Sparring in Karakura

This article, Sparring in Karakura, is property of Twonjr3. Permission is needed to utilize or alter its content.

This article, Sparring in Karakura, is property of Rozeluxe.

This article, Sparring in Karakura, is the property of Another Poetic Spartan

Continued From Here...

Arrival

Ever since the events of the Winter War had come to pass, Fake Karakura was sealed by the Captain-Commander, only allowing a select few to visit the site. Thus leaving the area alone to its own devices, living in a state of disrepair and negligence. A shadow of its former self, the Town as it was called, was filled with various ruins and consequently acted as a monument to the events that had transpired here. Now after so many months of emptiness and silence, Fake Karakura Town will once again be disturbed with the promise of battle but this time with friends, not enemies.

The fake sky of the Town always remained clear and cloudless, with the artificial sun shining its unheated rays towards the uneventful ground. Although the area had not seen action for months, it was about to right now. A Senkaimon Gate appeared out of the blue, opening to reveal several figures as they stepped out. Kei was the one ahead of the group, turning around to give them a cheerful smile. "Well, here we are guys. Good ole Fake Karakura Town, the place where Ichigo Kurosaki and the Gotei 13 fought against the Three Betrayers and the Arrancar. Such a glorious battle it must have been," He exclaimed as he raised his hands towards the sky to indicate the entire area.

Outside and looking around the area, Ryuji took in the sights ans smiled. "This is the first time I've been here but I can feel the residual energies flowing throughout ths place as if the fight is still currently going on!"

"Hahaha. Perfect place to have a good training session no?" Raze said as he patted his friend on the back awaiting his other comrades to enter as well.

Walking through the portal, Toru head was held high as he stared up at the blue, peaceful sky. The winds gentle breeze kissed Toru's muscular torso, as his body soaked up the rays of the artificial sun. His fists clinched, as others around him began also. In his mind Toru thought of something else, though his face was hard and ready for battle. His stare was sharp as he looked directly at Ren, who replied with a sweet twirl of his feet. Leaning on Toru's shoulder, Ren smiled as he watched his companions enter through the senkaimon.

Still with a cigarette in his mouth, Ren chuckled slightly as he watched Raze lean on Ryuji. "So, Mr. Kei, is it goin' to be two-on-two or are we facing against you." Ren's posture was relaxed as he looked around at the landscape around him, much in contrast to his friend Toru, who was looking intently at the others around him. The landscape around them contained both scattered apart buildings and badly damaged ground, where in complete contrast some other areas were gentle and untouched by the ravages of the previous battle.

Kei raised his brow as he turned to face Ren. Giving him a smile, Kei said, "How would you like to go with the proceedings Mr. Ren? Would you like to fight each other? Or would you rather take a gamble and attempt to take me on all together? Either way is fine for me, as long as its enjoyable and I could beat my teachings into you." He finished with a laugh, pointing his gloved hand at everyone.

Ren stood on end. Long had he been bored, living peacefully in the tranquil town of Karakura with only frequent fun. Comically, Ren leaped up, his eyes wide as he cheered, "whad'ya think Kei-taichō!" Quickly, Ren's blade appeared in hand. "All of us against ya." He said pointing his blade directly forward at the Captain, all the while passing a cocky smirk by Rozeluxe way. Meanwhile, Toru was pondering what to do next. Not with the training, but, of something more. Unsteadily, Toru smiled back at Ren before giving him a "your crazy" look, followed by Toru's own mobilization for battle. Appearing from underneath his cloth were a pair of twin Kusarigama. As he held them, he swung them about carefully in the air above him. His swinging was mild and controlled. "I'm with Ren. Let's begin." Toru chimed, as the rotation of a Kusarigama made a slight vibration, while the other pair was held firmly in the man's hand.

Though ready on the outside, inside Toru mind was clouded with resentment, and retribution. His most deepest secret ate at him, as he thought of his comrades, and then, Tsubaki. Steadily, his spiritual pressure heightened to unnatural levels for one Human to possess alone. Toru's chest tightened, and his eyes stared intently at nothing, as he mulled over ideas in his head. "...let's begin..." he repeated softly.

Battle Ensues

Drawing his large blade, Ryuji smiled. "Its about time that this party finally began. Though, Master Kei....how will you know what to improve on with each of us if you yourself are facing us alone?" Smiling with a nonchalant look upon his face, he sparked up his reiatsu causing spiritual flames to begin covering the edge of his weapon as he slowly reached behind him and donned a noh mask. "Heh. It looks like a good a place as any to try this out."

"Hm? So its all of you against Kei? This should be good for a laugh. I suppose that it wouldn't be fair of me to use my friends in this kind of conflict so I will instead just rely on my zanpakuto. Ah Kazami..you get to see the Karakura sky and work your 'magic'. Heh. 'Tis a shame that this is only a spar, I really want to know how far I can push things." Raze smiled as he began flexing his muscles before drawing his own weapon. "So, you know that this may also end badly for us as well seeing as he IS a Captain for a reason, right guys?"

Ren's face gleamed with happiness. "Yea, thats why I wanna fight 'em. Obviously he's tough, I could tell that much by his spiritual pressure alone--" Toru quickly cut Ren off, and at the same moment his swinging creased and his spiritual pressure became constant. "And since were in FAKE Karakura Town his spiritual pressure isn't lowered. Meaning we can all fight at full power without holding back!" Toru quickly hurled one of his Kusarigama blade, and as he did so it instantly caught fire, as it headed toward Kei. Toru's face was overwhelmed with impassiveness, yet that was just a facade; within Toru felt complete rage and loss of pride, and at that moment attacked with all his might!

At that instant, Ren smiled at Toru, knowing that in battle neither of them would hold back or await anyone else. Leaping into the sky, Ren did several somersaults which resulted end the heel of his foot entering Kei's vicinity. Like all of Ren's physical attacks, he exerted alot of energy and his strike was quick and powerful. Yelling as he did so, he gave a thumbs up toward Rozeluxe and Ryuji. "Element of surprise!" he said cheerfully, continuing with his attack. Unknowingly to them, whether they attacked with surprise or from multiple angles, Kei was indeed a powerful captain, if not the most.

Kei reacted instantly to the two attacks, smacking the Kusarigama away with his gloved hand with apparent ease and without any showing of damage while using his own foot to intercept Ren. The two limbs collided and were locked together, with Kei adding a small bit of force to his movements. He turned his head upward to face Ren with a smile. "I see what you did there you two but it takes more than that to get me. I was well aware of your intentions when I saw both of your bodies twitch with the slightest indication." Kei then slightly pushed Ren, making him go back to the others. "Like Ryuiji, I am a Captain. And if all you agreed that you want to fight me together, I'll have to comply with your decisions, even if you beg for it to stop. And who said you would just be fighting me? I'm practically a one man army." He exclaimed with a small laugh, walking towards them. Kei looked at the group with a content gaze, seeing their excitement and enthusiasm. "I'll see what they can do first. Then we can build up from there." He thought.

