Shinigami Hunt

[Gahrok]

A bloody dagger in the dark dank night, a white face and a yellow smile; Asmodeus was hunting tonight. Silent screams in a symphony of servitude. Death was all he brought. Surely, he thought, as he crept down the streets, they would soon notice? Surely they would come for him? The footsteps continued, how many lives, he wondered with eerily uncaring objectivity, would he have to take before his real mission could begin? Each one of them was so weak, so insignificant. They gave nothing to his cause, and if he hated anything, it was wasting his time on nobody’s when the real prey was a stones throw away. The hint of a grimace began to make its way past the steely mask of his serpentine features, what the fuck was taking them so long?

To hell with it, he thought angrily, it’s not as if this was truly a stealth mission. He could just evacuate if things got too dangerous, he was only here to rack up some attention, kill a few weaklings… and show these people he meant business. And who knows, he might buy that stupid Torre enough time to complete her mission. Asmodeus drummed his hands against the side of his robe with an annoyed idleness that betrayed the true volatility of his nature. Desperado had left them all, his idiotic need to consider himself divinely royal and above everyone else had no doubt led him far from those whom he was required, divinely too (Asmodeus thought fit to add, to rule). And now everything was going to hell, the mission was taking too long and the whole of the arrancar population was sitting on their asses. Not that he cared much for what they did, only that it didn’t bode well for his name to be associated with sentient demons. What were murderers if they frittered away their time on trivialities? Sub-par, he thought with a vicious dislike, and failures. If he had to take control, so be it. He had left the note, it was their job to come and save themselves now or go down in history as… well, or to NEVER go down in history. And those without their names in the books were the true losers in any battle. Those forced to be erased…. those beneath him….

“Come and get me, come… come and lets play ….. come and die” whispered Asmodeus, his anger disappearing into anticipation as a sick smile crept across those thin and wilting lips. With that he let the reiatsu fly, holding nothing back. Oh yes, they would come. “And maybe, if your lucky… just maybe they’ll tell the tale of the day you were killed by Asmodeus.”

[Nobdy]

Arriving back at Soul Society Kisho was still brooding over his fight with the Vizard. Why did he always let them get the best of him, no one else could. Yet standing in the vast empty void that was Rukongai, Kisho knew not why he always got so worked up by the Vizard. Perhaps it was that they once were Shinigami and gave into the hollow’s ploy. Even so it was not his place to remove all of them from this existence. His place was to remove hollows, but did that not include those who have become hollows, even if they once were like him? These were the thoughts that keep him up at night. And then there was her. The Arrancar that he had met in the real would. What was her name? Lizzy was it? What about her, was it not his job to remove her as well, even if neither of them wanted to fight?

About this time Kisho realized just how empty his surroundings were. “Strange Rukongai is never this quite, there is usually someone picking a fight or running from debt collectors. Since when did the streets become so empty?” He said under his breath, as he took to looking for someone or in a worse case scenario something.

“Come and get me, come… come and lets play ….. come and die” Came a voice that sent chills down Kisho’s spine, a voice that was not human. “And maybe, if you’re lucky… just maybe they’ll tell the tale of the day you were killed by Asmodeus.”

Fear shot through his body. That name, it held so much power. There could only be one being that could even begin to be this strong, but what is one doing here in Soul Society? How could something like this get this far. Those stupid fools running things have no idea what there doing. But do I stand a chance? What chance is there? No. If I’m calm and keep it together I might be able to hold it off long enough for help to arrive. I hope. Let them arrive soon.

Arrancar.

[Fleeka]

Fleeka landed on a roof in rukongai and saw the other shinigami standing there. Washime was puzzled for a second, then got the full blast of energy. Something was drawing close. Something not good.

Washime drew his zanpakuto as Jinsokuya appeared beind him, invisible to all others "Now this is what i'm talking about! Finally a chance to show off!" Washime shot him a piercing glare as he backed down "This thing is way too powerful to take head on. That guy looks strong so if he can keep it occupied, I can get in some good shots from here."

