@Exorcist. I was reading through the characters forum, and realised that I never said anything to you about using Soi Fon. Why don't you introduce her to the fighting?

@Everyone. I will add a number ten Espada, too. Just to make sure that we have the whole set involved in the RP. XD

Everyone: Why?

Bp: Because I say so.

Everyone: You're a dick.

Bp: No, I'm just eccentric.

Exorcist: No... I'm eccentric. You're plain weird.

Bp: (Glares) Thanks so much, Exorcist!

Exorcist: That's what happens when you constantly get admitted into asylum's, have random battles with a character you made up and say weird stuff all the time.

Bp: (Coughs) Whatever, Jerk! What do you lot have to say for yourselves?

Everyone: Can we go now?

Bp: Fine. Whatever. See ya, Jerks! (Suddenly hears a snore) What's that?

Everyone, minus Gaia: I think Gaia has been asleep for a while. He won't wake up. Lazy bastard said he was gonna post a while ago, but he's just been doing nothing since then.

Bp: Oy, Gaia! Wake up, you slack bastard! (Prods him)

Exorcist: Can I draw on his face?

Bp: If I can draw on yours...

Exorcist: Quiet, you, in the cheap seats... I wasn't even asking you, I was asking everyone.

Everyone: No!

Exorcist: I hate you all.

Name: Socrates Neox

Rank: Espada No.9

Age: 718 (Looks about 28)

Hollow Hole Location: Middle of forehead

Truth: Wisdom

Zanpakuto: Manera Cierto ('Wise One')

Appearance: Being tall, and quite gangly, Socrates looks as though his robes are almost falling off of him. He weighs only 59 kilograms and is about 6'4-6'5. His hair is a mousey brown, that is short and looks like it has been done with a buzz cutter; although it is short, it grows shaggy and looks quite messy, even while short. His eyes are a curious colour, almond-shaped, hazel and gold flecks, that complement his brown hair. In addition to his robes, he wears an over-tunic, which is white, with gold pieces to hold it in place. He has a head-piece, which is his mask remnant; this seems to be partially attached to his head and is raised a little higher, as though it was a laurel.

History: Being fairly intelligent, but, for the most part, mainly wise, he chose not to wander the deserts of Hueco Mundo, but instead, he found a hidey-hole and spent much of his Hollow years there, before killing his 1000th Hollow and assuming the form of a Vasto Lordes. He began to collaborate with his fellow Hollows, mostly Adjuchas and a couple of other Vasto Lordes, by forming a society. This society was based on Socrates teaching certain pieces of knowledge to any Hollow that was interested in hearing such talk. This survived for many years and he managed to train many Hollows to embrace a human-like way of thinking, which helped to help these Hollows understand fighting without relying on animalistic instinct and allow them to fight, while strategising and defeating their opponents by doing so. In time, this society was discovered by King Barragan, the former king of Hueco Mundo, and it was disbanded and they were recruited into his army as officers. After Barragan was defeated by the Shinigami, Socrates society was reformed and it stood for many years, until the return of Sosuke Aizen, who offered them a place with his army. Socrates spent many years training Hollows and Arrancar. After Sky, the former Espada No.9 was defeated, Aizen asked Socrates to take the position. Socrates held off for a while, at least, until he heard that they were to be attacking the Soul Society. He decided to accept Aizen's offer and became the Nineth Espada.

Personality: Socrates is very sensitive, in terms of how he fights and such, but he is also very much a politician and spent many years wishing to change things and allow Hollows the chance to lead lives without Shinigami killing them. This makes him very determined and sympathetic to the cause of Hollows, as such, he wants the chance to defeat the Shinigami to allow their lives the freedom they deserve. He is intelligent enough, but is also a very wise Arrancar; this has allowed the chance to refine his fighting style to accomodate opponents with very different fighting styles. He is also very conscious of honour and will not fight a battle without upholding this honour. Socrates considers himself to be a philosopher and speaks with that in mind during every battle he fights; mostly, the things he says cannot be understood by his opponents, as he tends to ramble on about very little at times, regarded purely as philosophical jibber-jabber.

Resurreccion: Percieve, Manera Cierto!

Appearance: The laurel becomes larger and more pronounced. His robes disappear, instead forming greek-style philosopher robes. He loses the Zanpakuto, as he has no need for it; instead, his weapon appears to be a scroll, the inscriptions unknown to those who haven't seen or read it.

Abilities:

Special ability: The scroll has inscriptions on it, that Socrates can read to his opponent. These have varying effects, depending on the opponent and what the inscription says. In addition to this, Socrates can also use inscriptions that allow him to shift energy particles.

Fighting degradation: When he reads this one, the opponent begins to lose their sense of instinct and fighting ability; instead, they begin to slow down and cannot block or parry attacks so easily. After about five minutes (depending on the level/strength of their reiatsu) they begin to become puffed easier and their moves become far more clumsy than usual. After about ten minutes, they seem to lose any connection with their spiritual body and cannot use their reiatsu at all, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

Manipulation of Spirit Energy: This inscription allows Socrates the ability to manipulate his reiatsu into attacks. This can form spiritual weapons, like swords and axes. He can also combine his Cero and reiatsu into a larger version of a Gran Rey Cero.

Arrancar attributes:

Gran Rey Cero (Released form)
Expert Cero, Sonido and Pesquisias
Mid-level Bala and swordsmanship
Low-level strength and Hierro

[PLAY MUSIC]

More manic cackling erupted from the jester's open maw as he sprinted onward, knives firmly in his grasp. Hideaki's eyes narrowed as he tapped either side of his glasses. His composure was returning, though anger was still apparent on his face.

Hideaki: If I would lose to something like you...

Ink from the book in his hands climbed to his body, painting it in black characters.

Hideaki: I wouldn't be much of a strategist, now would I?

Cyrus was upon him. The deranged Espada crossed both shivs in an attempt to rend Hideaki's head from his shoulders, but in an instant, the captain was gone. From behind Cyrus, he extended his finger.

Hideaki: Tekki Jidai.

Cyrus whirled about on his heel, still grinning madly.

Cyrus: You're QUICK! I LIKE-

He was cut off by an eruption of white light launching itself from Hideaki's finger. It slammed headlong into his face, sending him careening backwards. He exploded immediately into a cloud of bright blue reiatsu. Hideaki then whipped about, extending his pen forwards to meet a dagger. Cyrus widened his eyes, though no look of surprise was on his face. With a voice steeped in sadism, he loosed a strange noise. To Hideaki, it sounded something like an uncontrolled laugh mixed with the grunt of effort. A quick inhalation later, orange smoke spilled from Cyrus' mouth. Hideaki dashed backwards, taking care not to inhale any of Cyrus' gas.

The madman spilled from the plume of smoke in an instant, recklessly whipping his weapons in front of him. Hideaki dodged each attack with pristine grace, and those he couldn't evade he merely deflected with his pen. The billowing cloud of orange was making its way closer, he noted. Gritting his teeth, he leaped into the air. He needed to stay inside of his circle, lest he lose sight of Cyrus' clones amid the smoke. Two more copies of the arrancar appeared to either side of the captain with a booming sound. Each one slashing forward, they unleashed two bright lashes of energy that zoomed towards their target, Hideaki. The man cursed and forced himself higher into the air, where, to his disdain, he came face to face with the original.

Cyrus: CAUGHT YOU!

In a mere fraction of a second, Cyrus slashed at Hideaki's midriff. The massive boost in speed allowed the shinigami to maneuver just out of the way, but he was caught off guard by the Espada's leg, which crashed into his chest and send him downwards. He rocketed towards the ground, too much momentum to even flash step to another position. As he fell, the two arcs of energy the other clones in the air had fired came together, catching him in the collision. Hideaki barely managed to twist his body so that he wouldn't be sliced apart, instead taking a heavy gash to either forearm before smashing into the ground and creating a healthy sized crater. No sooner did he hit the ground that did he dash twenty feet away from his recent position. Cyrus appeared five feet across from him, teeth bared in an uncanny, bestial snarl, his mouth still turned upwards in that goddamned smile.

Hideaki panted, now wounded greatly. His relaxed, composed expression left his face. Instead, pure hatred and rage filled his eyes. He quickly scribbled marks on his fingers and a large glyph on his palm.

Hideaki: Eiyu Jidai...

Cyrus: Another game? Ooh, I absolutely LOVE-

Hideaki: Enough with your FUCKING GAMES! You can't touch me anymore! Not while I'm using this ability... Now, I'm going to kill you, Espada... I'm going to fucking destroy you...

-End-

So, just a heads up, but I've been incredibly busy this week, and it shows no sign of slacking until Wednesday of next week. I'll hopefully be able to write up a couple of posts then, but just bear that in mind.

Random.....

I got a sword.....

Hyorinmaru.....

@Whiteflame. Okay, dude. Sounds good. XD

@Wantadog. Got a sword, as in actually got a replica of Hyorinmaru? Awesomeness!!! I have wanted a replica of it for ages. XD

@Everyone. I have been working on a long post over the last few days... I shall post it in the weekend.

I was gonna post, but I can't really be bothered if no-one else is going make any effort... I'm sure Whiteflame will post something, but everyone else has been rather absent. Honestly, if people are having troubles with the content, or with what to write, then I urge you to message me and leave an email in my inbox, with whatever questions you have, otherwise I'm going to declare this over.

I still check this daily, but have not been able to post lately. I might have one up in a day...or two.

I'm still waiting for Whiteflame's reply to continue the fight with Idoya and Tsubaki. Until then, I give you another piece from the broken epic of Futo Minoriko! Although someone else shines more brightly in this portion...

Come to think of it, this epic is technically about three or four thousand years old, which makes it older than the Epic of Gilgamesh. If I pieced this together and make a (long) song out of it, I could become famous O.O

“Sengoku is in a period of war.” Minoriko Futo spoke calmly as she sat with many other men and a few woman under a single roof. Though they were all unfamiliar with it, the entire household was put under a kido barrier to contain their spiritual pressure. Everyone seated there, aside from Futo, held the title of Daimyo, currently the most powerful title held in Japan, ignoring the title belonging to the Empress Himiko, who had allowed the Archmage Minoriko to be in charge of this dangerous meeting instead. “Everyone here wishes to unite Japan themselves. This is given. However, Oda Nobunaga is the man currently closest to attaining this dream you all share, using cruel and vicious methods.”

“So what?” Kuchiki Reisuke snorted indifferently in reply. This daimyo was young and cold, pushing away all that he holds dear for fear of losing it all. It was he who had turned away Futo’s companion who claimed Kuchiki blood because he knew that if he accepted Hibiki and took him from the archmage, the young woman would lose what was dear to her. However, only he was aware of his motives, and he preferred to keep it that way. “He has lost the will of the people. His reign will crumble before long.”

“How long?” Takeda Shingen, daimyo of the Takeda clan, demanded furiously. A large bear of a man, he possessed enough spiritual pressure that it acted as a sheild against the blades of most samurai, though he lacked the skill to even seal his zanpakutou. “He has burned Mt. Heiei to the ground! That is a sacred place we should not set foot on! He even crushed Japan’s center of trade and commerce and takes control of it, a place where we daimyo have an unspoken rule not to venture near!”