Thrusting foward, Ryuji set forth a trail of flames from his the edge of his blade as he slashed foward. "Kagutsuchi!" A humanoid figure suddenly appeared before attempting to grab Kei. Ryuji, grasped his head before the flames continued to grow into a condensed wildfire around his blade. Spinning himself into a rapid motion, Ryuji prepared another attack in case Kei somehow knew how to stop the previous one.

"Heh. You guys don't like to think about the long term do you? Oh well...let me in on the fun!" Jumping up into the air, Rozeluxe made a few hand gestures before conjuring a set of chains that formed a small hut around Kei that left only the front opened causing a one way path for Kei to go, directly into Ryuji's technique. "This is what teamwork is all about guys. Let's show this old man just what we are made of exactly."

"Agreed!" Toru shouted. Retracting his arm at the elbow, simultaneously pulling one of the Kusarigama back for another strike. However, before so, Toru twirled both the Kusarigama carefully in the sky above him. And as he did so the chains and the blades themselves caught fire. The heat of the the young mans Fullbring erupting forth. "This is my Fullbring." Toru mumbled, the sound of the spinning chains made his voice weak in comparison. The rotation of the blades and heat proved unbearable to Toru, yet he continued, knowing that he had to make a sizeable contribution in harming Kei.

" 'Bout time he brought the Fullbring out. Guess I betta' get serious too." Ren said, as he began to ignore his surroundings, though it seemed selfish he envisioned Kei and himself only. "Looks like I lef' my Jō at home. Sigh, guess I gotta' go wit'out it. Too bad Kei, when I use my Kidō I gotta be smart, so this may end quickly." Followed by a laugh, Ren leaped into the sky firing a simple Byakurai at his already "trapped" opponent. Though his intial attack was rather weak considering his opponents level, his attack had purpose. His intial strike was a mere fake, as behind the scenes Ren was casting a second spell. Quickly, Ren had landed beside a large building and quickly disappeared into the shadows.

Kei looked at the two before him, oblivious to the chain hut set around him and the Byakurai that seemingly bounced off of him. "Interesting style you two have there but how long can all of you actually hold me?" He said, cracking a smile. Kei looked at the other two and then he clapped once, inflating into a large balloon like figure before popping with a distinct sound.

"I like to see you try Ren!" Kei exclaimed in a rather loud voice. "And please don't call me an old man. I'm not Old Man Yama for crying out loud; I'm still young and handsome." Kei replied with a grin as he appeared next to Toru with his hand over the young man's shoulder. "I think the lot of you will enjoy this training for sure. That's a promise." He finished, raising one of his cuffs at Raze, it glowing with an ominous white color. "Enjoy." He uttered as he fired two blasts at Raze and Ryuji.

"Meikyō" Raze grabbed Ryuji as he spoke this one word and suddenly seemed to vanish into thin air as his body evaporated into a black smoke like substance, bringing Ryuji along with him. While the smoke dissapated, Raze was seen beside Kei at his blind spot, just outside of his perceived vision range. "Looks as if, this technique actually worked, though I don't think I'll be able to do that again for awhile." Swinging his blade, Raze aimed too cleave the Captain in two from below.

Up from above, Ryuji brought his blade down in a twisting manner. "URRRRAAAAUUGGH! Kagutsuchi!!" Swinging downward, he set forth the fiery being once more in order to this time distract Kei long enough for the others to land an attack.

Jumping out've the way, Toru ceased, and as he did the flames slowly dissipated. Landing atop a large building, Toru looked down upon the battle. Watching carefully for a perfect time to strike against the formidable captain. "He's a captain for a reason. That much is obvious. He's confident too, and he should be. But, he shouldn't count us out yet" he thought with a grimace. Noticing his blade was rather long, and difficult to conceal, Toru vanished, or atleast his spiritual pressure did.

Meanwhile, Ren plan had went into action. Now that he had built his spiritual pressure up enough, and that the location they were in was ready he could make his move. With a chuckle, Ren appeared several yards away from the attacking Raze and Ryuji. Like many times, Ren focus was Kei, not on who would get hurt. "Sōkatsui. Fushibi!" As he uttered those words a web like substance spread across the area, and soon surrounded Kei, and as it did, the Sōkatsui spell ran along the web, racing down toward Kei's person awaiting an impending explosion upon contact.

Though his plan would surely harm Raze and Ryuji if they had been caught, Ren was secretly intelligent and his plan elaborate. "Sentan Hakuja!" He declared, and suddenly a white cloth tangled around him and teleported him away. In an instant, Ren was behind Kei. "I rather get hit by my one attack, then let you dodge." Suddenly, a burst of white spirit energy coated the young mans arms and legs and in that instance he had grabbed hold of Kei's wrists attempting to prevent him from avoiding the series of attacks. Unconcerned whether he would be hit by his own attack, nor was he worryful if he would be struck by Rozeluxe or Ryuji.

"That's right Ren. When you strike do not hesitant. When you see a threat, you kill. When your friends are suffering, you be their salvation. Ren's always going to be the one...who do what it takes in order to ensure victory. Even if it harms him in the process."

Although his face was instantly etched into surprise with the current turn out of events and the amazing teamwork the group had exhibited to capture him, Kei's facial expression slowly returned to his calm and cheery visage. "So, this is what the lot of you have gotten me into. It seems like I'm in quite a predicament. Oh, here it comes." He said in a strange lighthearted tone as the Sōkatsui hit him point blank along with Ren, creating a plume of smoke that covered both of them.

Once the smoke dissipated, two people appeared, one was breathing heavily while the other had a jovial facial expression not concurrent with the present situation. Kei had grasped Ren's arms and placed it in an anchor hold, adding a slight bit of pressure to stop his resistance. "Nice job you did there Renny. But you should take care where your attacks go off too. I had to deflect the rest of the blast away from your compatriots. And them being injured before anything started wouldn't really be a good thing. Right?" He turned his attention to the rest of the people before him. "Now let's continue, shall we?" He said with a laugh as he extended his hand, an empty pitch-black sheathe appearing on it. The insides glowed with a blue light and in an instant, fired several quick blasts at Raze, Ryuji, and Toru.

Ryuji smiled as he turned his blade to protect himself and Raze in a dome of flame from the blasts from the Captain. "Someone's getting old." He said from behind the protective barrier as the fiery being he conjured earlier came down upon Kei and Ren exploding in large fiery blaze that turned the surrounding fauna to cinders. "Raze be ready, there is a reason he made no preparation for that attack."

"Of course there is, he is a Captain after all. I know Ren and he'll survive that attack. Hmm...we probaly just gave him a slight chance to get out of Kei's grasp to begin with. Although, I believe we need to start holding back a bit.. If we show him all of all tricks right out the gate then I don't think we'll last too long later on when he actually releases his zanpakuto." Raze whispered to his companion.

