Los Niños de Izanami: Despertar del Infierno

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Children of Izanami ; Hell's Awakening, Act I

Empowered Prisoners, Warden's 'Sins'

It had been a good few weeks since the attack of Yurei had been commenced, already buildings and battlegrounds once again were rebuilt, retrofitted, and once again flowing with people. While the citizens may have been overall saved due to the quick timing of both the Yurei's Police Force and the two residing 'off-duty' Soul Society Soul Reapers, everyone could feel that sense of shell shock...the fact their entire city not too long ago was part of a bloody, all out war.

One thing that had been whispered out of people's lips was why didn't the military respond quicker, or why didn't the Soul Reapers of their own city react with haste needed for this kind of crisis? The casualties were high for the Police Force, many were left wounded and out of those would not be able to return to service because them. The dead were burried and nearly a day or two of the aftermath, were given a ceremony in their honor for fighting honorably and valiantly in the face of the cult army that attacked them.

During the ceremony, the two Soul Reapers from the Soul Society attended, even Sakura who was begrudgingly dragged along, were given medals of honor, due to their presence and their participation in the battle, would not be forgotten. It also opened up a more military coordination between the Soul Society and Yurei, now revealed with the Higher Ups by Kukkyōna Hayate, that the Espada Afilado were indeed the ones behind the attack.

Despite this, Daisuke and Sakura had began to grow more fond of each other, despite their personality clashes and their own oddities, they began to spend more time talking and planning for the future events that would come of the mobilization of both the Soul Society's military and Yurei's.

It was at near sunset when Daisuke and Sakura were sparring out in the middle of a field far outside the city limits of Yurei, the sound of swords clashing and exhales of breaths could be heard for a good distance. Daisuke had just broke away a sword lock, the sparks that danced from their blades disappeared as he backward pedals a good 4 meters away. When his sandals touch the ground, his black overcoat fluttered around him as he leaped forward again, both hands on his weapon as he threw out a series of slashes of all angles, trying to be as ferocious and unpredictable as possible, not giving her an inch

His smile of glee and excitement clear on his face, enjoying every second of the rejuvinated Sakura he's come to admire and respect.

Sakura was not above enjoying herself.

Her eyes were closed, and a smile of her own was decked on her face. Her body moved naturally through the offensive barrage Daisuke threw at her, defending and counter-attacking the strikes he was making against her. Her bare feet stepped against the grounds lightly, moving at a pace that made it seem like the fight was simply a natural thing to do. She twisted, turned, and danced in order to block his strikes with her own. Despite being a Lieutenant, he seemed to hold great potential within himself as a successor to Kukkyōna.

Her own feelings towards Daisuke had seemed to change after their first meeting. Although it was clear she held opposing views, she did not mind his company. It was really a break from her usual life, what she had been back then. Even as they were clashing swords now, it was more of a friendly and competitive nature more than anything else. It was an effective escape from the commotion going on around the society.... at least, for the moment.

Daisuke chuckled, saying as she weaved to the side, noticing her attunement to the battle is so great, she had her eyes close for a brief few moments, a smile enamored onto her face, expressing her enjoyment of their friendly clash of blades. Then Daisuke grinned mischieviously, as he took advantage of her closed eyes, adding a bit more power to one of his clashing parries, one that would send her onto her butt if she wasn't prepared, using his innate strength to intentionally knock her off guard.

"Keep your eyes open, Sakura! I'm standing right here!" He yelled with a enthusiastic, teasing tone, his eyes blinked and his smile gleamed onto his face.

It was fortunate that Sakura was prepared.

But she didn't block. Instead, as he swung what would've been an off-balancing blow, she maneuvered herself and leaped over the swing, her body spinning in a full pivot. She landed expertly on her feet, taking a few steps back. "Really?" She asked in a slightly sarcastic manner. "I never noticed...." She still had her eyes closed, twirling her blade around in one of her hands in an idle manner.

Daisuke sweat dropped, before turning around, yelling at her with a rejuvinated cheer, swinging his sword again with fierce energy and relentless swings, "Show off! C'mon and take me seriously, dang it!"

"Oh, gettin' mad? I'm scared now~!"

Following this particular taunt, she raised her blade up and started to back off again, placing both hands on her blade and twirled her sword accordingly. This time, she had responded with equal power in her strikes, wrists twisting accordingly. Her blade intercepted his blade's path, sparks flying with each and every blow. She continued her tactic of staying on the defensive, though at a more aggressive and stronger angle. Even through this, her eyes maintained their current position as closed, if only to irk him more.

Daisuke could feel the power behind her counters and parries, now equal to his own ferocity, only forcing her to move backwards and around, moving fluidly with a grace only one who's been fighting their entire life. It made Daisuke wonder just exactly who she has fought, and why she fights, that small conversation they had in the hospital room gave more insight to the reality of how lost her motivations and goals have been ever since she left the Red Sun cult.

He got into deep thought within another violent strike, but backpedaled away, keeping out of range of her potentially painful blows as he inhaled and exhaled, closing his eyes before moving to sheathe his sword, "I think we should call it a draw, Sakura...I need a break." He spoke with a hidden tone, his smile still present but a little more thoughtful and softer than earlier.

Immediately upon the end of Daisuke sentence, Sakura flipped her sword around in a flourishing display before sheathing it back within its holster, placing one hand on her hip and the other to hang at her side. "Already?" She questioned, cocking an eyebrow slightly. "A real shame....I thought you would've lasted longer." This was said in a more casual air, a simple motion of teasing him. She walked over to him, lowering her other arm down to her side. "'Specially with a dad like yours...."

"Hey, I got a LONG ways to go before I reach his level. I don't even think I can ever be as gifted as he is in Zanjutsu skill alone. He's said to be a genius rivaling to that of legends of Shunsui Kyoraku or even Byakuya Kuchiki. Something like that doesn't just get inherited through blood," he said with a resigned sigh, after briefly smiling at how much he praised and thought highly of his father, regardless of his lack of fatherly emotion that some fathers would give freely.

He turned his head away, his hair and coat bristled in the wind as he looked across the field, flowing in sublte rippling patterns in a serene tranquil setting. He smiled softly, before he asked her, "You remember that time...back when you were in the hospital and I came to visit?"

She moved to stand beside him, folding her arms across her chest. "What about it?" She asked simply, her orange bangs billowing ever so slightly with the wind itself

Daisuke looked down at her face, watching her orange bangs blow across her pale brow, smiling before asking softly, "Have you considered what you want to fight for, what you want to live for now?"

"....that's not something to be decided within just a few weeks." A slight frown came across Sakura's face, and she turned her head away for a moment. "You've lived your life with friends and a family, so it's easy for you to fight for them. But I've got nothing compared to that, nothing to even think about. Compared to you...." She idly kicked her foot against the grass. "I'm practically worthless."

Daisuke turned around to cross his arms, raising his brow in a curious if not teasing-like manner, "Really? You think I found my purpose because I have a family or friends? I have a friend, part of the Deep Cover Ops himself, was nothing but a street rat when he started out his life. Before he joined the Soul Society, he was the biggest confident, if not most boastful, daredevil braggart of that side of the Rukon District. He even was apprenticed, and unofficially adopted by the Blacksmith and Swordsman who lived in that neighbourhood before he went to the Academy to become a Soul Reaper. What I'm trying to get around to is...you don't need to be rich or famous, have a big family or have great importance...I determined, on...that day...that I'd strive to be as caring, compassionate, and courageous as he ever was," he said with a distant look on his face before turning away, clearing his throat from the uncomfortable feeling he just created in his stomach. A few images of his life flashed before his eyes, making him regress his smile and replace it with a solemn look.

"What?" Sakura turned back towards him with a raised eyebrow. "Did he die or something?"

"Yes," he said softly, the wind died down, almost as if the air itself detected the lack of warmth coming from Daisuke now, as he continued with his gaze looking down, "he...he was my Lieutenant, back when I was a Seated Officer in the Division. He thought highly of me, acted like a carefree soul, with nothing holding him down, always willing to lend a ear to his fellow comrades. I thought of him almost like a brother we were that close...its just...the Mourning War happened," he said again, gritting his teeth slightly at the mention of it, the horrible grizzly images churned in his mind.

"Mourning War....?" A curious Sakura allowed herself to turn completely towards him, eyes looking at him intently.

Daisuke nodded, beginning in a whisper before raising it to a low morbid tone, "It was a war unlike I had ever seen. I had...had tasted true war for the first time I guess in this way. It started with a Hollow, a powerful one, we never confirmed its nature of origin, but we did find out that it sent out an array of parasitic spores, when inhaled by those weak of heart or bitter resentment, were instantly devoured from the inside out, but that wasn't the worst part. The spores were connected in a 'hive-mind' with the Central Nerve Center, and each time it spread its disease, it would expand its reach and also use what husks it deemed valuable as its personal soldiers or slaves, mutating its features to become almost rotten flesh hunks of what they once were. We had to cut them all down when we finally located the Central Nerve Center of the Hollow plague.

It was raining...like the entire earth was mourning the devestation the war had brough to everyone in the land, the inevitable bloodbath that was going to happen that day. We moved, most of the men under my command with others spread out among different seated Officers comprising from our Division, with our Lieutenant covering the backs of various units that fought against the onslaught of the Central Nerve Center's defenses and numerous husk-guards. After containing the threat to a degree, victory was near, I charged in with the Lieutenant towards the Central Nerve Center, then...he...I was...caught off guard," he hesitated, shame radiating his voice and quivering eyes, as he recalled the event clearly, "it sent out numerous tendrils from its core, knocking away what men I had near me, before aiming to squewer me alive right then and there. But...he saved me. Slicing most of them in his path, before moving his body to intercept the last one, spearing through his gut out his back, making a hole so wide I was surprised he still strength to do what he did next. He used a high level Kido...without incantation to destroy the tendril, then collapsed in a heap, urging me to finish it. It was then...I learned to use my Zanpakuto's greatest Shikai ability, setting the Nerve Center ablaze to the point I blasted a huge crater with such potency, it shook the earth for miles around. I emerged from it, barely conscious as I crawled towards him...he was still alive. He gave me this,"

he said, pointing to the head band, now etched with the phrase 'Remember the Mourning' in Kanji letters, "his headband he never took off for anything, saying he wished for me to inherit his will and drive to become a Lieutenant greater than he ever was, and to look out for 'our' men. He then died, in my arms, with me holding his headband. I couldn't stop my damn crying it was so bad," he chuckled, his eyes slightly watery, a tear fell from his left eye before falling down on the ground below, earning a sniff and a wipe of his eyes with his sleeve.

The morbidity of his statement sunk in within Sakura's mind. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her eyes were shaped in a seemingly sympathetic expression. She placed a hand onto his shoulder, giving him a light pat. "At least he died for a noble cause...." She said in compliment. "He died so you, along with the rest of your allies, could live. I think he'd be proud of you as of this moment, too...."

"Thanks, Sakura-Chan," He said sincerely, turning over to her, smiling softly with his eyes slightly water-filled before he blinked, "I think he would've liked you too, y'know? Despite how we met, we make a pretty good team, huh?" He raised a hand, slowly up to her brow, brushing away her bangs, looking into her eyes deeply. He leaned in, pressing his lips to her forehead, kissing it lightly before pulling it back, smiling at her. Sighing he began to say, "Sakura-Chan...I want to ask you-"

"Ahem!" Suddenly a clearing of the throat rang out, and suddenly alerted Daisuke's attention, suddenly seeing a pair two figures standing 10 meters away, the one who cleared his throat was garbed in red and black with reddish brown hair and blue eyes, his fist balled up into a fake coughing stance, one to get their attention. The other stood calmly, his hands at his sides and perfectly standing straight and appearing stoic as he gazed at them. They were both armed with swords, and their Spiritual Pressure felt...extremely off, like mixing vile digusting trash with anger and burning hate. He didn't like their Pressure moreso than Sakura's.

Just Like Old Times

Whatever Sakura was about to make fun of him with was immediately cut off by the clearing of the throat.

"Why don't you mind your own fuckin' business!!" Was her immediate reaction. She abruptly spun around, eyes narrowed at them with an expression of annoyance. Once her eyes fell upon the two figures, she curled her fingers somewhat out of instinct, a scowl forming on her face. She could also sense the energies within them.... however, unlike Daisuke, who was unfamiliar with such, she could easily identify them as familiar. That was something she did not allow to cross into the surface, maintaining her irritated countenance while staring down at them.

The red-black garbed man waved his hands up in the air, a look of hurt crossed his features, as he responded smoothly, "Easy there, we did not come to offend. We actually came here to just chat for a bit. In a bit more private location," he indicated with a nod towards Daisuke, who's confused features turned stern and a sublte growl came from the back of his throat.

"Like hell...who are you people?! I can definitely tell you're not Hollows, but you feel as if you're something akin to Soul Reapers! What Division are you from?!"

"Easy there hot shot! Daisuke right?" he said, again feigning a hurt look, but surprised Daisuke with widened eyes showing shock clearly on his face, before the man continued, "I'm just here to ask a few questions to here miss...Sakura over here and we'll be on our way as quickly as we came. How does that sound to everybody, no?" he asked with a easy-going smile on his face, his partner remained silent and kept watching the two, observing every gesture and taking it into his mind for later reference.

"Yeeeeeah, my dad always told me not to talk to strangers." Sakura drawled, placing one hand on her hip and letting her other arm hang at her side. "Especially ones that happen to know our names before we ever told them...."

Daisuke nodded, waving his arm out indignantly saying, "I'm not fond of armed people who've been spying on me either! Tell me who you're working for-"

"Its not going to work, Jaaku," said a youthful, yet solemn voice, his eyes staring down Daisuke as he saw the contorted expression of both fear and uncertainty in his eyes, "let's just take her and kill the Soul Reaper. Quickly this time...I'd hate to call in the others because of your sick appetite for blood."

The now announced 'Jaaku' smiled wickedly, saying with a resigned shrug, saying in a nonchalant false disappointed voice, "Well, I did try, didn't I?" He turned back to the now tensed up and gritting Soul Reaper, before Jaaku put his left hand ontop of the sword pommel casually saying rejuvinatedly, "My name is Jaaku Retsurui. I come on behalf of my master to take her," he said with his right hand outstretched towards her, with a eerily familiar finger pistol form before 'pulling the trigger' back, 'shooting' at her, "back to him."

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE?!" Daisuke yelled out, his eyes glaring angrily, stepping forward, unconsciously putting his left arm out to shield Sakura from any unknown attack these strangers might dish out at them.

During this exchange, Sakura remained silent. Her fingers had clenched into fists, and her eyes narrowed to a more intense and cold level. She seemed to show no sign of distress at the turn of events. She folded her arms across her chest, maintaining defiance in her stance. Her eyes caught the finger as it "shot" at her, and the ghost of a smile flashed across her face. Had Daisuke not been right in front of her, she would've made a gesture right back to him.

Jaaku smiled at Sakura, his eyes catching the cool composure she shown despite the random, abrupt appearance of faces that should bring back memories of her 'glory' days...especially since their faces hadn't changed as drastically as their attire and bodies have.

Jaaku then moved at lightning speed, his form disappearing in a sound that resembled something close to static, yet too 'dead' to be clear, almost like a buzzing sound instead of speakers being blown. He caught Daisuke off guard, his eyes widened as an outstretched right hand struck a right hook towards his midriff, knocking the air out of him as he flew backwards with a loud clapping sound following his flight. His body flew head over heels after catching the earth behind him, the grass and dirt kicked up with him as his body rolled over in on itself, cringing from the immense pain he felt, coughing up a few specks of saliva.

"D-Damn...he's fast," Daisuke thought, scolding himself slightly as he tried to get back on his feet, one arm clutching his injured chest while the other began to push himself up, readying himself for battle.

As Jaaku retracted his fist, he moved around with a sadist smile imbedded on his features, eyes gleaming with murderous glee, turning around on the ball of his foot as he engaged a Iaido slash at her mid-riff, expertly engaging a cutting air pressure to exhale afterwards a mere moment after his attack, blowing everything out of the way, the very air itself cutting everything apart.

Sakura was not one to be outdone.

WOOSH!

As he whipped around, she had already drawn her blade, swung it out, and twisted around to barely avoid the strike aimed at her person. As she was twisting around, a smile decorated her face - one that expressed the elation of the danger in front of her. But within that smile was also amusement, almost as if what she was facing down was nothing more than a toy. A glint of that very same amusement could be seen in her eyes as she spun around elegantly with a diagonal uppercut. This would be immediately followed by several one-handed swipes; fast, lethal, and unpredictable in their pattern.

Jaaku didn't lose his vigor nor his grin, matching the blades and slashes with excitement and elation, a couple grazed his either cheek lightly, some of his hair was swiped, but he countered, launching a surprisingly swift amount of slashes. They were calculated, aimed, and perfectly timed, always making sure the moment after a counter or a slash he would follow up with another blow or jab. Their dance of blades sprung sparks and clangs of steel upon steel, and Jaaku didn't seemed the least deterred against his target.

Daisuke grabbed the hilt of his long bladed Zanpakuto, using Flast Step to move towards him, initiating a unsheathing of his Zanpakuto before he was stopped by a thin red string connected by the silent unnamed partner nearby, as he spoke in a low tone, "Don't interfere or you will die," he merely pulled his hand to the side, sending Daisuke arm yanking painfully to the side, pulling his body over in the air like a rag doll before pulled down towards the ground again, this time Daisuke braced his feet for the impact, sliding Spiritual Particles onto the soles of his feet, exhaling the impact along the earth nearby, causing a loud crash.

"Ts-Tsuzuri Raiden," Daisuke emphasized, a crawl of yellow electric energy along his long blade, before tapping the red string wrapped around his wrist, momentarily shocking him before sending it towards the solemn looking man, who simply 'let go' of the string before resuming his nonchalant pose.

"You cannot stop us, Soul Reaper Daisuke Hayate, Lieutenant of the 9th Division, heir to the Hayate Noble Family. Give up and leave the girl to us," he said with an almost soothing calm, as if to reassure Daisuke they wouldn't do anything untowardly.

Daisuke's pain helped him regain his composure, grabbing the hilt with both hands of his Zanpakuto, speaking aloud indignantly, "I will not stop fighting! I know you're up to something, and I won't let you take Sakura away form me!"

"How typical," the unnamed man said with a sigh, continuing with a curious gaze back at Daisuke's eyes, "do you even know WHAT she is, boy?"

"Huh....?"

Sakura's eyes widened slightly at the words of choice.

But at the same time, she had allowed her guard to fall - and that was her undoing.

A jab managed to punch through her side, and she shut her eye, a hissing noise escaping through her gritted teeth. She immediately hopped backwards in order to gain distance, a free hand clutching her now-bleeding side. In all honesty, if it were under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have affected her much. But she kept herself in a crouched position, breathing slightly hitched as she glared at her opponent. A chill of elation went through her as much as the pain did, and she had to restrain herself from smiling.

Jaaku laughed out, twirling his sword in a vertical spin parallel next to his sword arm, saying aloud with a wide gleam of sadist madness, "What's the matter?! You've gotten slower since the last time we tangled! You are after all the reason I ended up there!" He lunged again, pressing the advantage he had now, slashing at her neck before twirling around in a blinding spin to initiate a kick, powered with enough force to send her flying backwards with crushing force.

While the battle continued with Jaaku and Sakura, Daisuke's eyes opened wide, never really knowing exactly WHAT she is, just the fact she was no ordinary soul or a Soul Reaper, so she had to be something else entirely. His pause gave all the room for speaking he needed, as the unnamed man continued closing his eyes briefly saying, "She fooled you too, huh? Don't blame yourself too much, she is after all a sociopathic genius. Toying with emotions is second nature, cruel as she is, I'm surprised who in their right mind would give her that kind of power-"

"Shut the hell up!" Daisuke roared out, his body became engulfed in his Spiritual Energy's bursting aura, taking the hue of a rippling red, his eyes a fluid crimson as his concentration became fully concentrated on killing these men in front of him, his Spiritual Pressure shook the air, becoming hot and crackling. He then rushed at the unnamed partner, both hands on Zanpakuto, swinging it above his head as he came towards him to slay him here and now. Though there was a brief few seconds after Daisuke spoke as the unnamed man allowed a small smile onto his face.

"How ironic, I was getting to that part. Kyōki, Sensō," he called out sternly suddenly two green energy emblazoned figures appeared from either side of the unnamed man. One of them struck out a huge axe weapon at Daisuke to which his Zanpakuto collided with, causing a large break in the air pressure, the being's brutishly large figure matched his strength even at his peak.

The other figure taking on an appearance almost that of a corpse and a mummy, attacked him with cat claw weapons, slashing out of him, making him spin out of the way to avoid their deadly swings, catching his overcoat several times, the scratches large and apparent before them as he skidded across the ground, his feet kicking up earth violently behind him as he engaged in combat with the two beings that substituted for the unnamed man's position in battle.

"Tch....!!!"

Narrowing her eyes and gritting her teeth, she immediately rose back up to her feet in order to continue her defense. It was far too easy to shove him back, to regain offensive and break him underneath her feet. Yet, she kept herself pushed back, allowing him to gain ground over her as she continued to bat away his attacks. Sparks continued to fly as fast as they had ever been, one combatant rushing against the other.

And, even through this, she had a grim smile on her face.

Throughout the commotion, a figure a considerable distance away was observing the battle with what appeared to be binoculars. He was lying on his stomach, using the grass as a means to conceal himself physically. His spiritual presence was perfectly hidden to the point of invisibility, keeping any of them from sensing him out. After a moment of observing, he lowered the binoculars to reveal furrowed eyes and a thoughtful frown on his face. Slowly, he began to move forward towards the group.

If anything went bad.... he would have to intervene.

The brutish figure swung his axe, surprisingly quick, but still slow enough for Daisuke to counter, flip, and dodge around, the partner of his was the real trouble. He moved at blinding speeds, and slashed and twirled in unorthodox patterns that would outdo even Drunken Boxing Masters. He slashed, clashed, and repelled with physical strikes, not even taking an instant to keep himself alive against the surprisingly powerful tag-team. He knew if this kept up, not even knowing the enemies' numbers would cause him to die.

As the unnamed man kept observing the fluid, vicious fight of both pairs of his targets, he sighed out of impatience. He didn't want to cause too much commotion, and didn't really want that particular Captain involved in this battle, finding it would be much more difficult in exctracting her.

"Jaaku!" He called out to his partner, as he kept in beat with his target of choice, their slashes never ceasing, and moved gracefully, somehow also found the time to talk to him at the same time. It would almost look comical if the lethal intensity wasn't so raw in the air.

"What is it?! I'm having fun here!" He called out, his smile slightly hindered at the thought of being interrupted, enjoying the clash of his blade against hers, feeling as if he could go on and on for eternity. It was a feeling that gave him a near feeling of ecstasy.

"Use it and take her. I want to leave here as soon as possible. I don't think we should keep our master waiting much longer," he said cautiously, not wanting to upset the delicate balance of his partner's moves, while urging him to finish it up.

"Tch!" He said in a irritated acknowledgement, clashing against her one more time before reaching out and grabbing her exposed forearm, unknown to her, a tattoo was emblazoned on his palm, unltimately spelling their impromptu victory. A screaming pain would crawl up her arm and across her body, until the pain would lock her muscles and nerves, ceasing any form of movement in her body, a stunning and suprising move it certainly will be for her.

Needless to say....

A sharp gasp escaped Sakura's throat as Jakku's hand grasped her forearm.... then she let out a hoarse scream as the pain tore through her body. Because of the symptoms, she immediately lost her grip on her sword. Her muscles and nerves locked up, and she fell in a manner similar to a fainting goat's. Had it not been for the situation at hand, such a thing would've been hilarious to see the widened-eye look on the woman's face, her bent knees and arms raised above waist level.

"Ok.... s-seems the son of a bitch picked up a few new moves while we were away...." She thought to herself, a shaky smile on her face as she looked up at the man standing over her.

Beginning of the Endgame

Daisuke glanced over to see Sakura fall, apparently down for the count, even unable to keep her hand on her sword as he falls limply onto the ground, clattering audibly in the distance.

"SAKURA!" He yells out, ducking a axe swing by the brutish figure before he preforms a Kido to knock him off balance, aiming a free palm, uttering lowly, "Hado #54, Haien!" discharging a orange sphere of flame, striking the brute in the chest, causing him to howl in pain as well as stumble backwards, flailing his axe with abandon as the flames crawled up his body and set his entire being on fire. The corpse-looking partner dove in as usual, corkscrewing towards him in a spinning drill of blades, Daisuke side stepped out of the way before striking his back as it turned with the pommel of his Zanpakuto, initiating a silent Hado #1 as well as Bakudo #1 at the same time, sending him into the earth with a ear-splitting impact, as well as binding his arms behind his back momentarily stunning him.

He then turned towards the unnamed man, as Jaaku leaned down on one knee, holding his sword to delicately slice some skin on her shoulder, saying in a sadist whisper, "Why don't you scream a little for me, Punisher? Its been forever since I remember the day you made me scream as you ripped the flesh off my back, before sentencing me to eternal damnation..."

"Jaaku! Now's not the time!" He scolded tersely, his eyes glared at him, though his figure composed and not even facing the oncoming Daisuke, having seemed like he got him by surprise, to which he only turned his head towards him. As Daisuke roared out, swinging his blade, he was suddenly stunned as dozens of small blue firefly balls appeared, before forming a pattern within a blink of an eye, completely paralyzing his being in mid-air, mere feet away from his opponent, his sword a few inches from his neck.

"That was a little too close for comfort, Korosou," he said to a white coat individual, his lab latex gloved hands outstretched as if he was composing a concerto, as he bore a small confident smile of his own, walking towards Daisuke.

"You should know better than to doubt my timing, Ryūketsu-sama," he said with a proud, confident tone, his smile showing how much he enjoyed keeping Daisuke in the tight bonds he created, making sure not to underestimate the boy having seen his abilities firsthand.

"This one is a problem. Please get ready to dispatch him while Jaaku secures her for transportation," he said softly, dismissing his other partner's comeback, turning his gaze back at Jaaku who reluctantly grabbed Sakura's now tattoo emblazoned forearm viciously before hauling her inert form over his shoulder, sheathing his sword.

"Well...this was fun. Short but fun, eh, Ryūketsu?" He asks, to which he got a small smile in return.

"Yes it has, hasn't it? I can't believe the Soul Reaper over there could keep up, let alone best those two," he offhandedly remarks as he sees the brute exuded a large amount of Spiritual Energy, washing the bodily flames away, leaving a large amount of scalding for display as he walked over to the group, huffing his axe over his shoulder, while wrenching his partner from the earth as he wordlessly unbound his arms from the weak Kido.

"Well, shall I dispose of him now?" Korosou asks with a evil smile, raising his elbows up above his splayed fingers, as if he was enacting a puppet show, the star-like pattern binding grew tighter, urging a swear out of Daisuke's mouth as he glared at the leader, intent on freeing himself, even if it was hopeless.

Ryūketsu stared him in the eye, saying in a honest regretful tone, "You should've stayed out of our way," before turning back to Korosou, saying, "do it now."

He would get a definite surprise.

For the second that Ryōketsu had allowed himself to turn away, the other stranger had managed to re-appear right behind Korosou. A hand grasped the back of his shirt, another hand reached around to grasp his face, and a foot thrust itself out to strike the back of his knee. As that leg went upwards, Korosou would find himself being sent forcefully down to the ground with spiritually enhanced strength that aimed to incapacitate him as well as break his concentration on the hold he had on Daisuke.

The effects were immediate.

WHAM!!!!

The very force exerted on Korosou caused the earth to buckle underneath their feet, the power kicking up a moderately small dust storm. Even though she could not see due to her upper torso hanging over Jaaku's back, Sakura could still sense the newfound presence and cocked an eyebrow at it. "A Shinigami....? What in the hell would someone like that be here, of all places....?" She thought to herself.

Ryūketsu's eyes widened suddenly at the shimmering appearance of what looked like a Soul Reaper, one they hadn't anticipated being there, thus left Korosou completely unawares. His eyes bulged as he felt a smash and felt his body twirled over and crashed audibly into the groud, indenting it with his form, sending dirt and grass up in the excess booming sound.

Ryūketsu's eyes went back to Daisuke, seeing him suddenly freed of the binding spell, dropping down gasping for air as the tight confines had a few moments to shrug off. However, due to the interference of another unsuspected, and unplanned force, Ryūketsu decided to forgo any means of eliminating them...for now.

"Jaaku!" Ryūketsu shouted out, not even turning to face him as his left hand rested on the pommel of his sword, saying aloud as he readied himself to fight, "take the Punisher out of here now! I'll personally make sure that none of them stop you." His eyes narrowed at the Soul Reaper that incapacitated Korosou, watching his two partners, Kyōki, the brutish large one that towered up to a size that would've put former Espada #10/0 Yammy Llargo to shame, his hulking form rippling with muscle and clad in strange armor. He raised his axe, coating it with electrical violent spiritual energy before swinging it down at the unknown Soul Reaper, causing a tremendous blast, destroying a good 15 meters of landscape past the Soul Reaper.

The other one, dove in at lightning speeds, corkscrewing in a drill of cat claw blades, intent on shredding him as he dodged the blast, his apparent mummified appearance made him look like a long dead corpse, given clothes and weapons as if he's depicted as a tomb guardian rather than a warrior or real monster.

Jaaku hissed, stretching his unarmed hand towards the space next to him, opening a tear in space, a violent blue bordered red portal opens in a smaller, grimmer display similiar to a Garganta.

They were pressing themselves into a retreat.

It was something that would bring relief, for now. However, at the given moment, hope was lost for Sakura. Even she knew so, a rather irritated scowl on her face as she glared at the back of Jaaku's head. The only one available was Daisuke, and he was just freshly recovering from the newfound assault on his body. The Soul Reaper's eyes narrowed as he took to the air, using a Shunpo to evade being torn apart by the blast. His tied hair ripped in the winds he created, his head shifting down just in time to see Sensō rush towards him. For now, all they were doing was covering their escape.

For now, all he had to do was survive.

Raising his blade up and twirling his wrists, he intercepted the blows that his enemy brought against him. However, he wasn't just simply defending himself - in a manner that he counter-attacked, he was also bringing the force of Sensō's own blows against him. It was his very own style of swordfighting, one that aimed to wear down his opponent's defenses and completely dominate the duel. His eyes were narrowed, and a smirk decked his features as he fought for his very life.

Daisuke growled, pushing himself up and moving with all the strength he had left, using Flash Step to move towards Sakura, his hand outstretching to grab her inert form, his hand...all that it managed to grab was the bonnet fastening her hair back, letting now fall onto and around her head, as he retracted his movements, avoiding a nearly unnoticable edge of a sword. He leaned back, only hearing the humming of the sword cutting through the air, feeling a slight pain travel underneath his eye on his cheek before the blade completely passed above him, narrowly missing him, but unfortunately gave Jaaku enough time to slip into the portal.

Daisuke's eyes briefly locked onto Sakura's as her head was angled towards his, his right cheek bled down his face, a look of horror and fear entered into his eyes as he yelled out her name once more in futility, "SAKURA!!!!"

Ryūketsu tsked, looking at his sword, then back at Daisuke whispering to himself, "I missed...but it won't happen again," he then lunged towards Daisuke still reeling from the shock, swiping down at his right shoulder, intending to cut diagonally through towards his heart and across his arm. But the blade met Daisuke's own, his eyes burned with rage, and his Spiritual Pressure boiled in the air, a reddish hue came across his body as he growled at him, his eyes a vivid crimson.

"YOU MONSTER! WHERE DID YOU TAKE HER?!" Daisuke roared out forcing his blade to push Ryūketsu a few steps back, holding a single handed grip on his sword whereas Daisuke used both hands with his large weapon, sparks danced sporadically between their weapons.

Ryūketsu looked at him with a hidden analytical look, observing his strong emotions as something...odd that someone had been affiliated with the Punisher. "Why do you feel this way, Daisuke? Is it because you think that she's your friend? Is she your lover, your comrade at arms? Anything that she's said to you, anything she's done has been a lie! Accept it and you won't have to fight us-"

"BLAZE ETERNALLY, KYOI ABATA!" He roared out, his Zanpakuto suddenly forming two spikes on either end of his double bladed sword, also funneling a stream of flames along its edge, causing Ryūketsu to open his eyes open in admonishment of his Zanpakuto being released this close to him. He immediately withdrew his blade and distanced himself, his form backpedaled across the field 15 meters, even as Daisuke raised his Zanpakuto into the air and threw a condensed sphere towards his landing zone, causing a mighty pyrotechnic explosion in its wake, blasting a good 10-15 meters of landscape in its fiery blast.

Meanwhile, during that period of time, Kyōki and Sensō were continuing their battle with the Soul Reaper intruder, Sensō clashed his cat claws in mid-air, violently spinning and twirling his body along to propel a number of dangerous high-powered kicks at him in a spinning-top motion while jabbing out his cat claw blades at his legs.

Kyōki also took the moment of concentration off of himself to gather energy at the tip of his axe, forming what looked like a Bala if anyone was paying attention, suddenly discharging with the weapon in hand as a aiming-tool, firing it at where Sensō was forcing him backwards into. The two seemed like a natural tag-team, one pressing the enemy to dodge and outmaneuver the large destructive attacks of one partner, while the other rushed him the moment he was in the open, swarming him with an array of vicious rapid attacks, until he was open for interception by his partner again. A Deadly Pair indeed!

The resistance was only making the Soul Reaper more elated.

After he parried another set of blows made by Sensō, the Soul Reaper was in the middle of another one. But when he swung his sword down, it wasn't just a simple blow of the physical kind, but one enhanced by his spiritual energy once again. He swung the blade in an arc, making sure with the projectile attack first before the close-up opponent. As a result, a bright explosion occured within the area, the color of the energy illuminating and brilliant against its surroundings. He used this as an opportunity to land back onto the ground, slamming his sword down upon the earth. From the blade, a massive vent of pressurized air was sent in a fissure's path towards Kyouki, racing at an incredible speed.

He had witnessed what had happened, glancing down to earth to see the shocked look Sakura gave Daisuke when he had pulled her bonnet off. He had seen that very same look fade to helplessness when she was finally pulled away to an unknown location. The power of the release was undeniable, and a bead of sweat fell down his face at the blast's range. He hoped the man would get it through his head enough to allow him to explain without consequence - at least, if they could successfully force their enemies back....

Sensō cried out in a high-pitched scream, spiraling down to land onto its feet with a loud crash, covering its face with his cat claw weapons, momentarily withdrawing himself, making it look it was seriously injured.

Kyōki however lowered his axe towards the ground, near waist level for his opponent but near his shins as he was concerned. A sphere of gathering energy appeared on the tip of his axe again as the fizzure grew nearer, suddenly discharging a mighty burgundy Cero, blasting the earth apart effectively countering the fizzure of heat screaming towards him. The Cero also was setting the fields aflame as it violently rushed back towards the unnamed Soul Reaper, intending on pulverizing and incinerating him as the Cero exploded violently where the Soul Reaper would've been, causing a large mushroom cloud to exhale above the blast site, creating a good 40 meter blast radius, shaking the entire fields and a plume of smoke could be seen from Yurei's city limits as well as hear the thundercracking of the explosion.

Daisuke shielded his eyes from the violent flash from the Cero explosion, briefly worried about his newfound ally's fate, before he heard a voice emanate from his own explosion's site, "Just what I'd expect from a Lieutenant wielding one of the strongest Fire-based Zanpakutos. Truly," he said revealing a slightly marred form of Ryūketsu, his right hand outstretched suffering a few burns across it, but the rest of his body remained unharmed if not a bit toasted, "you and your father's Zanpakuto are the only ones of its kind, 2nd to the legendary Ryūjin Jakka, still to date as the strongest Fire-based Zanpakuto."

"H-How do you know all this?! Who the hell are you?!" Daisuke roared out, waving his brightly lit Zanpakuto, hissing and growling subtly for blood.

"Ryūketsu ōtamu," he responded calmly, letting down his scalded arm to rest unperturbed at his side, still clenching his sword, "Hantā, as well as the leader of these Hantā, who serve my master, Bōkyaku, a Demon of Hell."

Daisuke's eyes suddenly widened in shock, feeling his neck choke and his body shake. He suspected them being some form of renegade Soul Reapers on a stretch, Arrancars, or something, but not errand boys on the beck and call of a Demon! Which means...

"Why? Why did you take Sakura to Hell?! What do you want from her?!" Daisuke yelled out, his desperation clearly in his voice, but his rage boiled around his Zanpakuto, growing hotter and more flamboyant in its production of fire, hissing slightly louder now.

"Vengeance, for she was the one responsible for sending us into Hell, her Daetenshini, her underlings, inflict far more pain and suffering upon us than Hells' Will could. She is, after all, a Shinsei with the ulterior title, "Punisher" after all, though, I didn't think she sunk so low as to drag another one of 'you', like that," he said with disgust, his face rarely showed any emotion, but a small sneer was present along with a burning anger in his eyes.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing...," Daisuke trailed off, at first looking like he was going to stop fighting. to break down into tears. No...the tears came down his face were hot, even sizzling against his skin, as he raised bright red eyes encompassing his pupils, a dark voice of anger filled himself and his Zanpakuto howled in rage at Ryūketsu, his eyes open and widened with the sudden climb of even higher Spiritual Energy bursting from him.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOUR TELLING ME YOU BASTARD! YOU'LL DIE FOR SPEAKING ABOUT HER THAT WAY!" His body bathed in a bloody cloak of violent Spiritual Energy, setting nearby grass and earth on fire, crackling the very air around him as he raised his Zanpakuto up towards him, intending on killing him here and now.

In the case of the massive beast....someone else did.

From the sky, a murder of giant, red birds overtook the air. It was an air squad sent by the police in order to investigate the situation from above and effectively neutralize it. The explosions and blasts had drawn attention to their position, and now action was appropriately being taken. The unit sent in was a flock of "dragonbirds", named affectionately by their owners and farmers. Unlike the white doves that managed transportation, these types of birds acted as an effective air support by unleashing fire upon the hapless enemies down below. They were a strong breed, and their flames could melt even through solid steel. It was time to put that power to use.

Riding on the lead bird was none other than Kenta himself. His eyes were looking down upon the giant, and one of his hands had just clicked on his earpiece. "Focus all your concentration of the big one and make sure to check your fire. There are friendlies down there!" He radioed in to the other bird units, before lowering himself in to begin the attack. Upon his command, his own personal bird opened its mouth and breathed outward, a steady stream of fire wide enough to envelop the torso of Kyouki. Two others followed suit, creating a concentration of destruction at the position.

One such member that had secretly recovered among the cohorts of Hantā, Korosou. Slightly injured, his lips and head were caked in a few droplets of blood, though a look of haste and small smile crawled onto his lips as he made a clap of his hands before forming a square of blue energy, pushing it out to form a large cyan barrier between the incoming fire that would've hit Kyōki, who raised his axe in mid-preparation to repel the blast of incoming fire.

"Time to retreat I'd say," Korosou said with a knowing smile to his compatriots, whom they simply nodded as the blazing fire storm outside of the shield would only hold for so long, quickly forming their own portals, slipping into them quickly before disappearing, whisking back to Hell away from their enemies.

Ryūketsu stood his ground though, seeing his compatriots making their escape he was satisfied he could say one more thing to the now shocked, and slightly less furious Daisuke, "Pay heed to my words, Daisuke. If you follow us, I will show no mercy to you, and you'll end up locked into the same Hell I suffered inside of. She's nothing to you...forget about the Punisher," he then formed a Hell portal behind him as he walked backwards into it, finishing as he was enveloped in the dimension tear gate, "she'll only enjoy your bitter suffering in the end."

Daisuke fell to the ground, his Zanpakuto defused and reverted to its sealed form, clattering out of his hands, as he gripped the earth below,and he began to cry out in mourning and frustration, once more calling out, "SAKURAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

Immediately, the birds descended downward in order to land themselves. As they did so, the Soul Reaper approached the desolate man with furrowed eyebrows and a frown. He had taken some damage, as well - his left arm was covered in blood, and a trickle of it was running down from his forehead. His sleeve had been ripped somewhat, revealing a slightly burned arm. Regardless of this, he appeared to be in good condition. He calmly approached, his gait slow and deliberate. "Daisuke, is it?" He asked coolly. "Crying won't solve anything.... and it won't save her. Come on, get up." He stopped once he was close enough, folding his arms across his chest and waiting.

Daisuke grit his teeth, fisting up the grass underneath before ending his sobs with a low growl, "What the hell...did do...just watching this entire time?!" Daisuke in a fit of frustration and anger, whirled around, reaching out and grabbing the young man by the collar, bringing his face close to his, tear stained eyes staring at vehemently at the man.

"What in the--"

Needless to say, the soul Reaper was not expecting that.

Instinctively, he gripped the hands of the man who gripped his collar and shoved them off, giving a rather irritated glare towards the other man. "For your information, I was trying my best not to get killed by those other two brutes!" He snapped. "Now get yourself together! Time is wasting, and the sooner we stand around and do nothing, the more time they'll have to spell our demise!!"

However, before he could elaborate on that very fact, Kenta's voice came to the two. "Lieutenant Hayate!" He called out, approaching the two quickly. "What's the status? Is everything all right?"

Daisuke growled at him, saying, "You have some nerve, disappearing like that, then reappearing and only helping when we're nearly beaten to a pulp!" He then pushed Braeburn away, looking over at Kenta, his face full of frustration and grief, as he noticed the man was concerned for another reason entirely.

"They took Sakura...they...they called her a 'Punisher' which I have no bleeding hell idea why they did, but they said she's a Shinsei...I don't know half the stuff they say is true or not, but I do know their Spiritual Pressure is not that of a Hollow's or entirely of a Soul Reaper's. Its like something foul, mixed with death and suffering, while melding the traits of either a Soul Reaper or a Arrancar into their body. Its...repulsive and terrifying," he looked at Kenta, wondering if he had any idea what he was talking about.

The revelations had immediately caught the police officer by surprise. His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, his voice had caught itself within his throat. "Punisher....Shinsei....?" He repeated in confusion, looking away and folding his arms across his chest. "Honestly, I've never really heard of those particular terms before. I could've sworn I heard them a while back, but...."

The Soul Reaper immediately chose this time to speak, causing Kenta to spin his attention back towards him. When he spoke, his voice as well as his expression was slightly pleading. Notably, it held a moderate Australian accent. "Listen.... this isn't the proper place to speak about this. I can explain everything, but we'll need to move to another spot. You should find your respective commanders and take them with you.... it's imperative that they know, as well...."

"And you are....?" Kenta questioned, raising an eyebrow.

The Soul Reaper bowed out of respect. "The name's Braeburn McTavish, sir."

"He's coward who left his duties as a Soul Reaper from the Soul Society," Daisuke said with disdain, spitting the words out like they were poison, as he glared at him before walking over to Kenta.

"Let's get out of here while we still have time to plan a rescue for Sakura," he said in a slightly more solemn voice to Kenta, not even wanting to look at Braeburn, knowing exactly who he was.

"...." Behind him, Braeburn remained silent. However, he did slap a palm to his face out of frustration. Of course, the emotion that ran high still existed. But it didn't mean that the reprecussions irritated him to no end. Hopefully, his father would be much more of a reasonable man....

In front of Daisuke, Kenta merely nodded, a slightly solemn expression on his face. "Follow me. I'll take you to Captain Kukkyōna and contact the commander along the way." He answered, turning around and walking briskly off to his own bird, which had been perched a good few steps away. Braeburn silently followed, the expression of irritation still clear on his face.

Regrouping and Planning

As Daisuke and company flew towards the headquarters, he could see his father standing on the assigned 'hellipad' for the specific Dragonbirds flying towards them, his Haori, scarf, and Soul Society garb now donned since the reveal of his position and negotiations with the higher-ups in Yurei. His gaze unreadable, his eyes narrowed at the oncoming battle group as they landed, their steeds' wings flapped powerfully and sent a few gusts of wind to flutter the coat of the Captain of the Soul Society of Japan.