[Gahrok]

A motionless smile slowly peeled onto Asmodeus’s lips as his eyes glinted with hunger. Their scent, it was thick. He really had gotten impatient too fast… two… two shinigami already, and one’s reiatsu wasn’t half bad. Perhaps this could be a night to remember after all. Fear, it was thick about the air too, it sickened him as much as it enticed him. So weak… so fragile, begging to be broken. And they considered themselves superior… justifiable. Asmodeus could not contain a scoff, they would soon learn, he was a swift an effective teacher.

The espada’s steps were silent as he turned with swift grace, to face Kisho. Slick, thought Asmodeus with snide cynicism, but could he fight? So fluid was his motion that one could almost have thought Asmodeus’s feet hadn’t even moved as he turned. Graceful yet deadly, just like the snake he so well embodied. Wearing a lopsided grin Asmodeus licked his lips and appraised the shinigami captain with flashing and beady eyes.

“ I see you wear the vest of a captain.” he hissed with a confident conveyance, “Should I expect a decent distraction, a quick martyrdom… or are you simply going to hold the for until you can gang up on me with your friends?” He paused dramatically, taking a purposeful and intimidatingly fast step forward, leaning at an inhuman angle to thrust his face forward, his yellow eyes now looking dangerously crazed. Even a meter from his opponent the sudden and surprising posturing would surely put even the most stern shinigami ill at ease.

“I suspect… from that cowardly smell, that the very latter of my predictions is true. Unless you want to prove me wrong.”

Jumping backwards and landing catlike Asmodeus pulled out his zanpaktou, the dagger’s blade glinting wickedly in the moonlight. Without turning his head his grin widened and he spoke once more, “And don’t think I cant sense you up there…. do you take me for a fool? In your fear you have leaked your cowardly reiatsu, its stench fills my nostrils.”

[Nobdy]

Why. Why had he come here. Kisho could only wonder as the figure floated, almost as the mist flows around a boat on the water. It turned to meet him; of coarse it did he was the strongest one here. That fool from the 9th had no idea what he was getting into. The eyes are said to be the window to the soul, but what happens when there is no soul. Kisho found himself staring into the vast emptiness that was Asmodeus’s soul, and yet he stood his ground. Perhaps it was his training as a caption, or perhaps it was because he had found a challenge.

“ I see you wear the vest of a captain.” he hissed with a confident conveyance, “Should I expect a decent distraction, a quick martyrdom… or are you simply going to hold the for until you can gang up on me with your friends?”

Kisho was shocked to see that Asmodeus knew what a captain was. How far did there knowledge of Soul Society go? And then he moved. It was as if he wanted to catch Kisho off guard. Those yellow eyes, the eyes of a monster. Anyone else would have run, or at least call out for help. But for some reason Kisho did not. It was not for fear this time, but a new emotion growing up inside. Kisho knew he had to keep his cool, but a grin escaped and gave away his growing excitement. Kisho was having fun. Here before him stood a foe that could kill him with out breaking a sweet, and finally someone worth his time. He had taken up fighting those so far below him but now, now he could go all out.

“I suspect… from that cowardly smell, that the very latter of my predictions is true. Unless you want to prove me wrong.”

Let others ruin the fun, ha, he would never do that. “O I intend to prove you very wrong indeed.” He slowly said as he drew his blade. The sun caught the edge and sent light fleeing across the ground. “I’m going to take my time and enjoy this, for its been a long time since I’ve faced an opponent worth my time. Do try your hardest to stay alive. I want to have some fun. And perhaps you will get to see just how strong a caption really is.” Kisho could hardly contain himself as Asmodeus drew his blade, but the fun was short lived for he spoke to the other Shinigami.

“And don’t think I cant sense you up there…. do you take me for a fool? In your fear you have leaked your cowardly reiatsu, its stench fills my nostrils.”

“No need to worry about him. I will be more than a mach for you.” Kisho hissed as he ran at Asmodeus, blade ready to remove whatever got in its way.

[Galihan]

A fierce spirit pressure, one belonging to a very lethal foe indeed had
entered Soul Society, at around the same time as the captain. Things were ,bound to get the out of hand if a battle ensued in Rukongai.