"What!?" Turning to look back at Kei, Ryuji stumbled a bit in disbelief that Kei still hasn't actually drawn his sword yet this entire time.

"Quite a surprise isn't it?" A voice whispered into Ryuji's ear. "Don't worry, I'll release soon it. But right now, I have to say this. Heads up."

Watching the events unfold, Toru stayed impassive as he watched his comrades shake in astonishment and slowly lose their edge. "We have numbers. Surround him" he thought, as he planned out a strategy. Sighing, as he looked down below Toru dashed down toward Ren without hesitation. As he knelt over Ren, who hands were badly burned, and his shirt scorched and discarded by the wind. Grabbing hold of Ren, Toru leaped to a safe distance before placing him down on the ground. "Great plan. You misintepret the power of a Captain. They have no mindset. They will continue to fight and they can endure" Toru explained staring intently at Kei. With a grimace he looked back at Kei. "I don't have enough time to heal you here. Not even when I'm so far away, we're still at risk." Grabbing hold of a pill in his back pocket, Toru began to clinch it tightly as a bright flash of spirit energy engulfed Ren and stayed constant as it floated above they injured boy. Because no precautions of injury were taken by Toru the healing process would take longer than it would normally, however the small pill that hovered over Ren slowly began absorbing energy from the area.

Realizing his real plan would take to long, Toru unleashed his Kusarigama. Suddenly, a column of spirit energy enveloped Toru's being. A sparkle of an exuberant orange color emitted from the column and in an instant it ceased. Inhaling deeply, Toru commanded a trail of fire toward Kei's direction. "Don't let him release his Zanpakutō. Surround him once again, and strike from all angles. Restrict his movements and stop him from letting us attack each other" Toru offered. Knowing that his Fullbring wouldn't be nearly enough to defeat Kei, he looked back impatiently. "Hurry up, Ren. That Adaptor is a good chance for us to win."

Raze smiled as he sheathed his zanpakuto and then drew a second sword from his cloak. "Hmph. It seems as though I will have to use this after all. Its time to make Kei work for all of this." Speaking these words, Raze thrusted foward attempting to cleave the Captain in two while his friend was still stunned by the Captain's sudden appearance.

Kei sidestepped to the left and grabbed the still stunned Ryuji, with the intent that he would take the blow for him. Meanwhile, Kei's black sheathe materialized once again in his hand but it remained in a passive position, as if it was waiting for a right time.

"Damn, not enough time" Toru thought. Kei hasn't even begun the battle, yet he had already far surpassed the power that Toru assumed him to have. Kei was indeed much, much, much stronger than Toru had originally anticipated. Smiling, Toru was completely aware that not one of his comrades were near their limit, aside from Ren who always approached unconciousness willing, and came back from the brink stronger than before. Pouncing into the sky, Toru made his trail of flame leap up aswell. Seeing, Ryuji so fearful of a Captin, Toru knew that it would be difficult to get through to him without directly convincing him. Attacking from Kei's back right, he expertly threw a Kusarigama blade at Kei. It spun with great speed, as Toru attack went to behead the Captain. "Raze! Hurry and save Ryuji, that's our main objective for the time being."

"I don't need saving." Ryuji's following laugh could be heard from behind his mask. "I was just getting warmed up." Twisting his body, he used his massive size to pull Kei along with him as they both went tumbling to the ground. "I'm not some pathetic wannabe Shinigami! I'll show you the power of Ryuji Mamoru even if I have to rip out both of our hearts! Encore, Mujika!" The flames vanished momentarily as his zanpakuto flashed a briallant light throughout the area blinding everyone before revealing itself to now be in the form of a large V-shaped guitar. "Now, let the prelude of your defeat begin."

Raze smiled as he knew no one besides him, Suri, and a few select others have ever seen Ryuji's shikai. "Oi. Toru, this hould actually buy us some time. Why don't we act as support fr Ryuji right now?"

As he laid on the ground, with Ryuji standing above him, a soft hearted laugh erupted from within Kei's throat. Even though he was threatened, a cheerful visage still remained, unwavering to the tides of battle. "Now that's more like it!" Kei exclaimed, instantly getting up. He looked at Raze, Toru, and Ryuiji, taking careful note that Ren was probably out as a result from his foolhardy attack. Clenching his black sheathe, he held it at the ready, pointing at his students. "A prelude of my defeat you say? It can't be; I'll be the one doing the conducting in this graceful symphony of battle. Like what the Humans say in the World of the Living. Come at me," Kei finished.

As Kei finished his sentece, a low sounds was heard among the battlers in Fake Karakura Town, and just a s quickly as the chiming started, it had ended with a high pitch sound. "With pleasure" Ren said suddenly. Leaping into the frey a blade appeared in Ren's palm as he envisioned his strike upon Kei, however with a second thought, he predicted it would end the same way as before. This time taking precautions Ren immediately rose a skin tight barrier around his being and gently descended to the ground behind Kei, while his teammates were attacking from the front, he figured he would attack from behind. Moving with a great burst of speed, though it appeared as if he hadn't moved. And suddenly, the young blonde haired boy appeared only a few feet away from the powerful Captain, and with a swing of his arm, his blade flew toward the Captain. With a small chuckle, Toru took notice of Ren's blade. It was indeed his, but now it had been released, and now the battle had accelerated much more, and hopefully in their favor. "You should probably release your Zanpakutō now" he warned with a smile.

"The power of Ren's Zanpakutō is a confusing, and powerful one. All precautions should be taken. You should know Rozeluxe, you've faced him once before. The reversal of direction and alteration of ones field of view. The time I faced him, such an ability was etched into my mind. Because of this, Ren's finally gotten serious and it's time for us to do the same!" With that Toru dashed over toward the pill that had been used to heal the injured Ren, which was now laying on the ground, while his opponent was occupied.

"I better be more careful," Kei thought as he absently swung his sheathe to absorb Ren's attack. "It's not time yet." He replied. "There is so many things to do before that happens."

Smiling, Raze formed a wispy smoke around his blade. "Hmm...so Kei is gifted at countering? Let's see him counter this one." Before the technique could finish, forming around his blade, Raze hurriedly charged toward the Captain attempting to cleave his opponent diagonally across the chest. "Ren! Get him the moment you see a chance!"

Jumping back from the fray, Ryuji charged up some spiritual energy in his zanpakuto, preparing to launch a ranged assault should this coordinated attack fail.

Most likely astonishing the powerful Captain, Rozeluxe and Ren were on different sides! In a flash the truth had been revealed; it was as if they had been apart of a magic trick, and in a single instant the two had attack. Rozeluxe from the back and Ren attacking from the front!

Meanwhile, Toru had made his way to the pill that had been well placed on the ground. "Here we are" he said assuredly, grabbing the potential weapon. Clinching on it tightly, Toru closed his eyes thinking of his past...and the scattered blood that was followed by battle. Wails of the many, and the maniacle laughs of the evil. Toru himself was standing amidst the violence, him being the exact reason why such destruction even occured. Tears rolled down his face as he thought of his younger brother.