He stayed still as Daisuke leaped off, breathing heavily as he looked knowingly at his father, before he dropped his head in shame and bitterness.

"I-I tried to stop them...I wasn't...wasn't strong enough-" he began to say until Kukkyōna cut him off by walking past him, placing a simple empathetic tap on his shoulder before walking past him, wordlessly comforting his son in his own composed way.

However, he was more concerned of the appearance of the known Soul Reaper climbing off his own steed, a few troopers followed but backed up as his gaze turned icy as he spoke coldly, "Explain yourself, former 3rd Seat Braeburn, of your knowledge of the captors and tracking of them, and untimely interference. If you come quietly now, I won't report you to the Stealth Force."

Clearly, Braeburn himself was not pleased with the apparent threat.

Angrily, he threw up his hands. "For bloody fuck's sake-- Ugh!" He snapped in agitation, throwing his hands down. He took in a deep breath, exhaling and inhaling in order to calm himself. "I'd argue with you about the authenticity of that statement, but honestly, we've got bigger problems here than me." He did not pay attention to Avaron and Kenta as they approached, continuing to speak directly to the elder Hayate.

"Those assailants you and that woman encountered...." He explained, re-gaining a calmer edge to his tone. "....are known as Hantā. If you're aware of the regular Sinner, the term for the doomed residents of Hell, then you'll have no problems figuring out that Hantā are a step up from that. My time here's allowed me to research on such. The libraries of Yūrei are extensive archives for information." While this was going on, Kenta had taken to spinning one of his revolvers around on his finger in an idle motion, keeping his eyes on Braeburn. Avaron had her arms folded across her chest, looking over at the man with a furrowed gaze.

"Before anyone else starts asking any questions, let's get one thing out of the way...." She stated, turning a questioning gaze towards Kukkyōna and Daisuke. "Where do you know this guy from?" This caused Braeburn to scowl once again, but he didn't allow himself to object to the question.

Kukkyōna spoke first, not letting Daisuke butt in tersely as he spoke off in a matter-of-fact tone, "Braeburn McTavish, 3rd Seat Officer of the 5th Division of the Soul Society's Gotei 13. Serving after many years was suspected of conflicting theology that disalluded him from his duties. Before being confronted by the Stealth Force, he had already left, fleeing from the Soul Society. He is a minor priority of the Stealth Force's to bring into custody, alive if possible, and brought before the Central 46 Court Chambers to be judged for dereliction of duty and abandonment of post. What he has done in between his dereliction and now has been...unclear," Kukkyōna then turned to look at him finishing, "until now. Apparently from reports of the Deep Cover Ops that were responsible for alerting us in the first place of the invasion of the Yurei had suspicious activity of someone under the profile of Braeburn McTavish, from which they had been tracking him until they untimely deminse. It is unlikely he's responsible for death, but the extent of his abilities improving from the time of his dereliction and now has also been, unclear."

Daisuke just glared at him, hissing at him with a frustrated accusing tone, "Why the hell would you be researching that?! What's your interest in Hell anyways?! That place is supposed to be monitored and not interfered by the Soul Society for nearly any reason or another!"

However, his hissing tone only caused Braeburn to smirk, raising his arms up in a "come on" shrug. "You don't know my reason for leaving, but that was one of the reasons I decided to stay away. You see.... because of that refusal to get involved in Hell's matters, the Soul Society has been allowing themselves to become ignorant of the events that take place there." He raised a pointing finger to Daisuke. "However, people like me manage to keep enemies from obtaining advantage of that. If I hadn't did what I did...." He raised a wagging finger. "You would have no idea what those Hanta have in planned for your precious Sakura."

Daisuke growled, instantly reaching out to grab his wrist to pull him over to grab his collar, using his impressive strength to raise him off his feet as he nearly yelled at him, "WHERE IS SHE?! What do you know about her?! How long have you been following us?! Did you just watch the city burn apart in the invasion?! Did yo-" he was cut off by Kukkyōna grabbing his hand, not applying much force at all, but the mere touch sent warning signs in Daisuke's mind, suddenly snapping him out of his rage.

"Calm down, Daisuke! He won't cooperate if you try to kill him," he said tersely, raising his voice, making Daisuke loose his grip on him and back off, his father's mere raising of his voice made him cringe at the possibility of being shamed in front of him.

Kukkyōna turned around, narrowing his eyes at him before speaking lowly, "Speak of what you know now, and quickly. I may be collected but witholding information of this critical importance will further label you as a traitor to the Soul Society. I'd be forced out of duty and justice to interrogate you, which I'm sure would be not in our both's best interest."

"I dislike the bloody wankers as much as you do...." Braeburn said bluntly, passing an agitated glare at Daisuke as he dusted himself. "So I've got no reason to keep any secrets. One: The lady that they took out of your care.... that wasn't just any person. That was the form of a deity whose power has yet to be realized and whose purpose has yet to be fulfilled. She strikes fear within those that oppose her rule and is the driving force for most of my violent brethren. Those who believe are saved from her wrath, even those who do not shed blood in the name of her. Her name.... is the Punisher, and she is the ultimate decider of who is saved and who is forever doomed to the depths of Hell."

Kukkyōna crossed his arms, closing his eyes saying, "Its as I suspected. She is indeed a Deity...I did not know of which group she belonged to. I didn't know she was 'the Punisher' reveled in their extremist cults. Her...graphic representations on the radical posters strung up in converted towns have been...disconcerting, and not all to inaccurate. According to legend, her birth started with barb wires strung all over her body, screaming in pain. She eventually became attuned to the pain, then had a thrill for it, eventually able to feel the sheer pain of others giving her an almost feeling of ecstacy. Although, most of it has been exaggerated, and I haven't seen Sakura act too much like it, save for her sadist and cold nature," he finished with a shrug.

Daisuke stood silent, letting everything Braeburn and Kukkyōna said churn inside himself. He suddenly turned over at him, asking, "You worship the Red Sun though, right? That would explain why you left the Soul Society...but, how come you know about the Hantā so much? Have you traveled to Hell yourself? And another thing," he then raised an accusatory hand at him, outstretched at him, asking aloud, "why would the Punisher involve herself in the affairs of Hell?! That place is supposed to be monitored by the Soul Society, and the Zanpakuto of every Soul Reaper sends corrupt Hollows with past living sins as well as pluses to Hell, so why would she take charge of a duty that's a Soul Reaper's?!"

"Hah!" Braeburn mocked, his tone clearly incredulous. "You are such a naive fool. I'm telling you right now: the Soul Society may monitor Hell on its own basis, but she keeps the hell within it! There's a difference between simply watching it all go by and actually making things happen, you know! So I would think twice before assuming that it's all your responsibility. Besides, if it is, you clearly aren't doing a very good job, are you?"

Daisuke growled, but knew better than to anger his father again, about to retort back when Kukkyōna narrowed his eyes at Braeburn, making his own comment, "Of course only a man with narrow-minded views who thinks the laws of the Soul Society inadequate would retort quickly and unworthy of remarks. Regardless," he looked back at Daisuke, then Kenta, then back at Braeburn as he spoke, "I think its fair to say we've chatted idly long enough. Tell us what you know of their plans and how to enter Hell. The only gates I am aware of is the Kushanada Hell gate that spawns every time a Sinner is exposed without disguise in any world they are in or when someone is sentenced to Hell, by Zanpakuto or, apparently the Punisher. The only gates besides that is one in the Soul Society, guarded heavily by the Kido Corps, even inspected by the Kido Captain himself every so often. The other, is...dangerous to use. Its in the World of the Living...and I'd think its fair to say no one wants to open it too often either."

Daisuke then looked unbelievingly at Kukkyōna, his father, before he asked him in a disbelieving tone, "Why didn't you say anything about this earlier?!"

"I don't know where the gate in the World of the Living is, Daisuke," he simply said, before he finished, "and the Head Captain, no matter the reason, would never let us use the gate in the Soul Society. Its simply off-limits."

Braeburn scowled, shaking his head a little at what appeared to him as an insult. But he bit back the urge to fight back; everything about them would have to wait. "Well, as of their plans...." He said, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. "I don't know. Vengeance.... using her as some sort of conduit for a summoning.... the possibilities are endless, as far as I'm concerned. It could be anything, and it could happen at any time. Fortunately for all of you, I've got a way to freely enter into Hell without such outside assistance. All I need is for you to gather up who you want, gather the equipment you need, and prepare yourself in any way you can."

Avaron turned her gaze towards the two Hayates, giving a slight frown and a cock of the eyebrow. "I'd come with you, but I've still got to monitor the evacuation plans. From what your intel has deciphered, another attack's supposed to come in two days, this time in a much more massive number. We've got a good thousand civilians and counting within the old underground resistance network right now, with military troops moving in to take patrol positions. Though, I would be happy to send a squad in order to assist--"

She was abruptly cut off by Braeburn's voice, which immediately earned him a slight glare of annoyance in his direction. "I don't think you'd be able to, ma'am...." He answered, eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Once you step into Hell, it's going to take reiatsu above the norm in order to navigate the realms. People with normal reiatsu like yours would immediately go insane from the aura that the dimension permeates. At the very least, the Hayates and I should come along."

Kukkyōna nodded towards Avaron, respectfully saying, "Anyone with low Spiritual Energy would immediately fall unconscious, and those average would indeed go insane, easy prey for Hell's Will to ensare them forever. I do appreciate the gesture however, but from what you're telling me now," Kukkyōna said, narrowing his eyes speaking in a low tone, "makes this all the more reason to find Sakura and save her from Hell before the invasion arrives. I want to be the first to intercept the enemy this time around."

Daisuke snapped his fingers on his right hand as he pointed over to his father and back at Avaron, "I know who we could bring along! Deep Cover Ops can send her right away, and she's the best they have!"

"I wouldn't recommend it. Captain Kaze wouldn't let her loose on a unsanctioned rescue mission into Hell for no apparent reason that would benefit himself," Kukkyōna said, crossing his arms, sliding them inside his billowed sleeves and looked at Daisuke with somewhat disinterest.

"Not unless we can convince him otherwise! We owe her that much," Daisuke said with determination and steadfastness in his voice.

Kukkyōna gazed at Daisuke for a few moments, it dragged onto a silence for a good few minutes. He sighed, relenting with Daisuke's tenacity, unfolding his arms as he responded, "We'd need to contact him from the Police HQ...though I'm not too sure he'll be happy by the request, regardless of who it comes from."

"And just who are you talking about....?" Braeburn questioned, folding his arms across his chest and tilting his head to the side a little.

Daisuke crossed his arms, Kukkyōna filling Braeburn in this time, "Deep Cover Ops is a Joint-Division Program that sends a new and secret line of Soul Reapers behind enemy territory, deep within unmapped dimensions, and tracks certain persons of interest, among other classified things. Needless to say, this program was initiated 10 years after the Winter War, and has been in constant development and improvement ever since, all members who meet the quota are extremely capable, only terribly lethal enemies can ever hope to kill them. Captain Kaze Sasayaki was the founder of this program, and one of his prized agents is under his care, more than qualified to partake in this mission. However he's very particular on where he sends her...peculiar, but no one questions him due to his status and the authority he holds over his own program."

"I've sparred with her. She's one of the most lethal fighters I've ever met, and her potential to eventually outclass any Captain in the 13 Court Guard Squads is inevitable," Daisuke said somberly, a slight grin crooked on his face as he remembered his own times in the Deep Cover Ops.

"Hmph....well, hopefully that can be put to the test and not turn out to be some sort of bullshit you just pulled out of your ass." Skeptical of the promise, Braeburn unfolded his arms and shifted his gaze away from them. "After you're ready, when do you think you'll be set to move?"

Daisuke shrugged saying in a bemused tone, "If we're lucky, several hours...if not...well, perhaps sooner perhaps much later."

Kukkyōna turned to Avaron, saying aloud, "Please lead the way to the Police HQ. I'd like to procur temporary use of your communications equipment to contact Captain Kaze, if you don't mind."

"In a situation like this, who would I to mind?" Avaron questioned, giving a smile as she turned herself away from the group and walked towards one of the birds. In turn, it turned its head in order to catch her with its gaze - a sign that this particular bird was one of hers. "Just let me doing the setting up, and you'll be all good to go." She stopped by it, placing a hand on its head and turning towards an approaching Kenta. "Sergeant, I want you to go back to the area with an investigation unit and find any traces of the spiritual residue left in order for future reference. I don't want to risk any more surprises than necessary."

At that, Kenta gave a nod, raising his hand up in a brief salute. "Yes, ma'am!"

Kukkyōna turned to Braeburn, narrowing his eyes at him before turning his head back forwards, "Come! We haven't any more time to delay!"

Daisuke glared at Braeburn momentarily before following his father to the bird Avaron was at, moving quickly in hopes this venture isn't a gamble, and that Sakura still had time left.

"And so the tense alliance begins...."

A toothy scowl on his face, Braeburn allowed himself to move with them. As he passed by Kenta, he couldn't help but spare a glance at him as he lowered his hand and walked off. However, he quickly turned his head back and continued walking. His notions alone would be hindering, especially in the case of those who considered him to be an enemy. It was all he could do in order to keep the balance stable between him and his former comrades.

If he played his cards right, maybe he could get off of their rap sheet.

....maybe.

Punisher's Punishment:

Ryūketsu walked ahead of the escort of Hanta, his steps measured and reverent, not taking steps out of pride or fear, but out of sheer respect for the place he tread upon. The soles of his shoes walked with sounds of crunching, ashes kicked up in minority as he walked, like sand but with a much more morbid origin.

Behind him, Ryūketsu looked back to see Jaaku still holding the unconscious Sakura, moreover aptly named 'the Punisher', according to them, her inert form was limp as Jaaku walked casually with one arm holding her in place while the other rested casually on the pommel of his Zanpakuto.

Beside him walked Korosou, his grin crooked and present, knowing that victory in his mind was good as theirs, and their vengeance will be his own as well as the others'. Both him and Jaaku's feet crunched as softly as Ryūketsu's, their stances nearly mirrored of each other, showing that they were used to traveling with each other and working together.

Meanwhile, behind them walked a fair distance from them was the grotesquely unusual pair, Kyōki and Sensō, the former's stride much larger and kicked up a large cloud of ash in his wake, while the latter moved at a unusual angle, his body slanted and his arms slumped forward one with each leg, as if he was a walking puppet.

The group traveled across the Valley of Ashes till they saw a group of ruins in the distance, old structures of a once powerful empire now simply sticking out and clinging to the ash-sands, like rotting wounds and bones of old wars long forgotten. The very air, if not accustomed to, would cause one to cough on air equivalent to that of a smoke-hued landscape, as far as the eye can see, making this the least favored area of gathering for anyone or anything, even Hell's Will.

Jaaku then asked aloud, after they were all silent for some time since arriving back into Hell, then navigating to the elusive and nearly-toxic Valley of Ashes, "Hey! What do you think Master wants with her? Torture her in public? Kill her over and over again?"

"His plans are far more intricate than mere revenge we seek. You should know that by now from his methods of increasing our powers, Jaaku," Ryūketsu said with a smooth, knowing tone, looking back ahead, not turning back to look at Jaaku's amused reaction.

"Certainly seemed a little overkill to send all of us to capture her," Kurosou suggested, looking over at the inert body, swaying slightly in step of Jaaku as he carried her.

"Quite...if it wasn't for those Soul Reapers, we could've pummeled her into the ground and then taken her. Stupid Yurei Police Force had to show up and ruin things when everything was getting fun," Jaaku complained, though a smile was plastered onto his slightly scarred features, slightly healed up since the encounter with the Punisher already.

"The Soul Society's reach is much longer than what we realized it seems," Korosou said with a shrug, waving his hands dismissively as they continued their trek.

It was here that they would recieve of the voice of their captor.

"G...aaaah!!! Haaah! Hnnn... hnnn...."

Immediately, Sakura, now fully awakened to their surroundings, was instantly hit with the pain of the seal that bound her. At first, her expression was shocked, and Jaaku would easily feel the furious heartbeat as her nerves were enflamed in the effects. Out of reflexes, her body began to jerk around in his grip, making it harder for him to maintain control with her erratic movements. Her eyes were shut and her teeth were gritted in the expression that clearly showed the agony that she was feeling.

Jaaku knit his brows in a sign of irritation as he felt the thrashing of the awakened Punisher, now having to tighten his grip on her side, purposely taking some of her skin underneath in his fist to remind her position, "Hey! Knock it off! I'd thought you would've been used to this kind of pain before...when did you turn into such a whiny bitch?!"

Korosou just chuckled at the writing and gritting Sakura, his eyes gleamed down at her with a malicious intent behind them as his smile spread thin and tightly, raising a hand towards her face, sparking lightly, "I soooo want to rip your face off the urge is almost too great..."

Ryūketsu just sighed at their antics, but did not stop them, keeping himself walking a smooth and steady pace towards the ruins in the distance they're approaching.

However, at that moment, Sakura stopped her struggles as soon as she realized what it was. She opened her eyes, expression immediately contorting to a mixture of mirth and amusement (though it was somewhat difficult to tell since she was being carried with her back to the ground). Even as the pain continued to course through her body, her muscles twitching occasionally, she was actually putting on a grin, almost as if they were putting her through something more humorous. "Oh, right! I'm STILL under the effects of whatever the hell the guy put on me...." She realized. "I got myself panicked for nothing!!"

When his hand touched her face, and his words reached her ears, she immediately fixed her gaze onto him. Her dangling hair's bangs gently slapped him, almost as if in retaliation. "Then....what's keeping you.....?" She managed to say, although she was still breathing hard due to her body's reaction from the pain. To her, these were nothing more than side effects. "Go on, make my day...." Though her voice was slightly shaky, the taunt and malevolence that she had within herself came to him full-force.

Korosou grinned before retracting his hand, his fist trembling slightly at the thought, before saying, "Not yet...you'll wish I had once our Master is done with you," he spat at her face, his saliva burning onto her cheeks, finding it more acidic than liquid.

"You really shouldn't keep up the bravado considering we're your top fans...or moreover, the ones you've inflicted the most pain and torture on before sentencing us to Hell that is," Jaaku said in a relaxed, nonchalant tone, though his grip on her side was ever so more painful, making sure to inflict even more pain on her as he finished, "its time you find out what its been like for us in this world."

Ryūketsu then snapped his fingers on his left hand, making Jaaku shut up as he stopped walking, finding themselves standing before a large pillar, just beyond it, lied a number of ruins before leading up to a makeshift, black castle, with marks of war and decay everywhere, as well as a fine coating of ash on it.

"We're here," he spoke lowly, his voice carried over the group as they gathered closer now, a howling wind came over the place, shoveling the ash-sand away, showing a number of skeletons, both humanoid in nature and something else entirely, before being barried once again, the howling reminiscent to that of a screaming banshee to anyone else's ears. To them, it sounded like home.

To Sakura, it was home.

She took in a deep breath in the potent air and coughed a little, maintaining her tooty grin. The aura of the place brought a familiar, frightening chill to her bones. It was nothing compared to when she had first seen and experienced it, but it brought about a feeling of nostalgia nonetheless. "Beautiful...." She whispered, her voice only showing slight pain in contrast to what she was actually feeling. "I guess even with what happened, you boys were kind enough to keep things the way they were while I was gone. I'm almost flattered...."

Jaaku grind his teeth together, throwing her across the ash wasteland, causing her body to sprawl past Ryūketsu, his clothes fluttering slightly as her body would kick up some ash-sand, before she would stop several meters ahead of them all.

"Pay your respects, Punisher," Jaaku said with a malicious smile, not regretting a thing he's done, as he waved his hand towards her, in order to gain her sight, saying, "you're going to meet our Master, and know of your demise as well as grace your eyes upon him."

As soon as he said this, a ghastly cold wind was felt, something that would be rare in Hell considering the wretched heat that was everywhere, intoxicating and torturously uncomfortable, save for those who lived long enough to cope with it. This presence could only be felt by the unnaturally residents of Hell, ones no one would see unless they made their presence known purposely, beings of ungodly strength and power, something that not even Sinners nor Hollows, not even Soul Reapers could understand. A Demon was amongst them, his mere presence not even a normal Spiritual Pressure, felt as if one could freeze to death in his presence.

The being was draped in a dark black cloak, his appearance currently unseen and his voice as chilling as ice of the polar opposite of Hell's flames would be, "Welcome back to Hell, Punisher. Or do you prefer to be called by your other name, Sakura Kojima?"

"Ooompf!"

When Jaaku had thrown her, she could only allow herself to fly because of the effects of the spell. She grunted as she tumbled along the ash-ridden ground, settling to a stop. Now she was covered mostly in ash. Yet she only blinked once she hit the ground, taking in a deep breath and coughing a little at the putrid air. However, her ears immediately perked up at the sound of the voice, and a smile once again returned to her face. She tilted her head up a little, the attunement of the pain-induced binds being displayed.

"Please...." She answered, her tone less shaky. "We all know that I am no Sakura Kojima. Do call me by the Punisher, if you don't mind...."

"Well 'Punisher'...it doesn't seem you're in a position to pass out punishment right now, does it?" The cloaked figure said, waving a dark gauntlet hand towards her incapacitated body.

"Just as I thought...my Seal does work on Deities, even your kind. Fascinating...this means I can probably reuse this Seal to incapacitate even Soul Reaper Captains and even Vasto Lorde Menos with this Seal, I thank you for satisfying my curiosity in that area of interest," he said in a scientific-attitude, his dark tone fairly pleased and quite excited from the results his Seal used on Sakura.

"....oh. That's what you were trying to do....?"

The Punisher, as she called herself, had a rather unimpressed and bored tone in her words. She raised her head in order to notion over to the seal on her arm. "Because in all honesty, I thought this was only supposed to give me a ride." She rested her head against the ground, closing her eyes as she continued to speak. "I mean, that actually worked too.... for the first few minutes. Now it's becoming more and more of a boring factor...."

"By what my Hantā have told me, I'd expect you to retain your pride and arrogance, even amidst the pain I purposely left in the Seal. However, that's my Seal, and if I wanted to make it more painful," he snapped his 'fingers' on the visible black gauntlet hand, and suddenly the Seal flared up, crawling up her arm were characters similar to that of the Seal's patterns, and the pain became violently more painful, 2x, then 5x, then 10x more painful, as her entire arm was now covered in the markings originated on her forearm, even her fingers were covered, "I just make it happen. You really should pay attention to what I'm telling you, Punisher, because that big mouth of yours will bring a world of hurt you've never felt before upon you."

"NNNNNNGH~!!!!"

Instinctively, the Punisher's back arched in a reflexive, violent manner. She shut her eyes and grit her teeth, the artificial gangrene crawling up her flesh. Chills raced up and went down her spine. However, that snarl immediately turned into a smile. Her pained sounds immediately were converted into a laughing fit, one that would've been maniacally excited in anyone else's eyes. Her eyes opened wide, her irises and pupils having shrunk. "Th...that's w...what...you think.... hah...is it??!" She jeered him, expression nothing short of frighteningly excited. ""Y...you....mere, pitiful excuse for a DEMON.... would n...NEVER understand....with...THAT kind of logic....!!"

"Hmmmm," he hummed an eery tone as he kneeled down, showing he was garbed in a black, skeletal-looking armor, his gaze still hidden, his voice still as cold as Hell was hot, "I believe I forgot how much of a...thrill this gives you? Its only natural for you to feel that way, being born of pain as it were. My plans involve something far greater for both of us, you and I."

The Punisher was breathing heavily, sweat falling down her face. Despite the intense agony that accelerated throughout her person, it only served to fuel her. "Really...?!" She managed to question him. "I'm pretty sure.....they're not TOO....great for me...!!" This was followed by a bit of violent thrashing, her body having the opposite effect of her mind.

The Demon chuckled, but it broke out like grinding glass and hissing, his breath frosty and chilling to the touch as it graced in a frosty hue over to the Punisher's sweat-covered, contorted face, "No my dear...something that you wished you always had. A life purrrrrpose," he purred out the sound, reaching out a metalic gauntlet-hand and cupped one of her cheeks, stroking underneath her eye with his sharp edged thumb, "you will help me become a being that transcends any being known. It will transcend your kind, it will transcend Soul Reapers, Hollows, even the Soul King will be dwarfed in our power."

"A life....p...p...purpose....?" The woman grunted, her eyes narrowed at the man as he continued with his motions. Beside the intense pain that was eating at her, disgust moved in to join it. Despite the obvious threat and ability of cutting out her eyeball if she happened to say the wrong thing, it was as if he was petting her, treating her like some sort of helpless victim! That only drove home an urge to throttle him, to rip him apart where he stood. Her teeth gritted into a slightly feral snarl. "Sounds like...you're just using me for your own personal tool...!!" She bit out. "It sounds to me as if you prefer to play with fate...and that's something beyond your hands, demon... There are bigger things here than you... and I.... something that you could never hope to understand with your current knowledge.... if you continue on as you are.... then the consequences that will befall you will be far more than what I could've ever done to you....!!"

"Well then...I'll just make sure when that 'punisher' seeks to right my sins, I'll make him regret it," the Demon responded cooly, scraping his metalic fingers off her skin, leaving cuts the absence of his touch before rising to his full height. He looked over to Ryūketsu, saying in a cool commanding voice, "I want you to take her to the chambers. Time is of the essence, and from what I know, we will have unwanted company trying to stop us. Its rather...heroic if not entirely naive of them to rescue something like her," he said pointedly, looking down at her, the statement made it all clear that he held no real respect for her in the slightest, before raising head back to his servant, "do this and halt them at all costs."

Ryūketsu bowed his head, before returning his gaze back at the Demon, "It will be done, my master."

Jaaku, however, didn't like the secrecy. He bit down on his lip to the point of blood trickling down his face, the anxiety clear on his face.

"I'd like to fucking walk now, if you don't mind...."

Through her pained tone, blatant annoyance and sarcasm was clear within Punisher's words. Her body had fell victim to numbness once again, and she was now laying on her back. She didn't mind the seal... but it was rather annoying to have to deal with the fact that she couldn't move herself at all. She doubted they would grace her with such a thing, but it was worth a shot. She was honestly sick of lying on her side or on someone else's shoulders, and she was pretty sure they were already tired of carrying her.

As she was turning her head to the side to look at her side...

....she was instantly hit with a surprise.

Sitting right beside her was a black-cloaked figure, arms resting on his knees, and a casual position about himself. From the looks of things, it seemed as if he had been sitting there the entire time. She could only blink her eyes a few times as he continued to sit, not regarding her. However, she only managed to eye him for a few seconds before he dissipated into ash. None of the others would have seen him or sensed his presence; he was simply a ghost that went along with the wind.

The Demon then turned to the rest of his Hanta, saying aloud to them in a commanding, cold voice, "This is my final command before I begin preparations. Do NOT let the enemy, neither of Hell or of beyond, stop the process I will start, for once I begin, I cannot lend you any personal strength towards your fight. The enemy is going to be powerful and in near equal numbers no doubt when they arrive. Hold them, and for your faithfulness, I will grant you even greater power than you have, enough to join me in my conquest in Hell and beyond!" He raised a fist, clenching tightly into the air, causing the rest of the Hantā to raise their own fists in salute, even Jaaku, who's suspicious glare gone unnoticed by all as he began to have doubts about his charismatic and enigmatic leader.

Ryūketsu bowed his head once again, his master mysteriously disappears, with a silent scream in his wake, before moving to pick Sakura up, unaware of the strange vision she had as he hauled her up in a bridal style of carrying, any other time than this might've looked quite comical and would spark jealousy in Daisuke's heart for sure. "Sensō, Kyōki, Korosou," he spoke to the three, immediately gaining their attention, as he sideglanced at the three, giving them orders, "you will meet the our 'guests' at the 2nd Level of Hell. With luck, the Kushanada will slow them down enough to buy time, maybe bind one or two to Hell's Will. If not, then they will naturally meet you in the 2nd level. Make sure to kill them, if possible, and stall them for time. Jaaku and I," he said as he looked over to a less than pleased Jaaku, making Ryūketsu give pause slightly before continuing, "will stay here and take on any remaining invaders, kill them where they stand. FAILURE is not an option, understand?"

Each of them gave a nod of knowing, fearing the wrath of their master if this plan goes awry as well as the pain of death itself quite unpleasant. He then moved away, saying under his breath, "Jaaku...I will speak to you after I deposit the girl in the chambers," he said before he began a aganozingly slow trek towards the chambers, in between steps he would initiate a blur of motion, causing him to move at accelerated speeds to gain distance, before halting at the last 100 meters before a large dungeon-looking infrastructure...the last remnants of a obsidian ruined castle.

Once again, the pain had numbed her body back to a somewhat immobile state. It was the only source of satisfaction she could get from her situation, even if anyone else would've given their very life to avoid it. She breathed heavily, unconsciously leaning on the man's chest as he carried her (much to her resentment). Her hair blew against his face slightly as he sped. When he halted himself, she made no indication that she was aware of it, continuing as she was.

With what voice she could muster up, she whispered, "Ryūketsu.... I thought that, despite your crimes to man.... you would have much more sense than this."

Ryūketsu stayed silent for awhile, almost flinched at her words, something he'd rarely do around anyone. Even his master. "Punisher...you're a great source of my pain and suffering. Despite what I've done in life, the real irony is that the pain and constant death, rebirth I've had as a Sinner here was not the real greatest pain. It was the sheer, utter, isolation...I was constantly alone. Its the one thing I find in any life I live to actually fear or look down upon is being alone again. What I find ironic about what's going to happen to you, Punisher, is that you won't be alone...you're be reborn and whether or not Master succeeds, you will become something that the Red Sun has always meant you to be. A god of wrath and judgement," he then looked down at her face, a look of slight pity and almost regret. But the sign of long hardship and loneliness outweighed the prior emotions seen, and it showed the conviction to punish her as much as he been punished.

"....reborn, huh....?"

The woman looked away from him, the light lost in her eyes for a moment. Then, she closed her eyes and smiled weakly. "If I didn't know you all for who you are...." She whispered. "I would've taken that as....well.... comforting and of good fortune...."

Ryūketsu stayed silent, not wanting to respond or gloat, nothing of the sort mattered but ferreting out his judgement to her. As he entered the dark obsidian ruined castle, he walked down...farther down than anyone would've liked. There was little to no light, save for a torch every 20 meters, and he moved with effortless grace through the darkness, moving from one corner to the next, taking a good 10 minutes before they approached a large dome ceiling room.

There was a large crimson stained satanic star drawn on the vast, cracked tiled floor, various stains of blood were shown in isolated corners of the room, as well as a chopping block in the center of the satanic circle. It looked like a executioner's room that she entered.

"I have brought her here, like you've asked, master," Ryūketsu spoke aloud, his voice carried into the room and it appeared deathly empty. Then the Demon reappeared, emerging from the shadows of one corner of the room, his heavy footsteps took one step after another forward, his nearly transparent, fluid cloak fluttered about him despite the void of wind in the castle.

"Good, Ryūketsu. You've done well, despite difficulties that you've encountered. Now, place her ontop of the block," he pointed a metalic hand towards the chopping block. Ryūketsu did so without hesitation, walking slowly over before laying her in a quite uncomfortable position of the middle of her back onto the block. He then stepped back, as the inner ring of the circle around the block glowed vibrantly, nearly a dozen tendrils of energy reached out and tied around her limbs, making any attempt she would've made, regardless of the Seal on her body, futile.

"....oh, for the love of Mother...."

The falsely orange-haired woman looked around at her bindings, wincing slightly as they latched around her arms and legs. However, the wincing look immediately turned to one of disdain, and she glared at her bindings in annoyance. "You must really love going out of your way to practice the art of "overkill", don't you?" She questioned sarcastically.

"I must take no chances. Especially with the likesof a Hankami," the Demon said before walking towards her prone, unmoving body, before pressing a metalic hand onto her face, caressing it coldly and chillingly, anyone feeling it would swear their blood grew cold underneath his touch.

"Ryūketsu. Leave us. You're job here is done," he spoke commandingly and swiftly, ushering Ryūketsu to bow swiftly and disappear with a blur just as well. The Demon then began raise his metalic hands up and took the edge of his hood before lifting it back over his head, showing his true face before her, smiling a wicked fang bearing smile, but otherwise handsome and intimidating.

"Now we can speak freely as our final moments as individuals fades before we become one, unfathomable, god-like entity," he spoke in a more sultry, seductive voice than the one he had before, his eyes told a familiar story to Sakura, like as if she'd seen him before....

This earned Sakura's head turning itself away from him under his touch, her teeth gritted and her eyes narrowed. However, it wasn't an expression of anger as it was an expression of annoyance. "Oh shit no...." She said vehemently in a whispering, hissing voice - well, as much as she could while still trying to fight off the seal's effect. "I told you before, Bokyāku, that damned tone you're taking with me isn't going to get you anywhere.... it wasn't the thing that saved you from that whirlpool in the Level of Lust, and it won't be the thing that's going to help you here...." She paused for a moment, closing her eyes abruptly and taking in a deep breath. "I'll tell you again... you don't know what you're doing.... quit now, while you are still the tormentor...."

Bokyāku just smiled, chuckling as he heard her bring that up again, "Oh you tease...its such a shame such a woman of fiery spirit has to treat me in such a way...we could've seen this as allies rather than unwilling partners in this arrangement. But I'll spare you the preaching for I'll tell you what is really going on in here," he said as he raised a hand towards each of the similiar satanic star patterns, each of them moving a different position every other second, small clicking and hissing sounds was heard, "can you hear that? The spell is already in progress...this particular spell has been long forgotten amongst my kin. Its an old and very powerful spell that binds two individual entities into one, godly being. This being will far surpass the Head Captain of the Gotei 13, or that ridiculous female leading the new Espada Afilado. This power, will match that of the Soul King himself! If not immediately, but with time...we, as one being, will rule ALL of creation! Its something I once offered you once, wasn't it, Punisher?"

He scraped his hand, now in the form of a surprisingly warm and soft hand, rubbing gently and tenderly over the scrapes he made with his former hands, now slowly healing them himself. He smiled disarmingly at her, lowering his head down so his face was mere inches from hers, a few dark bangs drapes over her, as he whispered in a sweet, promising, seductive tone, "I can make all the pain disappear...I can let you give the universe a new definition of pain, for all that you suffered from being merely birthed into existence. Isn't that why you've done it? Toying with your victims and preying on their pain? Isn't that what you want to prey on all of existence? You know I'm right," he said with a smile, his breath breathed warmly into her nostrils and along her face comfortingly, "you don't care about duty. You care about being the harbinger of wrath and pain itself, to make everything 'guilty' feel as much pain as you do. Now," he then let his lips grace hers gently, knowing the spell allowed a fraction of movement, but not enough to be hostile, allowing her to feel and respond in kind, as he kissed her slowly and tenderly, cupping the left, now healed side of her face in a warm hand. As he broke off, he asked, "what do you say to that?"

It was a guilty pleasure - something that the Punisher was not accustomed to having.

It clearly wasn't kindness. She understood that perfectly, despite all of the touching he was doing. She squirmed a little, not able to do much about it due to her bindings. The kind, sweet, and rather lady-killing tone was picking at her defenses, and with each and every move that he made, she was feeling more and more vulnerable by the second. The pain, having formerly been seen as a gift, was now serving as a negative aphrodisiac in order to drive her further and further down. Oh, how she hated feeling such things! If only she had one hand free, she could push him off, punch him in the face, something in order to make him stop!

Then his lips met hers.

"Oh, god, please stop...."

She unconsciously shut her eyes as he kissed her, cupping his hand onto her face. Now he was hitting at her, making an effort to break through her shell. His way of comforting her....these feelings....it was torturing her more than any efforts of pain could've ever done. She had never felt such things before, and he was using that weakness to his very advantage. She was trying hard not to allow herself to break.... but these new feelings were pushing, pulling, and kicking at her. A chill raced through her body, created from the sudden warmth that he gave her, only to vanish once he pulled himself away. There was an emptiness left behind, one that she had been eager to avoid.

It hurt more than anything in the world.

"Th...this...." She began to speak, then shut herself up immediately. Her face was slightly flushed, and the discomfort that she had felt was now expressed on it. That, as well as the shakiness in her voice, made it all too clear that he had succeeded in wearing her down.... at least, to an extent.

"Tell me you want to never feel empty, and I'll never leave your side. Tell me you want to inflict horrors upon mankind like you've never have thought possible, and I'll make it happen. Tell me you want to be reborn not out of pain, but out of joyous incredible ecstacy of sheer godhood, and I'll make it happen. Doesn't that sound like something," Bokyāku asked, smiling disarmingly once more as he breathed a arousing and intoxicating breath into her face, swirling unnatural pheromones and twisted words flowed around, into her, and allowed her to feel his comforting words and promises, even as he was again mere inches of her lips again, "you desire?"

"I-I....." She couldn't bear it any longer, immediately turning her gaze upon him in pleading resignation. "Yes!" She finally allowed herself to say, a passionate shamelessness within her words. "Yes....everything you say is true....what I have now.... it's nothing! Humans.... Shinigami.... whatever! They're all too wrapped up in the world of sin to realize their wrong-doings. All of them must pay the price...!" The final dam had broken, and now she was willingly putting herself within his hands.

Bokyāku smiled greatly at this, letting those words of acceptance and resignation sink into his mind, having to restrain himself from laughing in joy for this moment finally coming. He then flourished his cloak in a large billowing motion, his unseen body draped her around in a surprisingly intoxicatingly burning embrace, his body meshing with hers, and his hands cupped her face, smiling expressing a knowing joy as he caressed her face, whispering to her, "And pay they shall. If they think they all can escape the clutches of Hell, then they are wrong. As one being, we will accomplish what either of us individually could not. We will be Harbinger...the emodiment of Wrath and Pain, cursing the Universe for their sins and condemning them all to Hellish nightmares for existing," he then pressed his lips against hers in a passionate display of mutual lust and relishing of power, now inwardly laughing as things were set in motion, and no one could stop him now.

Driven by his influence, Sakura closed her eyes and allowed him to kiss her, returning the favor with the mutual feelings that she now shared with him.

The deal was sealed.

Unbeknownst to both of them, however, there was a figure within the shadows of the chambers, arms folded across the chest, and back leaning against the wall. Because he was in the shadows, it was virtually impossible for him to be seen, and his energy was perfectly cloaked to make him invisible to both of them. However, piercing blue eyes were staring at them, particularly at the back of Bokyāku. He studied them for a bit longer, not moving in any way or expressing any form of reaction to what was happening in front of him.

Then, within a second, he had vanished from the area.

Children of Izanami: Hell's Awakening, Act II

Eve of Battle, old faces and new crisises

It had taken a little while to get back to the Yurei Police HQ, making Daisuke all the more anxious, something that had been giving his father a bit of a migrane, having to glare at him from time to time to keep him from causing any more embarassment or trouble for them both, as well as their allies.

Once they arrived, it took all of Daisuke's will to keep from barging into the HQ like a bull in a china shop, letting Avaron lead the way again to the HQ's computer systems. Once there, Kukkyōna took over and began to transmit a series of complicated, yet memorized codes back and forth between the nearest buoy, of course the location of it was also encrypted. Needless to say, it took a great deal of time for Daisuke to keep himself under control, moving his gaze to rest uncomfortably at the composed and beautiful Avaron, then to glaring at Braeburn whenever he had the nerve to glance at him, finding himself too worked up to even retort anything for fear of disgracing himself again.

Kukkyōna said aloud, "It should only be a few minutes now...they're connecting me to the Captain now."

Daisuke sighed, muttering under his breath, "If the Deep Cover Ops had any specialization, it would be in making it a pain in the ass to contact them. Period."

"So, just for the sake of reference and to be prepared ahead of time...." Avaron had her eyes half-lidded in a rather casual manner, cocking her eyebrow slightly. Her arms were folded across her chest, and she stood patiently in front of the massive screen that would project his image. "What's this man like?"

Nearby, Braeburn rolled his own eyes at Daisuke's tension, walking over to one of the nearby terminals and sitting himself down. He reached over to turn it on, waiting boredly as it exited standby. However, his eyes widened at what he saw, immediately fixating himself on the screen. With a set of clicks, he was within a computer game and playing away.

Daisuke shivered, immediately casting his eyes at Avaron, saying, "He's not exactly you'd want to get on his bad side. Overall, he displays a sense of composure to the rest of his...'comrades' in the Gotei 13, though he's not nearly as kind to the residents in the Soul Society, mostly the Rukon District citizens. His mere presence...would send shivers down your back, his voice make your blood freeze. He's a terrifying man, truly, and he's very reclusive and secretive when he's inside his Research and Development Department, always studying and tinkering. He's a man who developed the Deep Cover Ops before he became Captain and Head of the Department of Research and Development. His genius truly rivals that of the previous generational heads of his Division and Department."

"He's also the sole creator and inventor of over 90% of Deep Cover Ops' equipment and gear, as well as their own personal style of combat, teaching, and training. Even their method of recruitment is unorthodox, selecting people that the Captain alone has seen fit or capable of going under the program," Kukkyōna followed up Daisuke's rhetoric, not missing a beat as he kept awaiting the said Captain to appear on the screen.

"So he's the "mad scientist" type." Avaron summarized, closing her eyes and letting out a light sigh. "For once, I'm glad I'm not the one that has to do most of the talking here...." She unfolded her arms, shifting them so that one hung at her side while the other hand its hand resting on her hip. "Will this be much of a problem if we don't manage to convince this Sasayaki person to let us borrow one of his subordinates?"

"We'll be down one powerful ally and entering unknown territory for most of us," he glared at Braeburn's direction as he said 'most', before returning his gaze back to Avaron, saying, "but yeah, if our mad scientist Captain doesn't agree, not only will we have 'wasted his time' we'd wasted ours in not entering Hell sooner," he said, initiating fake finger-quotes, before suddenly a omnicious voice, surprisingly deep voice, emanated from the speakers before a ghastly pale, red bags, pale complexion, and a icy blue glare.

"What is it? What could possibly be the ma-...ah, so its you, Captain Hayate," Kaze made a thin smile, his eyes fixated on the stoic and calm Captain before him, his face leaned back some to show himself reclining in a large leather chair, his pale hands clasped his fingers, his white Haori garbed around his form gave him the definitely apt 'mad scientist' appearance.

"Captain Sasayaki," Kukkyōna said, nodding tersely at him, before getting straight to the point, "I'm using the Deep Cover Ops secure channel because we're currently compromised here in Yurei. We're facing a now revealed enemy and element that could threaten both Yurei and the Soul Society as a whole perhaps greater than the one we face now."

Giving off a slightly bored yawn, but keeping a wide smile of enjoyment that they came to him for help whereas he basked in his power and prestige. "Exactly what could be more interesting than deciphering secret codes the Adhijados have been ferreting in the streets, or finding out the exact location of the Espada Afilado's forward base, allowing us opportunity to launch a counter-strike against them before they've attacked Yurei OR the Soul Society again?"

"It revolves around the affiliation of Hell, if you must know," Kukkyōna said in a nonchalant manner, averting his gaze in a suggestion he might close the channel, feigning fear of wasting his time. He cleverly bated the scientist, now leaning forward, resting his chin on his 'bridged-clasped' hands.

"What are the facts? I'm assuming the Yurei Police Force can give some details of their own, can't they?" He said, giving off a slight tone of presumption, underlying with boredom that the Police had anything useful to give them at all as he sideglanced Avaron past Kukkyōna.

Daisuke rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, "How typical," he muttered.

"Details, huh....?" Avaron muttered to herself, allowing herself to look at the scientist. "Well, if you have to know.... then I'll be as quick and explanatory as possible. From what intel we've gathered up courtesy of an outside contact--"

"Boom....headshot." Braeburn interrupted briefly.