“He has crossed too many lines.” Uesugi Kenshin, the daimyo of the clan who was eternally locked on equal terms with their rival, the Takeda clan, agreed with the large daimyo, a fact that surprised many at the table. “If he continues, Sengoku will no longer be what we know.”

“So you propose we unite and destroy him?” Date Masamune, the young adolescent daimyo nicknamed the ‘One-Eyed Dragon’ smirked with his arms crossed, legs folded tightly. The one eye he had not covered by an eye-patch was daunting. “Fine by me. But what I want to know is what happens after that? Who gets Oda’s land? Will we stay united? If so, who will rule? If we join forces, it could very well spell out the unification and rule of Sengoku.”

“Indeed.” Justeaze Von Einsberg said as he leaned forward slightly, eyes lit dangerously. “I am against an alliance, even for the sake of Sengoku, because I know that someone will greedily take Sengoku for themselves once Oda is gone.”

“Worried that it will not be you, Einsberg?” Kuchiki Reisuke asked coolly as he hid his mouth and nose with his face fan, his cold eyes focused on Justeaze’s face. “You’ve always been the ambitious type.”

“True,” Justeaze readily admitted. “But my goals do not require me to unite Sengoku. In fact, I have yet to learn if whether it would benefit me more to have Sengoku remain divided rather than conquered by some egotistical fool.”

“Disgusting.” Both Kuchiki Reisuke and Uesugi Kenshin murmured scathingly.

Suddenly, a loud splintering sound echoed as part of the table they were sitting at was crushed. Unsheathing swords filled the air as all the retainers waiting behind their lords stood at the ready, murder in their eyes as they prepared to defend the daimyo. A large burly man sheathed in armor stood over the cause of the disturbance. The young and righteous Tokugawa Ieyasu sat where he was, arms folded defiantly as he remained before the hole in the table, caused by his spiritual pressure causing a minor quake that had purposely crushed the table. The daimyo sighed as they saw this and waved down their retainers, knowing this man did not mean to attack them.

“You’ve been awfully quiet until now, Tokugawa.” Takeda Shingen spoke when no one else did. “Do you have something to say?”

Ieyasu looked around the table with a deep frown on his face and held one hand up. Tadakatsu, the Tokugawan retainer, reluctantly sat back down behind his daimyo.

“I owe Oda a debt.” Ieyasu said shameless and proudly. “I won’t deny this. If not for him, I’d still belong to Imagawa. Einsberg, he shares your interests in barbarians—I’m sorry, ‘western’ culture. No doubt, he believes that by uniting Sengoku under his rule, peace will be brought. He believes this like we all do about ourselves. However, I cannot accept his methods. He has become a ruthless demon who no longer respects our traditions and customs. For this reason, we must stop him at any costs. Reasons like succession mean nothing.”

“Then who do you propose lead such a great army?” Shihōin Yuyuko asked with a sly smile. Though she is a daimyo, she was really the head of the largest stealth and assassin guild in Sengoku and the most influential ninja in the warring states. She was a mercenary who acted for the sake of money, rather than ambition or glory. “Who can we trust to lead us against the most powerful man in Sengoku while only thinking of Sengoku and not himself?”

“There is but one man.” Minoriko Futo spoke up then, having apparently been satisfied by the lack of objections that the daimyo were resigned to the temporary alliance. “Lady Himiko considers him her most trusted general. If anyone is to lead for the sake of Sengoku, rather than for the sake of their own clan, it must be someone from the empire.”

As she spoke, everyone in the room felt a powerful feeling of warmth and flames. It was heavy enough to instantly cripple the samurai and keep them from standing. The daimyo, albeit unaffected, were shocked by this blatant display of power as the doors slid open behind the seated Futo and a young man with dark hair strode in, wearing the black kimono that signified his loyalty to the empress.

“I am Yamamoto Shigekune.” The young man spoke forwardly and loudly to everyone in the room. He was younger than bother Tokugawa and Masamune, the youngest daimyo among them. “At the wish of the empress of Sengoku, I will lead you to defeat the threat known as Nobunaga. Your assistance is completely appreciated.”

I've been finding scattered time to work on my posts, but I should be able to post sometime over the next few days, if not then this weekend.

Sorry, guys, I was in a bad mood last night and saw no replies on here and wrote my instant thoughts on it. I hope you guys know that I appreciate everything you've done on this RP and the effort you've put in. I'll post that post tomorrow night, since there's a few things I wish to add.

@Whiteflame. Alrighty, dude, sounds good to me.

@Wantadog. If you're having troubles, email me and we can discuss it over several emails. If it's working out what to post, then just message and let me know and we can work something out.

@Exorcist. Interesting post, but epic nonetheless. XD. Could you please send me the list of Kido for Bleach: Resurgance? Thanks.

My next post should finish up the battle between Mishiranu and Aguantar. Not much else for me to do after that XD

Well, you know, there are spaces for you to create a Captain and there are also Captains you can use, if you want to. Why don't you create a Captain? You could do a Squad 11 Captain and there are still a couple of Espada left and you can create any random Arrancar you like, in order to do battle with. Just tell me what you are planning to do, whenever you decide. I just don't want you to feel left out, or useless in the upcoming battles, so just do whatever you like, as long as it makes reasonable sense. Is that okay with you?

I probably will make a captain, but I was thinking about waiting till after this current set of battles to do it. I guess I could make some random Arrancar....

I apologize for the amount of time this took, it's been a busy couple of weeks. Anyway, I will have the post up for Idoya later this week.

Cyrus regarded him with some mischievous glee

Cyrus: How about we test that resolve of yours!?

Appeared behind him in an instant, lashing out with a dagger. It met Hideaki’s open palm, and he rocketed backward into the side of a building. He stood out of the rubble, shaking with glee.

Cyrus: Taboo! I love that game!

Orange gas started to pour from his mouth again, and two more versions of himself appeared to the right and left of him just before they disappeared behind the haze. The orange smoke quickly surrounded him, leaving only an open space in the center.

Hideaki: Bakudo #26…

All three Cyruses burst out of the smoke, trailing orange spittle behind them as they tried to reach him.

Hideaki: Kyokkō.

He disappeared from view, and the three struck at the air where he had been just a moment before. They twisted their heads around in an attempt to find him, but no trace of him could be found, until sheaves of paper began to fall from the sky. Two of the Cyruses made grabs for them, but came up empty.

Hideaki: I told you, I’ll ensure that you won’t touch me again. And that you fall as a result.

Cyrus: Ooh, tag it is!

Hideaki: I already told you…

The three Cyruses followed the voice and attacked, and all three were launched backward by the force of their own strikes. Hideaki reappeared, his pen vanished into the now open and glowing book he carried.

Hideaki: NO MORE GAMES!

He charged, and his three opponents responded in kind, each trailing copious amounts of orange smoke. Hideaki batted aside a kick from the foremost version, which sent the deranged Espada reeling backward into the orange haze. He sent a wordless Haien at another, which evaporated in a sickening haze of purple and orange intertwined. The last struck before he could respond, knife piercing his shoulder. Hideaki grimaced, and then his eyes went wide as the blue dagger glowed and Cyrus grinned.

The blast shot him out of the smoke filled area, leaving a deep burn that covered his left shoulder. Thankfully it didn’t touch the arm – the blast had likely come from the dagger that he had used earlier. The other would have intense power flowing through it at this very moment.

Hideaki hated to admit it, but he was outmatched, and he wouldn’t survive just by delaying for his ability. The sheaves of paper were still falling only lightly around them. He sighed, withdrawing something from one of his pockets.

The remaining two Cyruses made a mad dash for him, both charging together with daggers raised. As their neared, Hideaki raised his hand into the air, and then dropped something that glinted in the sunlight. They reached him just as it fell, the small vial cracking and copious amounts of blue smoke radiating out.

Hideaki reappeared well above the scene, eyes narrowed. He looked down on the scene beneath him. The orange gas that both of the Cyruses continued to spew into the air was melding with the blue and turning the whole thing a bright green. And they were coughing piteously.

Hideaki: My predecessor may have been insane, but no one ever doubted his genius. Even I have to agree, some of his toys have been… most helpful. The man knew about poisons, there is no doubt. Poison gasses even better. So he made this strange substance. It transitions to a gas the moment it’s exposed to air, and interacts with gaseous poisons, enhancing them to the point that they are unbearable even for the person using them. It appears to work quite nicely.

The fake Cyrus quickly erupted in a plume of orange gas that turned green almost instantly. Cyrus himself was down on hands and knees, coughing in fits and starts. Hideaki waited as he watched the reams of paper falling all around him turn thicker and thicker, almost blotting out his vision of the Espada beneath him. As soon as this was ready, it would be time to end it once and for all. Only a minute to go…

His eyes went wide as blue light filled his vision.

A blast tore through the air like a massive pillar of light, swinging for anything it could touch. And it caught him with ease. Though he didn’t take the full force of the cero, Hideaki was covered in burns, his arm so damaged that it was unusable. To his dismay, the papers had stopped falling. Still, he kept his position in the air, panting heavily from his injuries. And keeping an eye on the figure rising out of the green smoke.

Whatever sanity Cyrus had was gone from him. Orange drool, turned green before it descended down to his chin, dripped constantly out of a mouth that continued to chuckle with some unknown glee. Wide eyes that were perfectly blue before were now laced with red veins that protruded from his unblinking stare. His muscles would tense and relax at odd intervals, and he twitched with each passing second. Not a word escaped from his mouth except for that insane chortle.

His eyes found Hideaki, and Hideaki found the ground.

Hideaki: Shit!

He rolled away as Cyrus shot down, daggers piercing the ground where his head and neck had been just moments before. He did insane cartwheels as he chased Hideaki, who couldn’t even find time to rise off the ground. He raised his right hand to defend against an attack, and just barely forced back his unflinching opponent, who stood with his head cocked a good distance away, regarding him with a blank expression.

What had happened? Mayuri had left him specific instructions on how this worked! He had seen Cyrus suffer, seen the pain wracking his body. And yet there was no pain now, not even a semblance of a thinking person within those eyes.

All of a sudden, the answer came to him. The gas that Cyrus had exuded was a poison, but it wasn’t the only thing that was coming out of him. A madness was there as well, probably with only limited effect in normal circumstances, if any at all. The substance Mayuri had left was highly effective, but it was predicated on there being only one poison extant in the gas he was affecting. This had been no simple poison. Hideaki tried to flex his left hand and frowned when it was slow to react. He wouldn’t be able to win against this creature like this, not even with his speed.

Cyrus’s tongue lolled out of his mouth as he eyed Hideaki, more orange spittle leaving small pools beneath him. Again he charged, and this time Hideaki was ready, easily intercepting the slash that came. Cyrus’s arm rebounded, and he spun like a top, daggers flashing. Hideaki gasped and tried to retreat, but was scored with several blows, including one that caught him through the hamstring. He went to one knee, looking up just in time to see the other dagger, glowing blue again, pointed at his forehead as Cyrus let out a gleeful squeal.

“Shouma Suraisu”

Hideaki saw a blur of air swipe up through Cyrus’s arm, then watched him scream in pain and drop the dagger before him, staggering backward. Hideaki looked towards the source of the words, and saw an old friend.

Renee: I told myself I was never going to set foot inside Soul Society again. I will make you pay for forcing me into it after I’m done cleaning up your mess, Hideaki.

Hideaki scowled: That’s Captain Hideaki to you.