Ren's Zanpakutō! Left is Right and Right is Left...?!

As the two forces collided against the Captain, a brilliant flash occurred, blinding anyone who saw the illumination. When the light dimmed to a stable level, all that could be heard was silence. In the foreground still stood three figures, motionless. Kei was in the center with Raze and Ren in front and back of him respectively but something was resisting their blades. During the momentarily flash, Kei summoned his Zanpakuto and executed his small plan, catching the two with his sword and sheathe. He looked at the two men before him and gave each another smile. "Well, it seems we're back at square one at aren't we?"

"Heh." Rozeluxe smiled as the wispy smoke remained around his blade. "You would think that wouldn't you? Too bad, I came with this prepared." Maintaining a sense of seriousness as well as a cheerful demeanor, Rozeluxe focused his spritual energy causing the wispy black smoke to solidify into a scythe that easily grazed the Captain's arm. "Looks like it wasn't too bad of a wound to allow my sword to take effect."

"Even if your blade IS released, how much do you think will change?" Ren inquired, completely aware that he was facing a Captain. A Shinigami strong enough to dispatch him with a single blow, however his intimidation tactics were still helpful in many battles, and maybe just here too. "I wonder if you're thinking about where we'll strike, will you be able to stop when?" Ren said, giving Ryuji a narrow-eyed look, a supposed signal to attack, but when least expected and when Kei's most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Toru had snapped out of his vision. His eyes were still swelled from the crying, yet his posture was rigid and uncomfortable. "I will not yield" Toru whispered, his breathe gone from the previous vision and its detail. Dismissing Ren and Rozeluxe at the time, Toru swiftly, swung his arms up and at that instant a massive amount of spiritual energy pulled toward his arms. A large arrow shaped blast formed at his helm, ready to strike down Kei, Rozeluxe and Ren. Despite, Toru's immediate strength, he displayed little knowledge on what was occuring but refused to show it, keeping an anger filled face. However, Toru had heard the sound of Ren's Zanpakutō and alas, his attacks direction would also be switched. Would it prove vital to harming Kei, or would it spell complete disaster for his comrades in battle?

"I see it as a complete learning experience..for everyone, including me." Kei replied back with an austere look. "However, the only way for improvement is through trials and what we're doing here, is a trial itself. It doesn't matter if you don't understand; it's even better." He finished, suddenly ending the grapples between the three and letting them fall to the ground. In that slight moment, he swiped his blade in a vertical arc, uttering "Yume No Piasu Nami" and instantly created multiple waves of white spiritual energy.

Smiling Rozeluxe stood still while holding Ryuji back. "Tsk. Tsk. Captain Kei. Looks like you were overzealous" Continuing to smile, Rozeluxe held his free hand behind him and began chanting a kido spell as the waves of spiritual energy went in the opposite direction they were launched.

Suddenly, Toru's blast was shot. An overwhelming blast sent Toru crashing down to the ground, but nevertheless, the attack was shot directly at it's intended targets. As Toru's accidental blast flew at Kei from the front, and Rozeluxe's spell was coming from behind. Suddenly, the blast unleashed from Toru left him in intense anguish, and the aftermath of the blast left the area behind him decimated to rubble. Houses came crashing down, and a long pathway, were all created from the recoil.

"Rozeluxe, move!" Ren cried loudly. Normally, he wouldn't ask much of anyone else in battle, and would barely ever focus on anyone but himself. But here, Ren knew that he would need much more than himself to defeat their adversary. Dodging both Kei's attack, and Toru's attack, which was so big that it didn't matter which direction it came from; as it would strike everyone in it's vicinity. Seconds later, Ren was atop a large building which appeared to be a replication of his school; Karakura High School as it was, before Tsubaki's destruction of it. In that instance, Ren reminded himself why he was here, and why he wanted to become stronger. In truth, it was so that he may have the power to defend his home, no matter who threatened it, he would defend it to the end. Quickly, Ren shunpo'd down grabbing Toru and fleeing to a quiter area, only to find himself in a alleyway nearly ten blocks down from the battle site. Holding Toru over his shoulder, Ren smiled as he stared at the ground.

"Geez. Never expected it to be like this. Then again, he is a Captain, and he just released his Zanpakutō. Unbelievable even after an attack like that, Kei's spiritual pressure is still enourmous. I think I can still feel Rozeluxe and Ryuji, so they must be okay." Sighing heavily, Ren clinched tighter onto Yuzuki as his own spiritual pressure faded. After successfully masking his spirit energy, Ren vanished as he planned his next attack, leaving an exhausted Toru in the alleyway. "Finally" Toru whispered, as his hand illuminated instantly and he began to hover his hand over his torso.

Ryuji looked through the smoke caused by the consecutive explosions for his partner in crime. "Oi! Raze!" Coughing, he readied his zanpakuto just in case he would spot the Captain before he spotted his friend. Running hurredly toward what seemed like a charred body, Ryuji stopped for a moment before turning to where Kei might be. "Why am I looking for that slacker? If anything, if he dies, I'll get Suri to myself. Heh." Firing a rapid stream of reishi bullets into the dust cloud, Ryuji knew he would be lucky if he struck the Captain with this blind attack but, it was mainly to see if his suspicions were correct about this fight.

Kei appeared hovering above the ground below him, holding his sheathe and Zanpakuto with a tight grasp. He was breathing quite shallowly and had a fixed gaze on the other combatants, paying no attention to the decimated landscape before them. "So that's the power of Ren's Zanpakuto? It's very similar to his father's, that devious bastard." He said to himself with a slight laugh, reminiscing about an old comrade. "No matter, I'll play along with their strategy. But at the right time, I'll show them." Kei finished, his facial expression taking on a sly and mischievious look.

He then slammed the butt end of his Zanpakuto handle and the Sheathe together and ran his hand over it, uttering an unheard phrase while a bright enveloped the weapon. Once the light had dissipated, Kei was holding a strange fusion of blade and sheathe in the form of a double-bladed weapon, with the sheathe taking on the properties of a Zanpakuto, albeit colored a pure midnight black. Well aware that Ren's Shikai powers were still in effect, he blinked with a cautious step and was behind Ryuji at an instant, weapon at the ready. He smirked and swung his weapon.