"...as well as you and the Deep Cover Ops...." Avaron was almost tempted to roll her eyes at the sudden and somewhat humorous interruption made by the defector, but she let it slide. "....it's been made pretty clear that this is just more than just some attack or a beginning of a war on both our sides. This is the start of a sort of movement, an attempt at world destruction and recreation. Under normal circumstances, I would've hardly believed that it would've been possible for such things to happen....at least, until what happened today...."

She moved herself over to the terminal in front of the large screen, typing in a few codes. On Kaze's side, it would show a photograph of Sakura. "This...." She explained to him. "....is the high-value target the Stealth Force of yours had been hunting down. Her alias was Sakura Kojima, but her real identity is the Punisher - one of the deities prominent in the Red Sun scrolls. She was captured by a group that came from Hell called the Hantā and effectively taken prisoner. From what I can tell, these individuals were souls that the Punisher had sentenced to Hell and want nothing but vengeance. Now, I'm no expert in the field of this culture.... but when all the facts point to Red Sun being real, I'm willing to bet that if this "Punisher" individual dies.... she's most likely going to bring a good chunk out of the damn universe with it... if not all of existence."

"So I see," he smiled widely, narrowing his cold blue eyes hungrily at the picture of Sakura on his screen, also displayed on theirs for reference, tapping his fingers together as they lay flat and clasped together, mulling over what he had just been told.

After just a minute or two, he said with a heavy drawn out sigh, "You know...this might've not happened if we transferred said 'Punisher' to Stealth Force after the Ahijados' battle. THEN she would've been confined at worst, and protected from such forces at best," he looked at Avaron coldly, then turning to Kukkyōna lightly growling before continuing, "BUT! Seeing as things have already been set in motion, time is of the essence, yes? I'm already coming up with theories as we speak as to what their plans are, and IF they are linked to our enemy's as of now, then it would definitely be my duty to see this through personally," he said as he straightened up on his seat, looking them all over a few scrutinizing times.

This gave Daisuke chills, but also alarmed him by what he said. "Wait a minute! You're actually-"

"-Intending to leave my laboratory? Young Hayate...you have much to learn. If all a Captain had to do was sit around behind a desk or in a dark dungeon all day long, we'd grow weak and fat, purposeless and without identity, something that our dear Central 46 is already doing pretty well," he scorns, lightly smiling but frowning at the mention of the his personally dreaded set of politics.

"Are you sure you can make the trip?" Kukkyōna asked quizzidly, crossing his arms as he wondered if the Captain could usher such a journey or not, being one who wasn't present at his Captain Examination nor knowing the full potential of his skill or prowess beyond his intelligence.

"You wound me, dear Captain Hayate," he said with a low chuckle, flashing perfectly set pearly white teeth, before standing up before them on the screen, saying proudly, "if I'm not Captain of the 12th Division, 3rd Generational Head of the Department of Research and Devlopment, as well as President and founder of the Deep Cover Ops program, then I'd be a fool not to miss a wonderful opportunity to preserve all mankind, both mortal and soul alike! I'll be sure to bring her along, since that is what you were requesting in the first place," he chuckled, eyeing up Daisuke a few glances, muttering, "she'll be certainly glad to see you, young Hayate."

"I can't wait," Daisuke chuckled back, but felt a chill run up his spine as he rubbed his wrists together uncomfortably in the gaze of the eery Captain.

Bristling a little at the clear insult towards competence, Avaron couldn't hide the scowl that crossed over her face. She opened her mouth to speak, a slight skepticism within her tone. "Yes, well--"

"DOMINATED! Take that, ya twinkle-toed Barry Bonds muppet!!!"

"--...." Avaron slapped a face to her palm, lowering her head down in sheer embarrassment. "I'm going to kill the one who convinced me to install that on the network...." She muttered lowly, shaking her head at Braeburn's antics.

Daisuke sighed, before flicking his middle finger at the turned back of Braeburn, ushering a silent Hado #1 at the back of his head in order for him to faceplant on the computer console he was messing with, saying aloud, "You sure you're going to be alright without us, Avaron?"

Kukkyōna then concluded his conversation with Captain Kaze, turning around to the group, crossing his arms, saying, "We can expect him within a few hours. Don't ask how he can, just know due to the wide reach of the Deep Cover Ops, his reach is even farther as well as his transportation around Soul Realms. We should get prepared in the time being."

"OW!!"

The technique worked. Braeburn's face automatically hit the keyboard, eliciting the yelp of pain from him. Immediately, he jerked himself up from the screen, eyes comically swirling in a dazed manner and his hands gripping the sides of his temples. The display caused Avaron to chuckle a little at his misfortune, but she immediately turned her attention back to Daisuke. "I've lived this far into my career, I'm pretty sure some more dramatic hours wouldn't kill me." She answered easily. "And as for you, Captain Hayate...." She smoothly turned herself towards him in order to give him her undivided attention. "You happen to have anything in mind on how we should do that, specifically?"

Kukkyōna answered without skipping a beat, "I know Yurei has access to Soul Reaper resources of your own. Bring whatever equipment and medical supplies we can carry on a light load with us, as well as possible weapons or gear that would be manageable that we'd be accustomed to."

Daisuke snickered at the sight of Braeburn's antics, before moving back over to Avaron, saying, "It'd be pretty funny if we had some tech of yours that would make any that the good Captain Sasayaki had brought irrelevant."

This caused Avaron herself to grin out of slight cockiness, and she even added in a short laugh. "I wouldn't be surprised if he brought anything just to purposefully outdo me. After all, I did crack what was supposed to be next to impossible-to-crack encryption keys...."

Daisuke grinned back, chuckling as he wagged a finger, saying, "To be fair, the dear Captain's decryption codes are a bit of a prototype. He only put them into production, or so they say, about 6 months ago, hence all the bugs and kinks in decrypting the information."

Kukkyōna sighed briefly before letting his arms drop, saying, "I'll leave you to that. For now, I'd like a moment to commune in tranquility. Is there a place with little to know thru-traffic and little sound, Captain Avaron?"

Avaron shrugged lightly. "Well, there is the library. It's usually quiet, and the number of people who go there daily are pretty much little to none." She answered immediately.

Kukkyōna nodded to her, before saying to Daisuke, "I'd think it best if you meditate as well, Daisuke. The mission we are about to undertake is one of the most dangerous you ever will face. Failing in Hell, means not only your personal damnation, but possible collapse of all delicate balance in the universe of both the Living and Spiritual Worlds."

Daisuke looked down, grasping the hilt of his Zanpakuto, before saying aloud, "I know, father. I'll...find my own solace with him as well."

Kukkyōna nodded to him before swiftly walking out of the computer area, with Daisuke left with the Avaron and Braeburn.

Daisuke then asked Avaron briefly, but hesitantly, "Is there...another place where I can take some time to meditate with my Zanpakuto?"

The sudden change of tone made Avaron cock an eyebrow in confusion for a split second. Clearly, the hesitation and the desire to meditate someplace else had taken her off guard. However, it was only for a split second - by then, she had managed to regain her composure, thinking for a moment. "Hmmm....well, it honestly depends where you're thinking of." She explained carefully, wishing to give him the best out of what he had. "We have an old "meditation" room for those select few who were capable of manifesting a Zanpakutō in order to prepare them for...well... only reasons that the old general would've known. The project's been long closed, but we still keep it up for reference's sake. It's a rarity for people to visit anymore, so you'll basically be alone and with your own piece of mind." At this, she gave a rather encouraging smile. "I can tell you this, too: The atmosphere does work wonders on the mind...."

At this, Braeburn put on a rather quizzical expression, shifting over in his chair as he listened to the conversation.

Daisuke takes it all in, his features were solemn, almost mirroring a youthful composed appearance of his father. He nodded to her, asking, "Can you take me there? I think I'd get lost even if I have directions," he added, lacking any awkward or sheepish nature he usually has flamboyantly displayed. His attitude is withdrawn and now trying to find peace with himself.

"Of course, Lieutenant. Follow me...."

With that, Avaron gave an understanding nod towards him and turned around, leading him out of the room. As they exited, Braeburn continued to watch them all the way until the door shut behind Daisuke. He waited for a moment, before slowly getting up and pushing in the chair behind him. Then, he minimized the game he was playing and brought up another program. He reached into his gi, pulling out what appeared to be a small disc. He slid it within the drive, waiting until it finished processing. When it was done, his eyes peered at the window as it began the introduction prompt:

Accessing Sector 3 CMD.

Subject: Kenta Sonoda....

Status: Green....

Entry Access In Progress....

As Daisuke followed Avaron, he didn't pay heed at leaving Braeburn alone, thinking he shouldn't possess the capability to do any REAL harm against the Police Force, or pose a threat other than spread his Red Sun cult trash around. If he did pose a threat, Daisuke inwardly prepared himself to strike him down without mercy.

As they walked however, he turned his gaze back at Avaron, no longer troubling himself over her appearance at the moment, but more of the place she currenly leading him towards the area mentioned for mediation.

"You say that there were few Soul Reapers in Yurei, which I understand, but what do you mean the Old General used it? Is there something unique about it?" Daisuke asked lowly, slightly curious as to what the did the 'air' in the room got to do with meditation. Climate control perhaps?

"For the people who were meant to use it, it could only be described as "the mind's own playground". Once in-tuned with the so-called "aura" of the room, it would change and adjust itself in order to meet the user's needs. It was completely up to the level and kind of distress the targets had at that particular moment, a sort of sentience, if you will."

Daisuke nodded his head, gesturing a hand up to his headband covered forehead, tapping it, asking, "So it has to do with the reflection of thoughts and subconscious? Or does it have to do with something about helping a Soul Reaper adjust to his Inner World better, communicating with his Zanpakuto or manifestating, and the like?"

"The former would be more appropriate." Avaron looked over at her shoulder for a moment to look him over curiously.

Daisuke let his hand down, before giving Avaron a raised brow, looking back curiously as they continued their walk.

"What? You've never had many Soul Reapers ask this kind of question, or is this about something else?"

The orange-haired woman cocked an eyebrow in return. "Well, what would you expect, considering that it's a relic within itself?" She questioned him casually. "Of course there's not going to be much speaking about it compared to the common things we attend to." She turned her attention back towards the front, as they were approaching what appeared to be a set of blackened double doors. "Sometimes, we even forget that the room's even there due to the lack of mention so much!"

Daisuke chuckled, regaining some of the vigor that he lost, stroking his chin while scratching the back of his neck, asking with a sheepish grin, "So should I be honored or intimidated by using such a hallowed, if not 'ancient' relic? It sounds like you would rather forget it than remember it exists," he commented as she pushed the doors open to the said room, one he inwardly braced himself of some eery, disturbing feeling he might face.

It was black.

That was the first way anyone would've described what they saw. It was like a dark void, with nothing but a massive blue ring engraved into the ceiling and the floor. On the ground ring, there was a small blue circle with enough size for anyone to sit. Throughout its confines, an aura of ease and natural calm dominated space - something that was usually overwhelming to newcomers. "That...." Avaron answered smoothly, stepping aside and allowing him to enter. "....is for you to decide."

Daisuke almost felt the difference immediately. It was like the feeling was replicated off of the Central 46 Chambers when a Academy Student attempts to sign the contract with their Zanpakuto. However this was much more different. It was like the tipping point of both a dark feeling and a joyous sensation. In other words, Daisuke could not think of a more tranquil and isolated place in the world now.

He took slow, purposeful steps, not feeling fear, but more of uncertainty, as if he was really alone and cut off from the world in here. Though he wasn't a claustrophobic, he didn't exactly feel too at ease with how the walls seemed uncertain if they were vast or very constricting. It was definitely a very tranquil place indeed.

He turned around after breathing in and out heavy breaths of air, now feeling a bit more acclamated to the atmosphere in the room, turning around, he spoke to Avaron, "You can go now. Just make sure to knock very loudly on the doors when its time. I don't know how long my...conversation between me and my Zanpakuto will last. Time gets funny when meditating with him," he added with a crooked smile, before redonning his solemn face, turning back around, waving back at her as he walked towards the center of the room.

After a quick look around, he sighed, getting down onto his knees before getting lower into a cross-legged stance, unsheathing his Zanpakuto and then resting it horizontally onto his lap over his extended open hands. He then began to meditate...he just didn't know how long it would take for him to come out this time.

With an acknowledging, respectful nod, Avaron turned around and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her to leave Daisuke within the darkness. She put her hands within her pockets, whistling a tune as she stepped with a professional, yet informal gait.

Daisuke breathed through his nostrils in a near unrecognizable speed, it was so slow and deep. The room itself seemed to help a great deal of him concentrating on nothing but his meditations, but the process was still an undeterminable one. He tried getting contact with his Zanpakuto for awhile, he couldn't tell time due to the meditation and even the silent empty room held no trace of passing time. It could have been a few minutes, few hours, days, years, he couldn't tell for all he concentrated on was getting in contact with his Inner World and his Zanpakuto.

"Yo!"

His eyes suddenly opened, and found himself squatting in the same stance on a bed of ash, surrounded by a subtle rain of ash that has been coming down covering him in a thin film of soot and black stain. He stood up, groaning slightly as he felt the strain of the stance, even in the Inner World, as he turned around and noticed that the volcanoes nearby were booming and thundering, signaling his rage and inner wrath boiling within him, drawing closer to a boil, to cover the ash covered wasteland with its fiery contents.

Daisuke then looked over to see his Zanpakuto, smiling toothily at him. His white teeth a stark contrast to his midnight black hair parted between the middle of his head to rest on either side of his brows. His blackened, burn colored complexion hinted at his anticipationg for battle compared to his usual tan complexion when he's at ease and casual. His dark red eyes burned into Daisuke's, flexing his leather gloves that matched his soot covered leather jacket, fitted loosely over a white, black stained muscle shirt, equally stained as the dark jeans and black boots he wore. Daisuke often wondered why he looked so modern, but the question never crossed his mind to ask...

"Hey yourself," Daisuke said with a crooked grin, resting his sword's flat side onto his shoulder casually, looking at him with both fondness and trepidation. There were few things Daisuke had come across that had both delighted and intimidated him more than his own Zanpakuto.

"That's it? That's the response I get after two weeks of no talking?! I'm hurt," Kyōi Abāta said in a feigned hurt expression, before grinning back at him his hand flaunted from his chest back to stick it into his jacket pocket.

Daisuke chuckled, shrugging, "What do you expect? You scalded my hands pretty good the last time I released you," he showed his hands up, slight discolorations of how much burns still remained on his hands, twirling his sword while doing so casually.

The Zanpakuto merely waved dismissively, "Hey, you made a bet, you lost it, you know how it works. Despite how much I enjoyed cutting loose on that Arrancar, you had to pay the consequences for going all out before he did. You play with fire, you get burned."

"True at that, true at that," Daisuke agreed, sighing heavily before the conversation drifted heavily in the air into silence, only the cascade of booming and rumbling of nearby volcanones and the pitter-pat sounds of the ash rain hitting the 'soil' below and the two individuals kept it from becoming too awkward.

"This about that girl, Dai-kun?" Kyōi Abāta asked knowingly, a somber look crossed his features for once, showing a hint of the wisdom actually beheld in the spirit.

"Can't lie to you, sense you're my Zanpakuto. You've must've felt the fire and passion flowing through her as we spar. She's...amazing," Daisuke said blissfully at first, then his eyes knit firmly into a frown, his fists tightened into balls, nearly cracking audibly with the rage now boiling within him, "I'll enjoy scorching the flesh off the bones of those...things that dare take him away from me!"

The Zanpakuto shrugged, scratching his chin, saying in a indifferent knowing tone, "That's good and all, glad you found a girl besides that 'Hana' chick, that gal who had no real connection with her Zanpakuto, but let's talk buisness shall we. Let's talk about why you're really here," he crossed his arms at this, looking at him with a upraised brow, asking him, "are you going to try it again?"

"What choice do I have?! If I'm going to stand a fighting chance against them, against their master, I'll need all the power I have, and that means getting it, or else...I'd let her down," gripped his fists tightly as he swung his sword down to his side, staring boldly at his Zanpakuto, shouting out, "I promised him I'd never let anyone down! I keep my promises!"

Kyōi Abāta grinned toothily, his white teeth almost predatorial in its look as he eyed him, saying, "You do realize I'll have to burn you head to toe if you fail right? Earning that kind of respect is not something easily attained without consequences...you sure you want this?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't know there'd be consequences far greater than what you can inflict upon me!" Daisuke shouted back, pointing his sword at his Zanpakuto, saying, "Let's do this!"

The Zanpakuto spirit chuckled, materializing a mirror image of his sword form's sealed image into his hand out of a blaze of fire, before shimmering out of view, reappearing in front of Daisuke, their blades clashed into each other, sparks and hums of blades spun into and around them. The ash flew around them in a gust of wind caused by the power exerted by the two of them, the volcanoes burst forth fire and boomed loudly in exclamation of Daisuke's determination and boiling blood has erupted.

Hold on, Sakura! I'm coming for you!

Traitor on a Leash

"....son of a...."

Braeburn gritted his teeth slightly at the data he was recieving. On-screen, there was an overhead map of the entire region of Yūrei, some points were marked with an illuminating red dot, similar to that of a target being painted. These were various throughout the picture, but the prominent one was the one resting on the location where the capital rested. As he continued to peer at the screen, his mouth formed into a rather loathing scowl.

"I should've known he would be the kind to go back on his word....lying snake...!" He hissed underneath his breath, immediately exiting the program. "If I don't get this to the Hayates right away, he's going to get away clean with not only the destruction of this city, but also the innocent lives of several!" He ejected the disk, immediately allowing himself to stand up. Thankfully, the room was empty, his presence the only one within. He immediately turned around, eyes set--

"Going somewhere?"

A shocked expression came over his face as he saw Kenta holding his revolver at hip level, barrel aimed for the Shinigami's chest. The police officer held a solemn look to his features, but within his voice carried clear and smooth amusement. Braeburn's mouth curled into a slight snarl, his eyes glaring at the weapon the Sergeant was threatening him with.

Kenta was unphased, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him quietly. With one simple motion, he locked the door and lowered the gun. "I had the feeling you would attempt to use that disc in order to do something like you did...." He commented, turning and walking over to the nearest shelf. "You always were the impulsive one, after all...."

"You gave me your word that you wouldn't touch this city....!" Braeburn snapped, raising an accusing finger to point at Kenta. "Do you even realize what you're doing?!"

"Indeed." Kenta pulled out a folder, sheathing his gun once again to hold the folder with both hands. "What I'm doing is liberating this society, as well as the worlds of both spirit and life, from their chains. You, of all people, have to realize that everything...everyone... has become too pretentious, too arrogant, and too corrupt for their own good. What was meant to be a paradise has turned to nothing more than another occupation for our sins. What I'm doing will revolutionize it all, shift the evil and turn the demons away from our souls. None of you seem to realize that, hoping it will come just by waiting. That's what we've been doing for far too long....."

Braeburn immediately shook his head, refusing to accept Kenta's words and fixing him with a harsh stare. "You want to sacrifice lives that are not yet ready for Reconstruction?!" He demanded. "This time is not prepared to be integrated and converted! Only the gods can decide that, not you!!" Abruptly, he turned around and away from Kenta, walking towards the door and grasping the handle. "I'm informing the Hayates of this. Maybe you'll learn the price of betrayal in a cold, god-damned cell...."

"Are you really willing to risk that?"

The sound within Kenta's words made Braeburn stop and turn around, eyes staring with an angered curiosity. In turn, Kenta simply held up the folder for the defector's eyes to lay on. "You seem to forget that I still hold all the cards.... as well as your leash." He threw the folder onto the table, and its contents spilled out onto the wood. All that had been inside was several pictures, laying in full view of the two.

Braeburn's demeanor immediately shifted into a more horrified and shocked one. "Wa...wait a minute....but....how....?!" He started to say, but was unable to form the proper words.

"Let's just say I'm a traveling man...." Kenta said smoothly, a smug smile on his face. "If you don't want these pictures getting out to the public, then I suggest you keep your mouth shut and keep playing your tune. This isn't your field anymore, where you can simply levy time against me as an enemy. This is my game, and you're nothing but one of my playing pieces. Got it?"

If anything, the spirit within Braeburn was now defeated. He closed his eyes in misery, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Good...." Kenta said, clearly satisfied.

A God's Blessing

Some time later... Daisuke was still in a deep trance within the chambers. His forehead had collected a thin sheen of sweat, occasionally dropping a thin sweatdrop down his cheeks and chin on a small puddle forming on the small space in between his legs, sometimes striking his Zanpakuto causing a strange hissing sound as the blade itself grew hot.

Though this was mere byproducts of being trapped inside the meditation, suspended inside his Inner World, making all things happen within slightly appear on his physical body without. Whether he would be in mortal danger of losing to his Zanpakuto or not...well, that depends on the nature of the 'exchange' they had between each other.

Daisuke, within his Inner World, was heaving and panting. He did not know how much time had passed between the time they started this 'deal' but he knew it was long enough for him to feel it taking a toll on him.

Despite having fought with and against his Zanpakuto before, the stakes were raised, high enough so he could achieve the full power he wanted. The only problem is, Kyōi Abāta had no intention of letting him win easy.

Daisuke's hands were steaming off his crackling, fire-emblazoned sword, resembling his Shikai form back in the conscious world, but now, his Zanpakuto also flourished a mimicked one of his own, twirling it with ease, though he too had a few burns and wears on his form, showing that he indeed had been successful in wearing him down as well.

"You're stubborn as hell, Dai-kun," his Zanpakuto chuckled, grasping his sword with both hands, ready to charge back at him again, having his Soul Reaper chuckle back in response, "I could say the same to you!"

"Y'know if you keep this up, you actually might not be able to make the trip to Hell," the Zanpakuto said warningly, though a gleaming smile of assured victory on his own part was clear, hoping that would goad him further, "sure you're up to it?"

"OF COURSE I AM!" Daisuke roared out, grasping his sword's hilt with both hands again, fire blazing from the blade once more as he leaped up and attacked his Zanpakuto once more, hoping that their fight should be over soon enough, and he could rescue Sakura in time. With luck...he wouldn't have to be burned at all...

They were not alone.

Within the confines of the mental dimension in, standing a few ways off from the two, was none other than the stranger that had confronted both Kukkyōna and Avaron on the rooftops earlier. He had his arms folded across his chest, his hidden eyes staring at the two as they continued to fight it out against each other. His aura was restrained, keeping the same effect that had nearly broken Avaron from happening for them. As usual, he remained a silent observer, a visible ghost within the mindscape.

Soon, both combatants within the Inner World skidded in opposite directions across the ash covered soil, both of them seen as near their limits. Daisuke heaved and panted, too on guard and focused on the battle at hand to notice anyone within his Inner World, but got a feeling of strange eery feeling. However it was dismissed when his Zanpakuto lifted his sword towards Daisuke, calling out to him.

"Oi! I don't know if either of us can go any further if we keep duking it out like this," he said with a chuckle, heaving and panting on his own, admiring Daisuke's tenacity and strategies, using only sheer swordsmanship and skill in utilizing his available Shikai techniques to counter Kyōi Abāta's own incredible skill and strength.

Daisuke nodded, saying back with a firm grip on his sword, "Let's finish this ... with one blow," he then raised his Zanpakuto towards his midsection, pointing it at his Zanpakuto, fire began to howl around and began to cross the horizon along the tip of his sword, signaling the beginning of Jogoku Hashira.

The Zanpakuto laughed aloud, assuming a similar stance, raising his own sword and initiating the beginning of the technique himself, "A fitting technique to see if you're capable of mastering your true power. If one of us hits the ground first, will be the loser!"

Both combatants' eyes locked, the air grew still, and the rumbling suddenly ceased into one, unanomious explosion of fire in every volcanoe, as they both shouted out, "JIGOKU HASHIRA!!!!"

Twin Pillars of fire then discharged towards each other, roaring mightily and howling as they crossed quickly towards each other, colliding into each other, causing a large twister of pyrotechnic power. The two of them increased their Spiritual Pressure outputs, their Spiritual Energies at an all high, and suddenly, Daisuke roared out, saying in declaration, "I WILL WIN! NO MATTER THE COST! I'M GONNA WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!"

Suddenly the twister turned around, despite the output by Kyōi Abāta's Zanpakuto, it barreled towards him before causing a huge, fiery napalm explosion, spherical in nature and pushing out a giant shockwave, shaking all the volcanoes and the ash soil blasted away from the intensity of the techniques being overpowered and redirected.

Flames encompased around Daisuke's person, and he closed his eyes as he slammed his Zanpakuto sword into the soil below to hold himself up, totally at one with the flames around him, unknowing to himself that the flames did not burn him...no even felt the heat. Even his appearance began to change rapidly, and Daisuke looked upon himself. Was...was this his true power...?!

The stranger seeemed satisfied with with the results displayed.

Unfolding his arms across his chest, he extended one of his arms out to the side. Within that particular hand, a beam of energy began to form, molding and hardening itself. At first, it appeared to be some sort of rod. However, when he grasped the bottom part, it immediately solidified itself into a straight-edged katana. He lowered the katana down to his side, keeping it in an idle stance as he slowly walked towards the two.

"Dai-kun! You've finally mastered our true power!" A congratulatory tone came from Kyōi Abāta's location, still swirling with flames, though his appearance has now changed drastically as well. It was the form of a young teenage boy, younger than even Daisuke was, however he bore what looked like a fire-emblazoned cloak, his hair a fiery red and eyes matching, though his face was paler and fair toned, almost bearing a borderline-feminine look both in voice and stature. However his glare was even more menacing and animalistic, showing just how frightening his Zanpakuto spirit truly was.

Daisuke smiled at him, waving back at him, discovering that he wasn't holding his sword anymore and found himself in a similar fire-cloak form, his own hair burning of flaming embers, sparks flying form atop them, saying to himself in a echoing, yet childish tone, "This is cooooooool!~"

The newly transformed Zanpakuto smiled back in return, childishly giggling in return, before saying aloud with arms across his chest, saying in the most professional demeanor he could, "Now, you should know the name of this form, so you can take upon it anytime you wish. This is our Bankai form, our true form, though wouldn't be surprised if the true extent of its abilities are still lacking, you're currently about 5x stronger than what you were before. And MY full name, is Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā," he proclaimed proudly.

"Really?" Daisuke asked blandly, saying in a dry tone, "I didn't know 'Kyōi' was your middle name..."

The child-form Zanpakuto shot back a violent tone, quite comical in appearance, "Shut up! My first name is not one I hand out often..its cool and one of respect and power-"

"Don't you think you should be older with a name that means, 'Blazing Avatar'? Daisuke interrupted again, still not convinced that it was a smart call giving out his Middle name instead of his first name.

"Why don't you just-?!" The Zanpakuto stopped as well as Daisuke as they felt the Spritual Pressure...no, something far more menacing and terrifying than a mere Spiritual Pressure. No doubt if they haven't been in their Bankai form, they would surely fall prey to the waves of depressing waves sent their way. Daisuke's and Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā's eyes widened at seeing something that definitely didn't belong in their Inner World. The cool composure it held, the sword it held by its hand, the dark red robes...it felt almost like similar to Sakura's?!

"THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Both of the partners shouted in unison, their Spiritual Pressures flared violently, fire blazing all around them, and their glares unanomiously intent on evicting him from their property.

Had it been anyone else, the response would have been immediate submission to their will

He only responded with two words, He tone inhumanely deep and raspy.

"Daisuke.....Hayate....."

It slowly raised its hand up, thrusting outward with a motion that would've otherwise seemed pointless - and all Hell broke loose.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~

Daisuke, as well as the Zanpakutō, would feel splitting pain within their heads as his very mindscape was altered, re-written under the overwhelming and terrifying power that had been unleashed. Their vision was immediately turned tunnel, everything so warped and twisted within their eyes. The environment around them seemed as if it was being sucked into a black hole, the colors a mixture of black, white, and grey. Throughout this, a loud, ear-shattering and unearthly howl drilled at their ears, as if the very winds generated were attempting to kill them all.

Then, it stopped.... and they were within a new environment.

It was a ground, with nothing but wild flames to be seen for miles. The sky was a blood-red color, the clouds racing continuously across the sky at a moderate, unnerving speed. Through the flames, the invader could now be seen, his blade pointed at the three in a clearly threatening manner. It was a nonverbal challenge in order to make them fight, to make them realize that he was a threat that wanted to destroy them. He wanted to push them to the inevitable battle to the death.

Looks could always be deceiving....

Daisuke and his Zanpakuto did indeed clench onto their heads, nearly brought to their knees by the intense wave of pain and foreign input and scrambling with their brains. Then it all stopped...their once vast landscape of ash and volcanoes was now consumed in a endless flames all around them, the sky was blood red, and clouds not soaked in ash and soot anymore moved at a eery pace. Their opponent challenged them with a simple raise of his sword towards their direction.

"D-Dai-kun?...What is he?!" The Zanpakuto who was nearly a person with nerves stronger than steel, and always eager to do battle even with opponents impossibly stronger than them. However, he was taken aback...pausing...trying to figure out HOW THE HELL did someone else other than them reached their Inner World.

"I don't know, could be a mute," Daisuke responded with a shrug, before he gripped both of his fists, snapping sounds could be heard, and sparks flew from the clenched hands, "but right now, I really want to roast him alive for that last...mind-fuck he gave us!"

The Zanpakuto chuckled, nodding in agreement, walking over to stand next to him, snapping his right fingers and summoned a blood-red katana with flames hissing off of them, the circular guard remained but a red flaming tassel that didn't burn up, "Then let's get to it then. The advantage we have here is not only we can fight together, we get to test out our Bankai now!"

"Let's make a bet," Daisuke said, now getting into the swing of things, summoning his own tangible Zanpakuto sword, saying, "first one to burn or cut him, wins, and the loser has to do a lap around the nearest Volcanoe...for 3 hours!"

"Oh Dai-kun...you know how to tempt me," the Zanpakuto spirit said in a devilish grin before chuckling in a creepy child-like voice, saying, "Alright! Let's do it!"

"Right!" Daisuke immediately stepped off of the fiery ground below him, shimmering out of view, followed by his Zanpakuto, totally disappearing from view in the fiery battleground.

Suddenly, Daisuke appeared above the intruder, swinging downwards, a violent howl emanated from his sword as it swung towards its target at incredible speed, aiming for the Monitor's left shoulder downwards to strike through his heart. While striking, the blade would hiss, capable of cutting through even a sealed Captain's Zanpakuto, while also exhaling a large amount of flames, causing a large 10 meter radius blast of intense heat, devouring the flames around it to further its own power, momentarily showing the ash soil below their feat before the flames crawled back.

Accordingly, the Monitor twisted his blade in order to intercept it.

When blade and blade clashed, the fire absorbed in the attack was released full force, and the two seemed to be enveloped within the hellish blaze. Yet, under the ferocity of the strikes, even as the flames seemed to lick at him as well as Daisuke, the Monitor did not allow himself to move an inch. On the contrary, he stood stock still as if what he was doing was nothing more than a natural movement. His completely hidden face turned to direct itself towards Daisuke, and if his head was revealed, he would've been looking straight into the other man's eyes.

Then, he released his own energy, hitting Daisuke with a concentrated and relentless barrage of his killing intent. It struck at his very soul, smashing at his resolve and aimed to break him down as he had done to Avaron. With a simple push of his blade, he forced Daisuke not only away from him.... but into the sky. It was clearly a fraction of his strength.... but in displaying such, he exhibited a force that threatened to crush them both where they stood.

With a fluid and unhesitating motion, the Monitor positioned his sword and made a thrusting motion towards where the Zanpakutō spirit was positioned. In turn, this created a shockwave of intense, concussive winds that would hit him full-force. It didn't matter if the Zanpakutō had moved before the attack.... because once within the field of the Hankami, it could never escape his senses. There was no hiding from the one who overwatched the very fabric of the dimensions.

Never....

Daisuke felt himself open his eyes widely to see that his opponent took the surprise attack with ease. Daisuke admitted to himself that he held back a bit, not knowing exactly how much strength to put into the attack and chose more for speed than strength, but ultimately he regrets the decision now. He felt his entire being struck mentally and emotionally by a sinister wave of pure malice and killing intent. Daisuke was giving pause to the brutal emotional attack, he couldn't counter his move to actually push him not just away, but enough to feel the wind kicked out of him, up into the sky!

Daisuke's Zanpakuto's widened up in alarm, about to scream out his name but then saw the intruder launch a rapidly-deployed shockwave at him, causing him to buckle head over foot backwards, skidding across the fire covered landscape, violently swearing as he tossed and turned before halting a good 15 meters away. His summoned sword stabbing into the gorund to halt his futher drag across the Inner World, before glaring vehemently at the Monitor, "You think its over?! Well its not," he growled, but held himself back, trying to think of a way to get through the intruder's defenses and awareness, it almost seemed like a form of 'Pesquisa' but he knew all too well this was much more than that.

"DAMMIT!" Daisuke cursed as he clawed onto the spiritual planes to halt his ascent, a wave of sparks exited his fire encompassed hand as he was far high up above where he originally planned to be. He then thought up a plan...he didn't know if this would work, but it worked in Shikai, maybe he could do something more with it...

Daisuke raised his katana up above his head, gathering a large man-sized sphere of fire before uttering, "Kami Kizu Shawā Moyashi!~" He had no idea why the words came out the way they did, but it seemed natural as he hurtled the sphere towards the earth below, before it multiplied 10x, 50x, then a 100x more than it was before, all of them aiming towards the Monitor, like a meteorite shower of death, it struck the ground causing 10 meter gait pyrotechnic explosions, resulting in a large billowing pillar of fire to form after the carpet bombing expanded and took on a great deal of the landscape along wtih the intruder's area specifically with the majority of the firepower aimed at, to destroy him.

Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā made a low whistle at the technique's effects, making a mock binocular movement with his left hand, trying to peer at the intended target to see if it had any affect at all on him, "Daaaaaamn...that was a neat trick."

It was a truly devastating power.

If anything, it seemed as if the very landscape was consumed even more by the flames that surrounded them, the fires climbing higher and feeding upon the destruction as their very own source of sustenance. Within the Monitor's location, there was nothing to be found, not even the slightest bit of cloth or ash. What had once been a person was completely gone, apparently annihilated by the sheer power of the attack unleashed. There was silence for a moment, and in that very same moment, Gyakushuu would be most satisfied with the results of Daisuke's actions.

That is, until he looked up....

....and saw the intruder standing stock still and back-to-back with Daisuke, sword still in hand....

Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā did indeed think that the guy was roasted, now a part of the ash that covered the Inner World, currently consumed by flames, also giddily giggling with joy at the sheer encompassing fire that climbed higher fueled by the Inner World's chaotic energies.

However, he suddenly felt his presence, causing his eyes to widen in shock, looking up to him standing back-to-back with Daisuke.

Daisuke himself knew he failed to destroy him the moment he didn't feel his Spiritual Pressure, and when he felt him this close behind him, he could only shudder at being this close. But Daisuke decided to act cooly about it, despite a sweatdrop of anxiety of being this close to the being, "I wouldn't stand so close to me if I were you," he twirled around swinging his sword in a blur with the same speed he used earlier to clash blades with the being, but this time a wide gait of flames burst through towards him with blazing hot heat, the sword itself aimed for his mid-section but was primarily aiming to hit his whole body with the wave of flames.

"Kasai Kawa Kushiyaki," he spoke lowly as the flames stretched for a good 200 meters past the position, continuing to cook and crackle in the air, as if it needed no prompting to keep burning in the air at the constant blazing heat.

The Zanpakuto looked on in awe, but then thought of something. HE could do the same things Daisuke has been doing. He growled at himself, placing his left palm against his face to slide it off to show irritation for him just watching like an idiot. As soon as the flames were let loose from Daisuke's sword, the Zanpakuto made a blurring dash towards the being, appearing right behind where the being was, letting loose his own Kasai Kawa Kushiyaki, surrounding now both Daisuke and himself in flames that would be only searing hot to the Monitor within, a special ability of the previously hazardous flames of the Zanpakuto. The blade of the Zanpakuto's as well made a aim for his mid-spinal section, aiming to incapacitate him, knowing that he'd get blocked, his real focus was burning him alive.

"Did we get him?!" They both asked each other in unison among the fire and flames of their ever-still burning techniques.

They would get their response soon enough.

For his first movement at getting away, the Monitor had simply used speed in order to evade the attack. However, when Daisuke unleashed his second attack, he did not allow himself to move. Under normal cirumstances, the horrendous blow delivered onto his person would've made it of severe consequence had he allowed himself to stay still. But even as the flames consumed him, their tongues and teeth nashing away at his body, they could not burn him. Even as his cloak was made the dancing floor of the flames, it, as well as he, remained unharmed. His body was made invisible to their eyes, and his spiritual presence was hidden once again to ensure that they believed he had truly been killed.

Then, holding back the full strength of his own body (for it would've surely destroyed the target), he unleashed a diagonal swing aimed to rip through Daisuke's chest cavity and bring him down with one swift blow.

Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā and Daisuke Hayate both felt his Spiritual Presence vanish, but they knew better to be fooled a second time. If the flames surely killed him, or did him damage, they should've heard screams or something registering damage from their attacks.

Suddenly, the Zanpakuto saw the enemy reappear before Daisuke, at the same time intiating a swift strike towards his chest, knowing it would be too late to respond and call out in warning to Daisuke. Luckily for Daisuke, he expected an ambush, not exactly up front, but he knew he would attack again.

Daisuke then swiftly struck out his Zanpakuto sword with a violent crackling blur, meeting the Monitor's blade with his own, pushing all his newfound strength into it, the air itself crackled and caused the air to rupture, causing his Zanpakuto to hold his arm over his face and plant his feet on the air, even as the clouds dissipated from the force of the blast and the fire below funneled away and flew up to dance around the 3, giving them only a 15 meter space before closing overtop. The pillar of fire if seen from the outside, almost looked as if it was the Shikai technique, Jigoku Hashira...!

"D-Didn't expect that, did you?!" Daisuke asked with a strained smile, his Zanpakuto sword funneling fire in erratic directions as it sparked like mad against the blade of the Monitor's, continuing, "this technique is a special technique I thought up, but couldn't master it in Shikai. Its called Jigoku Hashira Kangoku, its fire is condensed with my Spiritual Energy to a such a high temperature that nothing but myself and Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā can withstand its power. Its a prison technique, one of the strongest of my techniques, and now," Daisuke smiled with a malicious gleam, "you're wide open for attack!"

Gyakushū Kyōi Abatā got the gist of it, flying high above the two as he spoke with the Monitor, charging up his technique, the fire spread out from the edge of his Zanpakuto sword, before he uttered lowly, "Jigoku Hashira!!" Discharging a mighty, volumed pillar of flame, spreading the edge of the nigh unescapable pillar prison of fire, before charging downwards within moments, swallowing both Daisuke holding his sword against the Monitor's, the fire flowed off of him harmlessly while the flames would intend to incinerate him without a trace.

As it howled downwards, hitting the ground below, causing a chain reaction with the fire around for a good mile, as both the prison fire pillar and the one striking the ground consumed the fire and caused a massive pyrotechnic explosion, spreading out almost akin to a nuclear mushroom cloud of fire, sending a shockwave that obliterated the hidden volcanoes nearby into dust and molten flames.

The Best of Intentions

The entity could not feel the emotion of surprise.

It could not feel fear.

Even if he was not protected by the grace of gods (literally), he wouldn't have been able to feel the pain.

Once again, the flames washed over him like a raging river, and all he could see was the orange-red color of the tongues. Once again, he did not allow himself to move. It was a prison he could've easily blown away, a futile effort that could be made to show the error of his ways. However, there was more ways than one to do so. What would be more effective - forcing an attack back, or allowing it to connect, only to have it do no damage? Either way, Daisuke would have to understand what he was stepping up against when he fought in Hell.

The Monitor.... would see to that.

When it all cleared, the flames that threatened to burn him subsiding, the creature known as the Monitor was still standing, still unphased by his ferocity. It was clear that the Hayate had power.... but it would take more than power if he wished to save Sakura in the end. He stood still, waiting patiently for their reaction.

Daisuke panted, for the first time since engaging in battle with this thing, he felt the toll slowly begin to take. He knew he couldn't repeat it too many times, and that's why when he saw a totally unphased and undamaged being in front of him.

He gasped aloud, saying lowly to himself, "Its...not possible...no...no...," Daisuke slowly felt the waves of depression slowly sink into him, and he fell to his knees in the middle of the air, looking into the faceless entity that stood before him, feeling like all was lost. Then...something else became enraged, burning high above the entity and Daisuke, shouting.

"F***ING HELL! You'd think he'd dodge that?! You taunting us?! HUH?! I will show you! I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU F***K WITH OUR WORLD!!!!" he shouted madly like a enraged child, but his aura was now bathed in killing intent, his body shook, the world shook from the rage he felt by losing a bet, worse, stalemate with his partner and master. He couldn't stand it any longer. He bathed in flames itself, an aura of a giant demon, a avatar of fire overtook him, first a samurai-skull mask took form, sheer Spiritual Energy taking appearance right around and above the Zanpakuto spirit. It roared loudly, but not before out of the mouth of the energy manifistation came forth a large, 'solid' flaming fist, aiming for the Monitor, enough power to crack open the landscape below for miles.

Daisuke shook out of his reverie, moving backwards to dodge the Kushanada-sized fist coming towards the Monitor, not sure how his own Zanpakuto had this sheer energy, all from not killing the intruder...in their world, "K-Kyoi?" He asked lowly, looking up uncertainly and awe, still seeing fighting strength in his own Zanpakuto, he marveled at how powerful it still was becoming.

It was a futile effort - and the Monitor was not one to play games for long.

Allowing a bit of his own true potential to show in order to demonstrate the full extent of their futility. Without hesitation, he swung his own blade in a wide uppercut before the fist could connect with him. It seemed like a futile effort, considering such a simple movement would normally not have a lot of power to counter the attack aimed to decimate him. However, as soon as he made that lone swing, time seemed to stop. Within that second, it seemed as if the entire world they were in shook with a single heart-beat, one that range within all of their ears. It was a sound that would emphasize the heart-stopping reaction that would take place.

Time unfroze.

That very swing had dismantled the entire foundation of the offensive energy, dismantling it with an ease only displayed by the tremendous power of the Hankami. But that was not the only effect. The power of the slash would also rip cleanly through the Zanpakutō itself....not enough to kill.... but enough to leave it in a greviously wounded state. That blow was enough to signal the end of the fight, the end of the test that the Monitor initated. With non-existent eyes, he stared at the depressed figure of Daisuke and dissipated his sword. It was a test to see if Daisuke was truly willing to go against the odds in order to save the one he loved.

He failed.

The Monitor would not have any more than that.

Without pause, he turned around and began to walk away, his sandals covered in the ash that permeated the ground.

Daisuke snapped out of his dazed reverie totally when he saw the attack broken apart, the cut in the air itself so powerful, it cut deeply into Kyoi's chest. A flow of fire-covered blood flowed, blood spilled out of his mouth, and Kyoi struggled to keep on his feet before he began to fall.

"D-Damn...," he uttered before Daisuke reached for his smaller-child body, catching him instantly, catching only a glimpse of the figure, only guessing as he disappeared as if he was testing his strength. He knew he disappointed it, and he disappointed himself.

"Kyoi! Are you alright?-" he suddenly recieved a slap across his face, making him yelp before angrily twitching at him, as he got out of his arms, slightly wobbily, but stuck out his blood-soaked tongue.

"Stupid! In the Inner World, we don't receive life or death injuries as easily...the fact you didn't recieve any serious injuries means I'll be back to full strength by the time you're done training your Bankai," He explained matter-of-factly, hissing with a grimace on his face as he sealed the deep cut with a fire-edged forefinger, a long scar formed on his chest, but the mark itself began to slowly and gradually fade.