Renee: And it would have been Former Captain Hideaki if I hadn’t intervened. So just shut up and stay still. This will be over soon.

Cyrus regarded his new opponent, who held the gigantic blade of her bankai, with interest and glee, holding his right hand at first and then seeming to forget about the pain entirely. His laugh, now hoarse, grew louder and louder as he surveyed his new challenger with delight. Renee raised her blade and pointed it at him.

Renee: Come. I will end your madness.

I apologize that this is a little shorter than I wanted (and of course, far later), but I ran into a bit of writer's block with this one. I do my best in this post to fully elucidate Idoya's abilities, so hopefully that'll help you with your next post, exorcist.

Idoya glanced over at where Tsubaki's allies were, and the captain moved to engage.

Idoya: Don’t be hasty.

Tsubaki stopped, giving her a guarded look.

Idoya: I was given orders to follow. None of those included causing as much damage as possible. Besides, neither of your friends over there have weapons worth taking.

Tsubaki didn’t move. However honest her words, Idoya had nothing but incentive to acquire other weapons. The Espada sighed.

Idoya: Captain, how do you think I beat your comrade?

She paused. When Tsubaki didn’t interject, she shook her head.

Idoya: Of course, you couldn’t know. You probably think I “steal” weapons. Connections, captain. Connections. You have a bond with your blades, but that bond isn’t exclusive to you, much as you might think it is. Your blades are living entities as well, capable of making their own choices. They can be swayed, most easily by touch, to recognize someone else as their wielder. But that does not mean that their allegiance can’t be split…División Eco (Splitting Echo).

Her hands moved to her hips, and white light poured out of them. It materialized into two pairs of swords hanging at her hips and crossed just below the rounded guards. Tsubaki looked on in shock.

Idoya: Ulquiorra is not the only one Espada who can materialize a cero into a viable weapon. Do not worry, captain, these do not produce explosions, nor can they mirror your abilities. These four are merely echoes of your own blades.

This time, Tsubaki shook her head, a small smile playing out on her face. Idoya regarded her evenly, moving to wield two of the blades from her sides.

Tsubaki: I can’t help but be confused. Captain Komamura couldn’t be defeated the likes of those weapons, and neither could I. Showing so little respect towards my blades that you would think they fight for you, however…

She moved and struck, Idoya easily blocking a blow from a newly unsheathed blade with its mirror and wearing the same expression.

Tsubaki: is unforgivable!

Her hands left the hilt of her blade, moving down to her sides and grasping two more. With speed like lightning they leapt from their sheaths, aimed for the Espada’s neck. Idoya grunted, and the hilts of two of her blades slammed into Tsubaki’s chest, knocking her backwards and off balance. She quickly grabbed for the falling blade she had initially struck with, resheathing the lot in a smooth motion and stepping backward to gain her distance. Idoya’s expression didn’t change.

Idoya: I wonder, what could you be thinking in this moment?

Tsubaki launched another salvo, this time removing a blade from its sheath and fighting with blade and sheath in each hand. Her attacks were far easier to track by design, using the sheath more often than the blade in order to draw her opponent into a false sense of security. And yet, every strike she attempted to land ended in failure, each easily blocked by one of the white blades of her opponent. She managed to block a number of strikes in return, but they seemed to move towards blind spots in her defense more often than not, and the strength of her opponent pushed her back each time. Tsubaki tisked, retreating again.

Idoya: Are you thinking that I’ve gotten faster, or somehow memorized your fighting style? Did I know about you and your abilities before we even met? Try again, captain.

Tsubaki charged again, all four blades a blur as they seemed to exit their sheaths at once, only to get pushed back by a single white blade and a kick to the stomach.

Idoya: I wonder, could you even understand the reason if I told you? Would you believe that your own blades are betraying you, that your defeat will come at their hands as surely as my own?

Tsubaki couldn’t see the ethereal strands that connected her blades to Idoya’s. She couldn’t know that those very strands were giving her the ability to predict every motion those blades made, however subtle. All she could do was seethe in outrage.

Tsubaki: Why you-!

Idoya: Maybe now you’ll realize that your foolish concept of honor is nothing but an impediment. It gives you no strength. It makes you dependent on things you cannot trust. It saps you of all that you are.

Tsubaki stood, spitting out a gob of blood and withdrawing all four blades once again from their sheaths. Instead of attacking, she held the ends of the hilts of a katana and a wakizashi in each hand, pointing them in opposite directions. Golden energy formed into spheres from each of them, forming into a box around her. Idoya could see the streams of energy coming off of them as clearly as she could from the blades – they were a creation of the very blades that had given themselves partially to her allegiance, after all.

Tsubaki: We all depend on something, Espada. And I will show you the strength of my convictions.

[Red Stains On the Ground and Walls, but the Skies Stay as Blue as Ever]

Soul Society was in the midst of a dangerous war against hallows, with the powerful Arrancar leading them. Menos Grande, from Gillian level to Vasto Lorde, were wreaking havoc as much as they could, conspicuously fighting with the captains of the Gotei 13. The Espada were dangerous due to their ability to even prove a threat to a captain one on one. It was because of this that the captains were focused on defeating the Espada, who were essentially the generals of the army of hallows. It was an easy to understand and simple tactic.

And it was this very simplicity that allowed a few Arrancar to move freely without attracting any attention. Simply by hiding their spiritual pressure rather than seeking out opponents to fight, they had managed to slip past countless shinigami who were far too busy to pay any mind to those who may be hiding. The Gotei 13 was so focused on defending against the Espada that a group of Arrancar had been able to embark on their task without being caught.

The orders that had been given had surprised them, though they could understand the general idea once they were told. The Gotei 13 were the center of Soul Society’s military strength, but even they had to listen to orders from above. Central 46 was basically the Gotei 13’s judicial and legislative court. Their word was law and their orders were absolute. Years ago, Aizen had taken advantage of their influence to send orders to Soul Society at his convenience. These Arrancar were aiming to do something similar. By massacring the 46 once more, they would send the Gotei 13 into panic and disarray, allowing the hallows a much quicker victory. Their strategy was flawless.

Heading through an underground pathway Aizen had secretly created during his reign as a captain, they traveled to the heart of Central 46 in dim lighting. When the sound of blood spurting reached their ears, all of the Arrancar felt a chill go down their back as they all came to an abrupt stop and looked around quickly, drawing their swords. One of their comrades laid collapsed on the floor, head completely severed from his shoulders.

“Who is there?” One of the Arrancar demanded furiously as he gripped his sword tightly. “Show yourself immediately!”

And eerie silence was their response. The Arrancar attempted to sense any strange presence nearby, but they could find absolutely nothing aside from each other. This fact made them sluggish with fear.

It was then that a sudden flare of someone’s spiritual pressure entered the air and all of the Arrancar’s eyes widened as they spotted a slim figure in a sleeveless white haori with an orange sash wrapped around it appeared in the air behind one of the Arrancar, who was startled as the figure placed their thin hand on their shoulder. The figure grinned sadistically as they drew a wakizashi quickly from the sheathe lying horizontally behind her hip, slashing it out quickly.

A scream filled the underground tunnel as the Arrancar flailed around with red splattering everywhere. He had dropped his drawn katana and was holding one hand with his other. Blood was streaming from the arm now lacking a hand, thanks to the Arrancar attempting to block the attack from behind, while being too slow.

[Play music]

“Good reflex.” 2nd squad captain Soi Fon said slyly as she stood at the center of the stunned Arrancar with her wakizashi still held up, blood dripping from its blade. “Even after all these years since the first invasion, I’m still impressed by you Arrancar and your fighting prowess.”

“She’s just one person!” One of the Arrancar exclaimed as their minds were freed from their self-induced paralysis. “Kill her!”

“However…” Soi Fon continued speaking easily as she evaded the initially strikes from the charging Arrancar. She kicked off of their backs and hopped into the air above them. “I’m not the same as I wash then!”

Several clones of Soi Fon suddenly filled the tunnel and the Arrancar looked around, confused by the sudden multiplication. All of the Soi Fons shot forward with their wakizashi drawn, and more blood spurted as two more Arrancar fell. They were being assassinated in plain sight.

Several Arrancar attempted to release, but Soi Fon immediately targeted them the moment they left an opening, leaving deep wounds all over them to distract them from releasing their ressureccions. So in order to counter, the Arrancar instead aimed their ceros in all directions in order to bring the tunnel down on the small woman.

But before they ceros could fire, a blast of pure kido energy smashed through the roof of the tunnel, smashing into several of the Arrancar and throwing them back. Soi Fon retreated from the falling debris that followed as she looked up at the gaping hole now letting light filter into the dark tunnel.

“I had told you that I could handle them on my own, didn’t I?” Soi Fon said bitterly to Adelheid Von Einsberg, who stood proudly looking down at the Arrancar with apathetic eyes.

“Spare me the complaints.” Adelheid replied disinterestedly. “Two of the Einsberg families’ elders are members of Central 46. Do you think I would stand aside and leave this to an unrelated person?”

“Do you really think I believe that?” Soi Fon’s eyes narrowed drastically. Adelheid deadly eyes focused on Soi Fon as she registered the challenging tone in her voice. “You’re the ‘queen’ of the Einsbergs. If two spots were to open among your elders, it would be to your benefit, I’m sure.”

“I’m sorry to shoot down your wonderfully shallow presumption, but we Einsbergs are people of ambition. My ambition does not require that I rise in status from where I am now. Yet.”

“Tch.” Soi Fon clicked her tongue at the explicative that Adelheid added, but didn’t get the chance to reply. A cero flew toward Adelheid and smoke rose from the collision. When it faded, it showed a thin kido barrier had been erected by Adelheid to block the blast. Adelheid’s eyes peered toward the Arrancar that had shot it.

“…You dare look directly at me, filthy mongrel?” A tone of death crept into her voice. “I had been waiting for the captain to cull your numbers, but are you that earnest to have the pleasure of dying by my hand?”

“Shut up, you conceited shinigami.” The arrancar snarled as he held his sword up. Several other Arrancar did the same. “Pierce, Raika!”

Spiritual pressure roared as several ressurecion were finally released. Soi Fon carefully backed up further into the shadows away from the light filtering in through the hole Adelheid stood over. Killing off the Arrancar before they had the chance to release was one thing, but killing them in their released form would be harder. She would have to allow Adelheid to draw their fire and strike from behind.

Adelheid’s eyes trailed Soi Fon’s retreating figure and she sneered briefly. “I see. Cowardice worthy of the Onmitsukido. No matter; I was hoping for the chance to test something.”

Adelheid raised her hand and snapped her fingers. The air beside her distorted slightly before a rectangular prism of kido materialized with a black wakizashi remaining suspended at its center. Adelheid never participated in swordplay, so she had adopted a habit from her former superior, Hachigen Ushoda, and consistently kept it within a kido barrier suspended in space. The kido withered away as Adelheid reached one delicate hand out and gripped the sheath of the katana. It was unusual for the leader of the kido corps to use their zanpakutou in battle due to preferring the use of kido, but Adelheid’s shikai was conveniently tied with her kido, making her an exception.

“If you value your meager life,” Adelheid spoke without turning, addressing the young lieutenants that had stood silent behind her all this time. “Retreat several paces.”