Intercepting the attack, Ren bore a gaze so menacing it could make a lion shriek in fear. "Kei, on the offensive are we. Not holding anything back! That's just how I want it!" he declared triumphantly, as if he had planned out the events ahead, no, if he had already defeated Kei. Noticing Toru spiritual pressure still directed in the same area, he inferred that he hadn't moved since he left. "Good. No one in my way" he thought, clinching onto the hilt of Yuzuki with incredible effort with his left hand. Knowing that holding back would lead to his demise, and wouldn't help his team at all, Ren gave it his all and then some. Ren was aware that because of how Kei attacked, he swung his blade at the front of Ryuji. Quickly releasing an outburst of spirit energy, followed by a white cloak surrounding Ren's person. "Shunko!" he muttered with confidence. Swinging his right forearm, he hurled Ryuji back. "Be smart. Your Zanpakuto can be best utilized from far away. I'll hold'em still so that you can get a decent blow in." The Shunko technique increased his speed tremendously. His speed before paled in comparison to what is now being presented, and not only this, but his strength was also enhanced considerably.

Bending at his knees, and cocking his elbows back Ren gave the impression of a pugnacious child readying himself for a strike. His black clothing being discarded by the intense spiritual pressure being emitted. Ren quickly enclosed his right hand until he felt a sudden moistness in his palm. A single drop of blood fall smoothly to the ground. With great force, Ren thrusted his fist into Kei's chest, and surely, Raze would take advantage of this, knowing that most likely, Kei Yume, be a Captain or not, would be unable to keep up with the twisting confusion of which direction an attack was coming from.

Allowing his demon to return to his side, Raze jumped above the captain and launched an aerial strke by bringing his leg down, coated in his own spiritual energy. "Heh. Looks like we're gonna have to be more cautious." Looking at Ryuji, Raze then spun his body at the last moment so that Kei would have lttle chance in avoiding the large scythe.

Kei took Ren's blow full force, causing him to slight grimace. Ignoring the pain he showed, he was able swiftly raised his double-bladed weapon in time, blocking the attack and making him go back a bit. He looked at the group and smiled. But how can Kei smile when he was getting attacked from all sides? "I see your use of teamwork but I'll one up you guys." He uttered in between breaths. He soon brought his weapon up and spun in it a rapid circular motion, the weapon eventually taking on abright hue. He gave one last smirk before pointing it at one of the three, a torrent of spiritual energy erupting from the center and already appeared in front of his target.

Ryuji appeared at Kei's back and smiled. "Did you forget about me Captain. Oh well, it'll be your mistake. Now....allow me to start the concert of death. Saisho Kyoku." Strumming the first chord on his zanpakuto, Ryuji created a large purple fish-shaped projectile at the Captain's back, leaving very room for escape for either of them.

All Out

Preforming an elegant backflip, Ren chuckled as he made his blade vanish into thin air and proceeded to land atop a light pole. "It's useless. Too hard to get in a decent attack if everyone is striking at once. That big sycth, and crazy guitar, man, well I guess these guys are givin' it all. Hmph, and not even me can keep up with Yuzuki's little puzzle game. Not when there's four people fighting at once." With the vanishing of Yuzuki, the view of each who previously heard her chime were free. Suddenly, each one of them were thrusted back into reality. The twists and turns atop the midst of confusion finally rose, and with it, Ren's best chance at defeating Kei. "Wow, Kei-taichō hasn't taken a knee, nor has he bled. Come to think of it..did this guy even sweat" he said slightly astonished, though inside, Ren could only assume just how powerful this Captain actually was. Abruptly, a small growl erupted from Ren and followed by it, a tight clinching of fists. From his person, an outpour of uncontrolled spiritual pressure came forth, as he prepared a kidō; starting off with an incantation, and with it, a gradual rise in spiritual pressure. His hands slowly illuminated and at that instant Ren sighed "everything I got..into this kidō. All out, right here, right now...!"

A large explosion occurred from Ryuji's attack, leaving a plume of smoke covering the two Shinigami. But once the smoke dissipated, Kei appeared within a white barrier that emitted from his weapon, much to his assailant's chagrin and surprise. However, it seemed like he didn't block the full force of the attack in time as a small portion of his upper apparel was left scorched and somewhat torn. Kei smirked at Ryuji and moved to his side, clenching his double-bladed weapon. "A surprise isn't it? But jolly good show with that one...Now it's my turn!" He uttered, immediately blinking to his trainee's front and spun his weapon again to fire another torrent of spiritual energy while moving again. But this time, Kei was swung his blade for a disabling blow. At the same time, he felt the distinct pressure of Ren's Zanpakuto disappear.

A short figure appeared between Kei and Ryuji forming a wall of hair. As soon as the strike connected a scream could be heard coming from the female as she began to vanish into the form of smll pill that flew back to Raze's wrist. "Tch. Ryuji, be more careful! Its like Ren said, using your shikai in real battle is much different from any spars and tourney matches we had, you're best fit to fight at a range." Raze shouted at his friend before swinging his scythe toward the Captain in order to create a gap in between him and the group.

"You don't know anything....I've been practicing and getting stronger. I haven't been just sitting around while you were playing babysitter in the world of the living." Ryuji sneered before jumping back and readying himself as his spiritual energy began to increase at a steady rate as if it were ready to burst from his body at any time.

Ren's eyes became wide as he watched Rozeluxe's rather bold attack at the Captain. He then proceeded to chuckle as he watched Ryuji and Raze's brief arguement. Doing a side-step, Ren quickly pranced back several feet away, allowing Raze to escape if he hadn't done so after the Bakudō struck. Still requiring more time for his attack, Ren waited as his comrades continued to fight. All the while, he constantly thought of Toru, who of which had been badly harmed during his last attack.

"Seems like you two argue like an old married couple." Kei teased, trying to stifle a laugh. He looked at the two and his eyes became focused and serious for a slight moment, before blinking to Raze's side, his double-bladed weapon already swung in a cleaving motion while his free right hand was directed at Ryuji. Kei's mouth indicated a chanting and almost instantly, a stream of yellow energy flew out towards its target.

Caught off guard, both Raze and Ryuji were sent flying across the clearing and into a large wall. "Crap!" Raze spat on the ground as he propped himself up "Oi! Ren! Where in the world is Toru? We've barely been holding on with four of us and now three of us are fairing even worse." Turning to look at his friend, Raze sighed. "And besides Ryuji is out cold so that makes two now."

"Great." Ren said with false sense of confidence, followed by a leap. A decent jump which sent him high into the air and onto a building. With a sneer, he turned around to see his comrades badly wounded, or unable to continue battling. "Damn" he muttered under his breathe. Unbeknowest to Ren, Toru had finished his healing. Nearly a kilometer away, a torrent of powerful crimson colored arrows flew toward the battlefield at breakneck speed! "My fault Raze." In moments, Toru appeared beside Rozeluxe continuing to fire a spree of arrows forth. "Thank your wife. At first I couldn't get this down, but after talking with her, I've finally learned how to use this weapon." Suddenly, all what seemed like randomly fired arrows began to converge toward Kei!