"P-Practice my Bankai? I just did that!" Daisuke growled at him, exasperating on how he failed, "Didn't you just SEE that guy?! We fought him in Bankai, and FAILED to even scratch him! How are we ever going to accomplish something as futile as trying to fight the forces of Hell itsel-?!-" again he was slapped, earning another yelp and growl, as Daisuke grabbed his pissed off Zanpakuto.

"IDIOT! Didn't you just tell me not more than 30 minutes ago WHO your fighting for?!" He yelled at him, making Daisuke release his grip, which had his Zanpakuto brush off his flaming attire, before crossing his arms.

"You're dense sometimes, you know that?! Dumb-ass...you promised HIM you'd die fighting for your comrades, and you'd die fighting FOR HER too, am I right?! Use that determination and your rage, and you'll be able to master this Bankai, and I garuntee you, the more you fight, and the more confident you are, the more resolve you have, you WILL beat them!" He said in a chiding tone, not belonging to a child's voice but that of an old man, chiding his student for screwing up.

Daisuke bowed his head, gripping his hands, fire built up around him, his eyes glowed, and he remembered his promise to Sakura. He looked up, now flaring with resolve and blazing spiritual pressure, summoning a blazing katana, asking Kyoi, "You up for some practice? I don't think I'm done fighting just yet...that was, after all, a "warm-up"," he added, making his Zanpakuto giggle in a creepy tone.

"Nice, glad to see you back to yourself again," he summoned his own sword, both of them still in Bankai, the two clashed once again, shaking the Inner World once more, a cataclysmic orchestra of explosions of nearby volcanoes spewing forth his rage and determination into the air in the form of raw fire.

The training continued on...

Unbeknownst to the two, the Monitor had not disappeared.

As he was walking away, he stopped several meters from their position where another figure was standing, hands on his pockets. A smile was clear on his face, and a calm, serene look was in his eyes as he watched the two fight it out. "I see you've had yourself a change of heart while in contact with the lesser beings...." He commented casually, shifting his gaze over towards the Monitor. "You and the Punisher have always had the habit of overstaying your welcome, even in times like this....." He gave a light shrug. "Well, can't help that now, can we?"

The Monitor remained silent, simply listening to his brother - and what would be known as the Slayer's - words.

"At least you made sure that our sis's in good hands..... though I wonder if she'll take that into consideration once it's all over...." With that statement, the Slayer turned around and walked off. "C'mon. Your job here's done...."

The two abruptly vanished from the mindscape as mysteriously as they had left - quickly and without warning, as if they were never there....

The Ties That Bind

Meanwhile...outside the Inner World of Daisuke Hayate, Kukkyōna sat in a meditation stance on his legs instead of crossing them. His eyes closed and his breathing barely noticed. Placed in front of him was his his twin identical Zanpakuto, their hilts and ends of their scabbards pointed in opposite directions, the blades kept sheathed, lying a mere inch in front of the Captain's knees.

His meditation had been a bit more of a routine, as he was more of a master to his Zanpakuto than a comrade-in-arms, though he didn't mistreat them. He would never do such a thing. The twin entities would always think of him in a admirable way, for commanding and respecting them the way he did. He however, if ever interrupted, would be immediately on guard in the case an enemy tried to take advantage of his meditations.

It was fortunate that the next presence to grace him was not that of an enemy.

The figure of Avaron stepped into the rather empty room, and she allowed herself to move quietly. Her expression was quite positive, a rather cheery smile on her face as she moved herself through the setup and near where Kukkyōna was. She stopped once she could view his meditative figure, the smile fading into split-second curiosity, and then realization. "So this is the art of Jinzen..... nothing but complete concentration on communing inside the mindscape...." She thought to herself. "Seems like it takes quite the willpower to block out everything else...." It was most likely he did not detect her, even if she was not being quiet about her approach.

Remaining silent as she could, Avaron approached him and stopped next to his side, shifting herself so that she could sit beside him, her legs crossed Indian style and her hands resting on her knees. She passed another curious glance in his direction, her mind pondering. To her, it seemed so obvious that he was a man loyal and steadfast to his duties. His leadership and command was undeniable, and he carried himself with the grace and dignity of how the nobles always acted. Despite his status, he never acted out of arrogance, only discipline and composure. Had she been the young fool she had been back then, she would've fallen head-over-heels for the guy!

A short chuckle of amusement escaped her lips, before she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax.

Kukkyōna meditated a good few minutes after Avaron approached him and sat down, imitating a mediation stance of her own. Only disturbing or conflicting Spiritual Pressure surely would've forcefully broke him out of his mediations, but he was bound to his Zanpakuto to a degree where its was not easily broken out of. However, he did end it wtihin the end of the good 15-20 minutes that Avaron entered.

His eyes remained closed, but his breaths became slightly more audible, and graced a smirk on his face, something rare and quite genuine of amusement, letting it sift into his voice as he spoke lowly, "Come to join me, in my meditations, Captain?"

"I may not be able to speak to my inner spirit like you can....." The police commander commented, the amusement within his voice keeping her own spirits in a positive manner. One of her eyes opened up in order to look at him. "But I think meditation calms the soul either way....captain." The last word was taken in a slightly playful shot towards his own tendency to refer to her by her rank instead of name. Honestly, she did not mind him showing his respect, but still, the notions were somewhat humorous to her.

"My apologies, Avaron-san," he added with a amused smile of his own, his proximate eye nearer her form opened, looking humored at her, before continuing in a light-hearted tone, "I've been the Head of the Family only for a good few centuries. I often forget what its like to speak informally with another person, let alone a competant woman such as yourself," he even added a playful wink, though it wasn't lude in the flirtatious sense, but more of a playful and complimentary towards her in his regards of how he thinks of her. In all honesty, had she been in the Soul Society, he would've fallen madly in love, long before he became Head of the Noble Family.

"That tends to happen when you have to keep up a certain image for the public, doesn't it?" Avaron commented. "Hopefully, you being in Yūrei'll change things for the better for you and your son, eh?" She paused for a moment, mulling over her next words. "Considering your position.... would you happen to have anyone you consider a "friend"?"

"Perhaps," he answered her prior statement and question, chuckling a little bit. He then thought about what she asked, pondering what she could insinuate or mean in this particular query of hers.

"Nobles aren't always restricted or prohibited from having "friends", but its always discouraged. The Hayate family has not been as constricted in that sense, and I have let Daisuke have many freedoms as his own person, seeing he has made quite a reputation, a likeness that not many heirs or members of Noble Houses can say the same. I was like him once...had friends, comrades, peers without too much care in the world...But," he looked over at Avaron with both eyes with a unreadable expression, saying, "not everyone can have that "friend" forever, especially one of high authority and respect. I don't have anyone special as of now, that I can think of," he looked back over, staring ahead to the wall of the room, waiting for her to speak or think on what he said.

"Oh."

Though she kept herself on a curious and conversational facade, her eyes opening at the revelation, she could feel slight hurt at the statement. Of course he wouldn't consider her, at the very least, to be friends at this point in time, not with everything going on. Still, the statement felt as if he had simply pushed her aside, her presence rather meaningless in his world. She knew it was nothing that could remain permanent, however. She would just have to be patient and take her time. For now, she could accept him as he was.

She continued as she were in response to his statement, after a pause. "Maybe not forever....." She commented softly. "But you know what I think? The things that last forever would be taken for granted by the people of today, and such things wouldn't really hold much value to anyone. It would be too common, too generic, too.... grey. If anything, it's a good thing that bonds have a finite time, whether it be short or long.... so that we'll be able to treasure them as they were a part of us." She allowed her head to turn slightly in inquiry, wondering what his own response would be.

"Take things for granted," he said aloud, mulling the words around like a foreign taste in his language, before he turned to her gaze, his piercing eyes softened slightly, responding, "I often have to remind myself that, when I see my son, bonding with a girl as socially repulsive begin to bond with him, smiling and chiding him in a manner only he could understand. Or when I meet people as unique and special as you, that I might not meet someone as attractive or commanding at once. Its a shame I haven't met you sooner, Avaron-san," he smiled softly at her, letting his eyes rest on hers, finding that he really shouldn't take her company for granted, never finding someone outside the Soul Society both with skill, cunning, and command, but not without her sense of charm and attraction.

"Hmph, you just had to go and steal the words right from my mouth, didn't you?...Kukkyōna." These words uplifted the minor hurt she had felt from her consience, replacing it with hope. Her smile was more obvious, but not overly done, just within the right boundaries. Her last word was emphasized by a slight tilt of her head downward towards him and the closing of one eye in a wink. It would've been reminiscent of a greeting from a cowboy or saloon girl in a scene from a sphaghetti Western movie. It was a rather subtle hint of where she herself came from, as well as an ironic trait comparing who she had been back then and who she was now.

Kukkyōna smiled at her widely before responding, "Yes...I suppose I did. You know the saying, 'How great minds think alike' no?" He then laughed a hearty laugh, something that he himself forgot how to do, since all this ordeal had started, and he himself was getting caught up with the duties of both Captain and Head of a Noble Family.

"Maybe...," he said quietly after a few moments had passed as the energy died down, "when this particular crisis is over...I could ask for an extended leave here in the City. If you don't mind having me here," he added with a inquiring look over, his eyes piercing into hers, wondering if she'd get the hint.

And of course, she did.

She opened her one eye from the wink, the smile not fading as she met his gaze. "Plenty of time for you to learn about everything within this city." She answered back casually, her trademark cock of the eyebrow initiated to complete a humored expression. She was actually enjoying the way they were speaking to one another, and she felt a bit triumphant knowing that she had gotten the normally stoic and formal Kukkyōna to speak as he did. It was a minor victory.... but a valued one nonetheless.

Kukkyōna chuckled, winking her back in a cocky tone of his own, "I'm fairly confident by the time a month of normalcy has passed of me within this city, I'll know more of this place than even...you...do," he exasperated the last part in a sultry, lower tone, as he leaned over to her, his face a mere 14 inches away, his hair draping majestically to the side as he cocked his head at angle while remaining in his current sitting position, his smile softer and eyes staring more at her.

She shut her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself to giggle lightly before opening her eyes once more. "That sounds like a challenge I'm looking forward to...." She answered, half-lidding them and shortening her smile. Then, in order to complete and match his motions, she shifted her own positions and allowed her own head to move closer towards his.

Kukkyōna chuckled back a little, speaking softly still as his own eyes became half-lidded as his own head movements moved to match hers, their breath began to mingle as he spoke, "As am I, Avaron," he said as his lips moved into hers, meshing softly against hers and he felt himself become completely relaxed in the moment. Nothing could spoil this moment for him now...

...of course, there was always Braeburn.

"Oh, apparently we have no time for planning, but you two have all the bloody time in the world for kissy-kissy time, right?"

A rather irritated Braeburn had walked into the room, having sensed them out. But the scene he come across, especially with what he had just went through, ticked off his anger even more. Had it been any other moment, he would've simply teased them. But the thoughts of going into Hell, the tension between him and the Hayates, and this simple scene was enough to blow away any positive feelings. All thoughts of rank and status was gone from his mind, indicated by the glare and scowl he was giving the two.

At this, Avaron's eyes widened, and she instinctively pulled away from Kukkyōna. However, she wasn't embarrassed, only to counter his annoyed look with one of her own, clearly displeased at having the moment interrupted. "....yes....hello to you too, McTavish..." She commented, keeping her casual and slightly indifferent tone within her voice.

Kukkyōna however was bathed in a aura of cold, displeasure, turning his head over the moment Avaron spoke, his eyes narrowed and glaring at Braeburn, speaking, "I'd tread very carefully with your next words, Braeburn McTavish....bringing your displeasure into this room would be most...unhealthy for you right now," he emphasized the 'very carefully' part of his words with cold attitude, showing his extreme displeasure at being interrupted at a happy moment he was sharing with someone for once.

It was something that immediately hit Braeburn - and his rather angrily arrogant demeanor immediately shifted back. His eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively took a step back. However, he immediately reminded himself of what he had seen in the first place, gritting his teeth and regaining his glare back at the Captain. "Well...." He tried not to let nervousness show through his defiant tone, but he couldn't help the hesitant pause after that one word. Shaking it off as best as he could, he continued to speak. "I was only checking to see if you were ready yet! It's been too long, and the more time we waste, the more time the Hanta will have to toy around with their newfound prisoner, if they haven't found some way to kill her already!"

"Rushing in blindly caused an epidemic for the Soul Society last time an unsanctioned mission to Hell went awry. We mustn't repeat the same mistakes our ancestors have," he emphasized by looking Braeburn's hesitant shifting eyes, reminding him of his heritage and the gifts he still uses as part of the same tree that Kukkyōna himself comes from.

"Besides, I think Captain Kaze should be here right about-" he began to usher as he suddenly heard a buzzing of a soul phone within his uniform. He smoothly brought a hand into it, unfolding it and bringing it up to his ear, saying, "yes?"

"Captain Hayate...," a cold chilling voice filled with irriation filled the audio receptor of the phone, before continuing, "...the 'welcoming commitee' is trying to confiscate my equipment and my personal affects. Please come here now, before I immobolize them before I commit open-internal surgery on them all-!"

"Right away," Kukkyōna inerrupted smoothly, ignoring his threats and irritation, folding his phone up and ending the connection between the two. He smoothly moved over to Avaron, a look of empathy of the ruined moment they had crossed his eyes but his face returned to stoic command, asking her politely, "Please, go retrieve Daisuke from his meditations and meet us at the 'Garage'. Captain Sasayaki is becoming impatient," he let out a brief smirk, gathering his two Zanpakuto as he stood up swiftly, strapping them back into place in his uniform, saying, "and that's usually not a good thing for those of low rank or status in his eyes."

This caused Avaron to smile in grim amusement, and she allowed herself to stand back up, her commanding personality snapping back into place. "Got it!" She confirmed, turning around and walking briskly out the door. However, she allowed herself to stop for a brief second to look over her shoulder. "Oh.... and do try not to kill each other while I'm gone..." With that, she exited the room, leaving the two alone for the moment.

"....yeah." Braeburn muttered irately. "I'll get right on that....." Under his breath, however, he added an afterthought. "Cocky bitch...."

Kukkyōna narrowed his eyes, noticing something a little amiss with the rather flamboyant and rambunctious young man. He knew it was only a few hours, but he couldn't fathom how a man's diposition would change so drastically over time. He knew Braeburn was hiding something...but he wouldn't pry just yet.

"Braeburn," he said lowly, narrowing his eyes at him, a cold piercing stare as if trying to evaluate further evidence that something was wrong with him, "if you have something to discuss with me, now is the time. Once we reach my comrade, we will be leaving for Hell, and there won't be time for idle chatter, so if you have a personal vendetta against either me, my son, or Captain Avaron, or something else irksome to you, please feel free to share it, otherwise," he placed his hands resting on either hilt of his Zanpakuto, saying, "I don't know how far my trust extends to those who wear Zanpakuto but no longer serve the Gotei 13."

"Obviously, it's only about as far as you can spit."

The gesture that Kukkyōna made ripped away the last of Braeburn's patience. In defiance, he grabbed his own handle of his blade in a motion that clearly indicated he was ready to unsheathe it. "They always told you that I abandoned my post willingly, that I was nothing but a coward who threw away his duties." He stated vehemently. "What else did they manage to conjure up within the heads of those sharks, huh?" To him, it was a stand-off ready to explode, and he in his angered state wanted more than anything to release the fury held back on the Captain standing in front of him.

"Its a simple fact, those who abandon duty, for any reason whether they can justify it or not, is a simple reflex to not trust them," he said simply, in a calm collected voice despite how close they were to engaging in a violent confrontation. He continued to speak cooly, his eyes narrowing, asking, "You seem more than eager to take my life to sate your anger, yet you must rationalize that attacking a Captain even at your current state would be futile and suicidal. What reason other than simple words have caused you to challenge me so openly?"

"Well.... to answer that question....." Braeburn began, his own eyes narrowing in a hawk-eye glare, though he knew it wouldn't have much effect on the stoic man. His voice kept up a rather mocking, but indignant tone. "It's simply because of you and your son. Here, I thought the both of you would at least put two and two together by this point, yet you're both simply deluding yourself under what your informants managed to tell you about me. Well, Captain, I've finally had it with your need to cling on to the lies that your sources have been feeding you, and I'm about to make you understand what you've been missing. Tell me.... do you still remember the Mourning War?"

Kukkyōna stared coldly back, saying in a cool voice, "Its the war where a Hive-Mind Hollow entity spread a virus that contaminated those of weak spiritual energy or weak will into mutations that fought and ravaged comrades and friends alike, where allies were forced to kill allies, and there was a great amount of loss for the Gotei 13. One of which was my son's peer and former superior, Lieutenant Sousuke Yūgure," his voice not wavering or quivering as he said a brief summary of what he knew of the horrifying morbid event in their history.

"Why do you ask?"

"Prior to that event.... they were right about conflicting theology....." In order to allow himself to explain fully, Braeburn removed his hand from the hilt of his sword, making emphasizing motions with his hands. "Other members of the Gotei 13, though they didn't restrict me on it, strongly resented the fact that I was studying Red Sun. Several of my colleagues tried to get me to stop, even at times attempting to use scare tactics. This caused conflicts between me and the ones that didn't approve, and that involved a few higher-ups. However, after involvement with the Head Captain, the issue was forcefully resolved and I was free to continue study. It allowed me to think that I was free, until the Mourning War......"

He closed his eyes, exhaling a heavy and somewhat solemn sigh. "I was leading a squad of 10 in an attempt to punch through to the source of the parasitic virus, and we have to fight through several of the victims who had been taken over. Six of them died during that encounter..... and we had to kill them before the virus could use them as puppets, too..... at one particular point, I and the rest of the survivors were trapped in a chokepoint and was forced to hold the line against several of the beasts all on our own. Somehow, we managed to survive..... but when I least expected it....."

He allowed himself to turn around, his back facing the Captain. "One of the parasites managed to infect me with a direct hit to my back." He grasped the fronts of his gi. "However, it was only because of my will that I managed to resist it and fight it off. In turn, it weakened itself, but it left me severely weakened, as well. That was when the full nature of my so-called teammates had been realized....."

He pulled down the gi from off of his back, lowering it enough in order to expose his upper back. A greyish-brown, mutated scar that almost looked as if it had been decaying covered the majority of it. There were dim claw marks that could be seen within the patch of mutilated skin, the clear sign of the "victim" that had targeted him. However, what was the bigger eye-grabber was the black slash mark running down almost parallel with the spine - clearly that of a sword. "One of them struck me down and nearly cut through my spine, telling me that they had been ordered to terminate me simply because the higher-ups were fearful of the religion of Red Sun. Said I was nothing but a bad fuckin' influence that had to be dealt with. They left me for dead, probably informing whoever that I had cowardly abandoned them in the attack."

He pulled the gi back up to his normal position, turning back around to face Kukkyōna. His glare was still there, only it was now lightened somewhat, now that he had told the other everything. "Now do you get it? I had never left.... I was forced out, ex-communicated! Despite my loyalty and dedication to the Gotei 13, all I got in return was my name bathed in a crock of lies. That's why I came back to you; I was tired of running away and leaving you to continue to believe their conspiracy. I came back to fulfill my duty, whatever the cost!"

Kukkyōna is known for one to maintain composure, to never be affected by horrors or shocks of wartime or politics, but he did save few moments in his life for when he truly was shocked by the outrage of the situation. This....is one of those times for him.

"Braeburn...I had...no idea," he said in a quiet tone, his hands falling away from his Zanpakuto hilts long after the tale of his time in the Mourning War. When he saw that horrid scar, and the horrible recognition of it definitely being a sword wound, something only a skilled swordsman would do not a mutated monstrocity used by the plague virus.

"You never did." Now it was Braeburn's turn to give him a stern stare and scowl, lowering his own arms. However, it lasted only for a moment before he allowed himself to turn around, closing his eyes. as he walked out of the room. His gait was slow, and he only allowed himself to speak one more sentence. "And that's why you'll be blind forever...." Then, with one final Flash Step, he vanished towards the garage and left Kukkyōna to his own devices. If the Captain wished to ask for penance, he would have none of it. He had survived this long, being hunted down by the misled Stealth Force. He did not need anyone's pity.

But if any of them found a way to clear his name, but failed in the process, then he would gladly turn himself in after this incident was over and through. He was tired of running away, and he was determined to face the issue head-on.... even if it meant his freedom and dignity would be at risk.

Even if it meant his very life.

Desperate Measures, Deep breath before the plunge

Kukkyōna sighed after holding his breath under Braeburn's righteous angered glare, nor did he try to correct him at insulting him further, he left him to his own words for he had no place to judge now.

"There will be a lot to talk about to the Head Captain after this is over it seems," he said in a dreading, downcast manner, knowing that certain elements within both Central 46 and the Gotei 13 were involved now. Its not like anyone would question them, considering theologies clashing that of the Soul Society were not exactly fondly looked upon, making Braeburn's story just another tragedy under a popular majority wanting him gone but only a few actually wanting to take action.

With one last breath, he used Flash Step to follow, quickly moving out of the HQ and onto the ground nearby the 'Garage' where a young woman in a tight-fit body suit, and a dark cloaked man with a cane were being harassed by local police officers. He saw Braeburn nearby, though he didn't know how he would react to the nearby situation, with Kaze sneering and threatening to disembowl them and Yuna staying silent, merely glancing with indifference at the situation before her.

Sometimes, the police force were professional and intelligent.

"Sir, unless we have direct confirmation from the commander that you're authorized to carry equipment like that on base, we're going to have to confiscate it!"

Other times....

"Give us the equipment, or so by god, I am beating your skull in."

"DANNY!!!"

Two police officers were attempting to coax the Captain to relieve himself of the equipment he had brought. However, one of those police officers was simply acting in a provocative manner, making their own efforts to be in vain. Braeburn had a hand to his face, clearly embarrassed with the situation at hand. "Good luck explaining this to your commander...." He thought.

"You there, boy," Kaze said from behind his dark hood, the equipment behind him stacked precariously in suitcases and baggages, all of which being hauled behind by the young woman, but his attention was pressed onto the boy threatening him, "have you ever been to a operating room? I can give you a firsthand experience right here and now, with your comrades watching you as I attempt to extract the disrespect and stupidity that's deep in your insides!" He threatened in a maddened, chilling voice, his cane wielding hand smashing into the ground below and a creepy smile played across his hidden face, as he drew closer to him, attempting to destroy the man's attempts once and for all.

The Hayate Head moved slowly to the scene, not wanting his compatriot to act rashly if he got angered by his lateness, nor his opinions of how childish he was acting in a foreign culture as a guest. "This is getting old," he said to himself.

Fortunately, a voice decided to interrupt them before anything could get out of hand.

"Captain Kaze, as moronic as my subordinates can be, only I get to do that."

It was the voice of Avaron, steadily walking towards the group with a slightly amused expression on her face. Following her was none other than Daisuke. She was carrying a total of five small bags, one obviously for each person that was going to make the journey. "Putting aside the disembowelment and surgery options, of course...." She added. Eyes widening, the two officers immediately stepped back in order for her to approach.

Kaze Sasayaki growled, seeing the 'incompetant' superior of the Yurei Police Officers in front of him, watching them timidly part ways, visibly seeing both of the Hayates walk up to him, flanking her on either side.

"Captain Avaron Setsuko," Kaze began, crossing his arms with a impatient sneer crossing his visible facial features, his eyes and hair hidden by a dark cowl of a hood matching the black cloak wrapped around him curiously instead of a Captain's Haori, "if you had trained your subordinates better, they wouldn't have to fear that their intestines will be extracted along with their moronic behavior!"

"Captain," Kukkyōna interrupted his fellow Captain's tirade, earning a irritated sigh from the latter, looking at all of them, "so I assume you've brought everything you needed?"

"Of course I have, you insufferable Noble!" The Captain of the 12th Division snapped back, clearly the ordeal he went through earlier had grated his nerves to the point of no room for pleasantries, his eyes glowing menacingly behind his cowl, and his gloved hand gripped his cane audibly.

"Its everything we need to move fast and light, that is," Hana interrupted, stepping ahead to be right next to Kaze's side, showing her lithe, well-built form hugged by the body suit of black tint color as well as a variety of equipment on her person. She arched her hips and crossed her arms, raising a brow as she looked to Avaron, introducing herself slightly, "Hana Yūgure, you must be the Police Force Captain that held off the Ahijados incursion not too long ago. I'd like to test your formidibility after this mission," she said with a cocky smile, before winking over at Daisuke, earning a shiver and a look away from her gaze before she settled her eyes back at Avaron's.

"Well, we've just met and already I've got someone who wants to test me?" Avaron commented, putting on a smile of her own as well as a slightly anticipating look. "If that's what you want, miss Hana, I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer...." She allowed her gaze towards Kaze, her expression turning somewhat skeptical. "All right, Dr. Jekyll. What've you got for us, in terms of equipment?"

Meanwhile, Braeburn had taken his time to stand off to the distance and look over at Hana for a moment. He had one hand on his hip, the other with its fingers gripping his chin in a thoughtful manner. The D.C.O operator was certainly an attractive one, and it didn't help the fact that the outfit she was wearing showed off an extensive view of her curves. The figure was somewhat petite, but it wasn't enough to turn him off. Though he was sure it wasn't true in combat, she actually looked less dangerous as he thought she would have.

Speaking of which, why did males be attracted to the curves of a female body?

Was it simply the fact that curves even existed to provoke such thoughts?

If that was the case, then wouldn't he be also attracted the same way to a beach ball, or a rainbow?

He abruptly slapped a palm to his face. "I've really got to stop doing that....." He muttered under his breath.

Kaze sighed, looking back at her choosing to not answer the imprompt name calling as he pointed to a large, tall black case behind him, the biggest item that he had packed behind the two of them thus far, "This is a special device I constructed some time ago while coming up with theories and hypothesises on the comings and goings of Hell-based beings and ours. While we may have alternative uses to move around the natural way of going through the 'Main' gate of Hell, we have here is a device what I like to call, a 'S.B.E.B.' (Spirit Barrier Extraction Buoy, if you will) it allows it to mimic a single to multi-array beam from the top of Hell to your location, similar to that of a Negacion that Grande Menos Grande Hollows use to recover fellow Hollows. Its nigh impregnable barriers safely, but slowly, extract the being(s) in question up to the top of Hell through the opening or gate being used and out of Hell."

"Has it ever been tested?" Kukkyōna asked curiously, his hands remained steady at his eyes and his eyes glowed of curiousness but held its stoic still nature.

Kaze narrowed his eyes at the other Captain, smiling thinly as he hissed at him, "Wouldn't you like to know," before clearing his throat, moving onto the other devices they had, bringing out a few capsule tablets, each marked with the names of the individuals taking part of the venture, "This is my next device we shall be using. I call it, 'Spiritual Restoration M.S. Tablets,' ... in other words, using the basis of Mod Soul Technology, I have constructed Spiritual Energy duplicates of each person taking part of the operation. If you happen to run low or are completely sapped, you may absorb it through ingestion, however, there's only ONE per each of you, so don't go off trying to fight recklessly and eat the pill later. This is a LAST resort, so please be careful," he sneered at Daisuke, whom returned the glare after he moved to hand them out to his father, himself, Hana, and an extra for Braeburn. Kaaze his gaze back to a bundle of cloaks provided by Hana, mysteriously having moved back to unpack the garments, now being showed off by Kaze as high-collar overcoats.

"This last bit we're all using here is what I call, 'Spiritual Energy Veil Overcoats,' originally a unique invention developed by a scientist of the Soul Society long ago, now I reformatted it for practical, stealth and undercover missions. It seals off Spiritual Pressure instinctively, even those of unstable or large quantities, it effectively hides the user from detection other than by the normal 5 senses of any sentient being," he handed one to the elder Hayate, to Hana, and then to Daisuke, nodding over to give it to Braeburn whom he threw over to him, ignorant of anything that he was doing at the moment.

"Everything else related to gear and equipment, well, I'm sure you all have your personal effects and weapons of choice with you at hand, so anything that's left is for myself and dear Hana over here," he waved a hand in a 'show-offish' way, as if he had a shiny toy or a better subordinate than what the others had.

Not like Hana cared, having a bored look on her face, blowing air up at her bangs, "I'll make sure Braeburn McTavish is debriefed on the equipment," she stalked out of arm's reach of Kaze, marching past Daisuke giving him a brief glare as she took the items from him who looked completely taken aback, before she said, "get settled and reacquainted with the Captain before we go. I'm sure you don't want to piss him off when we get to Hell."

"Oh how wonderful," Daisuke grumbled, rolling his eyes as he walked up with his father, the scientist Captain began reprimanding them and telling them of his plan and calculations of how to enter and different stages of attacks or maneuvers they could use against the Hanta.

She walked in a inadverdantly sensual, smooth manner over to Braeburn, giving him the cloak and tablet, saying a soft, "Here you go, Braeburn-san. I hope we can get you cleared of this mess you're in after this is over," she said with a smile, placing her hands on her hips, arching them to the side while smiling at him, saying, "if you didn't catch that earlier because of you're blank staring and planting your palm into your face, my name's Hana. You like what you see, Braeburn?"

However, Braeburn wasn't so stupid as to just allow himself to fall victim to the woman's seductive nature so easily.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, putting on a small, suspicious frown as he took the equipment from her. "Hmph. So what if I do?" He answered back, keeping a casual, but slightly taunting tone within his words. He put the pill within one of his inner pockets of his gi while tying the cloak around his neck appropriately. "You're still one of the D.C.O's, and I'm not wanting to be one of the hapless morons who get knocked out and hauled off to prison. I'm keepin' my eye on you, sweetie....." The small curve that made up his frown turned itself upward into a small smirk at the last word. It was a mixture of teasing and taunt, a perfect blend in order to make his words somewhat neutral.

"You did good, Cap'n Kaze!" Avaron commended lightly. "Now then....." She handed each of the journey's participants one of the bags. "For my part, I brought three gadgets of my own, all of them within each of your bags; the usual earpieces in order to stay in contact with one another....." She reached into her pocket to pull out a small ring, with a uniquely designed stone engraved in it. She held it up in order for everyone to see. "These devices, which will in short, cover the other half of Kaze's spiritual veil and cloak you from being sought out via the five senses, and finally....."

From her other pocket, she pulled out a palm-sized ball and tossed it down onto the ground. It exploded into smoke on contact, and when it cleared back up, there were a total of five aerial, uniquely-shaped machines that seemed slightly bigger than their head. They floated with a ghost-like, quiet whirr around their heads as if waiting for orders. "....these guys. In case you run into any more than you have to, these machines will be able to help you out via the use of their portable reiatsu beams. They're sentient, so you don't have to worry about giving orders to them very much."

Hana arched one of her brows at his reply, but she didn't look a bit surprised, twisting her heels so she leaned right next to him, her warm body rubbed up against his, and a playful smile donned on her face, saying in a low tone, "I like you. You're quite smart, if not a bit jumpy, but that can be useful in a number of ways," she chastely bit her lower lip in a coy smile as she looked the young man up and down before continuing, "though you have little to worry from me. Arresting and capturing individuals of interest isn't in my usual job description. Rooting out undesirables is the work of the Onmitsukido's (Stealth Force's) Detaintment Squad, not Deep Cover Ops. We simply observe, document, and report...85% of the time," she added with a chuckle before she looked him in the eyes. Her eyes briefly flashed a tint of orange before back to violet, saying, "I'm anxious to see you in action, Braeburn McTavish, and see if you've improved from the 70% success rate that you've had on your previous missions while under the Gotei 13's affiliation," she finished, imploring his name with a bit of delight, almost as if she'd been looking up his file extensively during her journey to Yurei. In truth she had, only it took her about 2 hours to read through it and hypothesize a number of oddities and irregularities within his past and issues with the Gotei 13 and the Soul Society, though she wouldn't say so unless asked.

Kaze looked on in genuine interest, logging back the information she spoke aloud and the designs by sight alone for further study of his own time. He looked over at Captain Avaron skeptically though at the further use of needing to be unseen, "You know, if people didn't use some skill in stealth, what's the point in giving them a sense of security when we should be on guard. We are expected to come into Hell after all, so 100% undetection notice is not to be entirely expected. If you'd-"

The other Captain raised his hand, saying, "I think now is the best time to leave...unless you have anything further to add, either of you?" He turned his gaze back and forth between the Police Captain and the Soul Society's Gotei 13 Captain.

Kaze chuckled, saying, "I could always make improvements...however that would take all our time up, but I'm sure our dear Police Captain has almost finished up with her mere gadgets, hasn't she?" he asked with a thin sneer, though his white teeth shown from his jeering towards her.

"Really....?" Braeburn murmured, allowing himself only to lean back slightly as a result of her own movements. "Well, miss Hana, if that's what you're expecting out of me, then I hope you of all people won't be a disappointment to my anticipation." To emphasize this, he reached up with the hand farther away from her and lightly tapped her cheek twice on the word "my".

"Eeyup....." Avaron nodded, brushing off the jeer that Kaze directed towards him, if only to irk him further. "I'm a conservative when it comes to stuff like this. Only bring the things you really need for the times most dire. Other than that, I've got nothing more to say than to have a safe trip! Well....." She averted her eyes for a moment, rolling back on what she said thoughtfully. "....as much of a safe trip as you can when you're in the world of the eternally damned, anyway....."

"Oh really?" She chuckled, her hand flashed up to his, wrapping it in a unworldly strength, threatening to break it as she pried it off slowly, saying, "I hope you learn something about me in the future...I like to touch when I want to, and be touched when I want to, kay?" She flashed a innocent smile as she left his hand intact, stepping back a step and putting her arms folded in front of her chest, smirking at him, knowing it would be interesting being paired up with him.

"If I had my way you da-" Kaze began to say when Daisuke shouted out, saying, "Time's up! We can all get killed in Hell now! Let's go!"

His father sighed at the sudden cheerful shout, the jocular tone back in his voice relieved him but the joke was...put in poor taste, "Right...," he only managed to say before turning to Braeburn, knowing of the untowardly, predictable teases of Hana before he heard a word spoken between them, "Braeburn. If you will do the honors, please open the way to Hell."

"Mhm....."

Although surprised and somewhat taken off guard by the motion that the girl had made, he brushed it off immediately, though shaking his somewhat pained hand with a slight grimace. Then, he grabbed his sword and unsheathed it, holding it out in front of him while looking over at the others with a slightly exasparated expression. "I'm warning all of you right now; what I'm about to is not for the faint of heart..... if there's any that happen to be."

This made Avaron cock an eyebrow, even as he shifted the blade's position. "The hell are you--"

She immediately stopped her words, anything else being cut off....

....as Braeburn calmly brought the blade close to him - before bringing his own throat down on it.

"GAH~!!!!"

"Holy....." Even the police Captain looked a bit squeamish as she watched Braeburn saw into his own throat at the half-way mark, his blood spilling onto the blade. With a strangled grunt and wheeze, he yanked it out, his breaths now extremely haggard and agonized. However, his body's movements were precise, and he positioned his sword in a lunge position before thrusting it.

The results were immediate.

The air within the environment began to pick up, causing their clothes to billow and shake violently. A rift slowly started to open up within the space in front of them, growing wider and wider. It only took several seconds for the portal to completely open, and they were given a perfect overhead view of the First Level of Hell. Once it was compeletely opened, Braeburn immediately hung his head and clutched his throat, his sword lowering itself until the bloody blade was touching the ground.

A number of reactions were noticed from the group surrounding Braeburn. Hana's eyes bulging wide after narrowing curiously at his actions, almost stopping him as she hadn't remembered he was doing this willfully, but it made her definitely ogle him confused and in a 'the hell' kind of way as she saw the portal below.

Kukkyōna's eyes merely narrowed, watching the event unfold unflinching and with awe as the gate to the world of the damned open below his feet, causing the stoic 6th Division Captain's cloak to flutter around him including his scarf and scarlet hair.

Kaze seemed to gleam with excitement, truly fascinated by the gruesome maschotistic act in order to open the gate to Hell. I must find a way to replicate that without fatality...truly extraordinary, this Braeburn boy is. I'll have to keep an eye on him, Kaze thought with narrowed eyes of that of a predator, a toothy smile spread across his face as his cloak and hood fluttered in the wake of the opened portal.

Daisuke twisted and contorted his face in disgust, closing his eyes before opening them again, suddenly seeing the overhead view below his feet towards the First Level of Hell.

Damn...that's some way to open a portal to a dimension, Daisuke thought as he looked back at the haggard and rasping breathing Braeburn.

Hana reached over to grab his shoulders, looking at his rasping and efforted breathing form, asking him lowly in a serious tone, "Hey! The hell was that for?! You gonna live through that?!"

There was no need for concern.

Slowly, Braeburn tilted his head back to expose his bloody throat.... and, as if summoning some unknown force verbally, it began to regenerate itself. The bleeding gap began to seal itself, any and all damage healing within seconds. Even the blood that had spilled onto his clothing began to creep back within the blood vessels that were repaired. When it was all over, it looked as if no damage had been sustained at all. A weakened expression turned into a cocky one, and his grin said it all.

"Only the desperate would ever willingly go into the land of the damned. So it shouldn't be so surprising that someone would go to such measures in order to gain entrance." He answered casually, shrugging off her hands and turning around. "Shall we?"

Daisuke was the first to step forward to Braeburn, nodding his head to Braeburn, fastening the specialized stone onto the inside of his Overcoat, with his father walking up next to him and Kaze standing on Daisuke's left, Hana near Braeburn's side, eyeing him carefully before nodding in return.

Before they could go anywhere, Kaze pointed his cane at the large box, now unfolding to show a large machine with various tools with 'beam-cannons' sticking outwards, saying in a irritated but serious manner, "Captain Avaron! I need you to use that when that green button," he pointed at the status button on the machine, "turns red! Do NOT under any circumstances use it otherwise, it has a 24 hour recharge timer, now you can only guess if we actually have the time to use it again!"

This caused Avaron to frown skeptically, folding her arms across her chest and looking at the massive machine. "You're putting a tool I've never seen before in my hands and simply giving me the instruction of pushing a button when it turns a certain color? What's it supposed to do, exactly?" She knew it looked like some sort of artillery, but whether or not its properties were what she were thinking of, she didn't know. The sudden interruption from Kaze had also caused Braeburn to glance over hsi shoulder curiously, wondering why Kaze would suddenly say something at the last minute about it.

Kaze scowled at the female Police Captain, asking in a irritated manner, "Do you want ME to deprive them of one less capable combatant and monitor a device with a SIMPLE instruction, Captain?! That machine fires the retrieval Barriers at our current location(s) by us wearing the fabric I gave them it scanned their Spiritual Pressure and DNA, thus allowing them to pin-point all of us wherever we might be. Your communication devices given to us will allow us to keep you updated of the situation. If I deem the situation critical and need of evac, the light will go to 'critical' or red. Then the barrier retrieval device will take us out of Hell immediately, with nothing stopping us short of godly power. Now if one of us happens to die or severely incapacitated well...," Kaze shrugged smiling thinly, "then they are retrieved immediately, thus keeping their remains from being bound by Hell's chains by Hell's Will, something I'm sure no one here wants to experience for eternity, yes?"

Daisuke shivered at the thought of being forever chained in the place Sakura...punished people in. But that also hardened his resolve, tightening his fist he raised it to pump it into the air, "We get it, Kaze-sama! Try not to get killed or we're dragged by our sorry butts back up here, and try to get Sakura quickly!"

Kaze smiled chillingly at Daisuke, saying, "I didn't ask you for a summary, Daisuke. Next time you do, I'll make sure your extractor is the one that comes out faulty!"

Daisuke smiled back tauntingly, saying with a point of his thumb to his chest, "Well I'll make sure that I inform Avaron-san of your readings being faulty, and not have you dragged back up and we'll leave you down in Hell!"

"Is that a threat directed at a Captain, Lieutenant?!" Kaze asked with a gleaming, maddened smile, his eyes glowing behind his cowl and his fist tightening around the skull handle of the cane.

"You going to get rid of a Lieutenant not under your command, Captain?!" Daisuke asked back in a challenging tone, his fists balled up violently but his smile was that of a cocky and taunting nature, not really intending on making a move.

Before either of them could say anything else, Kukkyōna stepped in between them, saying, "Do I honestly have to seperate you two?"

Again, before either of them could retort, the stoic Captain then said, "If you have that much anger and energy inside you, why don't you focus it on getting into Hell alive and dispatching our enemies? That is much more appropiate than on petty rivalries or squandering our time here, isn't it?" He looked coldly, seeing both of them look away and grumble in resignation.

Sighing, Kukkyōna looked over to Avaron, saying, "I'll give the word when you should fire up the contraption, Avaron-san. It'll be easier if someone with a clearer head is the one giving the order anyways."

"That, as well as someone with a less naggier attitude."

It was at this particular point in time that Avaron was getting rather tired of Kaze's attitude towards her as well as the rest of his companions. She didn't mind him questioning her competence (to her, it was a simple meaning of actually getting her to lose her nerve and actually prove his point), but his tune was playing in her ears like the typical voice of the naggy ex-wife. Her thoughts resulted in her own annoyed glare towards Daisuke and Kukkyona as well as a frown. "I see what you mean...." She muttered, shaking her head slightly and turn towards the device. "I'll be on my topmost alert and ready to give the order."

Braeburn had a rather skeptical, yet slightly amused expression on his own face as he observed the interaction. "Well, at least we have SOMETHING in common...." He inwardly joked. He was glad he was standing beside someone with more sense than her superior. With that resolution, he slung the blood off of his sword before promptly sheathing it. "Yeah, if you all are done flirting with each other, I'm ready to go." He said dryly.

Daisuke scowled at Braeburn before promptly looking down into Hell below him. With a deep breath, he said, "Let's go!" He then let himself fall through the thin veil of energy seperating the gate and Hell, then felt as if he was breathing on pure death itself as he fell a good distance straight into Hell.

Hold on Sakura! I'm coming! He said inside himself, renewed determination and fiery spirit to see this through.

Avaron could only watch them all go, following Daisuke without hesitation. Even outside of the portal, she was feeling internal sickness as the aura permeated around her. It was only due to the incredible composure that she had that she was able to remain calm and collected. However, beads of sweat had formed on her face, and she was shielding it slightly with her arm. After the last one went through, the portal immediately closed itself within seconds, and she was left standing alone.

"Stay safe, all of you...." She thought to herself, turning towards her own business.

Children of Izanami: Hell's Awakening Act III

Intruders of the world of the Damned

Ryūketsu entered the same room he had been in several hours beforehand, now witnessing a swirl of black strands and liquid transparent particles that was once his master's smooth cloak, showing the affects of the nearing of the finished merging with himself and the Punisher.

"What is it, Ryūketsu?" The chilling, now morphed voice of his master echoed the room, causing the usually stoic and composed Hantā to bead a few sweatdrops from his forehead.

"We have confirmed reports of a unidentified tear in the first level of Hell, master. However, the intruders' have found a way to mask their presence, so we have no real idea how many there are that have entered. I have a estimate of around 5 intruders, the easiest to maintain and strategize in entries in other worlds of foreign nature, milord."

"I trusssst in your expssserience, Ryūketsu," Bokyaku hissed, his voice becoming harder and harder to speak due to the effort of trying to maintain his individuality.

"Rest assured, master, I will make sure that none reach this chamber. Even if I die a thousand times over, I will use my ashes itself to blind them to keep them from finding you," he said in a steadfast voice, his eyes gleaming in confidence and loyalty to his master.

"Seeeee to it that you dooooo," he said once more before his servant exited the eerily glowing room, making sure to let out the breath he had no idea he was holding while in it...

