - at least, to an extent.

Her expression brightened up, and she lifted both of her hands to point index fingers at her face. Her eyes were squinted shut and a smile was present on her face. "Yachiru, like I said before!" She said. "Nice to meet you!" In an instant, she was on her feet with her hands at her sides, regarding him curiously. She blinked a few times, tilting her head to the side as she looked him over.

"Hmm... now that I know your name..." She began, pondering for a moment. Then, she seemed to have come to a particular thought, for she snapped her fingers in an expression of epiphany.

"I'm gonna call you... "Glasses"!"

C-CLINK!

Ironically, Choku felt his vein protrude so violently he felt a fragment of his left lense crack under the pressure of his own irritable rage bursting out from within. The hilarity and increduality of the sheer choice of name, not to mention how irrelevent himself giving her name felt all the more reason for Choku to absolutely hate the little brat before his eyes.

"G-G-Glasses?!" He finally sputtered out, his voice barely restrained, even as his teeth grinned out in a borderline maniacal fashion, mirroring the glare that glowed behind his bright lenses, "why the Hell would you call me that when I just gave you my name, pra tell?!"

The innocence of a child knew no bounds.

Yachiru put a finger on her lip in pondering, oblivious to Choku's growing anger. "Well, I thought it was fitting! Unless--" She cut herself off, frowning and shrugging. "Eh. You're right. I could've probably thought of something better..." She folded one arm across her chest, using that arm to prop the one with the hand holding her chin. She was legitimately putting effort into thinking of a good nickname for her enemy, despite the seriousness of the situation and what she was supposed to be doing.

"How about Choker? No, that doesn't sound good as "Glasses" does... "Suit"? Eh, no, that's too boring..."

VMMMMMM!!!

"THAT'S IT! YOU DIE, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Choku shouted out, as his body became enraptured in a thick, electric aura of his own Spiritual Power, as his Spiritual Pressure shifted and cracked the hallway from giving way of his unrelenting anger, pouring forth from himself. Scraping the ground with his blade, he charged towards her with incredible speed, reaching her position within a heartbeat before he slashed his blade out...

CRACK-BOOM!

...while simultaneously Fullbringing the sparks from his blade to transform the air pressure in front of his blade's path into a instaneously released firebomb, exploding in a brilliant flame with the pure intention of blowing her away within a single attack.

It was here that Yachiru finally allowed herself to pay attention to the battle at hand.

Her eyes widened as she saw Choku rush her, quickly pulling out her arms away from her front. But that was all that she could do before Choku's firebomb enveloped her person within the embrace of the flames. The hissing and crackling of their tongues would be the speech of the setting as the attack unfolded and expanded itself. The child surely could have not seen that coming.

Or, didn't she?

As the fire and flames parted, a sword held by one hand could be seen blocking Choku's from its target. The fiery tongues slowly parted, revealing Yachiru's form to her adversary. Despite the point-blank attack that had been delivered, no form of damage had come to her person. Her demeanor had not changed, even as she looked into his eyes.

"Oh, that's right, I have to kill ya." She muttered, as if she had forgotten that simple fact. "Sorry, let's start now..."

CLANG!

With a swing, she batted both Choku's sword as well as his person away from hers. A bright smile came across her face as she lowered it, indicating her enthusiasm at the fight to be.

"What the Hell?!"

Choku's pupils dialated as his eyes widened, as he felt the power projecting from the small child-like figure. Immediately, his lenses began picking up the strength parameters within her Spiritual Pressure, as well as trace its residual origins. Within moments as Choku backpedaled to a safe distance away from the monster in a little girl's body, his HUD brought up a series of data files and a mug shot of Yachiru herself, only as her "younger" Lieutenant self.

"Yachiru Kusajishi, former Lieutenant of the Gotei 13, now a Deep Cover Operations agent within the Lancer Corps. Well well well," Choku spoke aloud, not letting up his Spiritual aura as he smiled in an almost anticipatory glare towards her, "now I see. I've always wanted to fight a monster. Let's see if the stories about your strength is as accurate as your former Captain's, Yachiru!"

SHFT-SHFT-SHFT!

SING-SING-SING-SING-SING...!

Choku immediately set off in a series of high-sped deployed Bringer Lights, his body shimmering visually in and out of sensation, sensory and visually disappearing even before the veteran warrior. Having approached her vicinity, he began to appear in and out Yachiru's reach, swinging and thrusting her blade towards her form, making sure not to give her an opporunity or an opening that he'd be aware of, while constantly scanning her aura for sudden movements or displacements of Spiritual Pressure.