Raze activating his Heiki technique

"Its about time!" Raze said as he moved Ryuji to a safe location, propping the unconcious shinigami up against a nearby pile of rubble before turning back to look at Kei and the hail of arrows. "Well then, I suppose I can't just sit back and do nothing." Charging his spiritual energy, Raze began to glow a bright golden color before a faint image of a blonde-haired man suddenly appeared hovering over Raze. In an instant, the image vanished as it encircled the Raze forming a unique spiritual kimono that then sprouted several pieces of weaponry from his sleeves and back. "Now....let's really get this party on the way."

Kei activating Shikai

Kei couldn't help but stifle a grin, clenching the base of his weapon even harder. "I see you have the spirit of Van within you, very refreshing. It'll be like I'm fighting my friend again. Ha!" He then looked at the converging crimson arrows and almost reflexively, he spun his weapon all around his body, the arrows hitting it and flew in random directions, leaving deep impacts wherever they landed. "I guess...it's about time." He held his weapon in a vertical position and slowly ran his free hand over it. "Remember me, Wasurete Shimatta No Ishiki!" His blade glowed with an aura of shining red light before dissipating to reveal its new form. However, it still remained in a double-bladed form, with the bottom addition taking on the likeness of the Shikai. As his Shikai manifested, an invisible pulse radiated from his Zanpakuto, gently probing the minds of the Shinigami and Human to find anything of interest, placing it in Kei's vast library.

The Captain smiled and started to spin his new weapon once again. "Yume No Piasu Nami!" A reddish white form of energy was soon emitted from the weapon. As it neared its target, it suddenly split into a dozen or so miniature versions of itself.

Taking in a deep breath, Raze postoned himself between Ryuji and a majority of the energy attacks before taking a stance. As he moved his sword arm forward a barrage of weapons emerged from his sleeve before flying toward the energy attack colliding in a large explosion that created a crater between the two shinigami.

Wanting to avoid the attacks, rather than do as there comrades did and withstand it, Toru and Ren gave each other a slight nod before making there move. "Looks like we've got him pulling out all the stops!" Ren said heartedly as he flipped backwards. Continuing his flips, he landed atop a building southward. From that he began darting backwards looking for a soon-to-be-opening in Kei's movements, as surely even a Captain of his stature would make a mistake eventually. Meanwhile, Toru looked directly into Kei's eye. A sharp, yet swift glance. Bringing down his large bow and arrow, it vaporized into a single pill. Following after his partner, Toru fled the area for the time being.

In what seemed like moments, his comrades would have surely thought them to have ran away. Howver in what seemed like an instant, a series of blasts swept in toward Kei from above like a lightning strike; swift and destructive. Wanting to get his partners out've the area, Ren darted toward the area. Lifting a powerful barrier over Rozeluxe, Ryuji and Ren. The large barrier was green in color, and oval shaped. As it erected around him and his teammates, Ren leaned on his knee lazily, having an aura of sincere trust in Toru that he hadn't displayed before. "Toru will keep him occupied for the time being. We should come up with a plan while he does so." Ren's body moved up and down tiredly as he spoke. Opening his mouth to inhale air quickly, and most noticeable, his spirit energy was severly lower.

On the outside of the barrier Toru had confronted Kei just before the blasts hit its target. Showing skillful marksmanship, Toru darted side-to-side constantly firing a barrage of attacks, all the while, the wide-scale blast from above enclosed upon the duo.

Pulling back his arsenal, Raze looked at the barrier around him and his comrades. "So what's the plan Ren? We can't just let Toru steal the spotlight. We have to find some sort of chink in Kei's defenses." Raze sighed as he looked at the still unconcious Ryuji. "Come on already. Wake up you useless bastard!"

Noting Toru's erratic movements and the constant barrage of arrows falling on him, Kei had no choice but to play with his game for the time being, constantly jumping and moving side to side to dodge the attacks. He felt the blast coming at the two and realized what was about to take place. Turning his head, he brought up his double-bladed weapon and changed his stance to mirror that of a high guard position. As more arrows came his way, his hands moved as if they were on their own, deflecting the shots and directing a multitude of them back at Toru, using the momentum and Kei's own force to increase the kinetic force of the arrows. At the same time, he leaped towards Toru, in hopes that he would retaliate in close quarters.

"Gotcha" Toru whispered, his tone wrought with sneaky intentions. He anticipated Kei to deflect the attacks flawlessly, and even to ignore the incoming blast from above, but most of all, Toru knew that Kei would end up trying to attack in close quaters. Preforming consecutive Kido techniques, both Kyokkō, and Sekienton, Toru vanished from everyones perception; spiritual pressure nor sight could be used to locate him. Alone the techniques were mediocore at best unless used by a master of the arts, but with Toru - one who planned out constantly in battle, and had the resourcefulness to combat even the strongest Captain of the Gotei 13 - could use Kido in a way to make it useful. Suddenly, the "blast" from above revealed itself to be an extremely powerful biding spell, Gochūtekkan. In truth, it was simply coated in both Ren and Toru's spirit energy making it appear like a blast from below.

The spell was large and unparrelled to any previously casted spell. As a result from the plume of smoke and, now invisible Toru, he was assumed to be out of the vicinty at the time. Thus, avoiding the redirected spree of arrow attacks. Echoing from "afar" Toru's voice tone was sly as a fox, and maybe, just as cunning. "Thats not even our best yet." Immediately, a ring of fire sprung up around Kei, edging the powerful Captain into the incoming spell from above.

Meanwhile, on the outside, Ren was attempting to catch his breath - he originally, with little assitance from Toru and the incantation, casted the high level binding spell - all the while he continued thinking of an effective plan agaisnt the Captain. "Frontal attacks won't work. And together our attacks are too untimed and are techniques are uncooperative. Thus, are attacks can't blend together with each other and still be effective against him. A random set of explosions and attacks won't work either. Geez," slowing down his thought he looked at Ryuji, before momentarily thinking about Toru. "...He'll handle himself for some time. I set o' couple of timed spells, but..I doubt I could hold'em for long. My spirit energy is depleting faster than I thought. So, Rozeluxe, you got any ideas, buddy" he said with a fake cheerful smile across his face. The breeze of warm air flew through his blonde hair nicely. Comfortable at the moment, Ren began to loosen up as the tension in the air was ripe and thick to all present on the battlefield.

"Ideas? Heh." Rozeluxe smiled as he lowered his weapons. "Oi! Captain Kei. We aren't going to win. I understand that now. Would you honor us by teaching us our flaws?"

Unfortunately, Rozeluxe's words did not reach the Captain, as he was engrossed in the predicament he currently was win. Seeing the flames bustle around him, Kei was forced to move upward in order to avoid the potential danger. As he escaped the danger, the Captain brushed at his clothing, getting rid of any dust particles that had occurred. There was some burns but he ignored them, oblivious to the pain that must be coursing through his body. Kei then realized he no longer had sight of the human, apparently having disappeared from view. As a means to see if he was plainly hiding, Kei brought his free palm outwards, forcing a glowing orb of energy to appear. Masterfully waving it back and forth, a large array of energy formed around him. With a cast, the orbs flew out and erupted into dozens of blasts, enveloping the entire area around him, in hopes of engulfing the hiding Toru.