Meanwhile...~

Within the confines of Hell, the group landed themselves on separate, small blocks that seemed to hover in mid-air. Down below them, there was a multitude of the same blocks, molded up and made into building like structures. The resulting creation was a large "city", with distant dots that could be recognized as people. What was much more clearer was the presence of the Kushanāda, massive beasts that roamed through the city in a patrolling manner. Between the "lines" of the city, blue pathways were extended in a manner similar to a road system, completing the city look of the level.

As Braeburn landed on one block with Hana, he immediately clicked on his earpiece and spoke. "Is everyone all here? No one managed to fall too far down?"

Not too far away, Kukkyōna and Daisuke were standing together on a 'block' 20 meters to Braeburn's left. Their black overcoats fit snugly around them, with a few brief hints of the elder Hayate's Haori underneath his own, and Daisuke contorted his face as he reached for the earpiece, speaking back, "Yeah, thanks for asking. This place looks like a huge ruined city...are those 'Sinners'?" He asked pointin towards the small dots that were numerously scattered among the tall cube structures.

"It seems that the majority of them are clustered together, as if they're trying to conjur a rational idea to escape Hell...or awaiting their inevitable demise," Kaze said with intrigue through his earpiece, his other hand rubbing his temple, secretly adjusting a set of specialized lenses to view a pair of Kushanada maul a group of Sinners near a structure while 'ghosting' through it.

Hana breathed out, feeling almost no discomfort from the dimension's aura, saying, "Its still as chaotic as ever, apparently. It still amazes me how there can be any real order the way Hell's Will operates," she said without real worry of what she was speaking, her arms crossed over her chest, slight sounds of the skin tight material squeaked above the ominous rumbling and 'horn'-blaring sounds of the Kushanada far below. That and the obvious sign of her not turning on her earpiece.

"It is because of her will that Hell is within this state....." Braeburn turned his attention towards a certain area of the city. "Look where the Kushanada are not placed and the Sinners are...."

Within that particular sector, there was a grouping of Sinners along with what looked like several guardsmen. The majority of the Sinners were laying on the buildings, steadily bleeding out on the material from the throats. The guardsmen were not only patrolling the area to make sure no one interfered, but they were also making sure the execution of torture took place. One guard in particular was seemingly toying around with a woman, who was attempting to squirm her way out from their presence. He kept trapping her, and his movements caused her to fall on her stomach with him standing over her. She let out a whining scream, clearly not wanting to be subjugated to the torture. However, this only made the guard chuckle, leaning over and practically spitting taunts in her ear.

"Those are the Daitenshi. Wherever the Kushanada aren't, they are. They're the Punisher's personal guard, ordered to monitor the status of Hell and keep everything within check, as well as keeping the entire populace trapped within the eternal torture." Braeburn explained, a solemn tone within his voice as he said the words.

"It seems they're the ones with more individualistic minds than the rest of Hell's Will," Kukkyōna said solemnly as he noticed it as well, the chaotic guardsmen moved around and rooted out the Sinners' 'hiding' or attempting to 'escape' Hell while these Daitenshi paid special attention to those deserving the worst of Hell's punishment.

"This place," Daisuke clenched his overcoat right above his chest, not even daring to get a close look at what they've been seeing, turning his face away, "there's a good reason why the Soul Society doesn't interfere with anything regarding Hell. I guess this is one of those reasons..."

"Why would we? Everything in this place is out of our juristiction, as it always has been by declaration of the Soul King, unless Hell itself in any way shape or form involves itself outside its dimension," Kaze said in a matter-of-fact tone, not really caring one way or another the personal tortures the Sinners go through in Hell. They deserved it, after all.

"It makes me wonder if how the Hantā were able to elude the Daitenshini," Hana placed her hands on her hips, her eyes looked amongst the vast neverending cube city, concluding, "perhaps they have a form of 'ghosting' their presence, like the cloaks we're donning? Teleportation to their personal hideout to evade capture by the Daitenshini or Hell's Will?"

"Most likely." Braeburn confirmed. "Honestly, I'm not sure how they managed to do it.... but whatever they did, they're good for managing to evade such a powerful influence when it's right in their faces." He started to leap down from block to block in order to reach the city level. "Come on. We'll have to take the pathways to the edge in order to head through the second level."

Hana leaped, acrobatically twisting her body in middle of the air before landing deftly onto one block after the other before catching up with Braeburn, walking up next to him as if it was totally natural, "It makes me wonder how many times you've been here with such knowledge and insight of the structure of Hell."

Daisuke leaped with his father in high bounds in sync before reaching their position, oddly enough Kaze was already amongst them, leaning on his cane slightly as he looked around them, not paying attention to their conversations.

"I just hope this knowlege can stop those wombats before it's too late....." Braeburn murmured, frowning a little as he allowed himself to walk. "Everyone, stay on your toes. Though we've got the proper tools to evade detection, I don't want to risk anything when it comes down to the situation we're in."

Daisuke looked around, intent on keeping on his toes especially. His time in the Deep Cover Ops himself, something not disclosed to Braeburn's knowledge yet, honed his infiltration and stealth skills of his own, full well knowing that subtlety was key to taking the Hantā by surprise.

Kukkyōna's eyes narrowed as they kept walking at a jogging pace down the blue road, before they went on a run, looking side to side as if he could tell there was something amidst.

"We have company," he said after a good 15 minutes of walking down the same-looking highway, suddenly a ghastly burned-skinned looking figure appeared, stopping on all fours causing the entire company to halt. Its form a menacing if not revolting appearance, it had the hands/talons of something close to a man's with elongated fingers. Its head a crimson faceless form with a spike pointing at a angle behind its head, its mouth a gaping 3 rows of blood-stained teeth.

The worst thing...it had a continual stream of blood coming from its mouth. Black fur, collared around its shoulder blades and also the edge of the blackened burned tail, taking the body form of something twisted of a lion and dog. They were the hunter and guard dogs of the Daitenshini, for what they could not find or see they would find the abnormalities within Hell.

Daisuke remained absolutely still, his breathing practically stopping to a crawl, while both of the Captains looked on with caution.

Hana said with a cautious breath, "I forgot about these things...Hell Hounds. Don't move more than you have to. Because we're totally masked off all senses of any sort we're simply abnormalities upon their senses. If we don't engage in combat with it, it will simply move on."

Braeburn nodded, his breath immediately held within itself out of fear that the Hell Hound might notice anything. His heart raced even further when he saw one of the Daitenshi follow after it, stopping behind it and looking around. The guard seemed to be very suspicious, eyes casting every which way. For a moment, it occured to the defector that he might have sensed them out.

However, that notion was immediately thrown out the window when he whistled - a signal for the Hell Hound to come back.

The 7 foot tall, all on fours monstrocity growled, then turned around coming to the Daitenshini's side with a single bound, weightlessly landing next to him before they two left the road after a single glance by the Daitenshini and a 'Death-Step' later, they were gone.

Daisuke let out a relieved breath, his skin lightly pecked with sweat, and he brought up his sleeve to wipe it off, remarking, "I wonder how much progress we'll make at this pace."

Hana also let out a breath of relief as well, saying over to Daisuke with a serious tone, "It might take us a good hour to get to the 'edge' of this level of Hell. That is, unless you want to fight a platoon of Kushanada and even more Hell Hounds followed by their masters?"

"Is there a way to identify them that we're here to save their...master?" Daisuke, still unsure of how Sakura could be a Punisher as well as the 'Warden' of Hell's prisoners, had a small chance of hope they could be reasoned with.

"Doubtful, unless Braeburn here knows something I don't, the Daitenshini will view us as mere intruders and will try to chase us out or kill us, both of which or negatory to our current mission," Hana said, a mere casual offhand gesture to Braeburn with her hand before crossing it over her chest, the group already back on a jogging pace now.

"Well, as you said, they are individualistic." Braeburn explained. "They are capable of listening to reason, where as the Kushanada who are nothing but mindless beasts. They are most likely unaware that their leader has been captured and taken prisoner. We've got to find some way to get to one without alerting the Kushanada."

Kukkyōna turned to Braeburn, inquiring, "Do you know anyone in particular, or a idea we should look for one? If not, then it would be fruitless, and our enemy will have that much more time on their side."

Kaze kept looking around, his eyes staring at the cube structures in question, mumbling to himself to no one in particular, "Fascinating...the cube structures seem to be composed of the same Spiritrons as that of the Kushanada. No wonder they can 'ghost' through them...they're merely adjusting their bodies to the same material and absorbing it, then dispersing it as the readjust their shape..."

"It would be a risk, but it would also gain us a possible ally to help us navigate Hell with a bit more ease and less probability of us being seen as enemies," Hana agreed as they continued on, not wanting to accelerate their pace to alert more Hell Hounds.

"We have to increase our chances by whatever means we can!" Daisuke said with a serious expression donned on his face, looking over at them all, showing that his conviction in saving Sakura, was absolute.

"I know a way that can save time...."

With that simple statement, Braeburn stopped in his tracks, looked to make sure that no Kushanada were within the area. Then, he closed his eyes, put his hands within the pockets of his pants, raised his head slightly up.... and let out a loud, long whistle. It had a certain rhythm to it, unique to any common whistle that would be made. But it would be sure to alert any Daitenshi or Hell Hounds within the area.

But this particular group only Braeburn would be familiar with.

Daisuke instinctively reached to plug his ears and ironically, the only one to do so. Hana had audio receptors within her ears that deafened any sounds that were extremely loud within a certain area that could damage her hearing. Kaze had a similar means of blocking it out, though what they were he never discolsed, though he did cast a sneer towards Braeburn's long use of it.

Kukkyōna simply raised a brow, curious as to that there was a tune involved in the whistling, almost like morse code used by humans.

Soon afterwards, a few distant sounds were heard, devlish sounds of long-whining howls of Hell Hounds, as well as fast movement towards their area.

"Hope it worked," Hana muttered, standing nearer to Braeburn than the others did, knowing if she placed herself near him, she'd either be safer or better positioned to protect the defector.

Sure enough, the Hell Hounds were there within a single 'Death Step', a total of three glaring them down and seemingly ready to attack. However, from the rooftops, a lone and hooded figure leaped down between them, his feet slamming onto the blue pathway with a light thud. With a single whistle, the three hounds immediately reverted to a more neutral position. Their master walked a few steps towards Braeburn, who closed his eyes and nodded his head in a bowing manner.

"I see the visitor has once again come to grace us with our presence." He greeted, a gruff and somewhat raspy voice in his tone. "To what reason have you returned to the land of the damned?" His eyes shifted over towards the others, eyes narrowing slightly. "Especially with the presence of the overseers...."

Braeburn's expression shifted to that of concern and slight pleading. "AS-725....." He spoke, allowing himself to get right to the point. "This time, there's more than just me simply wandering through the place and collectiong information about it. Your master has recently been abducted by a small group of Hanta and taken prisoner for unknown reasons." He immediately shifted his eyes towards Daisuke with a motioning expression. "Did you manage to catch their names?"

Daisuked nodded, never forgetting those instances when each of the Hantā were named or identified themselves. He stepped forward to the Daetenshini's direction, saying without gesture with a stoic serious face, "Their leader, or the one who helped coordinate them, was named Ryūketsu ōtamu, he had brown hair with brown eyes and fair complexion, as well as wore civilian garbs but had a sword that bore similarities both in Spiritual Pressure and looks that of a Zanpakuto.

His main partner that accompanied and was revealed first, was Jaaku. He wore red and black garbs with a reddish brown medium length hair and cold-hearted eyes, something that he pretended not to be at first, almost coy in his attitude. He also had a sword that resembled a Zanpakuto though neither of them released them to prove it one way or another.

The two that followed next were more monstrous in appearance, Sensō a mummified looking fellow whose bald and had his eyes and mouth gagged who had cat claw weapons and his partner a brutish huge giant of a being, Kyōki, who bore an axe and fired Ceros and Bala as his choice of techniques.

The last one that caught me off guard, was named Korosou, he had white garbs and black glasses, he almost looked like what humans call a 'banshee' and he had no weapon other than spells he cast towards people, without incantation if that goes for anything for skill."

Hana seemed to mentally take down their names in her mind, wondering if it would jog her memory about something about them sometime or another, almost as if she was 'scrolling' through her memory for a list of them. For now...she came up with nothing...

Kaze looked on with interest at the 'dogs', curious as how they didn't bleed out like normal beings would with how much blood kept spilling out their mouths.

Kukkyōna looked on at the Daetenshini with interest, noticing that the way he held himself and the manner he approached them was with respect and professional poise, something he was sure that not all Daetenshini held, most probably due to his experience with Braeburn. However the chosen words, 'Overseers' directing them at the Soul Reapers in tow, noting each and every one of them as such. Seeing that made him convinced that he had total knowledge of who the Soul Society's Gotei 13 Soul Reapers were or he knew without question who they were by Spiritual Pressure and the ability to cloak it in this manner. That and he called him 'the Visitor' something he probably only referred Braeburn in such a manner.

"....I see. If that's the case...."

Immediately, AS-725, as he was called, abruptly turned around and motioned for them to follow him. "Then the life your time has is very short. Follow, with great haste." With that, he immediately allowed himself to break into a run. Without hesitation, Braeburn followed swiftly after, eyes narrowed and concentrated. "The names of the people you say..... we have heard of them before. They are the new followers of the traitorous Bokyaku, a thorn in the side of our great Empress."

"So Sakura is being targeted by this Bokyaku? Why? What does he want with her?! Revenge?!" Daisuke asked in a concerned, yet serious tone, knowing that the situation already was dire, the rest of the group broke out in a run with the three ahead, with the Captains at the rear and Hana just behind the three.

"Bokyaku is not a man of such petty desires." AS-725 dismissed, closing his eyes as he ran. "He is a man who seeks methods to obtain complete power, the ability to dominate everything within the dimension of existence. His encounters and meetings with the Empress have not been one of conflict, but one of coalition. However, she has deemed him unworthy every single time. However, with his method of using force, he may have found a way to trap her within a desirable prison."

He opened his eyes to look behind him as he spoke the final words. "The Bokyaku wishes not vengeance for the Empress..... but rather, he wishes to absorb her and gain her powers, as well as boost his own. With the time that has passed, it is most likely that his plans are reaching their final stage." This caused Braeburn to emit a slight gasp of surprise, his eyes widening slightly.

Everyone individually had their own reactions: Daisuke's father narrowed his eyes but kept silent, expecting as much if the mastermind in question sent individuals to retrieve her. Kaze's eyes shimmered with keen interest, the idea of merging two beings was not far from his mind nor his theories, but supposedly merging the two of them would give them nearly ungodly power, supposedly greater than anything the 13 Court Guards would have.

Hana likewise spoke her thoughts, her own eyes widening as she spoke aloud, "A Hankami merging with another Deity...?! That would be catastrophic!"

Daisuke looked at the Daetenshini, Braeburn and even Hana with confusion, fear, and anger, "What the hell does that mean?! What's so special about her being a Hankami?! Even if I believe her being a...a 'warden' of Hell or her being as old as she should be, then why has she been overpowered so easily?! Why couldn't she fight ONE Hanta off?!"

Surprise crossed AS-725's face once more. However, it was only for a brief moment, before it returned to its stoic and composed state. "That is something that I am unsure of." He spoke, a grim tone lacing his words. "The Empress has the power to not only fend off the power of such opposition, but also the ability to destroy them completely and cast them into the void without as so much as a glance. If what you say is true, then she may have been holding back her true power. I do not know why she would allow herself to submit to the will of the Bokyaku, when she has such opposing views towards his own mind."

"You mean...she's not fighting at full strength when she's around us?!" Daisuke thought with shock. He knew she was a fantastic swordsman for sure, having been able to fend off many aggressive strikes in spars between himself and Sakura, albeit in practice, but she kept her eyes closed it was so easy for her.

I'd hate to be against her when she wants to kill me, Daisuke thought with a shiver, now morbidly fearing that if she became one with this demon...this entity of evil intent, that she'd be unknowingly trying to kill all of them.

Kukkyōna then queried as they traveled in a theorizing tone, "Perhaps she personally sealed those powers deep within herself? It sounded like she was a vagabond, someone who truly wanted to just wander to and fro, wherever the roads took her, both in the Living World or the Spiritual Worlds. It was perhaps entirely fate that we met her at Yurei, perhaps not, but I did know she was a deity that had some connection to the rumored Hankami from the moment I layed eyes on her," his eyes narrowed at the Daetenshini, then saying, "she said she was part of a 'cult' not too long ago that she said she left due to its toxic unhealthy habits and rituals. I don't know exactly if she meant a cult or monitoring Hell itself, but its possible she wanted to temporarily forgo her powers...at least the full extent of them temporarily."

Hana shook her head as they continued to run, asking something of her own query, "Why would she give up that power? I mean...doesn't she feel obligated to keep Hell in order? Why would she ever break under control over someone who doesn't even deserve her power?"

That was when Braeburn allowed himself to cock an eyebrow, staring at his comrades questioningly. "That's funny...." He commented, a small smirk coming across his face. "I knew there was an advantage reading the Red Sun scrolls.... because from the way you all say it, you make it sound like she was telling nothing but the truth."

"Would...would she willingly," Daisuke asked in almost fearful tone, looking over at Braeburn and the Daetenshini questioningly, before finishing, "willingly joing that guy if he said the right things, or knew what made her tick?!"

This caused Braeburn and AS-725 to share a glance towards one another, sending a nonverbal question towards one another. It was here that they stopped at the edge of the pathway which led to a seemingly endless abyss, their footsteps coming to an end. They allowed themselves to turn towards the group, standing side-by-side. Braeburn spoke first. "The Punisher is known to be a master of deception, having learned to blend in with the humans in order to learn the way they act. The actions she has committed thus far is quite unusual when it comes down to it, meaning that there could always be some sort of ulterior motive at play."

"If the Bokyaku has indeed, by some miracle, managed to find a way to break through to her vulnerability....." 725 stated, his expression solemn. "Then there is no doubt that he can persuade her to his side."

Daisuke grind his teeth as he heard Braeburn's doubts of her acting around himself and his father being anything but genuine. Elusive, but she seemed definitely sincere in her wanting of another reason to live or something to fight for. Before anyone could speak Daisuke glared at both of them, "You're wrong...Sakura is not this Empress, nor Punisher you think she is, at least not anymore! She's my friend, and I swore an oath to a comrade that I will help my friends, no matter who they were, to my dying breath! I don't care if she originally had a ulterior motive for being in Yurei, or fighting with us at the battle when she did, but I knew she placed her life on the line just as I had, and I respect her for that.

So, I'd like you two to stop second guessing her and actually get it through your heads that Sakura is Sakura, and that she's being herself and not who you think she is!" He twitched, yelled, and threw his fingers and fists around in emphasis, showing his passionate honest belief in that Sakura was not the Punisher they believe she was to be. His father didn't interrupt, let Daisuke speak his mind, and hold onto that hope that she is who his son believes him to be.

Before Kaze could criticize the young man, Hana reached back and grabbed his forearm, whispering something to him and began speaking lowly on another matter to distract him.

The result was an immediate, abrupt silence.

AS-725 was certainly taken off guard by the passion within the boy's words, and he looked towards an equally surprised Braeburn. Clearly, none of them had been expecting the reaction they had gotten. On Braeburn's part, he expected Daisuke to accept the words with a rather reluctant heart. But to hear him outright deny Sakura's identity as the Punisher was.... radical for him, to say the least. He honestly believed the Sakura he knew existed; something that both the Daitenshi and the defector knew to be false. It was a rather saddening thought that deserved pity....

"This one seems to have.... an attachment.... towards the Empress." AS-725 spoke, frowning and narrowing his eyes slightly.

"More than you know." Braeburn murmured, keeping a slightly irritated gaze on Daisuke as he directed his next words to him. "Honestly, Lieutenant, I thought you would have a much more sensible mind after what's happened. But I'm not going to waste time trying to convince you otherwise, when we can obviously see who's right at the end of this passage." He turned around to face the abyss, looking down. "Besides.... if I hit you with the bad news now, there's not going to be much of the prancin' show pony I saw in that last skirmish, will there?"

Daisuke grit his teeth narrowing his eyes towards Braeburn, growling at him taking a step forward, tensing his shoulders as he was about to move agressively towards him, Hana grabbed his collar stopping him short, "We don't have the time, Daisuke."

Daisuke whirled around grabbing her wrist and glaring daggers at her, but the cool soft gaze she sent to him knew she meant well and wasn't taking sides in this matter. With a sigh, let her wrist go, saying, "Well...I guess if we don't hurry up soon, then it won't matter if she's Sakura or the Punisher. She'll be enthralled by that Bokyaku and they'll blow Hell out of the waters if they see us coming," he then rushed past the two, shoving the Daetenshini and Braeburn out of the way, leaping off the edge yelling out, "so let's go!"

Kaze grumbled, "Imputent child," before following him after a deliberate wink from Hana towards Braeburn before she leaped face first after Daisuke with Kukkyōna leaping after him as well, leaving the prior two follow after them as they divebombed past the first level Hell...

"Tch....." After brushing off the rather rude shove, Braeburn managed to focus his sights once again on the Daitenshi. "I guess coming with us is out of the question, huh?" AS-725 simply gave a nod.

"Despite the disruptions, our presence is not made to engage in conflict at this time. We entrust the life of the Empress within your capable hands, visitor. I wish your good souls the best of luck."

"'Ppreciate it...." With a nod and a smile of his own, Braeburn quickly jumped down to the abyss in order to follow after them.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Island Graveyard Battleground

As all of them descended they found that the cubes eventually vanished, suddenly finding themselves plumeting towards what looked like a vast ocean, scattered amonst the body of water were found to be large stone-carved lilies the size of small islands.

"This place is full of surprises," Daisuke said aloud, looking back and forth, not expecting such a tranquil looking place, yet he could feel death here stronger than what it was above, "I don't see any Kushanada or Daetenshini yet! Does Hell's Will not patrol this area?!"

Hana was nose-diving along with Daisuke's 'feet first' approach, she yelled out her own supposition, "Its probably only due to the lack of land mass that Hell's Will doesn't patrol it as often. I've seen Daetenshini down here before, but not often enough to worry about it. If we don't have a conflict, we should be safe!"

Kaze scoffed, his own 'feet first' approach gradually caught up with them but was stil far above their rapidly descending forms, "Don't get comfy, Hana! Never let your guard down here! Hueco Mundo is a lot more homey than Hell is, so don't assume anywhere here is safe!"

"Yes sir!" She yelled back up without hesitation.

Kukkyōna looked towards the large stone lily 'island' they were heading towards, noticing a skeleton of what looked like a Kushanada, "I think there's another reason why Hell's Will doesn't reach here..."

It was here that Braeburn could be seen a good distance, allowing himself to descend at a rapid level.

The fact that he was simply dropping hundreds of feet from the air at a rapid pace was always a thrilling sensation for him. He had his eyes closed in order to keep the air from annoying his eyes, his Shinigami robes billowing in the winds that attempted vainly to slow his fall. He could hear the conversations of the others within his radio earpiece, yet he remained silent and allowed themselves to talk amongst each other. He found debate to be a rather useful and knowledge-gathering tool when it was utilized in appropriate circumstances, after all.

After a few minutes of falling, the group righted themselves up for landing. Daisuke landed ontop of what seemed to be the upper rim of the lily island, his feet landed with a little weight onto it, cracking the ground beneath him, his cloak fluttered around him and his hair moved lightly as he scrunched up his face as he could smell the death within the island, looking towards what looked to be more like a Kushanada's bones.

"It looks like a battle took place here and these are the remains of Hell's Will in that time," Daisuke speculated out loud, as Hana landed ontop of the skull of the skeleton mass, lightly and without any disturbance to her landing what-so-ever, with only a light jingling of her equipment and her bangs blowing across her brow due to the landing.

"So far, so good," Hana said aloud, standing up, her eyes flashing orange as she scoped the area around for any disturbances or enemy Spiritual Pressure.

Kukkyōna landed next, his body landing on the rim near opposite of Daisuke's location, his cloak billowed around him, showing briefly his Captain Haori, while his scarf flew around his neck before landing softly onto his landing spot, speaking immediately, "They've been waiting for us!"

Daisuke and Hana immediately looked over in query what he meant, then suddenly large red beams shot to the horizon before forming a large circular dome barrier around them in the form of a satanic star, glowing even below the surface of the water for 40 feet deep, totally cutting them off from any escape route.

Kaze landed on the sandy ground near the skeleton below, grunting slightly but kept a casual posture as he clenched his cane tightly as he looked around, saying, "This was a pre-incantation spell. It was waiting for a precise number of people to leap through into this level of Hell, and activated upon landing thus far."

It was here that Braeburn also managed to land expertly, landing on his very own rim of the lily-shaped structure that made up part of the island. As he looked around, eyes casting themselves onto the barrier, he scowled in annoyance. "So much for a stealthly infiltration, then....." He grumbled, immediately unsheathing his blade and speaking into his earpiece once more. "Is there any way to break it?!"

Kaze scoffed in the earpiece, saying, "Everything involving Spiritual Energy has a weakness. Whether it takes a long time or a blink of an eye, Barriers are the same way. This appears to be a powerful barrier, due to its origins, and I'd assume if there is a incantation involved it had to be long and difficult to memorize. I assume that this is a Royal Class Barrier, meaning it has the equivalent strength of that of any Noble House's strongest barrier. With this in mind it means that the practitioner is inside the barrier that was placed. Striking it at its base, the ground itself, would be its weakest point, and it would have to have a strong attack with little distracting the person involved. But," Kaze narrowed his eyes as he saw a number of red flashes of lights come from the sky, finishing, "I'm afraid the enemy won't that lenient."

Hana watched as the 'shooting stars' of red energy approached, their size about the size of a 1 story house, moving towards each of the combatants, shouting out to everybody, "Look out!!!" Moving with a Flash Step, she evaded hers, causing the centerfold of the lily to blow upwards with bone-fired debris to smash into the walls of the island as well as causing Daisuke and his father to Flash Step to avoid the large blasts sent from high above, appearing on the water below, their sandals skating the surface with both of their hands on their Zanpakuto hilts.

"Dammit! I thought they couldn't sense us!" Daisuke exclaimed as she unsheathed his Zanpakuto, looking all around for his supposed foes from unseen could attack next.

"They must have a way to detect us within a certain distance, or they cast a spell to find anomolies entering this level of Hell. Or the Barrier," Kukkyōna looked around at the glowing crimson barrier around them, "could be allowing us to be seen."

There wasn't a second to hesitate.

Immediately, Braeburn leaped off of the rim and allowed himself to fall towards the center and land on what remained intact of the sandy grounds, his eyes and senses on the alert. Although it seemed to be obselete in this situation, he wasn't prepared to just take it off and cast it aside, for fear of needing it later. He used his eyes to scan the area, keeping an eye out for any more surprise attacks. "Great.... just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...." He thought to himself. "It'd be far too easy for them to just keep us here and wait it out until their master's finished. We have to destroy this barrier and get out of here, quickly!!!"

However, he also knew that if he attempted to focus his attention on its weakness, he would be immediately attacked. For now, he would have to defend himself.

Suddenly, out of the sandy cloud that filled the center of the lily island's base, came the edges of cat claw weapons heading straight for Braeburn's face, only for it to clash with a short Zanpakuto away from him, Hana immediately kicking the arm of a now revealed Sensō, rolling with the kick, moving rapidly back to slash at the two combatants, with Hana barely holding against the surprise vicious assault.

Kyōki appeared above where Daisuke was, slamming his axe across the surface of the water with an exhale of brute spiritual energy, causing a large uproar of water to blast near the island, temporarily raining around the battlefield.

Kukkyōna moved rapidly around as it appeared that himself and Kaze were being targeted by the red shooting stars, now coming in greater number and honing accuracy. His cloak billowed as he raced at fast speeds across the water, looking to and fro for the place the spellcaster was hiding as each of the stars caused upheavals of water in his wake.

Kaze in the meantime used Flash Step to and fro, then a flare of blue spiritual energy across his cane as he dispersed one of the stars, scoffing, "Amateur! Concentrate on your spell's integrity, not on its speed and power drawl!"

Braeburn had just barely been expecting the attack.

His eyes widened in surprise, and his body had been caught standing still as Senso moved in to attack him. In that split second, he was sure that he had been about to suffer severe damage or death at the hands of his previous enemy. However, he was further taken back by the sudden interference by Hana. He instinctively moved back and out of his opponent's range, his eyes casting themselves onto the figure of the semi-giant. He positioned his blade so that it was pointing straight at him in a backhand position, while his hand rested on the bottom of the hilt. Because there were two of them fighting now, the teamwork that had been displayed by both of the monstrous foes was going to be hindered greatly. Hana could take on the fast one, while Braeburn could set his sights on the bigger one.

It was time to go all-out.

"Duel...."

His blade pulsated once, before its appearance began to shift completely. The metal of the back half turned a green color, with pieces of metal curling on the entire length of it. When it was done, the design was now similar to that of a dragon's hide. It was a simple change of appearance. However, the initation of the attack did not stop there. With a white glow, the blade extended at an uncomprehensible speed, the ability taking advantage of the lack of speed Kyoki had as his own obvious weakness.

"....Ketto!!!"

Kyōki looked over as Daisuke evaded another swing, vaguely noticing a bright light heading towards his direction before grazing his shoulder, piercing his Hierro and didn't even have time to register the attack other than a howl, "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" He then looked at Braeburn with vengeful eyes before throwing his axe in a large swing, discharging a number of rapidly discharged Balas toward him, numbering in 25, covering a great expanse of the air. This left him open to attack by Daisuke, as he charged forward he vaulted over him while unsheathing his sword in a rapid form of Iaido, slashing his other shoulder, causing him to howl again in rage, swinging unsuccessfully his large meaty arm towards Daisuke, his Spiritual Pressure sky rocketing now due to his maddened state.

Meanwhile, Sensō engaged in a high-speed duel with the exceptionally fast Hana, her small Wakizashi Zanpakuto and free hand movement more than enough to keep the bizarre combat style of the mummified Hanta. She even managed to lock one of his cat claws with her blade, then grabbed the other arm inches above her shoulder, before shouting loudly as she initated a high-powered kick to his side, causing a loud moan as he blasted through the stone lily, a loud boom was heard as his form could be seen skipping across the water's surface, meters away from a red blast from the unseen spellcaster.

Kaze then finally found the source of the unseen attacks, batting away another series of crimson projectiles while uttering lowly, stretching out his left palm free, "Hado #63, Raikōhō!" A orb of energy formed around his palm before discharging in utmost intense discharge, causing a thundercracking affect in its wake as it bolted towards what looked like a now transparent box-shaped shield, disrupting upon impact as well as the cloaking shield.

Korosou swore under his breath as he, clapped his hands and made rapid hand signs, before forming star-shaped lion, sending it towards Kaze, "You think because you found me you've won, Soul Reapers?! I have an endless amount of spells to choose from! You'll never stop-!" He berrated when suddenly Kukkyōna appeared to the 'star-formation' lion spell, unsheathing his sword in a large burst of Spiritual energy with a maneuver of Iaido, before vaulting over its sparking and dissipating shape, his cloak billowed around him, now forgoing the black cloak to show his Captain's Haori.

"You obviously haven't fought many Soul Reapers, Hanta," he said in a cold, observing tone, his eyes sending chills down the ghastly pale looking Hanta, before Kukkyōna thumbed his left Zanpakuto from its sheathe, ready to be used again, "you should've known that one of our greatest strengths is coordination and teamwork. You're currently outnumbered, you're going to lose...badly."

Korosou growled, suddenly seeing a dozen streaks of Byakurai bolts heading towards him around Kukkyōna towards the Hanta, forcing him to raise a barrier and then use Death Step, reappearing above him and Kaze.

"Get real! I'm more than skilled enough to kill you all!" He then made several hand signs before forming a star-configured phoenix, suddenly lighting aflame, "Mors XIII, Ardens Phoenicem!" He said in a nearly foreign tongue of Latin origin, before hurtling it at the Soul Reaper Captains.

"His spiritual pressure is rising...."

An expression of slight surprise came across his face, and that almost kept him from avoiding the flurry of Bala heading his way. All it took was various moments of Flash Step, and he was able to keep himself from being hit. "But now I know I can pierce through his Hierro....." He thought, pushing himself forward as he summoned another one of his abilities to his aid. As he pushed forward, he pointed his blade and made a circular motion with the tip. Within that very notion and from the boundaries of the invisible "circle", several blades were shot out in the matter of machine gun bullets towards Kyoki's chest in the eve of the giant's own attack.

Kyoki growled as he saw the incoming Braeburn, and was about to retaliate as the machine gun pace swords charged towards his chest...only to have several rapid Balas shatter the blades at an angle! A now recovered Senso appear out of the water's edge like a bullet surrounded by violet Spiritual energy, spiraling in a corkscrew manner while gathering vicious cutting Spiritual energy around himself as he charged his cat claw weapons towards Braeburn in retaliation of attacking his partner.

Daisuke now found himself on the recieving end once again of Kyoki's attacks as soon as he saw his partner engaging Braeburn, waving his large axe towards him in a surprising swift manner, sending cutting gusts of wind through the waves as Daisuke acrobatically sommersaulted and twirled his body out of harm's way of the enormous axe, hoping to find an opening once again.

Kukkyōna at the blazing, astronomical phoenix, screaming at him as it barreled towards him, his form stoic and at ease.

"Sear the open Air with your Malevolent Gaze, Burn the Earth in your Wrathful Dance, Steam the Ocean in a Vile Game, Laugh in the Ashes of your Own Flames, " Kukkyōna called out in a deep declaring voice, drawing both of his Zanpakutos out, and twirled them around in a stunning display as they heated up with intense sparks and then flames, suddenly the phoneix spell blasted into his midst, causing a stunning pyrotechnic explosion, shuddering the air around for a great deal. But in the aftermath of it, the flames didn't even touch his Haori, as feather-pommeled versions of his original Zanpakuto emerged with flames licking down the blade, held out at either side with a deadly glow in his eyes staring towards Korosou, "Yaketsuku Tsuinzu!"

Korosou's eyes widened and shuddering at the intense desire to kill flooding from the Captain's eyes, allowing him to remain almost unaware of Kaze Flash Stepping 10 meters behind him, pointing his cane's head as it funneled a sphere of energy around the head, "SHI-!"

"Sokatsui!" Kaze called out, sending a wide discharge of blue energy towards him, enveloping his figure in the destructive azure energy hurtled at him.

"What?!!!"

The sudden intervention by Sensō had, needless to say, caught Braeburn off-guard. His eyes widened, and for a moment his heart skipped a beat as he saw Sensō come at him once again, his mind reeling from the fact that he had managed to slip through Hana's defenses and straight to him. He could barely twist his sword in time in order to block the cat claws directed his way. But the spiritual enhancement the creature created around itself had not been anticipated, and as such, he paid the price....

SLICE!

Although he managed to block the claws, the spiritual energy managed to get him with a deep slice to the chest. It wasn't enough to cut him in half, but it was considerable damage nonetheless. He let out a grunt as the energy cast him aside, hurling him into the water with a resounding splash. As he floated downwards, his own blood trailed behind him in the water's depths. "Their level of teamwork is ridiculous!!!" He thought to himself, one hand clutching the wound on his chest. Allowing himself to turn around, he pushed himself to swim deeper and deeper. "No doubt the piker's gonna chase me considering the blow he managed to get off me....I have to lure him down here, keep him from reaching his partner...."

Suddenly, Korosou emerged from the blast of Kido totally unphased, chuckling manically, covered in a thin layer of transparent blue threads, "Wow! So weak! I thought Captains who fire Kido of any caliber have lethal and efficient affect against its target of choice. Too bad you underestimated me," he then stretched out his hands, a crimson star formed about saucer size in front of his palm before discharging a intense beam of Spiritual Energy, forcing Kaze to deflect with a unsaid Bakudo #39, Enkosen but was forced back from the sheer strength of the spell, flying through the air downwards into one of the lily island walkways, a large blast of concussive force followed his landing.

Kukkyōna Flash Step to attack his enemy, slicing through with a burning blast in its wake, soon to follow a smile as the afterimage vanished, reappearing above the Captain, launching a spinning kick towards the Soul Reaper's temple.

Sensōindeed had temporarily evaded Hana's detection. Her eyes had to adjust to his Spiritual Pressure, and she was too late to see him swim remarkably fast under the red glowing water, attacking Braeburn viciously managing to wound him before he fell below the water's surface. Sensō moaned loudly, almost a roar cry as it moved irregularly before moving to dive after him.

"You won't escape from me!" She yelled out, using Flash Step rapidly, creating blurs of herself across the battlefield while kicking up water behind herself. Within moments she appeared as Sensō dived down, noticing out of the corner of her eye, Kyoki swung the axe downwards towards Daisuke only for him to Flash Step out of the way, reappearing to his side, striking at his arm which he used to repel the Zanpakuto, only a fleck of blood oozed from where Daisuke struck while backpedaling the young Soul Reaper through the air, barely able to claw at the air to right himself.

Ignoring Daisuke at the moment, Hana sheathed her Zanpakuto before digging her hands into a pocket on her belt, diving into the water at high speeds speeds. Mere moments before Sensō corkscrewed within arm's reach of Braeburn in the glowing red rune-laced waters, she funneled spiritual energy through nearly transparent threads, suddenly catching a hold of Sensō's body all around his muscles and joints, before clasping her hands together wtih the strings tied around the base of her knuckles.

Sensō thrashed violently but could hardly move other than spasm and water barely escaped the facial gag, a bright glow emanated from Hana's eyes, telling Braeburn wordlessly his chance to get back at his opponent.

Meanwhile up above, Kyoki charged up a Cero at Daisuke's direction, barely giving him time to react as a wide large beam of Spiritual energy fired from the axe, exploding onto the water causing a huge uproar of water, enough power to smash through 2 of the lily islands nearby with little effort.

A smile, sadistic and clearly malevolent in nature, formed on Braeburn's face as he pointed the blade tip at Senso for one last time.

"Checkmate."

Then, he unleashed his very first attack - en masse.

Within a total four seconds, Braeburn's blade had extended and contracted, tearing through his enemy as much as four hundred times. Not only was it enough to kill him.... but it was also enough to shred his humanoid body into mince meat. What remained of Sensō was nothing more than a red, flesh-ridden mist that floated in the waters. Braeburn smiled grimly, quickly directing his attention to the surface in order to swim back up.

Korosou missed Kukkyōna, only managing to hit air as the Noble Captain appeared behind him, throwing a twister of flame 3 meters wide towards him, uttering, "Kyōi Tsuisutā," causing Korosou to flare his arms around himself, the thin strands of blue spiritual energy protecting him against the intense heat. He then widened his eyes, along with Kyoki as they felt the disappearance ergo death of their comrade, Sensō. Korosou, grit his teeth growling to himself, "That fool! He'll ruin everything! With him dead, Kyoki will-"

Suddenly, as Daisuke pulled himself out of the water's depths and planted his feet on its surface, he vaguely heard a roar nearby, shaking the very air as Spiritual Pressure skyrocketed to unimaginable heights.

"The hell?! IS that one guy's death making him snap?!" Daisuke asked himself with shock, raising a sleeve to cover his face as mist of water flew as the entire area began to storm with his climbing power.

"Sensō...Sensō...SENSOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" He roared out, shaking the water below him and funneling everything around him, the liquid shocked and sparked around him, the droplets raised from the surface and flew around him as his Axe glowed along with the raging beast's aura.

Hana reached out after tying her threads back up and pocketing it, for Braeburn's hand, pulling him to the surface before hauling him to the surface, not too far away the blazing energy and heavy Spiritual Pressure was felt from Kyoki.

"What's going on?! Why is he getting stronger?!" She yelled to Braeburn above the roar of the beast.

"Why the hell are you asking me that?!" Braeburn yelled, immediately allowing himself to be hauled and pulled back up onto the surface. He gritted his teeth, one hand slightly gripping the aggravating wound in his chest while clutching his sword tightly with the other. It wasn't anything hindering, thankfully, but it was going to be a nuisance to ignore during combat. His widened, yet furrowed eyes kept themselves glared at the raging beast, his cloak and hair billlowing violently.

Kyoki then raised his Axe in the air, a low guttural voice was heard above the roaring winds of his Spiritual Pressure igniting the space around him, "Obliterate, Rampante Toro!!!" Suddenly a even greater release of Spiritual Pressure was felt, and a wide enveloping aura of red energy sky rocketed and pressing towards the barrier both on the 'ceiling' and the 'ground' splitting the water below, funneling it beneath him, stressing the individual points.

Korosou kept up a fast-paced duel with Kukkyōna, watching the sudden release with disdain and fear, "That idiot! If he goes on a rampage in here-!" he halted his thought as Kukkyōna struck downwards at him, enveloping him in a wide twin twister blast of pyrotechnic power, only to be repelled by...glowing chains?!

"Its unfortunate that I had to unveil these so early," Korosou said as he swung them around with his hands holding onto them as if they were whips or flails, moving them at indescribable paces.

"That's...Hell's chains yes?" Kukkyōna asked, totally ignoring the blazing power nearby and below the two.

"What about it?! Hanta use these as more of extensions of weaponry and protection than hinderances, not binding us by Hell's Will as it used to be," Korosou explained with a sadist grin, his shades glimmered with pride of his power and potential to stave off a powerful Soul Reaper such as this, let alone send another one flying off with a single attack.

"Nothing. Just curious about something," Kukkyōna said before resuming combat with him, a blast of flames ignited above as a show and testament to his Zanpakuto's power.

However Kaze was far from out of it. He allowed the beam to throw him away, finding that coordinating with the annoying noble seemed to be a tedious task, as well as waste of his brilliant mind. As he shoved off a few pieces of debris, he noticed the roar and sudden release of the nearby Hanta, suddenly noticing the strains of the barrier. "Of course! That's why they've been together so much! Hana, strike at the floor segment of the barrier and take Daisuke and that defector with you!" He then concluded by grasping his cane and then pulling on it, a click sounded before unsheathing his hidden Zanpakuto, the sealed form apparently that of a skull handled obsidian body cane with a blade within it.

Hana nodded, looking over at Braeburm and a suddenly appearing Daisuke, hearing the message himself, "Do you think you can handle making a break for it, Brae-san?!" She asked concerned if it would slow him down for a considerable dash towards the funnel of water below the energy enveloped giant, his form gradually growing but enough time to allow the three to skip past him.

Braeburn was breathing heavily, but he allowed himself to nod without hesitation. "This wound, as far as I'm concerned, is nothin' but a flesh wound!" He answered back, readying his blade in case he needed to defend himself once more. "All you need to do is lead me where we need to go!"

Hana then looked over to see the finally dispersing energy of a now large, axe wielding and spiked armored minotaur, eyes glowing of menace of blood rage, its size eazily overcoming that of 2 Menos Grande and is just as wide in sheer muscle bulk and strength.

Before any of them could speak or alert the attention of the beast, Hana erupted in a flair or white screaming spiritual energy, almost resembling that of lightning curtaining around herself. It was the famed technique handed down supposedly only to those of the Stealth Force's Captain-Commanders. It was Shunko!

"Everyone, follow my lead!" She shouted, immediately whizzing out of view, passing easily below the girth of the now hooved feet of Kyoki, easily the size of the Senkaimon gate of the Seireitei in gait, before she dove down moving at high speeds, aiming a single fist curling of intense energy before striking the straining barrier, shouting out, "Shunko, Kaoru!!!" With a intense penetrating blast from her fist, she cracked, then shattered the crimson barrier with a large blast, expanding the cyclone of water beneath the giant, leaving enough opening easily for the three of them to leave at .

With that said, Daisuke briefly muttered looking up at Kyoki, "Big sunnavabitch," before nodding to Braeburn, using Flash Step, rapidly appearing in short bursts before going past the large gait of the expanded legs of the beast before diving down with Hana, crashing through the still waters below, onwards to the 3rd Level of Hell....

Kaze looked upwards, seeing Kukkyōna still battling the spellcaster Hanta above, touching his free-hand to the earpiece asking, "How about we switch? Apparently that big giant over there would be more suited with your abilities than that of the simpleton with amateur control of Spiritual Energy."