"Captain Kisho... be careful," Tsuno said quietly to himself as he hurried out of the Squad 2 barracks and towards the outer gate of Seireitei. He was sure that there'd be more Hollows accompanying the Arrancar invader, hopefully he'd be able to kill as many as possible while the captain deals with his enemy. This'd make Squad 2 look really good amoung Gotei 13, but surely there'd be members of other squads trying to earn their own glory. Tsuno tightened the grip on Lotomasa's hilt, and took to the rooftops, sprinting, leaping, performing the occasional flash step every 3 or 4 seconds until he got to the giant wall of deathstone.

Once on the other side, he began to sense holes from Hueco Mundo rip open in the clear blue sky. Weak hollows, nothing worth his match but still they had to be eliminated at all costs. He drew the short blade from his back and fell one of the evil spirits in one smooth uppercut stroke as he leaped high into the air, stabbing another in the dead center of the mask which he finished off with a swift kick to the temple.

"Two down, who else wants to find out what it's like to be utterly outclassed?" The lieutenant mocked at the hollows who began to swarm around him. They didn't heed his advice and roared their usual roar, and began to close in on him.
"Good, I wouldn't want to have to hunt you all down anyways!" Tsuno yelled as he raised his zanpakuto in the air and smirked.

[Fleeka]

Washime shook slightly at this foe insulting him like this, but he was really afraid. Raising his zanpakuto up he muttered "Hae Jinsokuya" and then brought it down on the roof as a blade extended from the existing one. He raised this so he could see his target, then drew his arm back infront of it as he would do a bow, large amounts of energy coming from this space. He let go and the invisible missile shot towards its target.

[ZR0 C00L]

Long had it been since Dos had been active. Too long. With the recent degradation of Las Noches, the activities of the Arrancar had gone into a lull. For one such as Zetsumei this was inexcusable. During the absence of their commanders, the Espada's "speed demon" had ventured into the menos forest and spent the passing weeks devouring the soul of any who were unfortunate enough to cross his path.

Upon his return to the white city, Zetsumei could see that things had not improved much. But, at least now there seemed to be some semblance of a plan though. He was informed by his fraccion that Tres was sent on a mission, and that Asmodeus was wreaking havoc upon Rukongai asking for any all Espada to join in so as to ensure success for Torre. Zets could care less as to why and was in raptures over hearing of the opportunity to enter the battlefield once more.

He ripped open a Garganta, teleporting him in to the slums outside Serietei. Stepping out, Zestumei scanned the area for opponents. Seems there's three shinigami outside the city thus far. Two far west of me, but they have already been engaged by Uno. So that leaves me with the one northwest of my position. He deduced and began flying towards him, taking off like a rocket in pursuit of his target.

"Che.... is this all the resistance they could muster, pitiful." He said to himself in disappointment.

As he neared his foe, the Espada saw him dispatch of two lowly hollows effortlessly and then become encircled by a group of them. "Two down, who else wants to find out what it's like to be utterly outclassed?" The man wearing the vice captains badge exclaimed.

Zetsumei flared his reiatsu and the gathering foot soldiers scattered throughout the city once more to continue their onslaught upon weaker opponents. A quick use of sonido put him directly behind Tsuno with his back pressed against the death gods.

"How about....YOU" He said in reply to Tsuno's question.

Zetsumei spun his body around quickly, bringing his right leg around in a kick meant to connect with the side of Tsuno's head from behind.

[Galihan]

A new enemy had made his appearance known to Tsuno, making no effort to hide himself by flaring his reiatsu like he did.

"How about.... YOU"

It was sudden, Tsuno didn't have much time to respond after he heard this to react. There was no time to think, just enough to let instinct kick in. This arrancar was way to close to avoid, to the leutennant's only choice was to defend himself. He rose his arms covering his head and neck, and began to dive to the left, getting kicked in the forearm rather strongly which sent Tsuno flying towards the ground.

"Crap! I was reckless!" the shinigami cursed as he asjusted himself mid-air, landing on his feet in a low crouch. "How unlike me, I'd have rather hunted you down in the shadows and killed you behind your back than have been pitted against you like this... humiliating."