With a slight welp from afar, Toru's hiding had been ruined. His torso was burned, and his shirt torn asunder by the previous attack. Though he had only released sound, to one such as a Captain, any and all senses were an asset during battle. Noticing there plan going awry, Ren chuckled. "We better hurry. I don't think quitting will help us at all. At the least, lets make this guy bleed." he said, ending the sentece rather harshly, he looked at Rozeluxe intently and then at Ryuji. "We have to make a decisive strike now!" he urged. "I hope you've got an idea, 'cause we definitely need one, Toru won't last long." he inquired.

Meanwhile, the yelp from before was well hidden by Toru. Immediately reacting by sending a wave of fire toward Kei's which would most likely force him to go upward, which focused on Toru's and Ren's original plan. All the while, Toru kept a small ball of fire at his side for defense.

"I didn't want to use this. But since that bastard is asleep I guess he won't mind." Rozeluxe smiled as he looked at Ryuji. "Looks like the sleeping idiot will actually be the key to our victory. Heh." Drawing his zanpakuto, Rozeluxe sighed before thrusting the blade into his right hand. "Abide by the Queen's Right Hand, Sōruōhi!" The blade dissolved as Raze's right hand was covered in a white glove. Jumping toward Ryuji, Rozeluxe kneeled down as he opened his friend's eyes and stuck his hand into his friend's chest, causing a large light to envelop the area before pulling a large cleaver from the man's chest. "This here will lead us to victory. Time to really get our act together."

The Captain stepped hard on the invisible atmosphere around him and let the fire overtake him, surprising Toru. After several moments, the fire disappeared, revealing that no one was within its inferno after all, causing the onlookers to look around for the man in vain. As if he was complying to their wishes, Kei materialized in front of Toru, giving him another smile. On a whim, he raised his sword and attempted a swing at the Human's body, possibly as a means to test his reaction.

Toru drooped back in the nick of time, however not without being fatally wounded during Kei's attack. A diagonal slash across his torso lay, his bare skin dropped tears of blood. Holding in his pain, Toru kept the ball of fire at his right side, making sure not to show any emotion to the previous attack. "Just as Ren said." he said smiling, knowing the Captain wouldn't attack from distances much longer. Suddenly, Toru's right began to envelop itself in fire.

"It is the flame that is birthed from God itself. It scorches my foes, and burns them to asunder, leaving nothing behind. Destruction, and creation have no effect on my flames. They cannot be extinguished nor mimicked. The power to torch entire civilizations and eradicate the strongest of men. Behold, a power which you cannot grasp, and flames which end all quarrel." Toru chimed, ending his speech with a nod, he looked back at Rozeluxe who was mobilizing and Ren who was watching on intently. Holding his anguish, not only did Toru's arm catch fire, but also Ren's left arm. Quickly turning to Rozeluxe, Ren demanded, "hurry, me and Toru will immobilize him for about a second. Thats when you strike, not a second later!"

With that, Ren dashed down faster than he had been going at any moment before in the battle. Commanding the barrier to dissipate as soon as he left and without the knowledge of Rozeluxe it wrapped itself around him, keeping him safe from any attacks. Coming down behind Kei, Ren looked into Toru's eyes, and procedded to outstretch his arm into a C-shape, Toru did the same. As soon as he did, a surge of fire outstretched from there respective arms and onto the other creating a ring of fire around Kei with there bodies! The fire quickly engulfed all three in a column of fire. "If you think that was it, then your dead wrong!" Ren shouted with sweet pain. As a SajōSabaku shot inward from the column of fire. Using the spell in unison with the fire, it proved useful as a sacrificial spell when accompanied with Toru's Fullbring. Large chains swung down wrapping around the outside of Ren and Toru's body and swinging inward and around to trap Kei inside the fire. The fire soon condenscened into a small spherical shape around the three leaving little to no space to escape, all the while the chains became tighter and tighter around them. As the fire became smaller the flames came closer to burning Kei to asunder. "Rozeluxe, now!!!" Both Ren and Toru shouted in unison commanding a small opening to appear at the top of the sphere, however chaining there bodies to Kei allowed him to stay put and either be struck by the fire or by Rozeluxe, either way damage would be done.

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!" Rozeluxe began sprinting before emerging into a rapid run with his weapon stretched out behind him. His speed, increasing the entire time, allowed him to seemingly cut through the air itself as he came closer to the flames produced by Toru and Ren. Using the tip of the blade to jump high into the air, Rozeluxe's body tore through the flames itself burning away most of his clothing and scorching his body in the process before utilzing the blade's weight to carry himself down blade force, using the momentum granted to him. "TAKE THIS CAPTAIN KEIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!"

"So this is how it will end I suppose?" Kei asked, his expression bare and without emotion, as if it was uttered in a nonchalant tone. His body seemed to relax and there was no attempt at freedom nor squirming. The flames around him were burning tirelessly, so much so that he could even feel it burning his clothing, skin, and hair, or it was simply his imagination. Time slowed for him and Kei closed his eyes, inhaled and exhaled, and stared at the attacking Rozeluxe. His brow furrowed and without hesitation, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "LOOK AT ME!!" before the blade made contact with flesh.

The chain whipped and struck at Ren and Toru endlessly and to add, the increasingly powerful flames rose and burn the duo to asunder. Similar to Kei, the flames tore at there sides, burning their clothes, skin, hair and anything else that be present. Toru's wispy, silent screams echoed through the ringing metal chains and roaring flames. Meanwhile, Ren was taking it all, holding in his own pain in hope that the attack would induce mroe pain upon Kei. Leaving the job up to Rozeluxe, Ren bit down on his own lip until it bled. "I hope you can bear my burden, Ren, Rozeluxe, Ryuji. I'll do what I can for now." Toru spoke under his breath, though his intention was concealed and his motive hidden behind deciet and mystery. And suddenly, Toru's spiritual power began to flicker.

A sudden explosion covered all the combatants, blinding any who could possibly witness what was going on inside. As the large explosion made its way across the area, it devoured any instance of land that it came across before suddenly collapsing in on itself leaving a large smoking heap in its center with all the warriors still standing but, Rozeluxe's weapon suddenly vansished as he stood face-to-face with Captain Kei. Barely able to stand, Rozeluxe muttered out. "What Ha-happened?" As blood was pouring over his face, nearly sealing his left eye shut.

As the smoke cleared, a figured remained standing with what seemed to be a faint outline of a wing, right in front of the Shinigami Rozeluxe, as he stood coughing, injured and bloodied. The darkened figure swept its hand, immediately causing the remaining smoke to dissipate into the air, revealing itself to be Kei Yume. The upper half of his clothing was almost in tatters, with rips and shreds being the most noticeable at his shoulders and chest. He was breathing heavily, as if he had sustained a massive injury but it was hard to tell. A large black wing extended from his back, an ability granted by his Shikai. The wing flapped continuously without effort to keep Kei aloft. "Something happened to your Human friend," Kei breathed, moving closer to Rozeluxe. "As to the others, I have no clue."