"Agreed," Kukkyōna said back as he clashed with a flaring Hell Chain before moving downwards towards the now enraged giant, glaring at Kukkyōna swinging a huge, titanic blade, scathing the air above with a huge rush of wind, missing him by a mile...literally.

Korosou covered himself from the giant winds and blade that had narrowly missed himself, screaming out to Kyoki enraged himself, "YOU IDIOT! You'll destory the barrier! Worse...you'll kill me in the process!"

"I think that would be rather boring, don't you think?" Kaze interrupted, ushering a startled gasp as Kaze slashed with his Cane Zanpakuto at him, blocked by the Hell Chain barely, but a strange ebbing feeling came from the gleaming cold smile of the 12th Division Captain.

"Wh-What are you?!" He yelled out frightened as their own battle began as the battle below became fiercer.

Then Kukkyōna raised both of his Zanpakuto pointing them at the large beast, "Shindā Fūsoku Taihō!" A sudden, rippling effect of flames down his blades before forming a small growing sphere of heat at the end of the edge of metal. Then, within a few moments, it discharged a magnanomious blast of fire, striking Kyoki's backside than all around his torso with a giant pyrotechnic explosion that rocked the entire level of Hell, even past the barrier.

"Let's go...."

Taking in a deep breath, Braeburn allowed himself to lunge forward and dive into the waters once more after following their path, the cold sensations smacking him in the face. He ignored it, pushing his legs and arms to swim right after the two that were going down to the depths of Hell. He had his eyes squinted in order to keep a close watch on their figures, as he was a distance away from them. Thankfully, his wound wasn't bleeding that much anymore, but the cold water was still making it ache. It was ignorable, though, and he could easily push through without worry. The only thing on his mind was anticipation on what was waiting for them on the other side on the third level.

He hoped they weren't too late.

Deja Vu? A Battle of Time and Damnation

Daisuke felt the cold currents of the water threatening to pull him back up, or toss and turn him about, making his clothes cling to him like sticky ice, threatening to turn himself into a corpse of cold waterlogged proportions. But Daisuke charged forward, right behind Hana and beside Braeburn, noticing briskly the small trail of blood leaking from his wound into a mist into the dark transparent waters.

He dismissed it as he suddenly took notice that the bottom didn't look like a veil of water to surface...but more like it turned into clouds of raging storms!

As Daisuke emerged from the water, he took in a deep long anticipated breath, Hana already skydiving below him with the two men behind her, and with Daisuke slightly confused why there were thunderclouds everywhere for a minute or two until he saw a wasteland beneath him...composed of blackened earth and what looked like green hot springs, most probably acid in Daisuke's mind.

"We're at the last, and most travel-worthy part of Hell!" Hana called out with a brief look at Braerburn, concern and professional curiosity moved to the defector Soul Reaper.

For Braeburn, if there was pain within his wounds, he wasn't showing it.

As a matter of fact, his eyes was narrowed and dead-set on the environment he was about to land in. His clothing and hair billowed against the friction of the wind as he descended. The claw marks on his chest had stained his clothing, but they had seemed to stop bleeding for the time being. "Hopefully, this will be where the last of their ranks are set up, and where we'll find the Punisher before she's completely merged with Bokyaku!" He added to Hana's statement, narrowed eyes falling on his two comrades.

Well.... at the very least, he could only describe one as his comrade. He wasn't sure about Daisuke, considering the man already seemed to hate his guts....

Daisuke closed his eyes as he fell, trying to feel for Sakura's Spiritual Pressure. IF they carried her through this way, he'd pick up her sinister and menacing pressure, following it would be like following a stench of bloodlust and death stronger than that of which he'd been picking up since arriving in Hell.

For awhile there was nothing...darkness filled Daisuke's eyes for a few seconds, before he suddenly felt it. A residual pressure that he knew was Sakura's and Sakura's alone, mingled slightly with the distasteful presences of...Jaaku and Ryuketsu!

"I have it!" Daisuke said after closing his eyes only for 30 seconds, breaking off any reaction Hana was about to give as she stared over in his direciton.

"Have what?! Their location?!" Hana asked incredulously, not even she had picked up their trail with her innate Spiritual Energy sensing technology and her own individual skill.

"When you fight and get to know someone like Sakura, you tend to recognize her instantly by presence alone," he said with a confident smile, before pointing towards his left as they kept descending, past the acid-bath wastes and towards what looked like storm-filled grayish wasteland beyond, opposite of the yellow sands to their right.

They weren't the only ones that were within the area.

Sitting on the edge of one of the nearest acid-filled ridges was the very same man that had accompanied the one who had attacked Daisuke within his own mindscape. A massive claymore-like blade was balanced on his shoulder, and he was sitting very idly as he looked down on the two Hanta below. As his gaze switched to the ones that were descending, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Should I just jump in and stomp them before they fight?" He muttered. "At this rate, sis's already fused with that moron, and by the way things are going, it's just going to be the same old story all over again." Slowly, he allowed himself to stand up, cracking his neck a little. "'Sides, I think it'd be a bit nice if at least a few of the bad guys lived......" He waited patiently for them to come completely down.

As Hana resumed her gaze downwards towards the impending landscape, she suddenly caught sight of a man. He wore something that was completely exposing compared to the plethora of dark-garbed beings and dark-skinned Kushanada throughout Hell, suddenly showing of a unusual Spiritual Pressure. Her eyes shifted to orange, zooming in on the individual, relaxed and calm in posture, though his readings were off the charts...something of great unnatural power filled her scanners making her sweat uneasily down her brow as her bangs blew through the falling entry.

The hell?! What is he-?! She thought in her mind when Daisuke grunted, gasping aloud as his eyes fixated on the individual, without the aide of advanced equipment or augmented Spiritual Energy.

"Its...one of them! Like Sakura!" Daisuke called out, pointing with his right hand before funneling Spiritual Energy around his soles, initiating a Flash Step, blurring towards the figure, moving to and fro with the hissing sounds in the wake of each act, before landing 5 meters in front of the Claymore wielding individual, glaring him down with the other two landing slightly behind him in his wake.

"You!" Daisuke growled, his eyes glaring intently on him, now recalling within a fuzzy static memory of seeing the two 'beings' that felt nearly identital yet different in their own way to Sakura, enter his Inner World.

"The hell?!"

Braeburn's eyes widened out of his calm state as his spiritual senses went off the charts. His heart almost stopped beating as the sensations nearly overwhelmed him, almost causing him to drop his sword. His expression was clearly shocked, and his body movements were almost automatic out of fear of being left alone to contend with the pressure. He immediately landed right beside Daisuke, eyes staring at the stranger as he stopped within his tracks. "This....this isn't spiritual pressure I'm sensing. It can't be.... it's too.... unique.... too warped, and.... far too POWERFUL. What IS he?!"

The individual cocked an eyebrow slightly, putting on a small smirk as if attempting to play innocent. "Yeah, I suppose it's me...." He commented, somewhat amused by the boldness of the three figures. Using his free hand, he gave a small wave. "What's up?"

"The Hell is up!" Daisuke yelled out, walking towards him, shaking off a cautionary grasp of Hana's hand, surprisingly burning it due to the building up Spiritual Pressure and Energy around Daisuke, as he moved forward to the individual till he was face-to-face, grabbing his collar and bringing him closer, letting him taste a now pungent odor of smoke emanate from his breath, "YOU'VE GOT NERVE TO SHOW YOUR FACE AGAIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" He roared into the face of the powerful entity, unbeknownst to him as the Slayer.

Hana gakwed, thinking Daisuke has lost it, uttering to Braeburn whom equally shocked by the sheer strength of the entity in front of them, asking, "Have you seen this guy before?! I don't recall him skulking in Hell before...!"

"I.....impossible.....this man....." Braeburn was almost speechless, to say the least. He could not fathom the reason why he was here, but he could clearly recognize him. It was as almost as shocking as the revelation of the Punisher's existance within the spiritual dimension. "The brother of the Punisher.... and overseer of violence and sin.... we know him as the Slayer....but.... I never knew I would be actually seeing him face-to-face....!"

Had the said "Slayer" not been occupied with staring into Daisuke's eyes, he would've gladly noted the man's recognition. But as it was, he was not at all pleased with his position.

His eyes narrowed in a dangerous glare, and an immense amount of murderous intent was now focused on the very being of Daisuke himself, almost as if wanting to crush him. "Kid...." He stated, a warning and slightly venemous tone in his voice. "Apashii was going easy on you just to test you out.... and I'm more than willing to grant you the opportunity to save my sister.... but that mood might change if you don't get your goddamned hands off of me right. now."

Daisuke did so, his eyes widening and suddenly collecting himself enough to realize if this guy was on the level as the guy he fought in his Inner World...then he'd most certainly die if this guy certainly meant it. He backed up a few steps before asking him, "Y-Your sister?"

"What?!" Hana turned back to Braeburn and then back to the Slayer, asking aloud, "you're the Punisher's BROTHER?! Just how many sibblings does she have anyways?!"

The killing aura faded almost immediately, and he took in a deep breath before regaining his casual expression. "Only about four....." He answered lightly with a small shrug, placing his free hand on his hip once more as he straightened up. "Not much of a number considering that we seem to be the only five of our race.... but what can you do? In either case...." He looked over at each of them. "I was simply checking on you along with Apashii, just to see how well you were faring against Bokyaku's minions. But since you've made it this far, I think it's okay for me to walk with you as you take the final steps, don't you think?"

"Then...Sakura really is a different type of Soul," Daisuke said to himself softly, almost unheard by the rest.

"W-Wait a minute," Hana cut in, waving her hands slightly for emphasis, raising her right brow while pointing to the Slayer, who she couldn't help herself to admire his handsome appearance but was cautious of him still, knowing from texts to be a encourager of sin and death, "you...the Slayer of the Red Sun texts as the encourager of Death and Sin, wants to stop the utter destruction of all reality as well as save your sister? I didn't think you had feelings for her...or is it due to the fact there are so few of you Hankami left?"

This caused a slightly annoyed expression to come across the Slayer's face. "I couldn't possibly let my sister be so easily manipulated by such a lowly demon, of course! Besides...." He fixated a curious stare onto Hana, interested in what she had said. With his free hand, he lifted a finger to point at her. "Why are you so surprised? If you've read what the mortal's books have said about me, I only maintain the level of sin and death to a stable level. If it weren't for me, humanity as we know it would be no different from the tendencies of animals. It would be like a Hell on Earth.... as well as the spiritual universe. And I'm certain that no one wants that, now do they?"

On Braeburn's side, his own shock was starting to get replaced by slight arrogance. His expression changed from astonishment to a somewhat smug face, and he turned his gaze to look over at Daisuke. "So....Sakura is Sakura, eh, Lieutenant?" He quoted, falling into a good set of chuckles afterwards. "She's being herself and not who I think she is, huh, mate? Ha ha ha ha ha~!!!" With this particular sentence, he actually started laughing as if it was a very funny joke, hiding his mouth behind a slightly curved hand.

Hana nodded, with a simple shrug concluding in a matter-of-fact tone, "Just wanted to be sure...I don't get around your kind much, mostly due to only there being so few of you, but I rarely believe everything text says."

Daisuke let Braeburn laugh. Surprisingly, he turned around with a total assured look on his face, saying, "I didn't say she wasn't a Hankami, Braeburn. She isn't the Punisher she once was...I'm not stupid. I trust her because she left a unworthy cause, unlike someone I know," he narrowed his eyes with distaste, sneering at him slightly before turning his head back at the Slayer, "Do you know where Sakura is? I only have a hunch, a guess she's that way," he said, pointing to the brewing storm-filled sky of a dark bleak and gray horizon opposite of the yellow sands to their right.

The demi-god was somewhat surprised by the small interaction by Braeburn and Daisuke, but decided to remain silent on the issue. Upon Daisuke's question, he gave another nod. "You'd be right.... and that's surprising, considering how unique her spiritual energy is compared to the likes of the Shinigami...." He commented in a slightly complimentary manner towards Daisuke. "Not to mention Bokyaku's two goons are in that direction. I was deciding whether or not to kill them before you stepped in...."

The composure Daisuke had taken with Braeburn had caught him off guard. His elation immediately turned to that of slight amazement and even a little bit of admiration, but it lasted for only a second before he narrowed his eyes and scowled. "Unworthy cause indeed!" He snapped. "You're still a stupid wanker if you continue to believe that farce. I hope you get your just desserts at the end of this road...."

"Stop shouting," Daisuke said, walking away from the group towards the area which Sakura was believed to be, "it only makes you sound even more guilty and stupid if you keep throwing a fit like that."

Hana sighed, muttering to herself as she massaged her own temples, "Daisuke...you're such a pain..."

"This is preferably why I don't talk to the lesser beings that much...."

The Slayer looked questioning at the calm Daisuke and the fuming Braeburn as he continued to follow the trail of Sakura. He allowed himself to walk a few steps until he was right beside Hana, using his free hand to jerk a thumb towards the two. "Do your companions usually act like this?" He questioned, his tone low as to not attract the subjects of the conversation.

"Oh, so now I'm guilty and stupid, huh?"

At that moment, Braeburn decided the fate of the Punisher was less important than the growing tension between him and the Lieutenant.

With a Flash Step, he re-appeared right behind Daisuke and grabbed his shoulder to forcefully spin him back around. "Tell me...." He said vehemently, clenching his free fist. He wasn't thinking of doing it, but the motion looked as if he was ready to start a fight with the other man right then and there. "How am I guilty and stupid? What reason could you possibly have to spawn the gall in order to brand me as such, hm?"

Daisuke narrowed his eyes, glaring at Braeburn vehemently back, grabbing Braeburn's wrist and twisting it off his shoulder before stating lowly, "First, you're babbling like a lunatic, claiming that you're not guilty, making you stupid. Second, due to your constant vehemnt words towards anyone involved with the Soul Society and hatred for the structure and laws due to it, only confirms my beliefs you're guilty. Anything else, Braeburn?"

"Ya still haven't told me what I'm guilty of!" Braeburn managed to jerk his wrist away and meet Daisuke's glare head-on, his fists clenching. "Go on, enlighten me on what I've done! I have a few good opinions of my own, but I think we'd all understand if it came from the mouth of the accuser!" Frustration was building within him, but he forcefully surpressed it in order to maintain a thinking head. The last thing he wanted was to let his anger blind him.

Before Daisuke could retort, or things grow hostile, Hana wordlessly and silently came up them within a blur, grabbing both of their heads and gave a hard headbutt to both of their foreheads, watching Daisuke and presumably Braeburn fall to the ground in bewildered pain. "Idiots! We discuss who's done what later! We have a mission that's far more pressing than the opinions of hot-headed fools," Hana retorted looking at a less hurt Daisuke due to his headband, but still smashed back into his skull, making him rub a spot of a red mark indented onto his brow, the young male Soul Reaper growled at her, but she didn't stop with him turning over to Braeburm, "or supposed innocent 'exile' or deserter or whatever! If we give more time to Bokyaku than we have now, than it won't matter who's guilty or not and who's going to tell Sakura that we tried but were too busy yelling at each other! Well?!"

Daisuke dropped his gaze to the wasteland soil below him, staying quiet, knowing that he shouldn't have bothered goading Braeburn if he didn't want to waste time or know all the facts behind Braeburn's...desertion.

"MUMMR--"

Upon the sudden contact, Braeburn let out a startled grunt and immediately backed up, pain having been shot through his head. "Nnnngh....." A scowl came across his face, and he slapped his head a few times in an attempt to lessen the visual effect the red mark Daisuke's headband had made. It hurt, most definitely. After he was sure of himself, he lowered his hand and defiantly continued to glare at Daisuke. However, he acknowledged the woman's words with a slight nod and short glance in her direction. It was just a matter of being patient and waiting until a good time.

"My final words to you, Daisuke Hayate....." He stated coolly, his anger having restrained itself once more. "Sever your bonds with her.... or else they'll end up severing you." Closing his eyes, he turned away from them both and immediately initiated a Flash Step, certain that they would follow within his wake.

As Daisuke frowned after Braeburn's wake, he looked back at the Slayer whom remained silent suprisingly over the ordeal as well as Hana, whom crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him, "What?!"

"Stop getting on his case already, Daisuke! He's got enough baggage to deal with personally before getting blamed and spat on by the only person he knew from his past here," she finished but with a softer and more empathetic tone.

Daisuke raised a brow, getting on his feet again, brushing off some of the dirt that got onto his overcoat, saying aloud, "You probably could use better tact in saying that kind of stuff."

"Idiot," she muttered before walking past him, nodding to the Slayer before saying over her shoulder to Daisuke, "you two were about to tear each other's eyes out. If I didn't knock some sense into you, you would've started a battle royale right here and alerted Hell to your hot-headedness."

"Man you're a bitch sometimes," Daisuke groaned out before following her, ushering a Flash Step along Hana's as they caught up to Braeburn, much closer to the gray and bleak Valley of Ashes, now nearly a very unpleasant air caught into their nostrils and throats.

Throughout it all, the Slayer had kept a serene gaze, raising his free finger to rub underneath his nose occasionally. As the three departed, he checked behind him for an idle moment. What he was staring at was the cloaked figure that had attacked Daisuke before, standing in a straight and almost stiff manner. The Slayer merely smirked in his direction, using his free hand to give a casual wave. "I'll let you know if anything goes wrong, in the rarity that it'll happen...." He said, turning back around and walking a few steps. "See you around!" With that, he vanished, and the other man did shortly after, both of them heading in different directions.

In the gray and bleak Valley of Ashes, Braeburn was the first to be hit with the sensations, bursting into a coughing fit as soon as he appeared. "Good Lord....!" He managed to gasp out, putting a hand over his mouth as he attempted to stop his fits.

Daisuke began to cough aloud as well, covering his mouth as his eyes began to water, but soon his body got used to it faster naturally, "Man...this is worse than what my Inner World is like...*coughs* but I'll get used to it...in a few minutes," he managed to procure a shred of his over coat on the edge near his feet, briskly making a hand-made scarf to cover his nose and mouth.

Hana had coughed slightly before sighing, "The great benefits of physical augmentation...I can overcome such senses...but its still not pleasant the first few seconds," she explained aloud before sneezing slightly, looking around it gave a vague similarity to Hueco Mundo but in a much bleaker darker visage...with no starry sky above them.

Daisuke trudged forward, relying on his senses and bond with Sakura to find her, feeling a stronger feeling the more he trudged through the ash-sands the more distorted Sakura's 'Pressure' felt.

"Hold on...Sakura," he whispered through his mask-cloth as he kept moving, harsh winds blew and ruffled all of the party's cloaks, forcing some of them to cover their eyes to keep them from being blinded by the unnatural sands.

Putting his own hand on his mouth, Braeburn, despite the clearly discomforting situation they were in, continued to follow after them, relying solely on his senses in order to navigate the dangerous path. His eyes were forced shut in order to keep from being blinded, and the winds were somewhat of a hindrance to his eardrums. He could barely hear the calmly walking footsteps of the Slayer behind him - the lone indication that he was unaffected by the weather, as far as they could tell. "I'm sensing two directly ahead of us...." He spoke on his earpiece in warning. "Keep on your guard!"

Daisuke felt them too. He wouldn't forget the first Hanta he felt that appeared and stolen Sakura away from him. He hissed through his mask, "Its them...the two we first met!"

Hana's eyes glowed orange, zooming in on the two familar presences of the two Hanta mentioned, walking through the slowing ash-sand wind.

Ryuketsu and Jaaku appeared, their attire fluttering in the wind, exactly the same as they were when Daisuke and Braeburn last met.

Jaaku let a small smile show on his face, a red gloved hand ran up his face and brushing some ash out of his hair, a sadist gleam showed on his features as he said, "Welcome to Hell...Soul Reapers."

Ryuketsu said simply with his hands in his pockets, a stoic cold gaze catching Braeburn and the rest, "You will go no further. Our master will not be disturbed."

Hana narrowed her eyes, the readings coming back to her were...staggering. Despite the fact that the Slayer was nearly incomprehensible in terms of sheer power, these two alone made the last three look like children in comparison of their strength.

"That's fine."

Whatever Braeburn was about to say was immediately cut off by the serene voice of the Slayer as he stepped forward, his free arm lowered at his side. "We only want the Punisher, not your boss....." He said, standing straight and tall. "So if you would just move aside and allow us to retrieve her, we'll be on our way. No damage done, no lives wasted....."

Ryuketsu locked eyes with the Slayer, his eyes had a sudden recognition of him, speaking lowly only enough for the Slayer really to hear, "So...its you...Slayer."

Jaaku chuckled, saying with a gesture of his hands, "That can't be done, you fools. For you see...our master is taking that useless waste of space the Punisher was, and making sure to piss her off at the universe enough to become one with him. He's going to be so strong, you'll all get your asses dusted, including you, Hankami!" He finished with a sick smile as his eyes locked onto the Slayer's, his right hand pointing at the Slayer, goading him to make a move.

If it hadn't been for Ryuketsu's notice of him, the Slayer wouldn't have hesitated to act upon the challenge.

However, as Braeburn watched in slight tension, the Hankami narrowed his eyes and smiled. "I see you recognize me to some extent." He acknowledged, keeping a casual tone within his voice as he lifted his massive blade off of his shoulders. The blade was pointed directly at Jaaku, the one who had challenged him. "It's always fun, seeing the arrogant and prideful ones off to humiliation. That's what got you were it did, didn't it, Jaaku? Your very ego was the same thing that caused you to get the flesh ripped from your bones as you were sent to Hell. It's real sad seeing as it's going to be the very thing that's going to ruin you for all eternity...."

Jaaku gripped the hilt of his sword, moving forward eagerly before Ryuketsu waved an arm in front of him saying lowly, "You do realize despite how strong you are, he STILL is a Hankami, right Jaaku? He won't go easy on you like the Punisher was-"

"Please," Jaaku said, rolling his neck around in circles, before promptly pushing Ryuketsu's hand away with his left hand before unsheathing his Zanpakuto briskly and a flourish to the side, wind picked up slightly flourishing his red trenchcoat and his eyes glowed of murderous intent as he said, "fighting the Punisher like that...barely kept me awake! Let's see what a actual Hankami can do against me!'

Ryuketsu exhaled slightly, turning his gaze at the others, saying slightly, "I have confidence in that power you possess, but surely...you aren't expecting me to fight the other 3 by myself, do you Jaaku?"

"You hardly ever fight, you lazy-ass!" Jaaku retorted back with a humored grin, before cocking his head back and forth as he got himself ready to battle, "you might actually do something for a change..."

"Honestly," Ryuketsu said before he put his hands in his pockets and observed the other three cautiously, neither of them said anything or made a move. They were being careful, even that Hayate boy was being more restrained despite the intense anger he felt boiling within the boy. Something...was different, but Ryuketsu couldn't be sure what it was precisely.

"Oh..... I'm pretty sure you'll be singing a different tune...."

The Slayer's blade pulsated once.... and a reaction of magnified proportions was initiated.

BOOM!

A burst of his spiritual energy slammed into Jaaku, blasting him off of his feet and propelling through the air. It was like a shotgun with all of its bullets connecting point-blank range, the concussive force enough to extend his "flight" for a good three-hundred and sixty feet. "...when you're done picking yourself off of the ground...." He finished, his smile growing wider and clearly more malevolent.

Behind him, Braeburn had to jerk down out of instinct, being hit with moderate backlash of the attack. However, his expression was nonetheless astonished as he observed the blast knock Jaaku away. "....I'm glad he's on OUR side...." He thought to himself, switching his gaze back to Ryuuketsu. "At this rate.... we may have the opportunity to save energy....." He looked on as the Slayer simply shifted his blade to point at the stoic man.

"Now, I know you're a sensible guy...." He said. "So I think we both know that this fight is not only going to get you killed.... but also killed in a manner that would forever shame you in your master's eyes. So unless you want that to happen, I think you'd better step aside and let us through."

Jaaku had been prepared for a attack, but he didn't expect the sheer strength behind it. If The Slayer was using a sword strike or a non-gesture movement it was incomprehensible to him as the large mass of life crashed towards him and the sheer concussive strength was enough to send him across the ash soil below, kicking up a large cloud with and large crash in the end, ending in a small mushroom cloud.

As it cleared, a manical grinning Jaaku emerged from the dust, slightly ruffled but nearly unphased by the move, his Zanpakuto held out in front of himself, now glowing red as he uttered mere moments before colliding into him, "Cut loose," and as he now stands 300 feet away from the Slayer, his glade is now glowing a bridght crimson flare as he finishes the name of his Zanpakuto, "Shinku Hadō Katto."

Jaaku began to walk a casual pace, his boots crunched against the glassed and unsettled ash, as particles rained down from above, giving a eery look as red glowing eyes gleamed and a sadistic evil smile shown on Jaaku's face, as he began to call back to him, holding his Zanpakuto to his side, its glow didn't brighten as he held it, "With the way my Zanpakuto feels...I might actually enjoy this fight...so, Slayer," he paused, moving in a startling Death Step fast enough to even surprise the laid back but powerful Hankami, as Jaaku reappeared, slashing in a blinding sweep, a arc of crimson energy roared out in a magnificent height and power, mirroring the even that sent Jaaku flying but in a more condensed controlled slash, "let's fight like we've never fought before! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Ryuketsu didn't move from his spot, even as his partner was launched backwards by the powerful raw burst of Shinsei energy, his clothes and hair ruffled from the gust of wind it created. His eyes caught Braeburn's and he spoke in a nonchalant tone, "My Master...only wishes for me to stall you, for he knows that the eventuality of the Hankami coming to save its kin was to be expected. I'm just glad there isn't any Captains among you presently. That would've made things...difficult," he closed his eyes, briefly inhaling the ash-ridden air as his partner reappeared and laughed manically as he cut loose a blazing attack, his eyes reopened with a mirror-image of glowing eyes and killing intent, "it will child's play killing three mere non-Captain Soul Reapers," he declared, his own Spiritual Pressure shook the air, TV static-effect distorted the vision of everyone there as Jaaku's and Ryuketsu's mirroring killing intent and power was clear.

Daisuke's throat growled, his eyes glared unmoved by any of the events happening around, seeing him time and again earlier back in Yurei, saying that Sakura was nothing but torturing him and twisting his feelings for her as a mere child's game in a sociopathic tendency she always had. His own eyes began to glow in resolve to kill, and he reached down and unsheathed his Zanpakuto holding it up, saying, "Braeburn...Hana...if you want to fight him, you better get ready. For I am going to go on a rampage against this guy!"

Hana looked at the situation as promising. Despite the power-scale she was reading from them, even if hidden within themeselves she didn't know about, they had the numbers on their side as well as a Hankami. She smiled as she unsheathed her twin Sekkiseki blades, flourishing them around looking over to Braeburn, waiting for his reply to Ryuketsu's words.

Braeburn did not disappoint her.

Settling into a stance within his own, he allowed himself to narrow his eyes, ready to defy every part of Ryuuketsu's declaration. A bead of sweat ran down his face, and he squinted his eyes in reflex of the static effect. But he refused to allow himself to falter. "Don't get too full of yourself...." He stated lowly. "You might just find yourself full of holes before you can even finish swinging your blade." He spared a glance at his two companions, seeing them as battle-ready as he was. This strengthened his resolve, and he put on a small smile as he felt a familiar sensation within him. The winds around him began to pick up, seeming to glow with an illuminating red aura. His clothing and hair began to billow softly.

This was his very own effect of his resolve, his spiritual energies strengthening themselves in order to prepare for the battle ahead.

Pointing the blade at Ryuketsu, he spoke two words in order to summon the technique he had first initialized.

"Hebi!!!"

With that word, the sword extended at an uncomprehensible speed towards its target, aiming to rip straight through the heart this time.

On the Slayer's side, he certainly was surprised.

His eyes widened as the Hanta suddenly appeared before him, amazed that he had managed to bring himself back up within fighting condition. Instead of countering, and for the safety of the others, he used his very own speed technique variant in order to vanish and re-appear up in the air, hovering overhead while spinning his massive sword with one hand. He allowed a small grin to cross his face as he settled into a two-handed stance, preparing himself for Jaaku's series of attacks that were sure to come.

"It's time to see how far Bokyaku's minions have progressed....." He thought to himself, his expression one of anticipation.

Ryuketsu's form seemed to bleed in the air, almost as if Braeburn's technique truly was more powerful than the Hanta's own prowess in combat. Or so it seemed...until he appeared behind them, the mere image he struck at was nothing more than a afterimage.

"The weakness in your attack...was that you had to speak it first," he said in a deductive manner, backhanding with incredible force across Braeburn's backside, while Hana moved to decapitate him with a rapidly adaptive mannerism, ignoring anything that happened around her.

Ryuketsu vaulted over her, grabbing her head in the process in a surprising move while picking her up and throwing her away as he unsheathed his sword in a fluid motion to block Daisuke's attack before spinning on the ball of his foot, then landing a kick to his gut, blocked by Daisuke but sent him reeling across the ash earth below for 30 meters due to its strength, nearby Hana as they came to realize recklessly charging in would get them killed.

"This guy..." Hana said aloud before realizing the experience that oozed from every word, every movement, every flick of his wrist told of the countless battles he's fought, "he's been a Hanta far longer than we've realized!"

"Then we'll just have to outmaneuver him!" Daisuke said as nodded to her as the two of them moved back in, using Flash Steps they began a acrobatic, graceful exchange of sword blows and kicks, sparks, dust, and wind flew everywhere as the two of them kept fighting them but were met move for move, a eery stoic gaze kept looking and taki!ng in every gesture of the combatants. They truly were fighting a skilled warrior!

Jaaku meanwhile looked up smiling sadistically, using his Death Step to rapidly appear back up and began slashing rapidly at him, "What's the matter?! Afraid of me you had to dodge?! You're not as immortal as you claim to be, Slayer!" with every clash of the swords, the sparks rain around and the Zanpakuto of Jaaku's grew brighter with every collision, and before 50 slashes happened it hummed loudly before Jaaku let out a cry with the last strike, "Reddo Hadō!" Again, a replicate blast of crimson energy blasted at point blank with intense fury and power, roaring loudly high in the sky.

A startled, pained, and indignant yell came from Braeburn as he was struck in the rear, sending him flying forward. He slammed into the ground, tumbling across the sands before he finally came to a stop a few meters away. "Piker...." He spat underneath his breath, slowly allowing himself to stand as he rubbed the affected area for a moment. Then, he abruptly turned back towards the three as they continued to fight it out, eyes narrowing in concentration.

"Thinks I need to actually say it? He'd better think again...."

With careful aim, he fired off another shot while his partners kept him busy.

BOOM!!!!!

The attack made a direct hit, the energy colliding with its target within a brilliant blaze of power and light. Yet, as it cleared, the Slayer was standing with his massive blade in a horizontal position, one of his hands on the side that was facing him. The wind of the attack's aftermath ripplied his ponytail and clothing, but he still kept that smirk nonetheless. "Afraid of a doomed soul like you?" He taunted back. "Don't make me laugh. This fight's only getting started!!!!" With that, he raised the blade and started unleashing his own counter-attack, bringing the brunt of his immense physical power behind each connecting swing.

As Jaaku laughed with every strike applied to his Zanpakuto, albeit forcing him back slightly in the air, but within just a few of the powerful sword strokes, Jaaku already had a glowing blade once again but as it continued taking more strikes the glow traveled up Jaaku's arms and then across his whole body until he had a thin veil of red energy around him blazing brightly.

As the last strike hit, he reached out and stopped it with his bare hand, not even drawing blood, holding the sword of the Hankami fast, "I'm not a doomed soul that you think I am, Slayer...I am a soul with power you cannot even comprehend!" He suddenly stabbed towards his shoulder, a piercing beam emitted afterwards, his voice uttered lowly, "Reddo Mabayu!!!" A sudden vast piercing beam of torrential energy, much stronger than that of the blast of energy before, but in a more condensed hardened beam aiming at piercing the Slayer's body and driving a large hole into it.

Ryuketsu saw Braeburn get up out of the corner of his eye, knowing he'd try that ability of his. As both Hana and Daisuke Flash Stepped away when seeing Braeburn getting ready, Ryuketsu had but a moment's notice before he uttered lowly, "Danku," suddenly a dark transparent wall rose out of the air, taking the indescribably fast paced attacks, but left no scratch upon his shield...now revealed as Kido!

Hana saw it as well, saying, "Wh-What's going on?! I thought they could only use those wierd spells of theirs?! How did he use Kido?!"

Daisuke's eyes also widened, as relapses of memories suddenly came back to him...monsters being slain, death and blood heroes have shed. "F***!" Daisuke hissed out, redirecting Hana's attention as she herself was clueless.

"This guy...he disguised himself as a Soul Reaper...200 years ago!" Daisuke said it in a incredulous if not startled tone, taking a step back, "That's...Jinsoku Shōri...Liuetenant of the 3rd Division! He's supposed to be dead, but I didn't think...he'd look so different from back then!"

Hana swore under her breath, "So now what?-"

"Give up," Ryuketsu called out, looking at no one in particular as his unmoved eyes moved around to all of them, saying lowly, "I will not spare any of you if you keep this up. Walk away now, and I'll consider beseeching to my master to let you all live in the coming apocalypse he will spread."

Daisuke growled raising his Zanpakuto up, saying, "Like HELL!!!"

Hana slightly sweatdropped, saying in a sheepish smile, "Well said, Daisuke...as always."

"He caught my blade with only his bare hand?"

The Slayer's eyes narrowed, and he immediately took one hand off of his own hilt in order to grasp the opposing sword in order to stop it within its tracks. Then, he channeled his own energy within his hand, using it as a blockade in order to force the opposing energy into a buildup. Jaaku's blade glowed with a violent aura, and the Hankami smiled darkly. "Funny.... do you know how many have told me that?" He taunted, his own blade glowing. "It made it all the more satisfying when they died....."

Then, he swung down, unleashing a visible and expanding energy fissure, its shape similar to that of the flaming face of a meteorite, and its size and length making it capable of consuming at least half a city.

"I am so goddamn sick of these plot twists...."

Had Braeburn said that any other time, the situation would've been comical. As a matter of fact, it might as well have been comical right on this minute, seeing as it came out in a matter similar to one of a ranter. He raised his own Zanpakuto up in defiance. He was surprised, however, that an attack that he considered next to impossible to defend against was so easily deflected by a Kido spell. Just how powerful was this man....?

Jaaku's eyes opened wide, as he saw the vastness of the energy that was about to hit him, but a smile adorned his face as he pulled his sword with a wrenching twist and pull, saying, "You just made my day," before the energy blast collided into his blade and himself, the mighty fissure of energy blew across the sky in a violent display of power, slightly disconcerting the rest below of how grand of power the Slayer had.

As soon as the steam and energy finally laid back, a burning practically blazing entity appeared out of the place, his body scorched with a thin layer of burns, but a small violet colored barrier protected the rest of his body, emanating from hidden chains wrapped underneath his clothes, "If it wasn't for my chains, I'd be in serious hurt...but, as it stands, you gave me exactly what I wanted," he threw a blinding speed punch towards the chest of the Slayer, a ear-popping shockwave emanated around the air as his strength had enough force to propel the Hankami across the air towards ash-sand dune far away from the others...as well as from Bokyaku's place of merging.

Ryuketsu looked towards them all, before asking aloud, "Now...do you still want to take me on all at once, or one at a time? I'm curious to gauge the strength between each of you-"

"Blaze Eternally," Daisuke growled, cutting off the Soul Reaper imposter, two spikes emerged from either edge of the Zanpakuto before flames crawled across the body of metal, finishing aloud, "Kyoi Abata!!!" He twirled his Zanpakuto above his head before throwing three condensed spheres of flames at his opponent, forcing Ryuketsu to Death Step away. As Ryuketsu saw the violent pyrotechnic explosion, Hana reappearing above him, attempting to behead him.

He sheathed his sword before leaning his head back and reaching for the wrists of Hana's, stopping the two Sekkiseki blades before saying, "These weapons are dangerous to me," he then threw her over his head, smashing her into the ash soil below causing her to cough aloud from the wind knocked out of him before he kicked her away a few meters, wrenching the blades from her before stabbing it into the ground below, making two hand signs before a small red star cube barrier errected above them, "I'd prefer if you didn't have these weapons again for the duration of our bout..."

WHUMPF!

The Slayer was promptly hit with the full-force of the blow, and the power managed to hurl him that considerable distance. However, he managed to regain himself quickly, skidding across the very air and settling into a stop. He had one eye closed and one eye open, mouth agape in the slightest way. "So I was right, after all...." He thought to himself, lowering his blade to observe Jaaku. "He knows he wouldn't have enough power to face me normally. That sword of his, with each and every blow made from me, absorbs my very power for him to use, making it a one-sided fight. I was only wondering at first, but....."

He put on a toothy sneer, readying his massive sword with one hand. "I'm going to give you one chance to give up." He said calmly. "That ability of yours is nice.... but it's just not made for this kind of situation. Especially against someone like me....."

"Damn it...."

Braeburn, gritting his teeth, swung his blade once more to unleash a multitude of blades at Ryuketsu. It was a rather fruitless move, as far as we was concerned. "He's keeping too much of a watch on us in order for us to catch him off-guard or in the middle of a mistake....." He thought to himself. "There has to be a way we can distract him....."

Jaaku had Death Stepped back down to the earth, 10 meters away from the Slayer, a sadist and cocky grin of his own on his face as his body emanated with a ungodly red visage of sheer energy and his Spiritual Pressure shaking the air between them as it crackled around them.

"Please, Slayer...spare me the tough talk," he said while raising his Zanpakuto towards him, saying aloud, "you think just because my Zanpakuto can make me strong enough to be your equal, that this is my limit?! HAHAHA! You fool! I've barely begun to show you what I can do!"

Using Death Step, he reappeared in front of the Slayer as he slashed violently in a diagonal strike, sending up a arc of energy so dense and powerful, its sheer mass was half the size of a mountain, and the end result of its impending strike caused a explosiong towards his opponent twice its size against him.

Jaaku employed his Chains to create a Spiritual Energy barrier to protect himself from the powerful blast, but kept close, reveling in the pure destructive capabilities allowed to him due to the Slayer's own strength used against him. His laugh teared out into fits of manical laughter, shouting out in a equally bloodlustful voice, "GLORIOUS! THIS POWER IS AMAZING! I CAN CRUSH EVEN GODS WITH MY POWER! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

Ryuketsu spun on the heels of his boots, dodging the swords with ease before Daisuke clashed with his Zanpakuto violently, halting him in his tracks as well as surprising Ryuketsu, flames licked at his body but did no real harm, "You can't possibly think your Zanpakuto can kill me, Daisuke?-"

"Bakudo #4," he uttered under his breath, almost unheard to Ryuketsu, before a yellow rope of energy bound the two's swords together, the latter's eyes widening with surprise, "Hainawa!"

"What are you planning, Daisuke? You don't honestly think this will hold me for long?-" again he was interrupted as a violent flash of light was seen, as Hana Flash Stepped behind him, emblazoned in silver lightning-like energy as she threw a punch that was barely caught by Ryuketsu, followed up with a violent shout.

"SHUNKO!" Ryuketsu's eyes widened and he swore under his breath as Hana shouted out the powerful Kido technique, blasting both himself and Daisuke across the dune, the Bakudo held him fast enough to refuse him access to escape via Death Step, but Daisuke felt a concussive half of the force, and was 10 meters away from the enemy.

Ryuketsu felt light flash in his vision and his ears ring painfully. He struggled to stand up, feeling his body slightly jarred from the technique as well as small drops of blood ooze from his left eye and ear from the point-blank attack, dampened by his Chains but not enough to surpress it entirely.

"It accomplishes nothing...you did not lay enough of a blow to stop me," he said determinedly, before he suddenly realized he couldn't move. His eyes looked down and suddenly saw nearly invisible twine layered with Spiritual energy, tied around his torso, keeping himself from moving, "impossible! When did this happen?!"

"W-When Hana launched her attack," Daisuke said with slight stunned feeling himself, his overcoat slightly torn and his face bruised but nothing serious as he wiped the ash off his face, rasing up his left hand, the wires wrapped around his knuckles now glowing red from the Spiritual Energy he poured into it, "I wrapped it around you the moment you took your eyes off me...that's when!"

Ryuketsu narrowed his eyes at him, saying aloud, "I see...and not even a word of strategy between either of you to accomplish it. You must've worked with each other quite often, Daisuke."

"None of your damn buisness as I see it!" Daisuke growled out, now looking over to Braeburn, who by now had seen the following attacks and teamwork between the two, now leaving him an opening to attack Ryuketsu, "do it Braeburn!"

Ryuketsu spoke lowly under his breath as Daisuke spoke, "Mors Alica Trigesimum Novem..."

"Shit....!!!!"

Braeburn, seeing the Hanta's mouth move, knew that his next move was going to be countered. But he had no time to hesitate. Upon seeing the trap being initiated, he thrust his blade out towards Ryuketsu and unleashed Tobu Hebi, the technique that magnified Hebi tenfold, and the very one he had used to kill Senso. His blade extended and retracted within the same uncomprehensible speed as before in an attempt to rip through his enemy.

On the Slayer's end, he had once again taken to putting his large cleaver in the way of the blast, shutting his eyes and grunting as he pushed against the mixed energies. They were ripping around him like a ferocious wind, his clothing and ponytail billowing violently.against the power of the attack. However, he was not shutting them out of reaction of the display.... but rather, he was concentrating. As the attack cleared itself, he lowered his blade once more and smirked. "You call that crushing me? I am not dead!!!" He jeered, the irises and pupils of his eyes glowing a blood red color. He was about to show Jaaku the error of his ways.

Jaaku cackled, using his Death Step he used that initial attack to distract him using one final attack, he slashed a horizontal fizzure of energy, engulfing the entiriety of the 5 sand dunes around them, causing a large uproaring blast of energy to fire high into the sky, its red hue fitting within the atmosphere of Hell as well as spun a mighty wind of ash around for a good 2 minutes.

Jaaku however, lost his veil of energy around him, his Zanpakuto a plain red, and his breathing became efforted it. Despite his power, his bravado had blinded him to the eventual limit his Zanpakuto had...a limit that would cost him his life if he wasn't careful. If Jaaku knew what careful meant!

The next move the Hanta made, whether or not his cleaver was responsible.... would be the last move made.

As Ryuketsu watched the move initiated, a red star-stylized pyramid was errected around Ryuketsu, despite being bound he was able to cast his spell. However...the intensity of the attack proved to be quite effective as the pyramid began to wane, hiss, and then crack under the string of indescribable number of attacks before it finally shattered.

A giant gust of ash-sand errupted from his position, revealing Ryuketsu afterwards with a few cuts and slashes on his person, his Hell Chains unable to protect him from the intense rapid-paced attacks, but his Spell protected him from the bulk of the technique. "I dare say...that if I haven't used that spell, I would've end up nothing more than a mist of blood in the air. I congratulate you, 3rd Seat Braeburn," he pointedly said with a knowing tone, merely flexing in a twitch, the chords now were inaffective as he brought out his Zanpakuto up to them pointing at all of them before hearing a violent explosion nearby of Jaaku's attack.

As Jaaku's attacks faded, the Slayer drew that time as the correct time to act on the offensive.

Vanishing and re-appearing behind the Hanta with his sword raised, he engaged his opponent in another bout of close-quarters combat, this time allowing himself to rely on a complete offense. Before, Jaaku had kept initiating the attack, but now that he had stopped, the Slayer was free to strike at him while he attempted to recuperate. He made use of the sword's natural power as well as his own physical strength to break defenses. If it was energy he wanted, then it was energy he was going to get....

Braeburn allowed himself a slight smirk at his accomplishment, leveling his sword up to a defensive position. "I warned you not to get too full of yourself, didn't I?" He answered smugly. He spared glances to his two teammates, even at the Slayer as he continued duking it out against the Hanta.