His arm was sore and beginning to swell a bit, but pain didn't matter in the heat of battle against such an opponent. The bone wasn't fractured but it would definitely leave a nasty bruise, not that Tsuno or the arrancar would be able to see it given the design of his uniform as also a member of the executive militia.

He straightened the black sunglasses on his face and looked up at the enemy and vanished from sight for a moment, reappearing upside down, above the arrancar with his right arm extended,

"Hadō # 45: Dragon's Breath!"

A hot burst of flames from his palm, and he used shunpo again to land on the dirt ground.

[Akuhei the Demon of Death]

Espada here? How could they get past the security so easily, no matter how powerful they were. Hyo, captain of the 5th squad watched as a vice-captain took on one of the espada. He dispatched a hollow that got too close, then used shunpo to appear near the vice-captain.

"Need any help?" Hyo asked. "Or do you wish to take him alone?" As he waited for a reply, he looked at the espada. They should of noticed him before he had even made it into the society. His eyes narrowed, his eyes were now serious. He would have to take any arrancar seriously. "So arrancar, how was it you so easily infiltrated our beloved home?"

(sorry its short, but im being hurried)

[Gahrok]

Asmodeus’s own smile evaporated into a vicious scowl at the site of his opponents excitement, what was this idiots problem? Did the fragility of his own life elude him? No matter, thought Asmodeus with a calm that belied his face’s anger, the runt would soon learn. Ignorant as he currently was he had insufficient reason to fear Asmodeus, but soon he would understand the true meaning of terror and pain. This would be no mind game, this would be no witty game of verbal chess. This time Asmodeus was serious.

“O I intend to prove you very wrong indeed. I’m going to take my time and enjoy this, for its been a long time since I’ve faced an opponent worth my time. Do try your hardest to stay alive. I want to have some fun. And perhaps you will get to see just how strong a caption really is.”

“Intent, you will soon learn, shinigami…. means nothing. Only action is action, only death…. is death. And only blood….”

Asmodeus slowly raised his knife, his eyes flashing, and licked the blade… his tongue snaking out wildly, splashing crimson across the grey cobblestone streets. The darkness hid the crimson liquid but the hideous splat could be heard….

“Is blood…” said Asmodeus cackling, the words hideously malformed by his cut tongue. But instead of sounding foolish the gruesome slur only lent credence to Asmodeus’s fearful personae, this was truly no game to him.


“No need to worry about him. I will be more than a mach for you.”

Asmodeus spat the blood in his mouth out at his opponent feet, and licked his lips with his stil bleeding tongue as it landed and gave a pleasurable hiss, eating a golf ball sized hole into the ground. He pocketed the dagger once more. This dramatic silence was more than unusual for him, the words of his opponent had pierced his skin, albeit in a small and insignificant manner. But it was enough to have pricked his pride, and this time he was not going to mince words.

“You seem to think you are living in a legend, in a tale, if you consider your odds at all possible for victory.”

Just as the words had left his mouth Asmodeus heard it, the sound of a zanpaktou scraping…. the other one had decided to take some initiative, interesting. The blast engulfed him, but Asmodeus did not turn, did not flinch. Indeed as the dust cleared one could see that he hadn’t even moved. All that had changed was Asmodeus’s hair, which was now blowing calmly about in the breeze that had been created by the attack. On closer inspection one might note the small bits of debris and minute scrapes, but nothing that had passed the tough arrancar hide.

“Well you were right about one thing…” said Asmodeus snidely, his mirth and sarcasm dripping, “This certainly is up to you alone…”


Asmodeus squinted, caught off guard. Reiatsu, lots of it….. familiar reiatsu…. another espada. His nostril flared as he searched for the scent of more… yes, there was, more shinigami. All of a sudden a grin replaced the scowl once more, things were finally going his way. The battle had begun.
st

[Nobdy]

“You seem to think you are living in a legend, in a tale, if you consider your odds at all possible for victory.”

This hurt Kisho, for he thought that even a lowly dog of scum, would see that there is more to him than what meets the eye. Why is it that this fool thought that he was only dreaming of victory, perhaps he was, after all what chance did he stand without going all out, and doing that might destroy his body. ”I know that you stand no chance here. So my odds seem very good, even if I must cheat.” Kisho mocked as he thought of all the others in Soul Society, who, as soon as the fighting began, would come rushing to help.