Samuel Claudius Madeus, the vice-commander of the kido corps, bowed politely as he did just so, flash-stepping several yards back. Aikido Omaeda vanished entirely as he went to join his captain in the shadows. Once they had distanced themselves, Adelheid spoke her next words softly, as if savoring them.

“Declare the love letter of Freyja, Kyouhon no Konton.”

Adelheid’s spiritual pressure swelled to match that of the Arrancar below her and her zanpakutou immediately morphed into a mid-sized black textbook with its title written in golden German text. Adelheid opened the textbook and held it in one hand as a soft smile appeared on her face. The silver diadem seated atop Adelheid’s smooth dark hair glinted softly as Adelheid’s lips moved soundlessly. Several of the Arrancar used sonido to approach Adelheid abruptly, different sorts of melee attacks flying at her at a dangerously close range. But the Arrancar stopped abruptly in mid-attack, eyes wide as they struggled to move. One of the Arrancar had his claws nearly touching Adelheid’s neck, but no matter how hard he pushed himself, he was unable to move a fraction of an inch.

“You fell for it splendidly.” Adelheid said as she raised her free hand and stroked something in the air directly in front of her with her forefinger, though they could not see anything. “Loki’s net is a spell made to capture a being so expert at deceit, trickery, and fleeing that normal means do not work. As such, the lines are astoundingly thin, unable to be seen by the human eye. The holes woven are even smaller. It’s a spell that will work wonders against your master, don’t you think?”

The Arrancar grimaced as a reddish energy began glowing in front of his palm. Adelheid gave him a cruelly disinterested look as the Arrancar was interrupted by something jabbing into its shoulder twice. Before it could realize what was going on, the Arrancar quickly died on the spot, turning to dust. The same phenomena happened to the others caught in Adelheid’s spell. Adelheid turned her attention to Soi Fon, who had released her shikai, along with Aikido as the two appeared beside her.

Adelheid glanced down the hole below them and saw that it had been purged off all the Arrancar. They had succeeded in protecting Central 46 from being massacred once more for the time being. Even so, no one was celebrating.

“You are an artful master at infuriating others.” Soi Fon said without looking at Adelheid. “Cleaning everything up was almost too easy.”

“You’re overstepping your place by taking my prey.” Adelheid said warningly as she flipped the pages of the textbook in her hand casually. Samuel appeared kneeling beside her instantly. “But I’ll let it go this once. Be grateful.”

“I’ll remember to be, if we live through this. Your overconfidence is less reassuring than you realize.”

“Hmph. You seem to be quick impertinent when you aren’t adoring that cat. Your attitude is entirely different.”

Soi Fon and Adelheid participated in verbal warfare while consciously going back to back along with their lieutenants. They had been quickly surrounded by a dozen Gillian class Menos Grande and countless Arrancar, all standing in the air, looking down at them with excited looks on their faces. Soi Fon clicked her tongue as Adelheid quietly decided which of those who looked down at her would suffer a worse death.

“Queen,” Samuel spoke from his kneeling position. “I know better than to suggest this to you in normal circumstances, but perhaps we should work with the Onmitsukido in this instance. If we of the kido corps attempt to handle this alone, we’ll be wasting precious energy and time.”

“Agreed.” Aikido murmured. “It would be the safer root. These must have been those who were in combat with the eleventh squad. With their captain missing, they must not have been able to hold fast.”

“…It doesn’t look like we have much of a choice.” Soi Fon grinned lightly. “What do you say, kido corps commander?”

“Those barbarians can’t even be depended on when it comes to their specialty of combat.” Adelheid sighed impatiently. “Very well. I don’t plan on wasting all of my newly created spells on these meaningless leftovers.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Azusa grimaced as she glared at the Arrancar standing before her. She had guessed that the Arrancar’s gender was a boy, but he had effeminate traits that made her question her judgment. Eight long white tentacles were extending from the Arrancars back (he’d introduced himself as Luppi) and one of them was holding Azusa’s lieutenant, Corwen, tightly in its grip.

“What’s wrong?” The Arrancar named Luppi said teasingly as the tentacle holding Corwen waved back and forth tauntingly. “Aren’t you mad that I caught your precious subordinate? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“Don’t listen to him, Azu-nyan!” Corwen yelled immediately, to Azusa’s irritation. “I can handle myself! I only got caught because I have problems attacking young women!”

“For the last time; I’m a guy, damn it!” Luppi shrieked angrily as the tentacle tightened even more and Corwen grimaced in pain. “I’ll crush all the bones in your body until you get it right!”

“…”

Azusa remained where she was, frowning at Luppi. Finally fed up with the silence, one of Luppi’s tentacle shot forward and smashed into Azusa. Azusa turned into a cloud of purple smoke and Luppy swung one hand out. A bala shot from underneath the long sleeve and slammed into the shapeless Asuza. She returned to normal and wiped the blood away from her temple, where the attack had hit.

“You…” Azusa began slowly. “Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

“Hmm?” Luppi sang with a raised eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

“After your first and only sighting in the world of the living so many years ago, you never showed your face again, even when Aizen brought all the espada against Soul Society. Weren’t you dead?”

“Hm…sort of. The bastard Grimmjow had pretty much done me in, but that damn slut with the orange hair had regenerated my vital organs, even after I was obviously dead. Lord Aizen stored me away in my half-alive state until he finally resurrected me with the Hogyoku recently. So here I am.”

“Ah.” Azusa sighed. “Figures.”

“Disappointed? If you want to blame anyone, blame that slut who saved me. Because of her, you’re going to die a slow…and painful death.”

Luppi squeezed his tentacle once more and Corwen groaned. Another one of Luppi’s tentacles slithered forward toward the stone-faced Azusa.

“But it won’t be all bad. It would be a waste to put that body of yours to waste, so how about we make full use of it, hmm~?”

“I’m shocked.” Azusa cut off Luppi and the tentacle paused. “After what had happened when you had gone against that creep always in casual robes and the current head-captain, you would have learned that you can’t hope to combat a captain when they’ve become serious.”

“…Really? It seems to me that you’re pretty helpless.” Luppi replied in a bored tone. “Bluffing won’t solve anything.”

“Then allow me to show you it is not a bluff. Did you ever hear about the fact that a shinigami’s zanpakutou’s size represents their amount of spiritual pressure? Of course, captain class shinigami are forced to compress the size of their zanpakutou to avoid carrying around massive pieces of metal everywhere. But, with few exceptions, a captain’s bankai represents the enormity of their spiritual pressure by typically being big in some respect. Would you like to see what I mean?”

Without waiting for an answer, Azusa breathed out slowly and a cluster of clouds spilled from her nostrils and mouth and gathered in her raised hands.

“Bankai. Sono En’you no Sukai.”

The cluster of clouds hardened as they took the shape of a small wheel of a boat and she gripped it in one hand, as if she were piloting it. Luppi frowned in confusion when suddenly the sun was blotted out above them, casting a massive shadow. Luppi looked up to see the cause of it and was surprised to see a massive cloud hanging over the despite it having been a clear day just moments before. Luppi considered that she had lightning or rain based powers, but realized that he was most likely wrong. The massive cloud had two plume extending outward and vaguely taking the shape of arms, and the cloud was shaped vaguely like a bearded old man, as if it were a person.

“That thing is enormous!” Luppi gasped as he clenched his hands. “That can’t be your bankai!”

“Never underestimate a captain, failure arrancar.” Azusa replied as she began to float upwards while standing on a large cluster of clouds like a rising platform. “It’s fatal.”

With that, Azusa spun the wheel rapidly and one of the arms of the cloud above swung down like a gavel atop Luppi.

[Revival of the Dead Code of Honor]

“Honor and pride are what make a person, sexta espada.” Tsubaki spoke in a cold tone as her glare dug into Idoya’s face. Her face was illuminated by the four orbs of energy floating in the air around her. “A person can gain all sorts of things throughout their existence. Money. Fame. Power. Title. Relationships. But they can all be easily terminated by external forces. Honor and pride, however, are different. It is the sole decision of the owner if they relinquish their honor or their pride. I can have anything stolen from me, but I will die proudly.”

“Bushido, huh?” Idoya murmured apathetically. “Placing value in an honorable death over a long life is hardly a lifestyle to be proud of. Dying with nothing but your inflated ego does not sound like the sort of death one should wish for.”

“In that case, you are an even bigger fool than I thought.”

[Play first song]

Tsubaki rushed forward then, swinging her right hand outward. One of the swirling suns of energy shot forward like a bullet and Idoya evaded to the side immediately. But even after evading the small orb, she continued to use her sonido to put even more distance between her and the orb. As she did, the sun began to expand rapidly, exploding with its energy to engulf everything around it. Idoya had anticipated the range and was barely able to stay out of its reach as she hurried toward the very edge of its maximum range.

Before she could, however, a figure plowed into her suddenly, catching her sonido. Idoya’s eyes widened as she realized that it was Tsubaki tackling her with her body, using the weight of her armor to stop Idoya’s momentum to allow the flames to engulf them. Searing pain shot through Idoya’s body fiercely as the flames licked at her body relentlessly and she narrowly avoided the upward slash of a katana that nearly nicked her nose. Idoya’s foot came out heavily, slamming into Tsubaki’s side. Tsubaki’s armor cushioned the blow, but was lost sight of Idoya among the flames.

“Kazuma! You need to move! Now!”

“Captain?” Kazuma’s voice returned in confusion as he looked up from treating the injured captain and vice-captain.

“Take Sajin and his vice-captain and leave the battlefield immediately!”

“But they are critically injured and the 4th squad has yet to arrive! If we move them now—”

“I know!” Tsubaki grimaced as her grip tightened on the hilts of her swords. Idoya’s figures loomed among the flames, stepping out still in one piece with the four makeshift swords gripped in her hands in the same manner as Tsubaki. “I know, but there is no other option!”

Tsubaki brought her swords up to meet Idoya as the espada appeared before her, rotating her body in a pendulum motion, bring the four swords up to lock with Tsubaki’s.

“Panicking?” Idoya asked softly as her face came within an inch of Tsubaki’s. Tsubaki grimaced as a sweat rolled down her forehead as she refused to lose any ground to Idoya, and struggled to do so. The soles of her sandals duck into the ground as their clashing spiritual pressure flew in the air. Kazuma watched in awe for a moment. Tsubaki was actually being pressured?

“We’re moving them!” Kazuma ordered the fifth seat as he quickly moved to pick up the massive Komamura in his arms. “Now!”

The fifth seat looked shocked by the lieutenant’s intensity, but did as he was told, picking up the injured Iba in his arms. Tsubaki’s eyes flickered toward them, calculating the distance quickly in her mind.

“Your attention is slipping.”