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

Yachiru did not employ the same means in order to defend herself. Instead, she allowed nothing more than her blade and her wrist to do the talking. Every time Choku appeared near her, she lifted her blade up and parried the opposing sword away from her person before he darted away again. Her smile had faded into a lopsided frown as she defended herself. In any other case, this would've been seen as a tactical maneuver in order to overwhelm and usurp the enemy.

But in Yachiru's case, she saw it as nothing more than a fly darting around one's head. It was annoying, and it didn't leave much of a good impression for her. "Come on," She complained, continuing to swing her blade and intercepting each and every assault made towards her. "This isn't going to very fun if you keep buzzing around me like a bee!"

"Her reaction timing is impeccable! Not to mention her skill with a blade is on a completely different level than those others, I presume. She is truly worthy of the title Yachiru: Eight Thousand Styles. I wonder if she is as powerful as her predecessor's namesake..."

Choku analyzed as he hade struck his blade out for what would be the 32nd time. What appeared to have been a barrage at an attempt to penetrate her nearly unbreakable flow of defense, Choku had never intended on defeating her by sword play. In fact, it was only by his luck that she was taking it easy on him, for he intended to play dirty, and make sure she couldn't fight against him.

SHFT!

His form shimmered away within the last "annoying" strike he made upon her blade's edge, appearing a good ten meters in front of her. Raising his blade to be parallel to his chin, a line of letters glowed upon its surface, and he spoke aloud, "Iron Pen isn't designed to be the foremost powerful weapon in battle. It is designed to tip the scale of battle into the wielder's favor. And since you favor sword combat so much..."

C-C-CLICK

"...let's see how powerful you are..."

CRAAAACK!

"...without it!" Choku's blade glowed brightly in emerald rays, the letters mimicked the shape across the face of Yachiru's blade. Within only moments, the blade itself cracked wherever the letters appeared and then became brittle, before shattering altogether. With a wide smile, Choku allowed himself to laugh aloud as he pointed his blade towards her in a taunt, "what will you do without your precious sword, Soul Reaper?!"

"...huh?"

The cracking sound made Yachiru blink a few times... before she realized what the cracking sound was.

She stared dumbly as her sword fell into pieces, lowering her hilt to her side. For the longest moment, all she did was look at it, pondering her predicament. Occasionally, she would switch her gaze from Choku to the shards of metal and then back again. Once again, she was seriously taking in a taunt as a legitimate question. It took quite a long time before she gave her answer.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Absolutely nothing."

Then, she plopped herself down on her knees and looked down at the pieces of her blade, sticking her tongue out as she attempted to maneuver each piece to its current form. If anything, she was treating the now broken blade as nothing more than a puzzle game. She looked up at Choku, smiling innocently. "Wanna help me put this back together?"

C-CRK!

Another fragment webbed onto the surface of his left lense, as he suddenly felt his fury shift in between incredulous outrage and sudden confusion. Once again not composed any longer, he couldn't believe at how...innocent...she acted before her opponent. It was as if this whole battle was a game to her, and that putting her blade back together was no big deal.

"W-What the Hell are you?! Aren't you even aware that I just broke your Zanpakutō?!" Choku shouted out at her, waving his blade in emphasis, his brows filled with protruding veins as he growled out impatiently, "you can't physically put your weapon back together! You didn't even bother releasing it into its True Form, so there is no way you can use it in battle now! Are you even a Soul Reaper?!"

Yachiru pouted once again, placing her chin in her hands as she looked at him. "Well, I was just asking, Mr. Grumpy..." She said, almost in a snide manner. "Don't get your underwear in a tighter knot than they already are. Matter of fact, I think you should loosen up a little! Why are you acting so mad when you should be enjoying yourself? I bet your friends are probably doing that right now, having fun with Senny-chan and Kai-chan. So why aren't you?"