Just then that fool from 9th tried his luck. Using some strange skill, witch Kisho was sure was a projectile, he tried to harm Asmodeus, but even to Kisho’s surprise, Asmodeus did not move. He stood there taking full on the attack, and when the dust cleared, there was not even a mark or drop of blood to indicate that he had been hit.

“Well you were right about one thing…” said Asmodeus snidely, his mirth and sarcasm dripping, “This certainly is up to you alone…”

The difference in power was almost unfair, after all what was the 5th seat to a espada. Even so Kisho knew that this would be a long battle. One that he may not win. Of corse he did not win all his battles. Thinking back to a time when he almost never won a ceratin mach...

((Ok so the next part is a flash back to before the events of the plot.))

Why? Why had it all fallen apart? What hade gone so wrong that he now stood before his demise. How? How could he had missed so much? This was it. The end. Game over. Checkmate. All that was left was to face the end with pride. He moved his final time.

“Checkmate” Sokubakukyo said as she moved her queen to the back row of the chess board. The white king stood in checkmate. A rook blocked his way to the next row, and the black queen had ended his rain. “Play again?” she mocked as Kisho reset the board. Even so, his answer mattered not, they both knew they would keep playing till something better came up. “How many times does this make? Twelve, thirteen?” She keep mocking him. Even if she was his Zanpakuto’s spirt she knew how to play a mean game of chess. No one else could beat him. For that matter no one else stood a chance. But for some reason Kisho could never beat her. Well that’s not true. He beat her once, and only once.

”You are having way to much fun.” Kisho sighed as he moved his pawn. ”Why is it we keep doing this. We both know your going to win.” at this he paused to stair down her grin before going on ”and I’m sure that there are better things to do.” he stopped to ponder the thought of actual work ”Your move.”

To anyone else, it would seem as if caption Kisho was sitting at his desk, playing a game of chess with himself, and in a certain sense he was. This is what made up most of his days now. Nothing interesting ever happened, not sense that Arrancar, anyway. What had happened. Kisho used to have fun doing his job, but now it had gotten boring. He needed something to spice things up. ‘Perhaps another trip to the real would.’ he thought ‘who knows maybe I’ll get lucky and find a Vizard or a Quincy with a grudge, and have some fun slapping them around.’

”Why is it you always go looking for fights?” Sokubakukyo said aloud, obviously knowing what Kisho was thinking.

”Its not that I go looking for fights.” he struggled ”Its that fighting can be so much fun, if we find an opponent worth our time. But I also want to grow stronger, and the only way to do that is to push my limits.”

”Perhaps, but are you not strong enough? You can use shunko, a skill that only a hand few have ever learned. Even if you can’t quite control it well, you still can use it.” she paused as she calculated her next move. “Checkmate, I win again.”

Still lost in his own world Kisho barely paid any mind to the fact that he had lost once again. No, instead now he was thinking about being able to use shunko in a fight. After all, he had never used it in a battle, and sense becoming caption he had only trained with it once. A time he was determined never to relive. In his over excitement Kisho managed to destroy a forth of division 2's compound, which only recently had been fixed. ‘If I could only get a chance to see what I can really do.’ The thought made him glow with anticipation.

”If were lucky there will never be a need for you to show your true power.” she cut in ending his dream. ”Nothing short of an Arrancar coming to Soul Society. Care to play another game?” now she was the one glowing, and Kisho couldn’t help but laugh. She was right, odds were he would never have to use Shunko.

Thinking back the memory made Kisho laugh. Here stood before him the impossible odds that he had hoped for. But he knew not to jump into things, last time had showed him that. Take it slow.

”Scream out Sokubakukyo” Kisho said as his blade formed into the double bladed tonfas that were Sokubakukyo. ”Lets take this to the next level.” and with that Kisho sent a wave of energy to distract Asmodeus while he snook up behind him. All the while he felt the Reiatsu of the others. It seamed as if his vice caption had gotten over his head. Hopefully he would last long enough for Kisho to finish up here.