Blood spurted as Idoya brought a wakizashi into Tsubaki’s side. Tsubaki shifted her body and stepped inward as quickly as she could, so the blade mostly just graved her side, but once she was closer, it opened her up to the second wakizashi that flew toward her side from the other direction. Tsubaki brought her katana backwards with an abrupt jerk, smashing her fingers and hilt against Idoya’s, knocking the blade away. The force blade Tsubaki’s knuckles ache, but Idoya’s hero had apparently left her unharmed from the blow. Tsubaki hopped back several feet and sheathed one katana, holding the two wakizashi between the fingers of one hand like claws and held the katana in the other. Idoya mimicked the strange three sword style and their katana clashed as they attempted to get close enough to insert the wakizashi into the other’s gut. Their range was even closer than normal sword combat, and their knees knocked into each other several time from the tight proximity. Thanks to Tsubaki’s shikai ability, she did not feel the fatigue that should have been wearing on her, nor did her eyes ache from the insistent attention they were paying to Idoya’s movements. Sweat poured down her body within the hot armor thanks to her difficult movements. Idoya, on the other hand, was simply evading her precision attacks and deflecting the forceful blows from the katana. Aside from the fact that Idoya was clearly in better shape, she also seemed to be predicting her attacks. Tsubaki suspected that she had possibly connected with her zanpakutou; something like Ichirin telling the Arrancar what attacks would be made right as Tsubaki made them. If that was the case, Tsubaki intended to attack quicker than Idoya could react. But that didn’t seem possible as it was.

Blood spurted into the air as Idoya jabbed one of the zanpakutou into Tsubaki’s shoulder, piercing through the armor. Tsubaki took the chance to swing upward with her katana, but Idoya managed to quickly evade by dodging back, drawing the blade of her sword out of Tsubaki’s shoulder and letting the wound bleed. Tsubaki grimaced but didn’t show any weakness to the wound as she focused on Idoya.

“You are not going to use kido?” Idoya asked as Tsubaki pulled the other katana from its sheathe and held all four swords in her hands. “As a captain, I’d imagine you are capable of it. Even that other captain before you managed to blind me temporarily with kido.”

“I do not use kido when facing powerful opponents.” Tsubaki replied simply as she controlled her breathing in order to regain her energy quicker. “Despite your abhorrent philosophy, I still respect you as a fellow warrior. While I seek to correct you, I still wish to acknowledge you.”

“You’ll stand by your code of honor until the bitter end?” Idoya frowned as she held her swords up. “If you don’t use any means you have available, you will die.”

“It’s better than winning with means that I do not personally condone.” Tsubaki continued speaking over Idoya as she opened her mouth to respond. “Earlier you had asked if my bankai was of equal grade or higher than Komamura’s. I’m afraid that my zanpakutou’s ability is not relative to the blade as an individual. You would have done better to go after my lieutenant’s. My full potential…is my use of my swords collectively.”

Tsubaki tossed all four of her swords high into the air. Idoya blinked up at them. A massive cloud had gathered to block the sun’s light earlier, but it had parted and apparently moved to a different spot, so Tsubaki’s swords were right in the path of the massive sphere of blinding light. Idoya narrowed her eyes against the light and lost sight of the four swords. The next thing she knew, there were infinite blades raining down all around her and Tsubaki. The sound of swords digging themselves into the ground as they fell echoed as thousands of identical unsheathed blades fell, filling up a massive area around them. Had the lieutenant and fifth seat remained where they had been with the injured shinigami, they wouldn’t have been able to dodge and would probably have been impaled by the falling swords. It was clear that Tsubaki had held out on using her bankai for their sake.

“Bankai. Dainichi.” Tsubaki said as she stepped forward and drew a katana from the earth. “Chikeikōka Sentō Meguri.”

Idoya glanced down at her hands and saw that her swords made of cero had vanished from her grip without her noticing. She frowned as she turned her attention back to Tsubaki.

“My zanpakutou has a habit of testing the faith of her opponents.” Tsubaki said calmly as she drew another katana from the ground. “Each and every one of these katana are the same length and weight. Your weapons have turned into these katana as well, though I doubt you’d go out of your way to look for them. You’re welcome to use these weapons as your own, since you’re so keen on sharing my zanpakutou. Be warned, though; my zanpakutou is very particular about faith. Use her as you like, just keep in mind that if you feel doubt or fear, you will most probably get burned.”

“I have nothing inside me.” Idoya assured. “Except my devotion to my duty. Such a thing as faith will not dissuade me.”

Tsubaki frowned at that. Come to think of it, she’d only been burned externally by her Enjin no Yonhi. It was an attack meant to burn away one’s will, so one without a strong resolve would collapse even after surviving the burns. And yet this woman had felt nothing. What manner of a being was she?

Tsubaki pushed aside her question as held the swords in her hand up. She only needed to focus on fighting. Her opponent may have been lacking the proper resolve, but she was her foe all the same. She needed to do the fight justice and fight properly without distraction.

[Play second song]

“Well then,” Tsubaki said finally. “Let’s begin.”

Immediately afterward, swords began to fly toward Idoya. Tsubaki tossed the two swords in her hand like arrows and grabbed the next to nearest to her, throwing them as well. Idoya grabbed the nearest katana and used it to deflect the flying blades easily. The next thing she knew, Tsubaki had appeared right in front of her and was swinging three swords down with incredible force. Idoya blocked them with the katana in her hand as she was forced to step back. Tsubaki had three katana held in between the knuckles of both hands, much like before, and was swinging them ferociously with a spinning movement to pressure Idoya.

“Draconian Wheel!”

The velocity of her spinning increased in the swords came out with harsher strikes. Idoya was surprised when the katana in her hand suddenly shattered to pieces—small floating beads of light, like fireflies—and left her empty handed.

“Your grip is off and your letting yourself go on the defensive to soon!” Tsubaki proclaimed as she brought the six swords down at once in a wide slash. Idoya grimaced as several gashes carved themselves on her chest due to her not evading the attack completely. “Don’t think of these katana as anything special—they are no different than Asauchi.”

“So this fight is truly meant to be on equal terms.” Idoya snorted as she grabbed two of the nearest swords by her as she shot to the side to avoid the two swords that flew at her like projectiles. “Your motives are strangely simplistic.”

Sparks flew as their swords clashed and Idoya pressed her weight against the katana to keep Tsubaki from reacting with her agility. Tsubaki grimaced as she slid the katana in her hands to the side in an attempt to bypass Idoya’s defenses, but Idoya predicted this and shifted her grip on the blade to keep the weight from letting Tsubaki’s katana from passing. Tsubaki’s hands tightened on the hilt for a moment before loosening, as if in defeat. Suddenly, Tsubaki slid one foot back, knocking several katana into the air around her. She then released the katana in her hands and Idoya’s sword swung overhead unintentionally as Tsubaki ducked swiftly, grabbing the katana hanging in the air around her. Idoya quickly backpedaled away to get out of Tsubaki’s reach.

“Too slow!”

Tsubaki swung her katana out and the tip of the blade caught the hilt of another sword that had been kicked up in the air. With the length of two katana, Tsubaka managed to put a deep gash in Idoya’s side with her slash, though the swing sent the katana she’d used for extra reach skidding away. Idoya gripped her bleeding side tightly to stunt the bleeding.

“Despite reprimanding me for stealing and abandoning swords as I felt necessary,” Idoya muttered as she watched Tsubaki grip five katana in her hands. “You seem perfectly fine with using and casting aside these swords at your convenience.”

“I told you.” Tsubaki sighed. “My zanpakutou’s worth isn’t in her individual blades, but all of them as a whole.”

“You seem quite proud of that.”

“My pride as a samurai is something I shall never relinquish.”

“You’ll be forced to do so, one day.” Idoya warned as she drew a katana from the ground beside her. “Or else you’ll end up with a short life!”

Idoya rushed forward and quickly evaded the four katana that flew toward her like arrows, impaling themselves in the ground as they missed. Idoya and Tsubaki’s swords clashed as they came without close range, their glares sending as many sparks as their katana.

After I wrote this entire post and listened to the song, but only now realize how Tsubaki's fighting style in bankai resembles. Anyways, I give to you the second song!

Nice posts, dude. XD. I shall post mine tonight.

[Espada Extraordinaire! Turning of the Tide]

-Raijin-

(Raijin flew blindly, hoping that he would reach the Captain-Commander, but already feeling the reiatsu of Ulquiorra's released form. It was intense, just as intense as the time Ulquiorra and he had fought. Toshiro was strong, but Ulquiorra could regenerate and was more powerful than Aizen, in some ways. It was tough. Raijin would find the Captain-Commander and help him fight the Primera Espada. It was the logical decision.)

Raijin: I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass...

-Inner world-

(Raijin floats, his energy allowing him to stay upright. Hageshii Raikouarashi is in the background, watching Raijin. Kaminari appears to him.)

Kaminari: Hey, Raijin. Why did you call me?

Raijin: I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for watching over me. Please do it again, for me. I am heading towards a deadly battle. Aizen, and his strongest Espada lie in the distance for me. I must not die. I will defeat Aizen. Help me, Kaminari! Help me do it... Please!

Kaminari: You can call on me, when you need me. If you are mortally wounded, I will not let you die. I will give you any amount of reiatsu you need. Just make sure you come back, you got that?

Raijin: Yeah. Thanks.

-Back to present-

(Raijin continued to head in the direction of the Captain-Commander and the Primera Espada. His energy was renewed and he felt better than before.)

Raijin: I'm coming, Ulquiorra... You better be prepared!

[Start Music]

-Toshiro-

(Toshiro gasped. Ulquiorra's reiatsu was incredible! It felt as though a great ocean was pressing down upon him. Even in his Bankai, they were clearly on different levels. Toshiro was strong and powerful, but Ulquiorra possessed something that made him resilient to almost anything.)

Toshiro: Just what are you?

Ulquiorra: A pointless question. I am an Espada. What is your point?

Toshiro: Your power... It is incredible.

Ulquiorra: That is irrelevant now... Your death will be of the only relevance to me. Cero Oscuras! (The powered Cero Oscuras spiralled at Toshiro, hitting him directly and sending him crashing to the ground)

-What do I do?! He is strong. I can't give up, because it would be cowardly, but I'm not sure that I see a way to win against this guy. He is incredible!-

(Toshiro stood up. He was injured, but not as badly as he thought. It had helped that he had used Ryusenka right before the blast had hit him and he had poured a lot of energy into his reiatsu shields, but he was still hurt and he had used a lot of reiatsu against Halibel and quite a bit against Ulquiorra, too. It didn't matter - he would fight until his last breath.)

Toshiro: I think I have a few tricks left up my sleeve, Espada. Would you like to see?

Ulquiorra: You are aware that I was watching the battle between you and Halibel, correct?

Toshiro: Yes. It doesn't matter, though. Tenso Jurin, Hyoten Hyakasso!



-Momo-

(The Kido's residue faded away, leaving an angry-looking Nero and scorched ground.)

Momo: How?

Nero: How, what?

Momo: How did you survive that blast?

Nero: That pathetic blast?! Are you kidding me, girl? You can't honestly be that stupid...

Momo: Don't be so insulting... That was one of the most powerful Kido spells in existence...

Nero: That blast?? The most powerful? Don't make me laugh. That was nothing.

Momo: Then try this! Hado No.90, Kurohitsugi!

-Kogase-

(Grimmjow feinted, darting backwards and forwards. He was fast, very fast; Kogase was already being pushed to his lower limits. It was okay, though; he was a Captain, a Captain of the Gotei 13, he wouldn't compromise the security of the Seireitei like that, it simply was unthinkable. Grimmjow rushed at him, the blue-handled Zanpakuto cleaving at his head. Kogase dodged again and then struck with his blade, forcing Grimmjow to relent and start another attack. This time, Grimmjow used Sonido and fired a Cero directly at Kogase. It struck him, point-blank, and Koagse landed on the ground, his robes smoking and burn marks all over him. He breathed hard, his efforts had been tested by the strength of Grimmjow's reiatsu and its compression into a Cero.)