Something was wrong! Jaaku could feel that now, even as he was able to repel the attacks with counters and parries, albeit with effort now, he could feel the energy being absorbed into his Zanpakuto but something felt wrong...it was hissing, not in a good way either. Within a few slashes it glowed brightly, and not even given enough quarter to counterattack he kept absorbing impact after strike, suddenly he was emlazoneed in bright energy, the energy he thought would make him on equal footing with the Hankami but...the energy wasn't strengthening him this time!

"No, no no no no no," he spoke lowly as he sword locked with the Hankami before pushing him away with strength, but felt himself fall to his knees as he felt burning all around him, the energy now distorting and becoming chaotic, sparking out of control, "NO! NO! NOT NOW! I CAN'T BE BEATEN LIKE THIS! I AM A GOD! DO YOU HEAR! I AM A-NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!" With a loud, blood-curdling scream, his entire body began to rip itself apart, to the point of his limbs bursting for from the inside out then incinerating his entire body before the energy was released altogether, a large pillar of crimson energy hitting into the sky above with momentary red lightning in its excess wake, before vanishing altogether. Jaaku Ketsurui has fallen in battle...

Daisuke and Hana looked at each other, knowing they were pushing his limit, nodding to each other as they took their battle stances when suddenly they heard a blood-curdling scream, drawing everyone's attention to the direction of the cry, a bright glow emanated from beyond a large glassed crater among the gray ash-sand wasteland before a giant pillar of crimson energy errupted into the sky before vanishing along with Jaaku's Spiritual Pressure.

"God....?"

The Slayer watched on from a distance, stopping his blade and lowering to watch Jaaku's self-destruction. He snorted, closing his eyes in slight disgust before raising the blade to rest on his shoulder. "That's a title that even I can't have, pal...." He murmured softly. "And it's a millennium too early for you...." He had tried to warn the demon.... but, he supposed, pride and ego can push sense out the window.

Braeburn directed his own gaze upwards, instinctively lowering his blade and putting on a relieved grin. "Yes....!" He whispered enthusiastically, glad that one of them had been taken down.

"Well...there goes another one," Hana said glibbly, a small smirk adorned on her face as Daisuke's eyes just widen at the awesome destruction that happened not too far away. He had a feeling, if they weren't fighting this guy, they would be in serious trouble.

"Jaaku, you fool," Ryuketsu uttered lowly, his eyes narrowed at the sign of his comrade's death, before continuing, "if you just used that you wouldn't have died. But, I guess it can't be helped when fighting a Hankami," he finished before returning his gaze to a set of clouds where Daisuke and the others came from, a blazing, burning entity came from the clouds before crashing with a thunderous crash, sending a gust of wind and shockwave for miles. Kyoki had also fallen in battle it seems, as Kukkyona's and Kaze's Spiritual Pressures could be felt not too far off. "it seems that we've done our part. Because now," he turned to look over at the distant set of structures not too far off, suddenly a ominous rumbling emitted deep below where Bokyaku and Sakura were.

The merging has finally begun its final moments of completion....

Armageddon, the day of Judgement at hand

"!!!!"

Immediately, Braeburn and Slayer's eyes snapped towards the area, the latter out of slight surprise, and the other out of shock and moderate horror. The Australian bit his lower lip out of irritation, the hand that was clutching his Zanpakutō tightening. "Bloody--bogan!!" He snapped angrily, the aura both intimidating him and frightening him. It was enough to send a chill down his spine as well as beads of sweat down his face. "No.... no, no no no no no, this CAN'T happen, not now...!!" He abruptly snapped his gaze towards Hana and Daisuke. "FORGET him!!! We've got to move!!!" He shouted, before instinctively taking off with a Flash Step and racing towards their final destination.

Ryuketsu looked onward as the doomed soul reapers momentarily took heed of the imperative command of the defector before following him with their own variant of Flash Steps. He sighed as he took his own casual pace towards the ruined castle where he left his master, keeping a decent pace before they halted in front of the large, opening where it was dimly lit within.

Ashes swirled around the area around the castle, briefly illuminating skeletons and husks of buildings of a grandiose empire burried by war, before being recovered in the shifting morbid sands. The sky above them crackled with lightning and thunder, the air tense and grating, a scene almost reminiscent of a Horror movie.

Daisuke stared into the tunnel, not feeling Sakura's presence anymore...but something very comparing to her. It was as if Sakura's mere being was swirled in a heat of emotions so wrathful, and hateful, that her prior menacing Spiritual Pressure felt like a kitten's purr compared to the maelstrom of anger and killing intention within the chambers. He grasped the front of his overcoat, sweat beaded down his brow in anticipation and nervousness, his breathing slightly accelerated. "S-Sakura...what have you become?" He hoarsely whispered with wide eyes of morbid knowing.

Hana's eyes flashed orange, moving ahead of the group she said, "Stay behind me...I can sense the energy signature that last pulse sent out. We can probably track it to its source."

Braeburn was fairing no better than Daisuke, long having stopped his run due to the aura that was exuding itself everywhere around him. He had one hand on his sword, the other gracing his forehead from disorientation. Sweat was falling down his face at an alarming rate. "I pray.... that whatever happens.... that there's some miracle that whatever I think's happened..... hasn't actually happened....." He breathed.

As they traversed through the dungeon-equivalent halls, lined with black mortar and brick, torches lighting a eery glow throughout, the constant static visual-affect never leaving their eyes as the group continued forward, every step heavier than the last one.

Strangely, Hana didn't seem to have too much trouble moving forward compared to the other two. Daisuke looked over at Braeburn slightly, as if thinking he was a complete moron for saying that aloud, but then thought hopefully inward it was all a really bad nightmare, and that coming to Hell was another sick game of his Zanpakuto's. Sadly, the constant pressure affect kept him from drifting in his thoughts.

"H-Hana...d-don't you feel...heavy walking...this close...towards it?" He asked confused as he saw Hana, other than a few beads of sweat travel down her brow, had little to no visual reaction to the large amount of pressure filling the air.

Hana looked back over her lithe shoulders, raising a brow while her orange lenses retracted and her violet eyes showed once more, "What do you mean? It feels as dank as ever, that's what Hell's like, remember?"

"I feel like I'm stepping deeper in an ocean...." Braeburn grumbled, his sword tip dragging a little on the ground. "How in the bloody hell can you act so unphased by it?" Behind them, the Slayer, generally unaffected himself by the intimidating aura exerted, floated over their heads and keeping a curious, watchful eye on their surroundings.

Hana smiled a cheeky smile, almost reminiscently creepy like Captain Kaze's smile, saying in a sing-song voice, "But that would be telling, now wouldn't it?"

"Ignore her," Daisuke grumbled, for once not liking the idea she had to be vague about her actions again, turning his strained face towards Braeburn, "she probably is shaking inside...probably has special enhancements or steroids that shut off Spiritual Sensory within her body..."

After a few minutes of navigating, suddenly a eery, crismon-lit room glowed lowly around the corner, no doors barring their path and the sign of rubble was seen around the corner as this was the most worn of the dungeon-catacombs.

"We're almost there," Hana said directing her eyes back to the entrance as the group began to draw closer to what looked like a eery symbol graffiti room, eerily familiar to that of the markings Red Sun cultists had sprayed in Yurei.

It was here that the Slayer allowed himself to land ahead of the group, his gaze shifting to that of the marks. He squinted his eyes, placing a free hand on the doorway and leaning inward. Upon seeing the contents of the room, he let out a long whistle and moved aside for them. "Whether you're almost there or already there, I think Bokyaku's finished up here. See for yourself...."

Daisuke rushed inside, shoving past Hana and looked around at the foul markings along the walls, cieling and floor, breathing in a rushed pattern, "No...no no no no no no no!" He rambled off as he began feeling along the walls, still freshly warm from the aftermath of the spell's completion, his hands coming off grey with soot and ash, as he looked around, trying to find out where Sakura...if she could be called that now, went.

Hana looked around, her brows furrowed as she walked in and kneeled down towards what could've been described as a chopping block, but was the centerpiece of the spell entirely, had a indentation of a small female being on it. Remnants of red hair, now singed and crisp to the touch, layed around the north side of the block, and the pressure was neverending for the group still. Hana stood back up, scratching her head, "I don't get it...you guys feel it, I feel it, but they're not here."

"He must've been finished long before and hid himself within, knowing that we would be coming...." The Slayer commented, eyebrows furrowing and looking around as he began to walk towards Hana, his free hand resting on his hip. "The energy's way too potent for him to be far...." He lifted his Claymore off of his shoulders and leveled it defensively, eyes continuing to sweep the area for any signs of inconsistency.

Braeburn himself approached with a newfound look of despair on his own face, the aura too strong for him to hide his emotions. He remained silent, trying as best as he could to maintain a defensive stance in such a situation. He knew that as far as he was concerned, both he and Daisuke were the easiest targets to take out due to their weakness. If the newly created monster was indeed hiding, an ambush would effectively slay them where they stood. Considering the power increase he could feel all around the room, it would be a matter of little effort.

What happened next in fact did take little effort. A liquid, fluttering blacker than night sky cloaked being suddenly appeared, silently right behind Hana, before with a flick of his finger, smacking her with incredible force into the wall of the dungeon torture room, shattering it like plaster and erupting a large billow of ash into the room, causing Daisuke and Braeburn to cough slightly as they suddenly opened their eyes with fright and horror.

"HANA!!!!" Daisuke shouted out in alarm, seeing her fly deep into the self-made tunnel made of sheer force, before suddenly stopping at the horrifying sight of a flowing, ghastly white haired being. Its hair rippled and moved like water, yet held fast like most hair would, its skin as smooth and pale as porcelain, its eyes glowing of sheer bloodlust and crimson glow outshining the runic symbols around them. It held a large bodied sword, the guard of it glowing red as well as the body of it was indeed long and hummed the Ungodly Pressure they've all been feeling.

The entity then regarded each one of them carefully, its voice angelic despite its appearance, and leaning towards that of a feminine voice, eerily similar to that of Sakura's. "Welcome Reapers...and Hankami," it said with a smile as it was now the center of the room, standing near the cutting block and a chilling smile that would've made Kaze's own blood turn to ice, saying, "welcome to your judgement day."

"Oh, no...."

This appearance caused Braeburn to fall back into a sitting position, all of his resolve sapped from his very being and all of his strength failing him. His sword clattered to the ground, glowing white for a moment before shifting back to its sealed state. He had been hoping that they would have been able to reach her in time, that they would have been able to stop the process before it was too late. But now, as the being continued to exude its terrifying power within the massive room, as it taunted them with its promising words, it was all made too clear; they had been too late. The merge had been completed, and now, thanks to their failure, they were all going to die here. It was too much for the Australian, and he found himself hugging his knees close to his chest, face hidden behind his legs.

"I'm really going to die here, after all.... I really am going to be trapped in Hell for all eternity...."

The Slayer's eyes widened, not just at the massive display of strength demonstrated by the being, but at the very tone that the monster took and the way it was able to send a chill down even the Hankami's spine. The power, the intent to kill.... it was strong, indeed, now that the entity had revealed itself. "S.....sister.....?" He managed to state, lowering his sword and looking at it in confusion and astonishment.

The entity merely glanced over in the direction of the Hankami, already having lost interest in the mere Reapers before it, saying with a thin smile, "I know you...Slayer...Child of Izanami. But I am not your Hankami relative you think I am. I am a Harbinger of Punishment and Vengeance, one which will wreak reality's due for the seeds of corruption and sin they poured out onto it, like oil in water it blackens everything. I intend to make it clean, once again-"

"S-S-Sakura??!" Daisuke uttered out, still standing but felt the strain of being near the being, now calling itself Harbinger, as he slowly walked towards it, "can you hear me? Are you still in there?!"

The entity merely glanced sideways, almost out of an annoyance it couldn't understand before dismissing his presence again, regarding the Hankami the most out of the three. "Will you try to stop me, Izanami-child?"

The entity's words caused the Slayer's eyes to narrow, a scowl forming onto his mouth. If there was any hope to fight this creature, he was it. He held strength dominating that of the Soul Reapers by worlds. If anything, he was the second strongest fighter within the premisis. Therefore, he would have to be the one to take on and defeat this monstrosity. He gripped the handle of his sword with two hands, leveling the massive blade towards the Harbinger menacingly. He spoke no words, for he felt as if that single action would be enough to convey his intentions.

Where Hana had landed, a familiar hooded, rag-tag figure was standing over her, arms limp at its sides, and its head lowered in a motion that allowed it to look down on her body. It had a sword lowered idly, but did not make a move to either holster it or kill her. Instead, it continued to stand over her, as if wondering what it should do....

The entity, Harbinger, narrowed its eyes at the Slayer, vehemntly hissing out, "I see...so you would choose judgement first, would you child of Izanami? That will suffice," it said before turning towards the Hankami, its sword practically as long as the Slayer's, though quite more elegant and deadlier, it seemed that all of the pressure came from the sword curiously, as if Harbinger didn't feel the need to release its entire power. He raised the said sword until it connected with the Hankami's, its eyes narrowed preparing to attack when suddenly out of the corner of both combatant's eyes, a slight release of Spiritual Energy was felt.

Daisuke roared out, his eyes filled with red glow of resolve to destroy this...this abomination, as he lifted his now flaming Zanpakuto, saying aloud, "Blaze Eternally, Kyoi Abata!" Then with a mighty roar he leapt towards the entity, using Flash Step to close the distance before slamming with individually impressive force, a swathe of flames licked and enveloped the being's form as well as crossing over onto the Slayer's.

Hana's eyes blinked, coughing slightly before clenching her side, getting onto her hands and knees, trying to get up until she saw a ragged edge of a cloak as well as a sword. She looked up, seeing the aledged Hankami, though she had no idea who it was, the faceless being emanated with a energy as strong if not stronger than the Slayer's. She blinked before looking back, hearing the roar of Daisuke actually courageously, if not stupidly attacking the inhuman god-like entity with his released weapon.

"Idiot," she whispered hoarsely, hissing out in pain from the strike by the entity, cursing for her unawareness.

"The suicidal fool!"

The Slayer gritted his teeth as the flames licked at him, disdainful of the recklessness Daisuke had decided to use. Even as the enveloped him, the flames were only gracing his surface. They were not doing any actual damage to his person, so he did not feel compelled to move from his spot. In order to blow out the flames, he leaped back and skidded to a stop a good distance away. The friction of wind allowed the flames to blow off of him, and his figure could be seen once again. However, he did not hesitate to pull his blade back in a lunge strike, his blade glowing with a red light. Then, he thrust it outward, unleashing a massive fissure of energy towards his foe.

And even within the light, Braeburn did not allow himself to move from his spot...

Meanwhile, the figure allowed itself to stoop to a kneeling position, offering its free hand for Hana to take so that she could pull herself up.

As the fissure of energy lit up, the entiriety of the dungeon exploded upwards, a blast funneled above where the ruined castle was, now a plume of smoke and fire from the energy surge and explosion it caused. However, when the smoke cleared from the attack, Daisuke was blown back, partially covered in rubble but found he was unharmed, seeing that the slash hit dead on the being that held Sakura captive within itself. However...

"No-Not even a scalding?" Daisuke muttered distastefully, seeing that Harbinger took the blow full on, not even concerned about the potential of the blade actually cutting it or burning its person. However, that attack didn't even phase it, having used its blade to redirect the blast of energy to the side and upwards, the attack never reaching its mark.

"You're moves are too predictable," Harbinger said in a bored tone, switching sword hands from its right to its left, clashing the sword to the side while extending a forefinger towards him, a 5 array of satanic stars and circles formed before they converged into one, terrible blast, matching the fissure of energy the Slayer fired at him, "this is a warm-up, Slayer. Come and be judged!"

Hana accepted the hand, limping slightly up and watching the battle between the Hankami and the...the Harbinger, battle in what seems to be a 'warm-up' for the two powerful beings, finding that they weren't even started in their grandiose battle. "That thing...it redirected the Slayer's blast as if its swatting a fly! How can even the Slayer be overpowered by something like that?!"

If there was the possibility of the Slayer being weaker than the Harbinger being true, then he was being stubborn to show it.

Crouching down, he slammed the tip of the sword and buried it within the ground, using it as a shield. The enemy's blast slammed into his defense full force, and he grunted as he felt the waves of power washing over him, almost as if he had willingly threw himself into an ocean. He gripped the handle of his blade tightly with one hand, his side leaning against the cold metal of his own Claymore as he rode out the attack. "I might as well be fighting against two opponents at once...." He thought to himself disdainfully, narrowing his eyes.

In response to Hana's statement, the stranger remained silent. However, he allowed himself to slowly step foward towards the combat area, sword raised a little. It was clear that he would not allow himself to stand by and simply watch. Even so, his walk was calm and unrushed.

Harbinger narrowed its eyes as the Slayer defended against the attack, hissing under its breath at being deterred from hitting the Slayer. It then raised its sword up before slashing at blinding speed, a arc of energy of blood red color flew towards him, twice as powerful as the fissure that he launched at him beforehand, further launching energy out of the ground into the sky, mighty roars of energies and air pressure popping from the intensity of the battle.

Hana watched as the hooded stranger walked forward in calm, slow trod, her eyes couldn't help but notice Daisuke's movements towards Braeburn, crouching low, as if the entity couldn't possibly detect him at the moment. "What is he doing?!" She whispered to herself aloud, watching him crouch next to Braeburn.

"Hey! Braeburn!" Daisuke whispered harshly to him, keeping one eye on the two other-worldly combatants while slapping Braeburn across the face, "I need you to get out of this pit! I'm...going to try something..."

Braeburn had not been expecting the slap across the face, what with him looking down at the ashes and all.

Briefly, his eyes widened in shock as the Lieutenant's hand slapped him, his face jerking off to the side. He even fell onto his back, hands catching themselves behind him as he turned to give Daisuke a look of shock. However, it was quickly shoved away as their situation once again set in, the Hayate's words now registering within his shellshocked mind. He narrowed his eyes, his pupils once again losing their light. "Do what....?" He asked vehemently, slightly baring his teeth. "Tell me at least that. What can you possibly hope to do, now that the Punisher is enfused with Bokyaku, huh....?"

Within the battle, the Slayer's eyes widened as the intensity of the Harbinger's blasts increased themselves twofold. His body immediately stood back up, both hands gripping the handle of his Claymore tightly. With a loud yell, he unleashed yet another energy fissure in order to stop himself from being completely enveloped within the blasts. Then, he vanished from his spot a millisecond before the Harbinger's blast enveloped his own completely, destroying the spot in where he had been. Now, he threw himself at the Harbinger, slashing his sword in continously aggressive attacks performed with malignant grace.

Harbinger took each strike in stride, his equally long, if not lethal blade clashed against the Slayer's, large rings and clashes of metal and power collided, shaking the ground and around them, a torrent of air pressure and wind collided around in a almost haphazard way. Though the Harbinger's eyes, curiously, were closed during the beginning initial strikes, as if it was so easy he could read the Slayer's moves and react to them accordingly. One eye opened curiously as the Monitor approached, still matching each agressive strike with equal force.

A thin smile crawled onto its hideous pale features, saying aloud, "Well now...if it isn't one of Izanami's most terrifying spawn. The Monitor itself has appeared to stop judgement, has he?" Meeting one last clash of its own blade against the Slayer's it then applied powerful force, pushing the Slayer upwards at an angle, out of the castle ruin pit, enough force to send him flying for quite a distance while breaking the air pressure and rumbling the ground around it.

It then, in turn, flicked its middle finger at the Monitor, a concentrated burst of force was thrown the size of a golfball, but enough force to send the other Child of Izanami down the dark tunnel halls back where it came.

"You children are making it so dull," the feminine voice of Harbinger said, referring to the Hankami it had been fighting, twirling its sword around before slamming the edge into the ground, a fang-like toothy smile emanated from its features, "I wish I could just inflict the horrors you so righteously deserve."

Daisuke bit down on his teeth, looking down slightly, hesitant to tell him considering it was so recent he learned his...abilities, but he decided to go with a subtle tact. "Sakura is STILL there...I can feel it," he said while gripping the front of his overcoat tightly, before he said with determination, "and while I still feel a ounce of Sakura keeping herself from killing us all, from even fighting back when I struck at that monster, I will fight with all my strength, even at the cost of my soul!!!!" He stood up, looking over at the battle, before raising his Zanpakuto up in the air, his Spiritual Pressure grew far more than what anyone expected, releasing in a wild torrent of flames around him, as he prepared to release...his Bankai.

Hana herself was shocked at the sudden rising and uninhibited release of dense and fiery Spiritual Pressure, her eyes widening with shock even as the battle raged on. "I-Impossible! He...couldn't have learned that could he?!" She then acted as quick as she could, not knowing if Braeburn would get out of the way in time, she used Flash Step to approach Braeburn's side, grabbing his should shouting at him, "get off your ass and move, dammit!"

The entity finally recognized Daisuke's presence, its eyes looking at the young Soul Reaper intrigued as the boy suddenly shouted out, "BAN-KAI!"

"OOF--"

The Slayer was ruthlessly knocked aside, the force sending him back involuntarily and causing him to lose his footing. This notion alone was enough to stop the Monitor within its tracks, seemingly out of surprise of seeing its bretheren tossed aside like a rag doll. However, it only allowed itself to focus attention towards the Slayer for only a second. As the Harbinger unleashed its second attack, the Monitor raised a hand in order to block the invisible force. Like an arrow colliding with a steel wall, the blast was stopped within its tracks, dissipating upon impact.

For Braeburn, there was really no reason to run. The Harbinger had been summoned, and Daisuke's attempts to defeat it, even with his so-called Bankai, would be simply futile. However, the Lieutenant was still willing to fight, even in such impossible odds. He barely registered Hana's grasp on his shoulder and her harsh yet encouraging words to bring him away to "safety". He slowly allowed himself to stand up as the area was hit by the sudden pressure, and he passed one last look at Daisuke. Then, he placed a hand on Hana's shoulder to confirm his acknowledgement of her words.

Even so, he could not help but think to himself....

"I am such a coward...."

Hana then used Flash Step, taking Braeburn with her as Daisuke's flames extended into a 10 meter radius, blackening the ground around him as well as fill the air with his own surprisingly high Spiritual Pressure, the pillar of fire shot high into the sky, licking and funneling into the dark clouds above, causing the beginnings of a collosal firestorm up above.

As soon as the pillar of fire began to wane, a red Katana cut through the surface like a veil, and Daisuke's blazing Bankai form emerged, his eyes glowing red with resolve and confidence in his abilities. He will get through to Sakura, even at the cost of his life!

"A Bankai?" Harbinger said aloud in slight confusion and curiosity, before blinking, asking aloud to him with a raise of its hand, "are you intending to stop me with your Bankai, child?"

"That'd be idiotic, 'Harbinger'," Daisuke said with a humored grin, before raising his Zanpakuto katana, flames licking both off his body and weapon, before saying, "I'm here to wake Sakura up, nothing else. I recently learned that as strong as my Bankai is, its far from perfect. But...I've also hypothesized, that if I fought with all I have, somewhere inside, Sakura will wake up-"

"Incredible," Harbinger interrupted, its eyes narrowed and a sneer crawled onto its features, "you, child Reaper, have no hope of comparing to my power and yet you insist on attempting to stop me?! I would've spared you and the other Reaper child, had not you intervened. Your greatest sin is that in defying what you cannot comprehend!" It yelled out in rage, the pressure bearing down again in the air heavily, before it appeared near Daisuke, almost without warning, attempting to backhand him away.

Daisuke's eyes widened and out of reflex, he used a variant of Flash Step, a hissing sound emanated from its movement, before he appeared 10 meters above him, suddenly seeing the backhand had a collosal amount of force behind it, crushing further the underworks of the castle, erupting above ash-laid sands and causing a large wave of rubble and ash to spew forth, a nearby Ryuketsu had to evade the flying debris and ash while watching from afar.

"Daisuke Hayate," he uttered lowly, before a narrowing of his eyes shown of confusion and uncertainty, "since when have you had this much determination, to grab onto something that isn't there?"

The Extent of Resolve

"Nngh...."

The Slayer managed to push himself up again into a crouching position, his eyes directing themselves over towards the battle at hand. Slowly, he stood up and allowed himself to walk until he was standing side by side with the Monitor, who had dissipated his sword and resigned to folding his arms across his chest. It was only for a brief moment before it lowered its arms, and he lowered his own blade in order to watch the fight between the two. They didn't interfere just yet, but simply observed him in order to see how he would fare.

Daisuke then saw the entity look at him, a murderous gaze locked onto his own determined orbs, his teeth grit under the sheer pressure the two of them held in the air, the latter's greater than his own.

He then moved like a steamed blur, Harbinger's eyes moved to and fro, feeling his presence as he moved, it was almost a challenge to keep its eyes locked onto the nearly intangible form Daisuke produced. Daisuke then appeared for a split second above Harbinger, moving a his blade in a instaneous fashion as a high-speed fireball shot towards it. Harbinger's eyes narrowed, moving its blade in a fast motion, it cut through the fireball in half, causing a large blast to detonate, shaking the ruined pit they were battling in. Soon afterwards, one after another of the fireballs kept coming, kicking up a continuous stream of pyrotechnic explosions until the entire pit was consumed in a 20 meter high inferno.

Daisuke managed to reappear 50 meters above the flames, looking down stoically at the firepit he had created. But as quick as his attacks came, the firepit was suddenly dissipated, with a single exuding force of sheer crimson energy from Harbinger, its eyes showing of irritation and anger, stabbing its sword into the ground in a vertical upright position, its hand raised up in a open palm towards Daisuke in the open air where he 'stood'.

"Perish and know Judgement," Harbinger hissed out, before a large array of what could be assumed as spiritron particles gathered in the air, like dancing fireflies of glowing light for a good 2 meters in length. Suddenly, a gaping wide arc of crimson red fissure of energy discharged towards Daisuke and the sky above.

"Not good!!!" Daisuke shouted as he raised a man-sized sphere of fire around his red Zanpakuto katana before uttering aloud, "Kami Kizu Shawā Moyashi!!!" Suddenly as the man-sized sphere of fire was launched, it doubled within moments into nearly thousands of fireballs, all of them striking the incoming fissure of energy. Within moments, the fissure arced around Daisuke's burst of fire while steadily gaining ground towards him, forcing him to counterattack again, raising his Zanpakuto towards it, shouting aloud, "Kasai Kawa Kushiyaki!!!" a large stream of fire crashed into the fissure, and with a mighty roar, blew away the last of the fissure, the light and pyrotechnic display could be seen for miles around, crackling and booming throughout the Valley of Ashes.

Hana covered her face from the following events, including the firepit that was created, and now the large flash of light from the blast Harbinger shot at Daisuke, then himself blasting it away with his Bankai abilities. "Incredible! I didn't know he had this much power! But, even still," she said after admiring Daisuke's newfound strength, looking at a hawk-eyed Harbinger, still holding his sword stabbed into the burnt and shattered floor below him, "he didn't as much as flinch during that exchange...how can he have this much power and not even be exhausted?"

"Don't you get it, Hana?" Braeburn's voice was rather cold as he stared upon the scene, his eyes narrowed and squinted in a somewhat unamused fashion. "Daisuke is not only facing an incredibly powerful demon, but an entity that has surpassed what even the Shinigami could not overcome, fused into one. The Lieutenant is fighting a lost cause, now that the fusion's complete, and he's going to die fighting for his so-called Sakura. A real bloody ruin, indeed....." He extended his hand out, and from where it had been dropped, his ash-covered Zanpakuto floated and landed within his hand.

Hana remained silent until a mighty roar filled the air, Daisuke's Spiritual Pressure actually felt among the constant powerful pressure of Harbinger, a mighty torrent of flames gathered around Daisuke as he descended towards Harbinger. His form sounded as if it was a incoming missile, screeching and whining as it came towards Harbinger, the latter saying aloud with a stoic unphased tone, "That's it, Reaper. Come and know pain, be judged today," Daisuke answered with a mighty overhead strike of his Zanpakuto, a collosal blast of flames exuded around them both, consuming the firepit in a raging inferno. The flames approaching the tunnel which the two Hankami resided as well as Hana and Braeburn, the prior pulling him behind the two beings, knowing they would be relatively unharmed by Daisuke's Bankai but couldn't count on themselves.

Hana then shouted above the torrent of fire, but not before slapping him on the other cheek he hadn't been slapped on, glaring at him, "Tell me something, Braeburn! Did it not once occur to you that of all the times to redeem yourself, now was the time?! You're a criminal in the eyes of nearly everyone around you, whether it is true or not, the one time in your life you can do something for the greater good, for your good, and you sit here wallowing in despair and crawling to a corner of cowardice! Daisuke was right about one thing: You are a idiot, truly a coward and a idiot!"

She then stood up, looking past the two Hankami to see Daisuke's Bankai sword resting over Harbinger's, its form relatively unharmed, though part of its cloak and hair were singed, dissolving before everyone's gaze before it regenerated, almost as if nothing happened, a simple action.

Its eyes appeared slightly curious, as if surprised by the resolve in the Soul Reaper's fighting spirit. "You are...determined to see something that isn't there? Why not just stand down? You know this is a futile-"

"Nothing is futile while you have a ounce of life inside yourself!" Daisuke countered the entity with a angry, almost enraged look, roaring until he actually pushed the entity back a step, a mighty loud clash of metal was heard until he began rapidly using Flash Step, his form blurring and shimmering in and out around Harbinger while exchanging high-speed clashes of steel and pressure, another violent toss of hot air spread around the freshly balckened and spark-filled pit.

"You've got to be joking...."

Immediately, the Slayer slammed his blade tip into the ground, releasing his energy once more in order to counteract the offensive torrent that would've incinerated their two Shinigami allies. Even as he was hit with the onrushing winds, the Slayer continued to peer at the duel with squinted eyes. "Either that Daisuke kid's really pushing the so-called ultimate being back...." He commented. "The Harbinger's just screwing with him.... or maybe...." A small grin came to his face. "Sis woke up earlier than I thought she did...."

SLAP!

That was when Braeburn's stern expression changed to one of surprise. He should have been expecting it; he was being rather nihilistic far for anyone's liking. However, the slap, along with her words, caused him to take on an expression of shock for at least a brief moment. His heart almost skipped a beat, and he felt his nerves tremble. He might as well have been a child scolded by his mother on letting a bully beat him up! Sadly, and unfortunately, that seemed like the very situation he was in right now....

He didn't get angry. He didn't get upset. Instead, he started giggling. Then, seconds later, he started laughing, a mirthful expression on his face. The thoughts, in his current situation, proved to be nothing but hilarious! He was letting a bully get the best of him, when he thought about it!

"You stupid bitch...." He slowly raised his sword to point and aim directly at the Harbinger. He didn't look towards her, keeping his eyes on his target. "I was really hoping you were just going to insult me and be done with it. But now that you speak like that...." He placed his free hand on his sword hand's wrist, keeping the blade tip leveled evenly. "I've got no choice but to fight." With that, a small smirk came across his face, and he stated the words that would position him in a spot where he thought he never would have gone to.

"DUEL, KETTO!!!!"

With that, he launched a Tobu Hebi blast, multiple extensions and contractions attacking the entity at the trademark uncomprehensible speed.

Daisuke was in mid-swing when he saw Braeburn out of the corner of his eye, extending his blade and sword arm in his direction ergo the entity's direction, causing his eyes to widen with caution and fear. "SHIIII-!!" Daisuke yelled out as he tried to use his Flash Step, feeling one of the blades reach pass and graze his burning coat while the rest barreled in on a aware Harbinger, its eyes narrowed as it saw the blades coming, disappearing in a shimmer, leaving behind a few flecks of hair and cloth behind of where the contracting blades struck, reappearing 5 meters left of the large blasted part of the pit from sheer velocity and force of the rapid attacks.

Harbinger hissed aloud as it was about to redirect its attention on Braeburn, but before Daisuke swung his red blade towards his throat, a low hum emitted in the air followed by a hiss. Harbinger narrowed its eyes at Daisuke, swinging the blade in a perpindicular twirl to catch the incoming offensive blade, a loud clash and burst of sparks flew around them, starting small flames around the two combatants, secretly emitting flames through the earth, unseen by all.

Harbinger held the blade fast, looking into Daisuke's determined eyes, seeing utter resolve behind them but found it becoming annoying in its sight, and sought to crush that resolve utterly. But before it could retaliate, Hana had already used Flash Step appearing high in the air, already uttering an incantation, before it caught sight of her or registered her, "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Kaizō Hado, Jugeki Raikōhō!" With that said, a red tinged version of the original 60's level Hado formed crackling in the palm of her hand before discharging at a extremely fast pace, as well as causing a tremendous explosion over where Harbinger was.

Hana knew this Kido augmented by herself, had the potential of a Level 90 Hado spell, though she had to use full incantation in order to make it effective enough of a blast. But what she saw next cause her eyes widen and swear aloud in shock, "The Hell?!?!"

The explosion that was created was dodged by Daisuke leaped away from the majority of the blast, covering his eyes by the flash, before he suddenly saw Harbinger's left hand, outstretched and steaming from the blast, but not marring its perfect skin. It then uttered, "Foolish Reapers," with a wave of its sword, sending a fissure of energy towards Daisuke of which he instinctively threw a torrent of flames against it, but the prior's energy exploded in front of him sending him sprawling across the crater before crashing into the steep 'wall' of the impact site they were battling in, causing him to cry out in pain from the force of the aftershock that hurled him into the wall.

Nearly at the same time, Harbinger assimilated a satanic star in front of himself towards Braeburn's position while its palm fired upwards a giant fissure at Hana above, lighting up the area her body was at, thundering into the sky and lighting up the dark valley for miles. "Die!" It hissed, before the satanic star discharged rapid, needle-sized energy projectiles, firing at Braeburn in instaneous firing of up to 3600 within mere moments, causing a large explosion of ash and light, inadverdantly aiming at the two Hankami next to them as well.

All of these elements of destruction were enough to shake Braeburn's nerves.... especially now that he knew what he was up against.

As he stood a ways behind the two Hankami, who continued to observe readily, he could only look on in horror as the projectiles as they sped towards them. However, it was here that the two deities allowed themselves to intervene once again. The Monitor extended its hands outwards, and the Slayer kept his sword in a defensive position with the flat side facing the projectiles. They both released their energies, the Monitor's dark, negative, and corrupting aura side by side with the terrifying, explosive, and brilliant aura of the Slayer.

"There's just no way we can defeat it...."

Gritting his teeth, Braeburn took to the air with a push of his legs, his angered glare onto the Harbinger the entire time. His hair and clothing rippled against the wind's friction that pushed against him as he rose higher, until he was over his targets' head. He readied his sword blade once again, the tip pointing towards the ground this time.

"But I'd rather die for my own beliefs, instead of your insults...."

Once again, he swung the blade, extending and contracting the blade once more. However, instead of the lunges he had been sticking to, he was now using it as a means of actually sword-fighting. Because of the extremely long range and incomprehensible speed, he would be able engage at long-range and give no room for counter-attack....at least, if it was under normal circumstances. However, he also knew of the being's immense speed, and thus, he knew that he could be easily overwhelmed if he was not careful enough.

"I'm not going to die fearing you.... one who is not a true god!!!"

Harbinger once again began twirling its blade in a blurring fashion, clashing with the constant contracting sword strikes by Braeburn, its speed keeping up with the constant contractions and retractions, sparks rained all around the two of them as it was being kept on its toes and yet...it didn't move from its spot this time.

Hana had managed to conjur up Shunko at the last few seconds the fissure of energy hurtled into her, the energy swathed and bathed her crackling and glowing form, her teeth gritting tightly and her eyes wide with shock of how much power was pushed into the blast. Eventually, the fissure dissipated past her, and her Shunko crackled to nothingness as well, she kneeled on the plane she stood upon in the air, taking deep breaths from how near death she could've been just now. "I can't...match his power...nor land a solid hit...this way. There's got to be...another option..."

Daisuke blasted out of the hole he was thrown into, coughing slightly from the ash that got into his mouth, blowing it out like rotten sand, then turning to see Braeburn taking the fight to Harbinger, amazed that he was able to at least take his concentration for right now off of him and everyone else. He also saw Hana, high above in the same place where she was when the blast enveloped her. He breathed a sigh of relief to see she was alive, though she saw she was a bit winded from that blast.

"At this rate, one of us is going to get pummeled too much to keep fighting and run the risk of dying," Daisuke muttered aloud, standing up watching the fierce blade duel between Braeburn and Harbinger, trying to come up with something until he he heard a familiar voice.

"It seems like you've been at this for some time now, Daisuke," the stoic, calm voice said matter-of-factly, making Daisuke whirled around to see his father and Captain Kaze standing over him on the top of the crater's edge.

"It seems that he's become one with that Hankami, this Bokyaku creature has anyways," Kaze pointed out, his eyes zooming in on the unrecognizable figure fending off a nearly undiscernable barrage of blades at him with just speed and sword play, "its amazing he makes it look so easy to fend off the infinite barrage of contracting blades..."

Daisuke then asked incredulously, not about the fact that his Bankai has been seen for the first time with no real reaction, but of why they were just standing there, "Why are you just watching?! We need your help! With your powers combined with all of ours-"

"Will not make a difference, Daisuke," Kukkyona said with narrowed eyes, his arms held casually at the side, before continuing, "we feel his power, Daisuke. He's at a level no Captain can overcome, not even two Captains with two Lieutenants can defeat-"

"I know that!" Daisuke snapped, interrupting his father rudely with a angry look on his face, breathing heavily before he continued in a heated tone, "I promised her....I promised him I'd rescue her, at the very cost of my own soul, not until there's no life left in me I will keep fighting! That is the price I pay being a Soul Reaper, fighting till we have no life left in us!"

"Daisuke," Kukkyona began to say, his features slightly softening, until they all felt a pressure foreign to both Spiritual Pressure and the entity's, blazing high in the sky, the aura of crimson bathing a certain individual. It then appeared to be a crouching, almost a praying stance of Hana!!!

Daisuke's eyes opened wide, Kukkyona's stared, Kaze smiled while saying, "So...finally using that, have you?", Harbinger's eyes widened with shock, and the entire air filled with Hana's power, distorting the air and creating a almost TV static affect all alround them in a reddish hue.

"Wha--"

Braeburn immediately stopped his futile attack, eyes widening and his body stopping within its tracks. "What in the...." He muttered, straightening up and feasting his attention on the praying Hana. "What's she up to....?" The energy he was feeling certainly wasn't that of reiatsu. He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to figure out what exactly was the woman was trying to summon. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the Monitor and Slayer directing gazes towards each other and talking, but couldn't make out what they were saying....

Kaze then explained aloud at the display of mighty power, "Its called, 'Philosophy'. Its one of the most ancient forms of energy known in the universe, not even Spiritual Energy or Reason can compare to this ancient energy that dates back to the Soul King. Its said, even in incomplete form of Philosophy is more powerful than even Demon-influenced energy. Whether that is speculation or not, shall be seen now," Kaze said when he redirected his gaze back at Harbinger.

Harbinger's eyes were dialated and owlish, its cloak billowed around its form and the hair flowed like water around its head, before saying aloud in a more masculine voice, "I-Impossible! How can a mere Reaper...have this kind of power?!"

Hana gradually, if not dramatically, raised up to a standing position to loom over Harbinger and even Braeburn, her eyes glowed of red and the aura around her burned, almost looking hot to the touch, before she said aloud to Braeburn without making eye contact in a solemn tone, "Braeburn. I suggest you move 50 meters horizontally in any direction. I cannot promise you won't be caught up in this fight now," before he would be able to utter a response, she then disappeared, moving so fast that hardly anyone could register her presence.

Suddenly Harbinger gasped, turning around to raise its blade to intercept a kick, the sheer impact caused a shockwave that shook the air and ground violently, air buckled and blew harshly all around them, but more importantly...Harbinger was actually sent flying back across the scalded pit. The entity growled as it dug its blade into the earth, slowing its movements before righting itself, before taking a more agressive stance, albeit its eyes were furrowed and twitching with anger.

"You know what....?"

Even if he was speaking to no one, Braeburn muttered his own reply directed towards Hana as he watched the Harbinger knocked brutally aside. "I think that's the best idea you've ever had...." That being said, he performed a Flash Step in order to re-appear right beside the Captains and the Lieutenant. He kept his sword released and lowered, not bothering to question the newcomers on what had kept them from arriving earlier. He raised the sword a little until the tip was pointing in a certain direction.

That certain direction just happened to be where Ryūketsu was.

SHING!

Keeping himself from acknowledging the Hanta, he fired off another Hebi attack.

Hana was already moving again, its form moving at a rapid pace, Harbinger began to speak saying, "Very well," before suddenly as Hana approached within a high-pitched screaming fashion, launching another punch, Harbinger swung the blade in kind, a loud clash between the aura-emblazoned fist and the large weapon caused a loud shockwave, both of them at a standstill.

"I will punish you first, Reaper!" It yelled out back in a feminine voice, launching a pointblank fissure of energy at Hana, missing her barely by a few moments, as she whizzed away from the large burst of energy that traveled and cut into the scarred landscape for a good distance, crashing nearby 5 meters from where the Captains and Daisuke were.

Daisuke's eyes beamed enthusiastically as he said aloud, "Now that she's keeping her occupied," he then stabbed his katana in the ground, sparks began to stream into the earth, from where he stood he began to exuded his Spiritual Energy into the ash-blackened earth, "I should do something to even the playing field for all of us."

Ryūketsu's eyes, thankfully, had been observing the fight with great interest and fascination, in near total awe in the strength both his master and the one called Hana who he dispatched her Sekisekki swords. Thus as he saw a certain Soul Reaper break off from the engagement of Harbinger, and pointed his blade towards his direction, he immediately swore under his breath as the array of high-speeding contracting blade strikes kicked up the air and ash, billowing into a tall mushroom cloud from where Braeburn launched his attack.

As soon as the ash-dust cleared, a thin violet barrier could be seen emanating from a layer of hovering chains, coming from the sleeves of Ryūketsu hoodie, his eyes narrowed and his features relatively unphased, "So, you're a glutton for punishment, are you?"

"Tch....!"

Braeburn narrowed his eyes at the miss, lowering his blade and directing a rather irritated gaze towards Ryūketsu. "On the contrary.... I was hoping that would've shut you up." He answered, keeping his blade lowered. It reverted once again back to its regular state; Hana didn't need his help anymore. However, he did turn around to take steps towards the Hanta.

Ryūketsu retracted the chains back into his sleeves before they visually disappeared, putting his left hand's palm onto his Zanpakuto casually, his cut-up form relatively nothing worse for wear despite the heated exchange they had not too long ago as he held his right hand lazily at his side. His eyes however did not leave Braeburn's, speaking aloud in a almost incredulous tone, "Are you wanting to die, Braeburn McTavish, former 3rd Seat of the Seireitei's Gotei 13 5th Division? It took three of you last I recalled to even lay a few scratches on me. Unless you have any other skills other than your unqiue Zanpakuto's speed, you won't kill me."

"Well, good on ya...." Braeburn muttered, rolling his eyes and sheathing his sword. "Because I'm not going to kill you, now that the surprise is gone. At the very least, I've got your attention. Tell me...." He turned his head towards the two... no, three people that were in combat. "In the time that you were here, did you ever sense something off with this so-called "Harbinger"?"

"Do not voice my master's name in such disdain, you insignificant Soul Reaper," Ryūketsu said coldly, his eyes narrowed and showed killing intent as he began slowly walking towards Braeburn, but continued talking, "enlighten me what you see wrong with my master's ascended form, a form not even a Bankai could rival against?"