"Because, stupid brat, war isn't fun! Its horrible and cruel, not even the least dignified or honorable. Unlike my noble-based comrade, combatants don't live by a code. They fight dirty and they cripple their enemies. You should learn that there isn't joy in fighting, kid,"

Choku huffed, raising his blade towards her as he finally worked up the nerve to approach her in a slow, methodical pace, "you had some fine Captains turned against their will to fight against their own. You were attacked without warning twice now. You should understand by now that we don't fight by your rules. We are a manifestation of what you would call evil, even though you hold yourselves upon a hypocritical pyre of self-righteousness and blind devotion to what you would believe is lawful and good. We are going to change things,"

Choku's lenses shined menacingly, as he stopped a mere three meters in front of her, holding his blade out to hover close to her neck, "and I won't pretend I'm having fun when I say I will kill even children to accomplish my objectives. Fighting in a war, is something I loathe, Soul Reaper. It isn't fun, it isn't nice, and it isn't done till you can't fight any longer or when you can take a break. You die. You kill. That's it. I thought you would understand being from such a simplistic philosophy such as the 11th Division. I guess your Captain wasn't such a great leader if he couldn't even teach you those fine principles of kill or be killed, stupid brat!"

"Then why were you smiling and laughing a moment ago?" Yachiru inquired, tilting her head to the side. She didn't bother to pay attention to the blade, looking directly into Choku's menacing gaze. "Why did you say that you've always wanted to "fight a monster"? Why did you smile and laugh when you broke my Zanpakutō?" She paused for a moment of silence, allowing that particular question to sink in before continuing. "You're lying about one of those things, if not both. If you really loathe war and killing so much... then why are you even here?"

"I'm playing the part, you see, to preserve my life," Choku spoke admittedly, shrugging his shoulders as he held the blade at the proximity it was to his target, "for you see, I know things about my organization. I'm too deep within its crevices. One wrong move and they'll dispose of me if my enemy doesn't do it for me. I ridicule you so I can look like I'm fighting you for real. I disabled you so I wouldn't have to waste time with you. I only fight because my comrades are fighting. If I sit this out, not only would this be a death sentence for myself, it would be cowardly. I lied and I laughed because I'm playing the part of your adversary," Choku raised his brow as he drew his blade closer to her neck, "isn't it appropiate when a soldier goes into battle, they forgoe all feelings of happiness and desire when you fight? I'll kill you, only so that I don't have to wait and hear the cries of real warriors when they die giving their all. Do you understand?"

"...I understand."

For the first time within the battle, Yachiru's voice had gained a solemn, bitter and somber tone. Her curious and child-like eyes had slowly narrowed into a murderous and angered gaze. It was as if his choice of words had triggered something negative within her, appealing to a more negative sense. "All you want to do is preserve your life, huh?" She repeated his statement, her hands slowly clenching into fists. "Shame on me, Glasses. I thought that you were going to be a fighter, someone who's really committed to fighting against another. That's what the 11th Division learned, too; to enjoy battle, war, and bloodshed. To us, it is nothing more than a game, a sport that we officially carry out. We are genuine from the moment we step in to the day we die. But you? You're already a coward and an idiot who's only blinding himself. So I'll ask you again."

WHAM!

Then, the unthinkable.

Yachiru had shifted from a sitting position on the ground to a standing, tense position in front of Choku. One of her elbows had buried itself into his stomach with immense collision, practically sinking into his body. She glared up at him, continuing to speak in that low and somber tone. "Why are you even here? You're far too weak and pitiful to be even be considered a recruit in this war. You don't have what it takes to fight, kill and be killed. You do not. Belong. Here."

WHOOSH!

As his eyes had barely comprehended what occured before his eyes, even as he felt caution from the sudden shift in his opponent's emotional disposition. He felt his body hunch over, before his heels graded against the ground below him, his mouth spewing saliva and his eyes nearly rolling up to the back of his sockets. What happened was almost the equivalent of someone slapping him across the face while kneeing them in the gut.

As he came to a stop, a good ten meters away from the surprisingly strong girl, he gritted his teeth as he coughed up air back into his lungs. His head hung down and his eyes overcasted, his hands gripping tightly as he snarled, "Don't you dare look down on me, you little bitch! You have no idea what Hell my life has been like! No idea at all!" Choku raised his eyes to face her again, the pretense of attempting to talk her out of fighting long cast aside when her limb had made contact into his gut, "I may hate war, but that doesn't make me weak! I may despise violence, but it doesn't mean I can't fight! I will not have a snot-nosed brat talking down to me as if she knows better!"

SHINK-SPRAAAACK!

"Go to Hell!" Choku shouted out, as he thrusted his blade out into the air, sending a dozen words that were lit aflame, hurtling towards Yachiru at incredible speeds. Within a fraction of the distance they travelled, they all tranmuted through the atmosphere and formed an incredible bolt of lightning, crackling and discharging towards her location, with the sheer intention of annihilating her, "if you want to have a fight with me, you'll get one!"