Kogase: Quite some power you have there, Espada. It'll be a pity when I defeat you.

Grimmjow: Don't be stupid! You won't survive against me, you fool.

Kogase: We'll see... Blow from all four corners, Uindo Sonoshi Soryuushi!

(A whirlwind of reiatsu appeared, and Kogase was obscured from Grimmjow's view for a minute. When his figure returned, he was holding a different-looking Zanpakuto, with a serrated edge and spikes lining the top edge of the blade. His robes rustled in the wind and he faced Grimmjow with a look of determination in his eyes.)

Kogase: I won't be defeated by you! Kaze No Tatsumaki! (A wind begins to spin around him, as it forms into large cloud above and twists and turns around him and begins to resemble a full-fledged tornado. This is suddenly directed straight at Grimmjow, who hurries to dodge it, but is not quite fast enough and is caught on the side. He drops to the ground. Kogase uses a Bakudo to bind the Espada and then uses another technique) Bakudo No. 63, Sajo Sabaku! Kaze No Kasairyuu!

Grimmjow: (Takes the full impact of Kogase's attack, a massive flow of molten rock, which thunders into him, burning his Hierro and crushing him into the ground, then exploding. Grimmjow panted slowly for a moment, then his reiatsu flares around him and blows away the debris from Kogase's attack, and dives straight at the Shinigami, aiming an attack for his head) Die, you bastard!

Kogase: (Steps backwards and avoids the attack, ducking his head from side to side, as Grimmjow stabs at him, nearly hitting him several times. This carries on for a moment, but Kogase holds the upper hand and sends a Hado crashing into the Espada) Hado No.88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho! (The Hado explodes with a blue-coloured blast, which Grimmjow escapes narrowly, but is thrown to the ground) How do you like my technique now, Espada?

Grimmjow: Shut your mouth! Stop thinking that you're better than me! No-one looks down on me!!! I'll kill anyone who dares to display such rudeness to my face!

Kogase: Touchy, aren't you... Oh well, it doesn't matter, you'll die sooner or later... I'll make sure of it. Aizen will not destroy the Soul Society.

Grimmjow: You idiot! Aizen already had the means to destroy this pathetic place... When he comes, you'll see. Aizen will destroy everything.

Kogase: Why? Why destroy everything?

Grimmjow: Because you Shinigami are pathetic. Aizen will destroy you, because the Soul-King holds what he wants. And, it's too late for you now, he is already on his way to attain this item. Now, fight me! Stop holding back and put forth all you have; otherwise, you'll never even see the defeat of this dratted place.

Kogase: Damn you! We'll stop Aizen!

Grimmjow: You won't. Behold, my Resurreccion! Grind, Pantera! (Grimmjow's reiatsu bursts out of the area and crushes everything around them. Buildings are blown away and the ground shakes from the force of the shockwave. When he emerges, Grimmjow has changed. His hair is much longer, stretching down to his back; he has claws and fangs and his legs are longer and more muscled. But, it is his reiatsu that has changed the most. An eerie feeling, like that of pure destructive power) This is your unlucky day, Shinigami...

(Grimmjow disappears swiftly, moving quicker than Kogase and strikes him blindly with his paw, sending the Captain crashing through a couple of buildings. Kogase stands and jumps upwards, shunpoing to avoid Grimmjow and then parries the next blow, as they both fly towards the nearest lot of unbroken buildings. Kogase uses another technique on the Espada.)

Kogase: Kaze No Susamajii Buriza-Do! (The blade of Kogase's Zanpakuto strike Grimmjow's arm, freezing it and drawing reiatsu from it. Grimmjow wrenches his arm away and the ice shatters and falls to the ground)

Grimmjow: What a pitiful attack. Watch this! Gran Rey Cero! (The air around Grimmjow ripples and a blue spark flares in his hand. The spark continues to grow, until it is the size of a regular Cero, then Grimmjow raises his arm and fires the blast at Kogase. It spirals and crashes into Kogase's reiatsu shields, exploding into a massive blast, one that rocks the whole area, and sends earthquakes rushing through, cracking the ground.)

-Shunsui-

(Shunsui and Starrk lazily clashed blades, doding each other's attacks easily and barely breaking a sweat.)

Starrk: Last time... Last time we fought, you said 'we're both waiting for the other to become serious and make a move... the trouble is, neither wants to do it'. The thing is, Captain, we're wasting time here. I could keep fighting like this forever, but it won't help me. Perhaps we should just fight seriously. I can see how much you are holding back, too.

Shunsui: I said it somewhat differently, but the principle/concept is there. Maybe you are right... Maybe you aren't. Are you going to make the first move, Coyote Starrk?

Starrk: Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't.

Shunsui: Now, now... No fair. If you are going to announce something like that, then you could at least say that you are going to make the first move, otherwise I might be tempted to make the first move.

Starrk: Cero! (The blue Cero speeds past Shunsui, missing him narrowly and crashing into a set of buildings behind him and exploding)

Shunsui: Sneaky attack! My turn... Kageoni! (In less than a second, Shunsui's black falchions are in each of his hands, replacing the katana and wakizashi from earlier. Seconds later, they clash with Starrk's Zanpakuto and the Espada is forced backwards by a step or two. Starrk responds by firing another Cero, then attacking from below and leaving several afterimages)

Starrk: I can see this going nowhere... You and me, we are pretty evenly matched. I may as well release my Zanpakuto, otherwise we'll be here forever.

Shunsui: You are different from last time... More motivated and more willing to fight instead of just wanting to have a friend. Did Aizen do that to you, or was it your choice?

Starrk: You destroyed my only friend in the world... I had no choice... I had to embrace the meaning of being an Espada. That's why I am number four and no longer the Primera... I simply didn't have what it takes to hold such a position. Ulquiorra suits being the Primera... He has no emotions and does what he is told and is immensely strong.

Shunsui: I see. Well, I can't really say that I'm sorry for what happened to your Fraccion, but I understand how you feel.

Starrk: That is beside the point... Anyway, you are distracting me from my task, so I'm afraid I am going to have to release, regardless of your chatter. Show your fangs, Los Lobos! (A blue explosion issues and Starrk disappears from sight. The intensity of his reiatsu continues to climb and Shunsui grows worried. His reiatsu wasn't this intense the last time they fought. The blue light starts to fade away and Starrk comes back into view. Last time, Starrk still resembled a human - this time, he resembled a man-wolf hybrid... His legs and arms were furry, with claws and lanky, wiry limbs, that looked immensely strong and swift. He still had the same get-up as he had originally, with the fur-coat and the patch over the eye, but he had grown fangs and his remnants had changed, covering most of his head, with pieces sticking up that looked like ears. He even had a weapon still - a Zanpakuto with two blades on either end and the handle between them. It looked vicious enough that Shunsui decided that Bankai wouldn't be far off. The point was reiterated when Starrk appeared, almost instantaneously in front of, with the double-ended sword slashing at him)

[End Music]

-To Be Continued-

Finally done! It wasn't even that long, but it feels like it took forever. Lol.

[Mishiranu and Hageshii! The Rogue squad enters the fight!]


Hageshii could hear the sounds of their fight from where he was busy in a battle of his own. He had wiped out entire scores of hollows but there seemed to be no end to them. The shinigami around him seemed to be getting their second wind and were busy battling the hollows. He smiled as they began to push the hollows back. Now they had it. It would take alot more than numbers to make Soul Society fall. Despite his pride in the way the battle was progressing, he just couldn't shake the feeling that he left too early. Her Spiritual pressure had been far superior to Aguantar's towards the beginning, but had dropped drastically a short while ago. He was worried. He wondered whether he should go back to check on her, but he had his orders. Protect Soul Society at all costs. He was shocked when a young Soul Reaper leaped in front of him and sliced the mask of a hollow that had been about to attack him in half. His eyes widened as the much lower ranking officer shouted at him.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? KEEP YOUR GUARD UP OR YOU'LL END UP GETTING HURT!"

Hageshii growled. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me! If you can't concentrate on the battle here and now, then leave. We don't need you here."

Hageshii: "I think you're forgetting who saved your scrawny butt from getting killed!"

The boy, who had the appearance of a 19 or 20 year old just smirked. "Ya, now you're just hallucinating. You've been distracted since the first moment you arrived here. Watch out!"

Hageshii's eyed flicked to the side and both he and the young man jumped backwards to dodge a cero. They looked at who fired it to see a wave of Menos arriving. "Oh look, more big guns."

The man grinned. "They're probably being controlled by an adjuchas or two. You take care of the menos, I'll handle the others."

Hageshii: "Sounds like a good plan." He said with a hint of sadistic glee as he leaped forward to directly engage the monsters, his newly formed whip flying in every direction as he masterfully sliced through three of the menos' masks.

Meanwhile, the man who was actually Isamu Sato, grinned as he looked at his comrade. "Ready for some good old fashioned Hollow slaying, Kowareta?"

Kowareta grinned. "Oh ya. This is just the way to let loose that I've been looking for. BANKAI!"

Isamu: "Heh, same old Kowareta. Jumping headfirst into battle at full strength. Well I might as well get going to. Run over the raging waters! Gong Gong!" *After the two explosive bursts of reiatsu. the two looked at each other. Kowareta, with the immense black demon standing right behind him, and Isamu, with his blade covered in water that was constantly in motion. The two exchanged another look and waited. It didn't take long before the adjuchas showed themselves. Ten of them, each different. The leader walked forward without fear.

Adjuchas leader: "Hahaha! You are powerful prey, but you are outnumbered and you are facing us! I am the 11th Arrancar."

Isamu inclined his head whereas Kowareta seemed to be barely holding himself back. "Very nice to meet you. It saves us the trouble of searching out all of the Arrancar's that have been sent here. I am Isamu Sato, I'm sorry our meeting had to be so brief." He raised his sword in the air and the arrancar leader made a signal. Two of the others charged him just as he swung his sword. "Senjou Mizukai!" The wave of water slammed into the two unsuspecting Hollows.When it faded, it left no trace of them. Fear showed in the others eyes and they attacked.


(Meanwhile.)


Mishiranu was breathing heavily. She was really glad that nobody else was here to see this. To think she was having trouble with this little pest. Aguantar was feeling pretty good about himself and was taking his time. That was good for her in the fact that it gave her more time to recover, but bad for her since his aim drastically improved. He was sending a mixture of Bala and Cero at her and she was barely managing to dodge them all. She had already accumulated a large assortment of wounds, but was not too worried about them. After all, she had acquired many more than that while battling with Shiva. But then again, she had god level stamina back then. She humphed and glared in no particular direction at all, just feeling pretty angry. She leaped aside to dodge another cero, but was hit straight on by a Bala. She fell to the ground and coughed up some blood. As she struggled to her feet, Aguantar decided to end it and sonido'd right in front of her.

Aguantar: "Tch. you did good kid, but you were just outmatched. Shoulda left the big jobs to the captains."

???: "And what if we don't feel like leaving it up to them? Wúgū!"

Before Aguantar could do more than blink, a blue gavel slammed into his nose with enough force to produce a painful cracking noise. Mishiranu winced. She knew that look. She had seen Toku get hit enough times to recognize Lushi's handiwork. She saw her come into view and grinned, grabbing the hand and allowing her to pull her up. Aguantar was in a heap over 30 feet away. Mishiranu could swear she saw little coo-coo birds flying around his head as he stumbled up.