[Galihan]

Tsunō hadn't expected Captain Aijou of Squad 5 to show up like he did. He was able to sense his presence heading towards Rukongai at the same time that he was leaving Seireitei, but he never figured he'd come on this side of the wall being in charge of inner defense. Maybe the vice-captain was a bit tense lately, and wasn't used to being snook up on, let alone twice. It he was feeling careless, maybe he was losing it a bit, or maybe there was just that much of a gap between his strength and theirs... no, that couldn't be it, but it would be pointless for him to take on this espada head on, that would be suicide for him.

The lieutenant looked up at tall captain, and nodded, taking to one knee and flash stepping a further distance away from the enemy. He could watch, observe and maybe swap placed with the captain if they were to wear each other down in battle. Unfair, maybe. Dishonurable, maybe. Did Tsuno really care? Not really. This was a battlefield and regarding life and death, and dying alone for your own pride would mean nothing if you could have survived with your comrades at your side.

[ZR0 C00L]

The shinigami had better reflexes than Zetsumei had given him credit for at first glance. Nothing to write home about in his eyes but more than he expected. Zetsumei watched as the man righted himself in the air and got his momentum under his own control once more. The masked man had spirit, the espada had to give him that, but even so Dos had no fear of this man. His power was vast and in his mind, a few shinigami were but pebbles which sullied the path he walked.

"How unlike me, I'd have rather hunted you down in the shadows and killed you behind your back than have been pitted against you like this... humiliating." The shinigami spat out, making Zetsumei lose all respect for him. Doesn't he know it's hopless? He thought.

As Zetsumei looked on apathetically, the masked man had vanished from sight. As Tsuno re-appeared above him, Zetsumei turned his face up to look at him,a maniacal smile adorning his face. They locked eyes for a moment before Tsuno's dragon's breath technique was fired. Zetsumei stood his ground as the flames passed over him. Attacks at this level were not sufficient to even singe his hierro. As the fire washed over his body and began to dissipate, the single horned arrancar was revealed to be unscathed.

"Fool, you'll need to do a lot better." He said disapprovingly to Tsuno who was now on the ground below.

A new figure approached, this one was strong. Zetsumei was pleased. Maybe this won't be so boring after all. He thought to himself excitedly. The new arrival conversed with the first and in a move that regained some of the lost esteem in Zetsumei's eyes. The masked shinigami seemed to recognize the fact that he was of little use in this battle and moved himself off of the field of direct combat. To the Espada, it was a smart move. The man before him narrowed his eyes at Dos and Zetsumei returned his stare with one of apathy. He was not impressed.

"So arrancar, how was it you so easily infiltrated our beloved home?" He said, earning a chuckle from the espada.

"I'm afraid I can't answer any of your questions shinigami. " He began in a mocking tone before slowly stating his next words. All i have for you.....IS DEATH"

He finished by screaming the last two words and vanishing from sight. A sound not unlike static could be heard as he reappeared directly in front of the new arrival. Fist cocked and ready to strike with a vicious punch Zetsumei let loose his blow headed for the captains jaw. He saw no need to draw his blade as yet but kept his opponents drawing hand in his peripheral just in case.

[Akuhei the Demon of Death]

Hyo listened as Zetsumei talked, not really listening, formulating a battle plan in his head. This guy was on par with his power level. He would have to wear him down, little by little, and when Tsuno was rested enough he could probably finish the job. And if not, a tired arrancar would have a hard time keeping up with a captain and a vice captain, even if the captain was tired and the vice captain a little damaged.

His eyes narrowed a centimeter when he heard Zetsumei yell. He heard the static before he actually saw the espada. He was barely able to block, and winced as the blow damaged his arm. With lightning speed, Hyo drew his blade and slashed at Zetsumei, only using it as a distraction so he could get some distance, as well as trying to cause some damage. He jumped back about twenty feet, before raising his blade in front of him. He could still feel the slight stinging in his arm.

Hyo wasted no time, unleashing his shikai. "Bloom, Kazekusabana." The blade grew longer, as well as the tip becoming more jagged. The winds seemed to gather around it. He started running towards Zetsumei, and when he was within about five feet he swung his blade at the arrancar, also releasing a rush of wind as that could cut.