"I'm fine." Toru said with a huff, as his body moved up and hit the ground with a loud thud. Showing a slight smile, Toru stood up gently and giving a thumbs-up he looked at Kei with a cheerful, gleaming smile. "Thanks for worrying Captain." Managing to stand up completely, his skin was noticeable darker from the blazing flames, his clothes burned asunder and his wounds stung incredibly. However, through the calm, kind facade Toru thought of just exactly what had occured to him. Making his way toward Kei, and Rozeluxe, Toru's spiritual energy lowered. Meanwhile, Ren was still on the ground. Having sustained critical damage, he forcibly took many of the wounds noting that Toru was still a Human, a capable one, yet still a Human. His energy lowered considerably, and his heavy breathing was evident of his anguish. His body scorched in various places, and several cuts lay atop his forehead and across his back. Bruises lined up along his leg and all the while, he stare up at the unmoving sky. "Ugh! Man, that was one hell of a fight guys!"

Ryuji opened his eyes finally after all the mayhem concluded and felt a burning sensation upon his chest. "Urghhh....what in the world happened? I don't really remember anything other than being thrashed by the Captain."

Looking over to his friends who were all layed out, Rozeluxe smiled as he himself fell to the ground exhausted before breaking out into a laugh. "HAHAHAHA! Oi! Ren! Who would've thought that this would be what we had in store for us when we first met up." Resting on the ground, Raze turned his head to look at Ryuji, "Hey you loser! Its about time you woke up. Heh."

Ren cheerfully layed on the ground and with a smile he waved at Ryuji. "About damn time. Haha! Man, Rozeluxe can we throw a party or what!" he said happy with the results of the battle. Even if he had lost, he felt as if he had gained something through his clash with the Captain, and that surely, after his rigourous training he would definitely gain the power needed. Toru half-smiled back at his comrades as he increased his pace towards them, the intense anguish surging through his body was ignored, however his body spoke the truth. The rippling feeling of his spiritual pressure along with various muscles in his body unintentionally jerking around was enough for even a fool to notice. Though it was slight, Toru's body barreled to the ground as his body was far past its Human limits. "So, what now Captain Kei." he said and before awaiting a respone, he looked about urgently. "Unfortunately, I must go soon, so I must know your intentions Captain Kei."

Moving towards the group of tired and beaten Shinigami and Fullbringer, Kei placed his feet firmly on the ground, letting his wing hang awkwardly from his back but he didn't take a notice to it as if it was weightless for the moment. For a moment, he stood silent, observing the group, his eyes moving about. When his eyes fell on Toru, he noticed the fluctuations in spiritual pressure but he surmised that he was keeping it a secret from everyone else. From the abrupt silence, his empty expression immediately transformed into that of a smile and Kei started to clap in celebration of their "success".

"You guys have just fought a Captain-level opponent and I must say, you did quite well on your first try. However, there is a lot that needs to be improved, especially in the development of your powers and overall strategy. And although I really don't want to say it, I have to for your sakes and for the upcoming trials ahead of you. You only saw a glimpse of my powers." He told them, before waving his hand. Suddenly, a large humanoid creature erupted from the ground, bathed in fire and wielding an extremely large sword. It took notice of them and bellowed a challenging roar. "If you haven't heard, my powers allow me to manifest whatever the Mind can imagine. I imagined him and poof, he's here ready to serve. You will be facing him later on, along with others." Kei finished, enjoying their horrified expressions.

"I am not a thing Kei. You gave me life and for that, I offer you my services. I'm an ally nothing more. And you forget to tell them my name you fool." It replied with a growl, its voice deep and raspy.

"Oh yes! Sorry about that mate, I forgot." Kei said with a hint of embarrassment. Pointing his finger at the creature, he said, "This fellow's name is Kuroten, a dastardly creature but a smart one to boot." He looked at Kuroten and it nodded in acknowledgement. "Now that we got that over with, away with you!" He said, waving his hand, causing it to disappear with an exaggerated poof.

Turning his attention at his students, Kei looked at them with his trademark style. "Now then. As I was saying, there is always room for improvement and I promise all of you, that by the end of my training regime, your lives will be changed."

Still laying on the ground, Raze smiled. "Oh? So you know what each of us need to work on already? Or is just the cooperation aspects? If that's the case, then we're going to be screwed when we're attacked one-on-one"

Toru's face remained impassive, though upon closer examination, he was obviously in deep-thought. His muscles tensed up, as his daydream became more vivid. His eyes shut, however despite the effort a slither of a tear sweeped down his face "..I refuse to lose again!" he said aloud, surely his comrades thought he was referring to his battle with the Captain. But clearly, he was referring to something much more meaningful to him. Meanwhile, Ren chuckled joyfully. "hell yea, we won't lose again" he shouted, "Toru's right, no matter what happens during our individual training we will grow from it!" His voice trailed off as he ended, and preformed a unison with Toru's, "I'm ready for the next step." They both said together, however what step was Toru exactly taking was unknown.

"That and more." Kei replied playfully, moving his hand in eccentric gestures. "What I have for the lot of you is a surprise but it revolves around dreams. Just a hint for you." He chuckled, walking over to Raze and extending a hand.

Taking Kei's hand, Raze struggle to get to his feet. "Oh? Heh. It looks like we picked the right Captain after all to train us guys." Raze said as he looked to his friends before turning back to Kei. "You sir are the real deal. It will be a pleasure training under you."

Ren nodded, as he eyed Raze and his other companions warily. "Man, we really got it bad, but Rozeluxe is correct. You are the right Captain" his firm demeanor was enough to know -- he was sincere in what he said. Kei would be the Captain for Ren to learn under, and he would, indeed learn something special. Toru smiled, as he felt the comforting security of his friends beside him, feeling slightly more at ease then he was moments ago. "Good" speaking aloud, although his words were directed more at the future student, "I believe that you can defend Karakura Town. It is your job to become strong and protect those who cannot protect themselves. Your job to defend the next generation of warrior..and under his tutelage, you can't go wrong." As he finished, his voice trailed weakly. And, just then, a howling wind blew through the air, ravaging the debris that was scattered about. Glancing at his team from within the growing cloud of debris, he smiled, before his spiritual presence slowly faded away...yet, the faint noise of a Flash Step was heard. "I'll make your job much easier."

Noting his vanishing companion, Ren said no words. "He always kept his secrets. There his to keep, and if he wants to, when the time is right then he'll tell me." he said weakly, his voice dripping with a lack of enthusiasm -- unusual for this blonde haired warrior. "Let him be, we got bigger things to work on, right, Sensei." As his voice trailed, he became slightly more lighthearted, because only good would be on the horizen.