Lushi: "Heh, so how ya doing? Having a bit of trouble with this guy?" she said with a smirk.

Mishiranu: "Oh hardy har har. I'm just not as used to my Shikai and Bankai as you are. You forget I haven't really used it that much in over 500 years. But enough about me, what about you? Not gonna go help out Toku?"

Lushi: "Eh? What do you mean? Does he need help?"

Mishiranu: "Probably not, but knowing him, he got himself in some weird situation and miss helpful is always there to pitch in."

Lushi: "You're just embarrassed that I had to come save you're buttocks."

Mishiranu: "Pretty much. Now how we gonna do this? He may only be number five, but he's strong." She spoke overtop of Aguantar, who went into a rampage after hearing her say "only number 5"

Lushi: "You recuperate here. I'll handle him until you can get back on your feet."

Mishiranu: "Sounds good."


(Meanwhile.)


Momo: "Then try this! Hado No.90, Kurohitsugi!"

A large, rectangular black coffin like box surrounded Nero. Before it could complete, Nero roared and his spiritual pressure skyrocketed, severing the kido.

Nero: "Tch, how foolish. you don't stand a chance against me. You can't even fully control the Kido you use! I'm ending this!"

???: "Hado 120: Tenka."

Nero's weapon slammed into another Soul Reaper that had just arrived. The moment it slammed into the Soul Reaper, a huge explosion occurred. When the smoke finally cleared, Nero was revealed to be a smoldering heap a couple yards away. Toku acted fast before he could recover. He could still use his really high level kido's, but they weren't as destructive as they were when he had his manifestation. He clapped his hands together. "Bakudo 101! Saishu Tenka!" The flames that remained from the initial Kido all converged on Nero. Two flames attached themselves to each arm, locking them in place, then the same happened to each leg, and then one on his chest, and finally one wrapped around his neck. The flames all connected with each other and formed a prism with Nero trapped inside. Toku didn't even bother explaining what he was doing to Momo, who was staring with a blank expression. He raised his hands in the air as he chanted an incantation. "The god above and the ground below, meet in an instantaneous flash of light, the light darkens and grows blacker than night and the flash explodes in a dazzling burst. Dark lightning attack!" Toku brought his hands down and black lightning slammed straight into the prism with Nero trapped inside, creating a huge explosion. Toku then turned towards Momo and smiled. "You are.....Momo? am I right?"

Momo: "Ya. You're that Toku guy from squad 4. The one with all the weird accidents."

Toku chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "Heh, uh ya...that's me." Truth be told, he had just finished running away from a group of Soul Reapers he had healed, but had accidently caused odd side affects. He had run into Nero as he was looking for a place to hide. "Anyway, that guy should be out for the count after that."

"Think....again....bastard."

Toku looked over to see Nero struggling to his feet, growling viciously. He still had his weapon and seemed to be pretty much okay.

Nero spat out a glob of blood. "Tch. I used a Bala to divert the blast a little so it slammed into the prism holding me. It still hurt like bloody hell, but it severely dampened your assault."

Toku: "Huh...I guess I still need a bit of refining for that technique. To be honest, I'm surprised it worked as well as it did. I came up with the prism thing on the fly."

Momo and Nero gawked at him. Momo was shocked. She had heard that he was some sort of Kido extraordinaire, but that was unreal. Nero, however, was less impressed.

Nero: "Damn you!" He shouted out as he released his Resurreccion.

Toku: "Whoops! On your toes, miss captain."


END!

Okay...there. I thought I might as well use them XD Anyway, if I missed anything, just tell me. I had to write this really quick in case my internet went out. (Microsoft word somehow uninstalled itself. T_T)

Nice post, dude! I was actually going to suggest that you send someone to help Momo. Lol. Apparently great minds think alike. XD

Exorcist: Great minds...? I think they meant people like Einstein and Copernicus...

Bp: You shut up. It's not like I haven't read any of the work that Galileo determined from Copernicus' works. Anyway, I have great ideas, too.

Wantadog: ... Who's Copernicus?

Exorcist: (Rolls his eyes) Ahh, don't worry... A friend of mine.

Wantadog: Really...?

Bp: No... Stop trying to mislead him, Exorcist... You don't know anything great.

Exorcist: You're just jealous because I know more about important people than you do.

Bp: As if...

Whiteflame: What's the arguing about this time?

Wantadog: Well... (Thinks for a couple of seconds) Bp thinks that Exorcist doesn't know anyone important, because Exorcist said that he was friends with a dude called Copernicus... I have no idea what they are arguing about now, though.

Whiteflame: Copernicus...? You mean the guy that inspired Galileo?

Wantadog: Beats me... I don't think Exorcist is being serious, though.

Whiteflame: I'd be worried if he was... Galileo was alive in the early to late 17th Century.

Wantadog: Oh, really? I've never heard of him.

Whiteflame: I believe that he discovered how the Earth orbited the sun, or that it wasn't round, or something like that. But the Church wouldn't allow him to pulish his works and they ostracised him.

Wantadog: Religion always does that.

Exorcist, Bp: No, you shut up!!!

Anyone planning to post...?

Been a busy couple of weeks, might manage a post towards the end of this one.

Alrighty then, sounds good to me. I won't post until a couple more have been done... I want a nice flow to keep this thing going - providing that it is possible.

My apologies on the wait, but sadly a combination of getting work done and some writer's block have delayed me. I should be able to have something up by the end of this next week considering how much work I have to do.

No problem, dude. There is no hurry for you to post. It seems like nobody else is hurrying... Hence my point. Just post when you finish your work. Once you've posted, I'll begin my next post. It would be nice if, perhaps, someone else posted.

Lol sorry about that. I've kinda fell behind on pretty much all of the RP's I'm in. I can't get motivated!

Mishiranu: "That's because you're just a big lazy moron."

Wantadog: "Aww.....so mean...."

Loki: "She's right though."

Wantadog: "What are you even doing here? We ditched you!"

Shiva: "We're gods. We do whatever the hell we want."

BP: "Makes sense."

Whiteflame: "It's only natural."

Wantadog: "Hey who's side are you guys on!"

BP and Whiteflame: "The gods."

Wantadog: "...well fine then...at least I still have Toku."

Toku: "Right beside ya, buddy!"

Gaia: "Hey guys, what's up?"

Exorcist: *Walks in with Gaia.* "Ya, what's going on?"

Odin: "We're picking on Wantadog."

Exorcist and Gaia: "YAY! Can we join in?"

Raijin: "Indeed." *Spots BP and starts sneaking up on him.*

BP: *Doesn't notice.*

Shiva: "By the way, Toku."

Toku: "Hmm?"

Shiva: "You do know that Wantadog was going to kill you off."

Toku: "..."

Wantadog: *Nervous sweatdrop*

Raijin: *Tackles BP* "DIE!"

BP: "ACK! Wantadog, you bastard!"

Wantadog: *Holding up Pen* "Muahaha."

Neuro: "Very well done, slave number 3."

Wantadog: "Go away, you're not even a Bleach character."

Goku: "Is there food anywhere?"

Wantadog: "LEAVE!"

Luffy: "MEAT!"

Wantadog: "Ugh...."

Batman: "So I heard someone here was impersonating me."

Everyone: *Points at Wantadog*

Wantadog: "....you're all jerks."

@Wantadog. Heh, fair enough. I guess I'm just frustrated at the lack of attention to RPs on this club. I wish more people were interested.

Batman: You're gonna die early, my furry friend.

Wantadog: It WAS a joke!

Batman: I'm Batman... No-one impersonates me.

Bp: Hey, Batman, I'm a huge fan.

Batman: (Sighs in an impatient frustrated way) Can't you see I'm busy...? Go away.

Bp: (Snarls) Too bad, you rude bastard, you're gone. (Writes Batman out)

Wantadog: OMG! Thanks, man.

Bp: Whoa, I had revenge and saved Wantadog's butt in the process... Talk about killing two birds with one stone... OOOOFF!!! (Is tackled again by Raijin) I HATE YOU SO MUCH, YOU BASTARD! GET OUTTA MY SKIT! (Writes Raijin out, too)

Whiteflame: A random day already... When will I get some peace and quite around this place...?

Exorcist: Mwahahahahaha!!! My plan has succeeded!

Bp, Wantadog, Whiteflame, Gaia: Huh...?

Exorcist: That's right, you dense lot of morons... I perfected time travel, while you lot were snoring in slumber. Perhaps if you had some ingenuity, then you wouldn't all be so lazy.

Bp: Says the guy who instructed his personal slave to carry him to Subway...

Exorcist: That's different... I pay him to make my life easier... If I didn't use him for those purposes, if would defeat his purpose in life.

Bp: (Sighs) Okay, okay...

Whiteflame: I have stuff to do, see you all later. (Leaves in a rush)

Bp: Okay.

Luffy: MEAT!!! I SAID I WANT MEAT!

Goku: And food for me...

Mugen: And me.

Spike: I'll have some, too.

Natsu: WHERE'S THE FOOD??!!

Everybody: STAY OUT OF THIS!!!

I swear, writer's block is a bitch. I've got about half of the post mapped out in my head, but the other half continues to elude me.

Sorry for not posting. I shall have one up soooooon....ish....

[Striking Judgement.]


Nero Lanca laughed maniacally as he attacked the two shinigami. His black scythe slicing through the air as he repeatedly aimed to sever their heads from the rest of their bodies. His black robes flapped wildly around him, while keeping parts of his skeletal face partially covered. He continued to laugh as he attacked again and again.

Momo grunted to herself as she narrowly avoided yet another close call from Nero's deadly scythe. He certainly was powerful when he released his zanpakuto. She saw his scythe coming from the left and brought Tobiume to parry. Just before the two weapons made contact, a light from her other side caught her attention.

Nero grinned. "Cero."

Momo cursed and took one hand off of Tobiume. "Hado 33 Soukatsui!" The two blasts collided with each other and Momo returned her attention to the scythe just in time to duck from another slash. At the same time, she brought her sword slashing sideways, releasing a large fireball from it directly at Nero, who sonido'd out of the way. The fireball collided with another attack which was aimed at Nero. She glanced towards Toku, who was now engaging Nero, or rather, keeping Nero busy. Toku didn't seem pressured at all. He had a playful smile on his face with his arms at his sides, nimbly jumping to and fro to evade Nero's attacks. He seemed to be handling the Espada effortlessly. Momo took a moment to ponder that. This guy definitely wasn't normal. None of the members of the newly formed "rogue squad" were normal.

Nero's smiled quickly faded as he failed time and time again to land a blow on the boy in front of him. His scythe slashed down and Toku stepped to the side, cleaning evading the attack. Nero twisted the scythe's blade 90 degrees so that it was directly behind Toku, level with his hip. Nero yanked the weapon towards him and Toku did a backflip over the blade. He landed neatly on the ground and leaned his upper body to the right to dodge another attack from Nero. Nero started thrusting his scythe at Toku so fast that there appeared to be hundreds of them. Toku dodged each and every attack with that same cocky smile. Nero slashed at Toku horizontally and Toku jumped high in the air to dodge it. Nero smirked as he fired a cero which he already had aimed at the exact spot Toku dodged to.