Harbinger meanwhile had managed to stay toe-to-toe against Hana, albeit was actually putting effort into the fight now, the two blurring forms leaped, somersaulted, slashed and kicked, creating a maelstrom of violent excess of energies around them, cracking the earth below them, a gradual storm of ash flew across the valley, throwing its way towards Braeburn and Ryūketsu, the latter's eyes didn't even waver in its stoic murderous gaze. Ryūketsu's hoodie began to morph as well as his appearance.

His clothes changed from simple civilian garbs into that of a red bordered black trench coat, bearing a collared red shirt with a black tie and suit pants, and his right hand went to his Zanpakuto, slowly out of its sheathe, the metal could be heard over the torrential winds and battle nearby, showing his resolve to kill the Soul Reaper before him.

This only caused Braeburn to smirk, clearly amused by the sudden resolve of Ryuuketsu to kill him. Even as the winds hit him, it was as if his very soul was focused on the demon in front of him. "Surely, someone as powerful as you should've sensed it...." He allowed his own legs to move him in a pacing motion, his hands not moving to pull out his blade. "Such a combination of power, as well as sharing of identities, would've resulting in the two independant energies to work in harmony, mixed together like food in a blender. I was too scared to sense it before, seeing the Harbinger for the first time....but as I'm seeing Hana actually give it a run for its money, I'm now convinced."

He gestured out towards the two combatants.

"The fusion isn't complete.... is it? Or at the very least, it's not turning out how you wanted it to, is it?"

Ryūketsu raised his left hand uttering as Braeburn spoke, taking his words sparingly before he stuck out his hand, "Sokatsui!" Suddenly a large wide blast of blue energy fired Braeburn's form, causing a explosion at the end, kicking up the ash around into a small twister before falling back to the ground.

"You aren't even seeing the depth of my master's power. Harbinger is indeed a identity that both the Punisher and Bokyaku agreed to use to become one being, but you haven't seen them releasing their full strength yet. Not even the power of your Soul Reaper girl's Philosophy be able to stand its full might," he spoke with more venom than he intended, not understanding why one mere Soul Reaper worked him up so much.

As Harbinger and Hana broke off from their engagement momentarily, the energies around them crackled and split the earth around them, both of them had hardly any real injuries save for heaving of breaths on Hana's end, with Harbinger not as perturbed as he was earlier, slowly but surely began to calm through the duration of the battle as he understood the power she possesses.

"Its incomplete, isn't it?" Harbinger asked back in a feminine voice, causing Hana's eyes to widen as the Harbinger cocked its head to the side, continuing, "your Philosophy isn't complete is it? I did not think it to be possible for a mere Reaper not of Royal Birth to possess this type of power. Yet, it will be all in vain," Harbinger raised its sword up before slamming it into the earth, placing a hand over its chest, calling out, "I will allow you one, big, attack upon me without me dodging or stopping you. C'mon, think of your best strategy, for I won't give you any quarter after this!"

"Don't insult me, monster!!!" Hana shouted back, her energy radiated brightly, before she raised a hand upwards, as she began to chant a incantation, "Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy! Boil forth and deny! Grow numb and flicker! Disrupt sleep! Crawling queen of iron! Eternally self-destructing doll of mud! Unite! Repulse! Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness! Hado #90, Kurohitsugi!" Suddenly, a towering array of black energy began to form a superstructure, so huge it began to seal in Harbinger as a large towering coffin, filling up nearly the entiriety of the battlefield.

Hana then said aloud, "This is no ordinary Kido, monster. By utilizing the energy of my Philosophy, I have nearly limitless power to utlilize even the most difficult and dangerous techniques no ordinary Soul Reaper can complete. This fully incantation spell warps time and space, you will not survive, Harbinger."

This time, Braeburn had allowed himself to move.

With a Flash Step, he teleported himself from where he was standing, the Sokatsui spell unleashing its aftereffects as it dissipated. He re-appeared a ways off behind Ryūketsu. "I could care less whether or not it reveals its full power. But I doubt that it'll get a chance to use such. Allow me to give you a bit of education, straight from the Red Sun scrolls. You see, Shinsei is an energy exclusive to the gods of Red Sun, a passive power serving as the driving force for all in existence. It is said to hold a sentient nature, which is said to be the reason why it cannot be created....or destroyed. This energy is what the deities of Red Sun are made up of, like Shinigami are composed of spiritual energy."

He turned to face Ryūketsu, folding his arms across his chest. "What your master attempted to do was fuse with one of these Hankami and absorb the Shinsei. Even now, I don't know why that the Punisher's energy hasn't rejected Bokyaku completely. But from what I can tell...."

His smirk grew wider.

"....that fusion will not last."

Ryūketsu then turned around, kicking up ash with a violent kick and added burst of Hado #1, Shō, effectively sending enough ash in the air to blind Braeburn to his movements. Then he used Death Step, rapidly disappearing and reappearing beside Braeburn, slashing with a incredible slash filled with both speed and strength, aiming to cut him in half right above the sternum, or send him hurtling across the landscape if he countered.

"Do you take my Master for a fool? He's been planning to ascend with the Hankami for countless amount of years. He's studied the Red Sun scrolls, how else do you think he could try to suade the Punisher if not anyone else? She is the pure essence that rules and masters the forces of Hell with the exception of Hell's Will. Unless the Punisher is willingly wanting to seperate from Master, the Shinsei energy you claim to adapt and be nigh indestructible will just keep growing stronger. Thanks to your friend, Hana Yūgure, he will evolve past the point where even a Incomplete Philosophy will be able to stop him," Ryūketsu then finally graced himself with a smile, hoping to have pointed out the fatal flaw in Braeburn's understanding of Shinsei energy and the Punisher herself.

Meanwhile, within the giant black coffin superstructure, something pulsed and roared within the Kido made by Hana. Hana's hair flew around her brow and head, her eyes widened in shock and confusion, her body became mixed with Ash and energy as suddenly pure red crimson beams shot out the sides of the coffin superstructure on either side before slicing it upwards, cutting it in half.

"I-Impossible!" Hana uttered lowly, suddenly seeing a beam in the form of a blade shoot out at nearly indiscernable speeds towards her, aiming to cut into her chest. Hana then activated a white burst of energy aroudn her, the red hue a affect of her Philosophy energy, as she knife-hand struck the oncoming beam, shouting aloud, "Hanki!" Her Shunko technique vibrated to such a high degree, her arm began to bleed underneath the white sparking aura before finally shattering the red hue blade that struck at her.

She breathed out a few deep breaths before recollecting herself, letting her Philosophy heal her wounds in a almost untimely fashion, her eyes widened when Harbinger was revealed with two large black angel wings, stretching out to a length of 3 meters each, the sword glowed and Harbinger glowed wildly as it stared her down with pure murder in its eyes, its extended finger lowered, saying, "You failed to lay a single scratch on me, Reaper. Despite all your power, you cannot harm me. The fact that you harmed yourself in order to protect your body shows how much a difference in strength we have now."

If Ryuketsu had not attacked him, Braeburn would've most likely paid more attention to the being that had been created. As it was... his life was at stake.

It wasn't the speed of just his own body that allowed him to move in anticipation.... but it was his very own Zanpakuto. Speed was useless if you could not direct and see it yourself, and Ketto itself possessed terrifying speed with its attacks. Therefore, Ryuketsu's movements, as frightening as they would have been to anyone else, was anticipated by the Soul Reaper. Within a millisecond, he had bent his torso low to the ground and bent his knees, the slash barely missing its intended target. With another Flash Step, he retreated, still close enough for Ryuketsu to hear him clearly.

"How exactly can you prove that the Punisher wants this?" He questioned, gritting his teeth at the sudden attacks on his person. "We both know what she's like, how she can affect people as you've seen from the likes of Daisuke! I know you aren't as blind as he is to understand that!"

Ryūketsu then grit his teeth, real emotion flew across his eyes before he blasted a burst of Spiritual Energy around himself, creating a torrent of crimson Spiritual Pressure leaning to a darker shade, distorting the air around Braeburn's eyes.

"We both know?! How would you know the sheer cruelty that THING caused to me?! Do you know how utterly evil a being she is?! No one of that vile and decrepit morality should have the title 'Punisher'. If anyone is to be doing the punishing, its ME!!!" Ryūketsu shouted out, raising his Zanpakuto to point directly at Braeburn's line of sight, whispering aloud, "Punish, Shūnenbukai!"

A glow traveled up the Zanpakuto, changing its shape from a Katana, to that of a round-bell pommel, brown threaded hilt, cross-shaped guard, and a long european styled blade, reaching up to 5 feet in length, showing a number of enamorings along the body of the blade shown to be in Latin language. With a decisive swing to his side, a gust of wind flew around himself, a miniature tornado of ash flowed around him, his eyes glowed of killing intent and his form fluttered around menacingly.

"Ready to recieve your punishment, Braeburn McTavish?" He asked with stoic deadly gaze on his face, his blade's runes glowed eerily and showing that he was ready to attack.

"Damnit...."

Braeburn narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth slightly. Truth be told, he wasn't really wanting to fight Ryūketsu, not because he was fearful that he wouldn't win, but that it would've been pointless. The Hanta fully believed that the Harbinger would win the battle, yet the Soul Reaper's words had provoked him enough to release his Zanpakuto. Even as the power rippled throughout the area, he did not flinch at it. Instead, he rested his hand on his hilt and spread his feet apart in an iaido stance, his other hand gripped around the sheathe itself.

He wouldn't release his Zanpakuto this time. For now, he would rely on his own swordsmanship and base abilities in order to fight the Hanta. This time, he could fight fully without consequence.

"Is that why you're one of the ones condemned here?" He said his last statement mockingly with a taunting smile to boot before settling back into a serious expression. "If you honestly believe you deserve to punish me.... then fine. Come at me with all you have. I'll be the one to destroy you completely!!!"

Ryūketsu's eyes narrowed, whispering aloud ominously, "Is it wise to keep your blade sheathed?" He then used Death Step, appearing by the side holding onto his weapon's hilt and sheathe, already twirling the Zanpakuto above his head before slashing in a diagonal arc above and past Braeburn, merely uttering, "Baindo Kugyō (Lit Translation, "Bound Penance,")."

Following the statement, a long black chain whirled around Braeburn's form, aiming to ensare him as well as sink crude, hooked barbs into his body, surging a venom to dull the nerve centers and numb the body, though the initial sinking of the tightly bound twine and barbs would be quite painful as well. The binds would be nearly impossible to shrug off short of raw Spiritual Energy or a precise cut of a Zanjutsu Specialist or Master.

This knowledge made Braeburn smirk. "Perfect...."

Grabbing the hilt of his sword, he pulled it out in a perfect iaido strike. The swiftness and the power of his strike was exactly that; someone of master swordsmanship. As a result, the rhythm of the chains had been disrupted, their form battered and stopped by his attack. He didn't stop there, quickly stabbing his blade into the ground. From the metal, a burst of raw spiritual energy in the form of wide and focused blast blew away the chains that attempted to imprison him, Ryuketsu within its path. This was display of both traits needed to break through his enemy's first attack.

"....yeah...."

During this time, the Slayer directed a somewhat hesitant gaze towards both of the fighters, then the advancing form of the Hanta upon Hana. "I think I should stop this before it gets anymore out of hand. Sis had her fun...." With that, he allowed himself to steadily walk towards the Harbinger and Hana. The Monitor followed close behind him, silent and slow within his own gait.

Ryūketsu had expected for the technique to be halted or dodged, knowing Braeburn's quick reflexes and speed demonstrated by training with his immensely fast Zanpakuto. As the burst of Spiritual energy dissipated the barbed-cord, he whizzed past him in a burst of Death Step, slashing face, intending to cut his head off but knew with the fast reflexes the Soul Reaper had, it would merely be a graze. But that's all he would need...

"Kogasu (Lit Translation, "Sear,")," he uttered, upon the venom that would be injected into his opponent, it would then send the most violent, intense burst of pain overflowing the body to the point of near sensory overload. The overall effect would leave the opponent open to attack as well as partially incapacitated, the pain surprisingly temporary to the amount of 10 seconds, though in hindsight is all an opponent of Ryūketsu's caliber to end a fight.

Daisuke then retracted his sword, a violent burst of flames threw in the air, causing the two Captains to step back cautiously as Daisuke burned of his Spiritual aura, his pressure intense more than it was earlier, saying, "I have one last shot before her brothers get a chance. I'm going," he looked back at his father, his eyes stoic and resolute, but dawned a smile characteristic of himself, "and I'll win."

Kukkyona sighed, before nodding not saying anything back but a mere smile in recognition of his son's resolve to save not just reality itself, but his friend as well. Kaze on the other hand...

"Go ahead and kill yourself boy! My machine will pick up your remains and I will study them at my own leisure," he said with a slight chilling smile, before sighing, resting himself on his cane as he awaited the young Soul Reaper's next move. He couldn't deny he was curious what he was up to.

Daisuke then nodded, before kicking up a great deal of ash as he flew towards Harbinger and Hana, a gust of wind kicking in his wake. Flames catching on fire, suddenly the sparks that were traveling dormant in the ash-covered soil began to light up around Harbinger in a perfectly constructed three layered drawn circle, its radius vast and just at the edge of Hana's feet as well as the approaching Hankami.

Harbinger's eyes arched, widening slightly at the Soul Reaper's stubborn attempt to harm it, uttering aloud, "What are you doing, chil-?!"

"This is my final testament to break you free of your prison...Sakura!" He then stabbed his Zanpakuto into the ash-soil beneath him, uttering aloud, "Jigoku Hashira Kangoku!"

Suddenly, a deep rumbling shook the ground for miles ominously, causing Hana to back away in alarm, sensing massive amounts of thermal build-up below the soil as well as laced with Spiritual Energy, her aura held fast to protect her from any harmful effects that would transpire. The lines within the soil then shot up, like a geyser of pure flames, moving so high it dwarfed the prior used Kido that Hana used, forming a giant pillar of flames, rumbling and roaring aloud in its might.

"The Hell, Daisuke! You're always budding in when you're not needed!" Hana growled under her breath, her hair flickered around her head and her gear jingled as she gazed irritably, if not in awe of the amazing power before her.

CLANG!

Ryuketsu's blade was intercepted by Braeburn's, which had been pulled out and twisted in the path of the oncoming attack. The Australian allowed himself to chuckle in amusement before batting the blade away. In such a move, the Hanta had clearly expected a dodge. But Braeburn was a reflexive fighter, and could easily pace himself within the midst of combat. It would take far more than such blitzkrieg moves to kill him. With his resolve behind him, he proceeded to attack Ryuketsu with a barrage of sword strikes, each one matching the speed of his Shikai ability.

At times, it didn't even look like he was moving his sword at all, considering the speed that his hands were moving at.

I've underestimated him, Ryūketsu thought in mid battle, as several of the high-speed sword strikes grazed an arm, a cheek, some hair, while he aimed to adjust his own Zanjutsu skills towards Braeburn's. His eyes over time began to see the blur of motion Braeburn made, the sword strikes gradually began to become visible to his eyes.

His centuries of experience finally began to pay off, as he began to now block and counter the strikes within a matter of seconds. Ryūketsu's eyes narrowed as he then used Death Step by only a fraction of a step to the side, in midway executing a diagonal strike upwards, from Braeburn's right solarplex up past his chest, intiating his Kogasu technique, whispering aloud, "You were almost too fast for me, but its over now, Soul Reaper."

Harbinger glanced around at the walls of flame around it, all the way sealing the top, making the only way of exit through the barrier of hot flames. Confident in its own abilities, it decided to play into the Soul Reaper's game, but its look of confidence when the edges of its wings began to smoke.

Its eyes widened in surprise, whispering aloud in a dual-gendered tone voice, "Wh-What is this?!"

"You actually think during this entire time I've been fighting you, I would think my Zanpakuto's generated flames would cause damage to you?" Daisuke asked incredulously, a smile played across his brightened face, his burning cloaked form fluttered around him as he was mere meters from his enemy and friend, the roaring flames generating a miniature maelstrom of hot wind inside the ash soil below, gradually becoming lit of flames as well.

"What is that supposed to mean, Reaper?! What are you using that could possibly harm a being that transcends Hankami and Soul Reapers?!" It yelled out in a dual-voiced tone of outrage and confusion, its wings now catching aflame, causing it to wince and wonder why its sheer essence wasn't repelling it.

"Are you that arrogant you don't remember Sakura's former job?!" Daisuke yelled back, a smile bore on as he waved his arms for emphasis around the entiriety of where they've been battling.

Harbinger looked perplexed, but suddenly a slow dawning, or realization of what the flames he's been generating were now. A wide gaze of horror and yelling of denial erupted from Harbinger, "That's not possible!!! There is no fire that Hell naturally generates here!!! How can YOU harness it?!-"

"You left me alone quite some time while fighting my friend earlier," he began to explain, kicking up some ash resting by his feet, sparks flew and turned into miniature fireballs before rising to join the technique, the pillar slowly enveloping the whole space they walked in, "so I began to delve my reach, my natural ability to manipulate heat in the elements around me, fire more precisely. I then found out something...what happens when a fire goes out, with unkempt coals within the ashes? It keeps its heat right? What happens when a great fire destroys everything in its path, creating ashes so great, it causes an entire landscape to be covered in a desert-like state, where is all that heat leftover?"

Harbinger then saw its wings began to light aflame, it began screaming, pointing at Daisuke, saying, "You cannot harness Hell's fires! Its impossible!"

"If its Fire, I can control it, whether its in the World of the Living, the Soul Society, Yurei Okuto, Hueco Mundo, or even Hell it seems, I can control it and bend it to my will while in my Bankai form. Fire doesn't harm me, no matter how hot it is. And now," he then grabbed the fire emblazoned Zanpakuto sword stuck in the ground, now live coals dancing at their feet, a giant billowing flame began to gather at the top of the pillar of fire, "it ends here. Sakura, my resolve to free you will awaken you from your prison. NOW!!!"

Suddenly the entire pillar shook, from the inside out, signaling the Captains watching onwards to move as far away as possible, using their own Flash Steps to escape the following inevitable explosion.

Braeburn's and even Ryūketsu's eyes widened as he suddenly saw the irregularity of the flames about to combust, the latter swearing under his breath heatedly. Halting his fight with Braeburn before making rapid hand signs, slamming his palms onto the soil, "Bakudo #91, Kokushokuhatsu Chakushin Kiseimon!" Two collosal pillars rose out of the ash-covered soil, curiously now was sparking as well, followed by a number of crude, black chains hauling up a even larger gate, covered with rune symbols and paper tags, marked with 'Forbidden' and 'Barred' on it, before finally the giant gate stood in between Braeburn and Ryūketsu from the inevitable explosion.

"My God...." Braeburn muttered, too shocked to move from his position. Indirectly, Daisuke had saved him from becoming overwhelmed, as that split second had caught him off-guard. But now, there was the threat of being consumed by the very attack that his comrade had initiated. He lowered his sword, eyes widened in astonishment at the power that was building up. At the very least, Ryuketsu had been willing enough to stop his attack.

"Forgive me if you feel insulted, Braeburn, but I think its in both of our interests to halt this battle for fear of possible demise of this unusually deadly flames your friend is going to unleash," Ryūketsu said in a stoic, matter-of-fact tone.

"No complaint here, mate...." Was the apprehensive reply.

Then the inevitable did happen, the large pillare sudenly detonated in a earth-shaking, blinding, hellishly hot explosion in the form of what could be assumed as a mushroom cloud of flames, funelling high into the skies, causing a firestorm of unimaginable proporations to rumble and crackle in the sky as the earth below was scorched in a wave of enveloping tongues of fire, covering the entiriety of the 'city' that was burried, blowing away a large tidal wave of ash off the valley as well as cracking the earthen soil below.

The pyrotechnic explosion rippled and roared along the powerful Bakudo, its creaking and groaning causing a quite unnerving look in Ryūketsu's eyes as he uttered aloud, "I'd imagine this is probably one of the few forces in the universe strong enough to possibly destroy this Kido..."

"If I survive this...." Braeburn said vehemently, fighting back the feeling of his heart beating rapidly within his chest. "I'm going to throttle the life out of that son of a bitch...." Even within the barrier, the heat produced from the attack was monstrous. Beads of sweat were rolling down his face at an accelerated rate, the heated winds creating a burning sensation across his body as it billowed his hair and clothing. He turned his head away, using his free arm to shield his face vainly.

Children of Izanami - Hell's Awakening Act IV

My Final Judgement

The roaring inferno kept battering the Bakudo, the gate creaked and groaned in protest, slight faint sounds of cracking was heard within the supports and chains began to snap off the pillars. When it seemed like the nearly unbreakable defense give way to the howling flames, the fury began to die down, the overwhelming heat began to cool, and the firestorm above was nearly broken up, slightly illuminating the entiriety of the Valley in a dim red hue.

As the fire finally let up, the gate cracked and began to splinter before falling apart, crashing down into the newly founded ash the inferno created, floating aimlessly with slight spark-lit air in the air, the smell of ozone and sulfur heavy, almost intoxicatingly so. Ryūketsu however had more things on his mind as he looked onward towards the ground zero of the explosion, a deep pit had been created where a bath of steam, sparks, and ash danced around the culminated nearby beings.

"M-Master?" He asked aloud as he walked towards the area before breaking out into a run to see if Harbinger was in one piece.

It was unnecessary, however, as Harbinger was more or less stunned by the attack, but not a single sight of scalding or burns marked it. The wings stretching from its back were no longer on fire, and appeared to be unmarked from the attack curiously. Its eyes wide and twitching, almost as if completely taken aback by the ferocity of the technique and the possibility of actually sucummbing to the hellfire that the young Soul Reaper used had made it doubt itself for even a few moments, but its power remained true.

Daisuke on the other hand was burned out. Both literally and figuratively, his overuse of his Bankai had caused nearly all of his Spiritual Energy to be spent, and the fiery visage of himself and burned away, leaving nothing but a marred black overcoat and a sealed state of his Zanpakuto in his hands, with a sheen of sweat covering his body.

He wasn't the only one to have come out unscathed.

As the smoke cleared, the two Hankami had still been standing there watching, the Slayer having instinctively used his arm to shield his face. He slowly lowered in, his expression changing to one of clear amazement. It was expected for the Bankai not to affect the godly beings in the least.... but the sheer explosive power displayed was certainly not that of the common Shinigami. Had it been anyone else.... they would've certainly been decimated by now. If it hadn't been for Ryuketsu, both the Hankami and the remaining Soul Reaper would've died.

On Braeburn's side, he had lowered his tense stance and looked at the scene with solemn eyes. His comrade was severely exhausted and physically teetering on the brink. But the Harbinger had not been scarred at all, even with the damage done to the landscape. "I can only hope that I'm right...." He muttered softly, his eyes wavering as he stared at the two combatants. His Zanpakuto, although held in one hand, was held limply at his side.

Hana stood nearby, her arms held in front of her and her aura of Philosophy was now let done, but she also on the other hand, relatively unharmed from the Bankai blast. Her breathing was heavy as she revered back to her regular stores of Spiritual Energy, and she reached to unsheathe her Zanpakuto at her hip, swearing aloud, "Not even a scratch?! The Hell, Daisuke! I could've beaten him!"

"Stay back, Hana!" Daisuke said aloud, stumbling forward, his body swayed back and forth, teetering on the edge of exhaustion, his his eyes bore into Harbinger's stunned ones, saying aloud, "this fight is mine, and mine alone. Don't interfere!"

Harbinger then began to grit its teeth, grinding them together before shouting aloud, its power bearing down all around the air as its shouted in a masculine voice now, "You imputent fool! How dare you try to defy judgement upon all beings, Hollow and Soul Reaper alike, humans and Hankami, they all must suffer under Harbinger's wra-" suddenly, one of its wings dissipated into black dust, floating away. Its eyes moved over and looked at its left arm, suddenly spasming and contorting in odd directions, as if something inside it was moving it on its own.

"Wh-What is this?! No! No-!" he was halted as the hand reached up and grabbed a hold onto its face, and it began throwing its sword around in wild abandon, large tendrils of red energy blasted out of a part of Harbinger's body, the arcing energy moving to and fro, causing large explosions in its wake, making Hana step away rapidly from a violent blast, and Daisuke held his ground, covering his brow at the gradually growing and lit Harbinger as it began swearing and shouting aloud.

"This can't happen! There must be judgement! You all must paaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggh!!!" Suddenly, the skin on its body and the clothes around it crackled into fiery red splinters before a violent, energy blast destroyed its form, a large column of energy spiraled high into the sky, illuminating the entire valley for a few moments in its morbid, horrifying blast, sending Daisuke spiraling backwards, crashing through the ash-covered soil, on the verge of crashing into a boulder when Hana suddenly caught him, using her own body to brace themselves against the concussive force.

As swift as it began, it ended within a mere minute of the bizarre spectacle. In the center of the blast, lied two figures, one totally cloaked in black, with a exposed head with dirtied green hair and the other was a long, fiery red haired figure lying on the ash covered ground as well. The prior of the two began to try to stand up, his body weakened and his energy nearly spent from the nearly fatal seperation that happened to him, "This cannot be...possible..."

"Sakura!" Daisuke shouted aloud, shrugging Hana off, running along the crackling ground, stumbling slightly and dropping his sword, his face coated in the ash before he coughed up and crawled back up, before he dropped by her side, kneeling by her, moving her aside, his eyes slightly blinded from the ash in his eyes, but he could feel that wonderful detestable energy emanating from her as he shook her while cleaning his eyes, "wake up Sakura. Can you hear me?! Sakura!"

Buh-beat.

At first, she could hear nothing. It was nothing but complete blackness that could be made out within her vision. Her body felt numb, but she could feel her heart beating steadily within her chest. Daisuke's voice was unrecognizable within the subconsciousness of her mind. "....my.....who am I.....what am I.....I am....." She could not even think straight due to the effects of having her individuality ripped away from her and then being put back in her mind. She might as well have been dead, slowly coming back to life.

Then..... Daisuke's voice became clearer.

"Daisuke.....?"

Instinctively, she reached out with her senses, and indeed found the Hayate to be kneeling right beside her prone form. That gave her the strength to reach out with her physical being as well. The sounds of her beating heart began to fade away in her own ears, and she found feeling within her body. She slowly opened her eyes, pearing wearily at the boy. "D....daisuke..... you know full damn well.... you shouldn't have come here....." She managed to get out, slowly pulling herself up to a sitting position. She placed her face in her hands and shook her head slightly, trying to speed up her waking process.

As this was going on, Braeburn could only look on with a small smile in revelation that he had been correct all along. Promptly, he sheathed his sword and folded his arms across his chest, simply watching everything take place. However, despite the smile, there was now the fact of what the woman would do, now that her identity was out in the open. What would the rest of them do to her, or try to do....?

With the Monitor stopping and resuming its silent watch, the Slayer walked over to Sakura's other side and kneeled down, his sword balanced on his shoulder once again and a glib expression on his face as he waited for her to get herself together. He spared a glance over at the weakened Bokyaku, but only a glance. After all, he was severely weakened, unfit to fight. He could be easily slain as he was.... but it wasn't up to him to decide his fate. Thus, he had to wait for his judge to get back to business.....

Daisuke couldn't help but smile, then he laughed aloud, nearly busting a gut as he rolling around on the ash covered ground, coughing slightly as he inadverdantly inhaled some of the morbid dust before getting back up, and wrapping his arms around her, whispering in her ear, "You have no idea how worried I was for you. I'm glad you're safe, Sakura-chan..."

Bokyaku began to get on his feet, his fluttering cloaked form rippled around him as he raised a black, armored hand towards Sakura, calling out to her in a almost begging voice, "P-Punisher...why? Why did forsake it? Forsake...me? I would've...killed the universe to be at your side...to be one with you...so...why?"

Kukkyōna Hayate had managed to get to safety with Kaze, they were now walking slowly to the scene, watching carefully both the Hankami and the Demon, as well as Ryūketsu's actions as he slowly approached his master, eyeing them all carefully, knowing his duty to protect Bokyaku if the others made gesture of threatening origin towards him.

Sakura's eyes immediately widened upon hearing the voice.

"Oh.... that's right.... I forgot about him...."

Her briefly surprised look faded away, a slight frown forming on her face. Snaking one arm out from Daisuke's embrace, she placed it on his back. With a grunt, she managed to stand herself up on her own two feet, gently prying herself from Daisuke's embrace. As the Slayer stood up and watched her curiously, she walked slowly and deliberately towards Bokyaku, her eyes overshadowed by her bangs. She remained silent, one hand slowly raising towards Bokyaku's. Before he could pull it back down, she weaved her fingers in with his, squeezing tightly.

Then, she pulled....

SPLURCH!!!!'

....ripping off Bokyaku's arm in the process."

Why, you ask....?" She asked coolly, watching the blood spill from his socket first in the form of a good-sized geyser, then a steadily rain that spilled onto the ground beside him. She lowered the severed arm, taking calm and calculated paces around him and indifferent to her audience. "The answer is simple....." She allowed a sadistic smirk to come across her face. "To the people like you, I'm nothing but a cold bitch. I warned you to quit now while you were still ahead, to stop while you were in the position you were in.... but you had to take my words for granted, didn't you? You only have yourself to blame....."

Bokyaku had a slight smile as he felt the Punisher's fingers entwine with his. But the moment was quick, as quick as the Punisher pulling his arm right out of its socket and off his body, causing a sickening wet and cracking sound. His eyes widened and his mouth opened up as he howled in pain, clenching his bleeding 'stump' with his other hand, hearing the Punisher's words, before he growled out, "You misguided fool! We could've ruled the universe! We could've destroyed it! Why would you squander such power...in such poor taste as medioctiry?! What are you existing for if not punishing others?!"

Ryūketsu could only tense as he saw the Punisher, renewed strength and all, injure his master in such a grotesque and pointed way, showing who was stronger than the other. His eyes furrowed and his mouth clenched tightly, knowing he couldn't do a single thing to stop her, with all of her allies around her, it would be suicide to intervene.

Hana rushed over to Braeburn's side, her Zanpakuto sheathed but hanging casually in her grip, her body tense and ready for a fight, but her mind told her it was all but over. But for countenance, she leaned her head over to Braeburn, whispering him in query, "What's the Punisher going to do with Bokyaku? Is she going to kill him slowly?"

".....that would be too merciful...." Braeburn said calmly, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. "All sinners are condemned to eternal Hell.... with what Bokyaku did, he became no different from the ones that are continuing to suffer. It's only natural...."

SQUELCH!!!!

The other arm of Bokyaku came off with a swift lunge and tug, and now Sakura was holding both squirming limbs in her grasp. She dropped them to the ground, and they continued to writhe violently, almost as if they were still attached to the body but still in severe pain. "If I don't punish....." She questioned him, clearly amused and even somewhat giddy by the angry tone that he used with her. "Then how do you explain the millions of souls that reside here, the screams that will continue on for all eternity? Those are people who have sinned and have not repented, the souls who dedicated themselves to lives of corruption and decay. That is my duty.... to purge the world of its sin completely and to restore purity to the universe. But you? You were fine before, but now you've completely threw yourself in the grave."

With a raise of her leg, she delivered a kick to his back and slammed him to the ground face-first. She lowered herself down to a kneel over him, grabbing the back of his head and forcing him to look in the direction of the others. She allowed her own eyes to look towards them, the seemingly insane and sadistic gleam not leaving the look. "But hey, look on the bright side! At least you won't have to suffer alone! You've even got your most loyal subject here to watch you! Now isn't that just good company, hahahahahaha~!!!!"

A grin slowly came across the Slayer's face, and he started to chuckle at the scene as well, as if it was some sort of big joke. "Jeez, Sis.... I almost forgot how good you are when it comes to this kind of stuff....." He thought to himself.

Bokyaku uttered another longing howl, before he gasped aloud, feeling the kick to his back as his face turned toward his most loyal of his subordinates. His creations. His children...

"Master!" Ryūketsu called out, moving to unsheathe his Zanpakuto before a loud commanding tone was heard.

"Enough, Ryūketsu! Th-This is my punishment...my sin...you stay out of this..." he rasped out, before blood oozed out of his mouth.

Hana winced at seeing the scene unfolding before her, not unaccustomed to brutality, but the sheer manical sadism behind the Punisher's voice now...unnerved her.D

Daisuke too winced and turned away from the bloody mess Sakura was making of Bokyaku. In his mind he knew it was the Demon's fate to assume Divine power, but his gut told him why he felt the menacing pressure from Sakura now. She was truly a cruel being.

Suddenly, all of the Hantā appeared, shimmering figures surrounded the Punisher, each one of them had their weapon holding up to the Punisher's body, all of them menacingly high on their individual Spiritual Pressures. This earned surprised reactions from each of the Hankami of varying degree.

Jaaku had a murderous glare in his eyes, saying in a hiss, "Lay another hand on him and I swear I'll slice your pretty head off, bitch!"

Korosou stood by, holding two 'energy' blades that he materialized, at her waist, Sensō had one of his cat claws up to the other side of her neck, and Kyōki held his axe above her head, ready to split her vertically in half.

Ryūketsu glared at Jaaku, shouting out, "You fool! Why did you come back?!"

"He's our Master, idiot!" Jaaku said with a sadist smile as he moved his Zanpakuto closer to her neck, intent on drawing blood, "we wouldn't abandon him unless told so by him and him alone. That's who we are."

"....really....?"

Even as the weapons towards her were ready to kill at a moment's notice, Sakura still continued to smile. She turned towards Bokyaku, ignoring the weapon that was poking at her neck. Because of his armless state and his obvious resolve for his own punishment, she shifted her position so that she sat on his back, her legs crossed and arms folded in her lap. "All right, Bokyaku. They're telling you that they're not going to let this come to pass unless they're given the order, so I'm going to let you decide on what they're going to do. What'll it be?"

Jaaku raised his weapon, glaring at her menacingly, saying, "Why you whore-!"

"Stop it, Jaaku!" Bokyaku hissed out, his single eye bore up at him, saying, "I'm telling you to stand down! You were all used by me, therefore the culminated sins will be made upon me!"

All the Hantā gasped in shock, exception being a morosely silent Ryūketsu, his head bowed and already having accepted his Master's fate now.

"M-Master, don't give up! We can still kill them-" Korosou began to say but was cut off again by his Master.

"Silence! I hereby release of you of my sovereign command," his voice profoundly had power, the whole group could feel as a violet hue rippled out from the bleeding husk of a demon, "from here forward, my beloved creations, you shall do as you please and follow Ryūketsu's command. This is my final command as your Master. So let it be," he finished, suddenly each of the subordinates had pointedly glowing tattoos, each of them had less of a burning pain but more of a warming sensation. Each of their tattoos changed from a star shape to a stylized upside inverted triangle shape, with a upright triangle bearing on Ryūketsu's forehead, his eyes closed and a single teardrop fell from his right eye.

"Yes, Bokyaku," he said with reluctance, having said his Master's name for the first time, before opening his eyes to gaze upon the others, saying to the awestruck Hantā, saying to them, "we pull out. The fight is over, and there is no longer any need to fight a hopeless battle. C'mon," he then turned around, his fluttering trench coat rippled around him before it turned into a ragged, liquid-like cloak, bearing similiarities to his Master's form slightly.

Within a moment's notice, all of the Hantā left, their forms shimmering out of the area and leaving their former Master to his fate.

Bokyaku then hissed out, "Do what you will, Punisher...I've accepted my blasphemous fate...punish me now...and forever..."

He needn't say anymore.

She raised his hand over his head, her smile fading away but the gleam in her eyes remaining. Her palm, upon a nonverbal command, glowed a brilliant red that seemed to envelop her hand. Bokyaku's body gained the same color and aura, although only in aesthetics. She slowly pushed herself off of him and took a few steps back, the light in her hand glowing brilliantly. It didn't look like much.... but she was about to send him to another area of Hell. There he would be sentenced to his own personal circle, along with the many who had followed the nature of his route for all eternity. To her, he was nothing but another soul that was extinguished by her purifying flames.

There was no place in her heart for him.

In a blink and a flash, Bokyaku was gone, leaving just the ones who had moved to save her.

"So its over," Hana breathed out with a sigh of relief, actually leaning herself against Braeburn, feeling slightly winded from the battle she had with Harbinger.

Kukkyōna walked forward to Daisuke's side, only to have the latter get up to his feet before walking to Sakura, his steps slightly cautious from seeing what he just saw of her, and he said in a relieved voice, "You did it, Sakura. You're free of that bastard's control for good!"

"Bokyaku is only a precursor of what's to come, boy," Kaze sneered as he walked over to be nearby the two Hayates, resting both hands on his cane while grimacing, "this is just the beginning of our OWN war. One of which not only the Ahijados will wage, but the Espada Afilado as well. You will do well not to cheer your meaningless victory before we take our next step."

"Speaking of which...." Braeburn piped up, folding his arms within his sleeves. "We should get in contact with Avaron and tell her to pull us out of here, now that the situation's all clear."

During the exchange, the Slayer simply kept up a silent watch, his sword hand's fingers tapping on the handle of his Claymore. He didn't turn to look at his hooded sibling as he walked up to stand beside him, but observed as his sister turned her head slightly to look over her shoulder at Daisuke. Her eyes were half-lidded, and her mouth was curled up to an unamused frown. "This kid....helped me.... he saved me from being stuck within that prison of a body...." She looked away from them all, her eyes contorting into an expression of slight apprehension.

"Shit..... now I have to find a way to pay all of 'em back....."

Kaze sighed, rolling his eyes at Braeburn, saying, "Don't you think I know that, you insufferable peasant?!" He then promptly looked upwards, reaching a hand to tap into the earpiece, saying aloud, "Captain Avaron Setsuko! Please activate the machine...as in, now!"

Kukkyōna sighed as he crossed his arms, looking at Braeburn approvingly before setting his eyes back on the Punisher and Daisuke.

Daisuke approached the silent Punisher, placing a hand on her shoulder, saying with a smile on his face, "C'mon Sakura. Let's head on back."

Hana chuckled, punching Braeburn's shoulder sligthly, saying, "Well look at you! You're for sure going to get a reinstatement for what you pulled off here, Braeburn, make no mistake about that!"

Although re-coiling in the smallest manner due to the punch, the Soul Reaper put on a grin. "Sounds quite interesting. Can I get the lass, too?" He asked, with a playful wink. He wanted to return the sentiments she gave to him, but considering that she had a rather touchy personality when it came to... well.... touching, he had second thoughts. After all, he didn't want his hand broken into who knows how many pieces!

"And she's leavin' again...." The Slayer rolled his eyes, turning back towards the Monitor. "Come on, Apashii. She's got her part to take care of, we have ours...." With a nod from the silent entity, they both vanished into thin air once again.

Sakura could only look on at them for a moment before snapping her attention to Daisuke when he placed his hand on her shoulder. For another moment, she remained silent and fixing him with a rather stony gaze. Then, she turned her head away from him. "You wanted to know my own reason for living...." She questioned him, her tone low and her voice soft. "Didn't you? I was lying before when I said I didn't know.... but now that you know who I am, I think it's time to tell you."

On the headpiece radio, Avaron was not responding to the query. There was no signs of the device activating, although the radio was clearly turned on. As she was speaking, Sakura seemed to take note of this, slowly raising her hand up as if pressing it on an invisible wall.

Hana could only laugh, saying with a wink back, "Maybe, you just might, Braeburn."

Kaze twitched at the sound of no response, let alone no machine turning on. He then pressed on his earpiece again, calling out again in a irritable manner, "Captain Setsuko! If you don't activate this device this very instant, I'll lobotomize the first subordinates I see dilly-dallying around!"

Kukkyōna looked over, walking to Kaze, asking, "Problem, Captain?"

"She's not answering me, the blasted female," Kaze said with disgust, halting his efforts for a moment, saying, "the radio line is untampered and on, so her end is secure. The machine is," he briefly checked the light on his gauntlet, checking it as greem, "functional. But I have no response or affirmation of the machine activating. If we don't use the machine, it will take insufferable amount of time to climb back to the top of Hell!"

"Do you think she's simply taking a break or simply not there at the moment?" Kukkyōna asked, inwardly a little worried about the Police Captain's current predicament, but held his stoic calm gaze back at the irritated collegue of his.

"Its a EAR-piece radio, Hayate! Unless she rerouted it to a radio device seperate from the ear-pieces she gave us, she would've heard me! Unless she's somehow dead or she's ignoring me, OR she took off her earpiece, the latter two of which would be pissing me off!" He then turned away from Kukkyōna and resumed his barking at the ear piece, leaving a perplexed and puzzled Captain in his wake.

Daisuke crossed his arms, looking at Sakura, saying clearly, "I knew what you are before you got out of the hospital, Sakura. I've always known there was something strange about you, and my father even hinted it. What I didn't believe was that you were manipulating me, and my father, as a part of a sick game that Hanta claimed you were playing. But yes, I would like to know what you're fighting for, and what you're living for despite your duty as a Punisher."

That was when within the very sky, a portal opened up.... and what was inside was shocking.

It was a view screen of where they had exited into the depths of Hell, shown in full color, almost as if they were watching TV. The sky had turned a dark red, the clouds racing across like high-speed race cars. Several holes were opening up and closing repeatedly within the atmosphere, and thousands of what appeared to be dots seemed to fall out of the sky. Avaron herself still had the earpiece on, but was now staring on in clear horror at what she was seeing. Beside her stood the same child that had greeted both Sakura and Daisuke prior to the confrontation with Cortez and Findor, playing a haunting tune as it commenced.

"Oh....shit....." Avaron muttered, immediately racing towards the machine and slamming the button. "Kaze?! Do you have any idea how to make this thing go by quickly?! We've got a situation up here!!!" The child continued to play the chilling tone, causing Avaron to spare a glance towards his direction for a moment.

"I fight to complete my own fate...." Sakura said quietly, arms folded behind her back and her hair once again overshadowing her eyes. "And that is for the destruction and recreation of existence. Bokyaku only sought to punish.... but now that things are coming into place, we can all set the stage for the Plinian Movement to proceed....."

"You cannot RUSH masterpieces, you primate! You'd...oh nevermind that! I'll get us out of here without the machine, since none of us is incapacitated that I know of," he roamed his eyes around, before saying, "no, you worthless piece of who-"

"The Captain says he'll get us out, please debrief us as soon as we get there, Captain Avaron," Kukkyōna intervened timely again, earning a scowl from the other Captain, ignoring it with a swift cool gait before finishing, "be there in a few moments. Kukkyōna out."

Daisuke looked at her, longingly for a few moments, before asking, "Have you ever considered you can make your own fate, instead of doing what you're told to do? I meant what YOU wanted to fight, live, and die for, not what your 'destined' or what 'fate' tells you to do. Let me know what your REAL answer is next time, for now," Daisuke said as he glanced at Kaze, who made a hand clap, and then pressed his palms on the ashen soil, finishing, "I think we're taking an abrupt exit strategy."

Hana's eyes widened, slightly paling as she saw the glow around her, "Oh no! Please Captain Sasayaki! There must be another-"

"Quiet girl! This technique is not to be used lightly as it was once forbidden. Stay still or your spiritrons will be split apart," the 12th Division Captain hissed as everyone was coated in the glow.

"Split apart?! I thought all it did was make me-" she tried to finish when suddenly the sound of a loud thunder clap emanated thoughout the valley, before leaving it empty, less lively, and without the group. Taking them far up back into the world of souls, and the battle they have to wage again, with the Ahijados.

Daisuke's words immediately caused Sakura to furrow her eyebrows and widen them in surprise. However, she scowled in disdain when he diverted his attention from her before she could retaliate. She was forced to remain silent, clenching her fists in clear anger. "You brattish little bastard..." She thought to herself, appalled at what Daisuke had suggested. "Thinking that someone's ORDERING me to do this! I was hoping that pretentuous attitude had not befallen you, kid...." She folded her arms across her chest, turning her gaze away even as the spell was activated. She noted Braeburn's curious gaze on her, but he did not speak, and thus she did not care.

There would be a time where they would be forced to part company.

That would be the time where her full colors would be revealed.

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