Toku continued to smile as the blast got nearer and nearer. When it was about to hit him, he performed a complex flip which placed him on top of the cero. A blue light shone around Toku's feet as he landed on the cero itself and slid down it. As he got closer to Nero, he brought one hand in front of him and took aim at Nero.

Toku: "Hado 63, Raikouhou."

Nero growled and brought his scythe up, slashing the oddly weak blast in two. As he did, he felt something press against his back. "Wha-?"

Momo: "heh. Nice one Toku!" Her blade glowed bright orange and a huge fireball exploded from the tip, crashing into Nero at point blank range. Nero was completely engulfed in the blast. Momo leaped back a few feet to avoid getting burned herself.

Toku chuckled. "Not at all, I did nothing." he smiled as he landed on the ground. As he did, Nero's black scythe shot out of the flames and flew straight towards Toku. Toku smiled and extended one hand, stopping the weapon in it's tracks. As he did, a cero shot out towards Momo. She jumped out of the way and barely avoided getting hit.

Momo: "Damn it. This guy won't stay down will he?"

Toku: "Well I really didn't expect that level of attack to beat him." He grinned as he watched the flames fade to reveal Nero, perfectly fine. "This is fun."

Nero: "You fools are really starting to piss me off!"

Nero shot towards Toku, creating an explosion of dust in his wake. He crashed into Toku, who calmly drew his zanpakuto up to block the attack. They remained like that for an instant, Nero, with his scythe dangerously close to Toku's neck, and Toku, with his zanpakuto stopping Nero's scythe, a calm expression on his face. Toku continued his movement, bringing his blade up over his head and knocking aside the Espada's scythe. Without pausing, Toku flipped his sword so that the blade faced up and brought it down on Nero. Nero slashed Toku's blade and dampened the force, but it still sent Nero barreling towards the ground. Nero sonido'd at the last moment and appeared behind Toku, his scythe hooked around Toku's neck. He smirked and yanked his blade towards himself, intending to decapitate him then and there. Toku's eyes never wavered and the instant before the blade touched his skin, he flash stepped a few feet forward, safe from the scythe's reach.

Toku, his arms at his side, his zanpakuto dangling loosely in his hand. He turned towards Nero and smiled. Nero growled at the taunt, but quickly calmed himself and smirked.

Nero: "You didn't think I was just attacking you did you?"

Toku: "I hope not, because if you were, then it was a dreadful attempt to kill me."

Nero growled and took another deep breath to calm himself. He smirked and pointed at Toku himself. Toku raised an eyebrow and looked at his arms and legs. He could see little spirit particles floating off of his body. "Hmm?"

Nero: "This is the power of my resurreccion. It degrades your spiritual pressure. Soon enough, you won't have any means of stopping my attacks and I'll suck out your very soul!"

Toku's eyes widened for the smallest of instances before returning to normal. "I see. Well we can't let that happen."

Nero laughed. "You can't stop it! It's already begun!"

Toku took a few seconds to glance at Nero. "So I just have to kill you before my spiritual pressure degrades?"

Nero: "Tch. Don't get so cocky." He lunged at Toku, but he blocked it with his sword while his knee came slamming into Nero's side, sending him crashing to the ground.

Toku; "As much fun as I'm having with this. I'm gonna need to wrap this up." He suddenly smiled widely and gave a happy cheer. "I know! I'll try that! I wonder if it'll work? Nekokaburi said only on normal opponents."

-----------------------------------------­---­---­---­---­--

Lushi: "Ah, this is getting tiresome. How much stamina can one Espada have? No matter how much I pound him, he just gets up again and again! Hey! Mishiranu! you got your energy back yet!?"

Mishiranu: "Not yet. I need 2 more minutes!"

Lushi: "You said that two minutes ago!"

Mishiranu: "It's not my fault! I'm not used to fighting like this!"

Lushi: "Sheesh. Alright then." She glanced towards the figure of Aguantar and sighed as he charged at her. "So slow." She flash stepped and appeared behind Aguantar. She swung her gavel at him and it hit him straight in the face. Since she had been fighting for quite awhile, both Aguantar and his weapon were blood red from her Shikai's ability. As such, the moment her gavel made contact with him, he was sent flying in a huge explosion of energy. Lushi performed another flash step to get ahead of him and slammed her gavel down on his stomach, creating another explosion. Lushi appeared next to Mishiranu and waited for the smoke to clear. She didn't notice the sand around her feet starting to move, but Mishiranu did.

Mishiranu grunted and grabbed onto Lushi, leaping out of the way just before several spikes made out of sand shot out of the ground. Mishiranu kept jumping from spot to spot as more and more spikes came out whenever they landed. One of the spikes grazed Lushi's foot, making a small gash.

The red faded from Aguantar and his weapon and he started attacking in earnest, firing cero after cero in addition to using the earth around them as a weapon.

Mishiranu continued leaping to the side, barely evading the attacks. Lushi was moving on her own now and was faring a little better. The two of them exchanged looks and nodded. Lushi lifted her gavel, which took on a blue glow, whereas Mishiranu drew her sword and held it at the ready. They both charged him from both directions.

Aguantar's eyes flashed and the pieces from one of the destroyed buildings flew towards Aguantar and formed two human like shapes. Each shape wielded a steel girder. they both blocked Mishiranu and Lushi's attacks.

Lushi growled and pushed harder, but the steel figure refused to budge. Mishiranu landed on the ground for and instant before launching herself at the other steel figure. Her sword was a better match against them than Lushi's hammer so she sliced right through it. The steel figure reformed, this time with a sword and attacked Mishiranu. She was forced to parry the attack and tried to slice it in half vertically, but the steel figure was faster than it appeared and blocked the attack. Lushi kept bashing at the steel figure over and over again. As she did, it got redder and redder as her attacks continued, but no matter how hard they attacked, the monster's reformed immediately.

Mishiranu: "Lushi!"

Lushi: "Got you!"

The two of them leaped high into the air and the figures followed them. Lushi and Mishiranu faced their palms towards them and they both shouted an incantation.

Mishiranu: "Bakudo 61!"

Lushi: "Rikujokoro!"

Six beams of light struck both of figures, holding them in place against each other. Lushi and Mishiranu both flash stepped over to Aguantar and attacked from both sides. Aguantar slammed his metal club into the ground, creating an explosion to keep the two of them away.

Aguantar: "No more games. Tormenta de Arena!"

Everything in the area was kicked around in the air like a sandstorm, obscuring their vision and making the battleground far more dangerous. Aguantar grinned.

Aguantar: "This is my ultimate attack!"

The two girls voices spoke from directly ahead of him, maybe 30 meters.

"Bankai!"

END!
-----------------------------------------­---­---­---­---­

Wantadog: "I'm thinking of doing a side story, focused around Toku, just to get me back into a Bleach mood...."

Toku: "Really?"

Wantadog: "Yup, but maybe not....I'm kinda busy."

Odin: "Is that so? From my side, I see you sitting at your computer watching anime."

Wantadog: "Yes, and it is very time consuming."

Toku: "Ah, I see."

BP: "So is this a skit?"

Wantadog: "I really have no idea. I thought it was, but Raijin hasn't attacked you so it can't be..."

Whiteflame: "Actually it's only in your skits that Raijin makes regular appearances."

Exorcist: "Why am I always left out?"

BP: "Where have you been?"

Exorcist: "The future."

Wantadog: "Ooh, so how does the world end?"

Exorcist: "Well, I can't say. you know. Time line and all, but it does not end on December 21."

Wantadog: "What about December 22?"

Exorcist: "It's a very strange day for the internet."

BP: "So another question. How does this skit end?"

Exorcist: "Actually, that's very interesting. It turns out that Wantadog cuts me off in the middle of a sentence."

Wantadog: "I would never do that."

Exorcist: "That's not the worst part."

Whiteflame: "What's the worst part?"

Exorcist: "Well it turns out that Bp is actually a-"

Wantadog: "..."

BP: "..."

Exorcist: "Hmm....that's odd. I thought for sure Wanta was going to-"

Yo, Wantadog, I will send you a message, with a plan I have been thinking up. XD. By the way, nice post, dude.

Wantadog: A plan? Oooo, is it an evil one?

Bp: Not really...

Wantadog: Then why should I care? As a participant to this forum, I claim interest only in 'evil' plans...

Bp: Okay. Well, maybe it is a little evil.

Wantadog: That's more like it!

Raijin: Stop telling him about the plan! It's essential to the plot of the story.

Bp: Shut up, you! You know fully well I can decide whether you feature in my post, or not. Don't make me make you disappear.

Raijin: (Scowls) Whatever.

[Ultimate Weapon! Ulquiorra's Decision/The Wise Espada! Laurel of Fate] - Part One

-Raijin-

[Start Music 1]

He had been flying for a while and Toshiro's reiatsu was drawing nearer and nearer, but Raijin had begun to notice that Ulquiorra's reiatsu was gradually overpowering Toshiro's and causing the two powers to spark and push against one another. Raijin was beginning to fear for the Head-Captain; despite the fact that Toshiro was the most powerful Shinigami of the Gotei 13, he was still having quite a bit of trouble against Ulquiorra, though Raijin could tell that Toshiro had quite a bit of fight left in him and definitely wouldn't give up easily. Even so, it was still troubling. To be cause even more problems, Raijin sensed the reiatsu of another powerful Arrancar and dodged out of the way, in order to avoid a sudden Bala, then a sword strike. He reappeared and faced his opponent.

'What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?!' Raijin snarled, an impatient tone in his voice.

The Arrancar stared back, with a nonchalant look upon his face. He was dressed in the same attire as Ulquiorra had been and was tall, but quite gangly and skinny; over his robes, he was wearing a tunic-looking thing, that was long and flowing. His mask remnant resembled a halo, or laurel on top of his head. The Arrancar continued to stare, with a blank look upon his face, then he began to chatter in an annoyinging sqeaky voice. 'Well, now, dear Shinigami... You see, Sosuke Aizen decided that I was to be made an Espada and he charged me with defeating as many deluded Shinigami, as well. I think I should warn you now, I am the Ninth Espada, Socrates Neox and my wisdom shall be your downfall.'

Raijin snorted, this guy looked like an idiot. He was so skinny, that his robes seemed to almost fall off his body and Raijin sensed that his energy was not all that impressive. Of course, Raijin considered that he might be hiding his reiatsu and decided to wary, nonetheless. Raijin drew his Zanpakuto and faced the Espada. 'So, Socrates Neox, do you know who I am?'

'No, I can't say that I recognise you... What reason should I have for knowing who you are?'

Raijin sighed, the guy seemed pretty dense, so he would have to explain it all, or just not even bother. 'I am the Rogue Shinigami, Raijin Masamune, the one that defeated the former No.2 Espada, Raiden Anteras.'

Socrates nipped the tip of his finger and then began to chew it, as he stood pondering a moment; finally, his face lit up and he drew his finger put of his mouth, waggling it comically. 'Ahhhhh! Now I know who you mean... You are the one. Aizen asked me to personally get rid of you. I wonder how I should proceed...?' He began to talk to himself, then drew his own Zanpakuto.

'Well, now, I didn't expect someone like you to draw your blade... Aren't you supposed to be some kind of philosopher, or something? You look like a nerd.'

Socrates went pink and began to tap his fingers on the blade of his Zanpakuto. 'I don't know what a 'nerd' is, sir, but you are an ignorant barbarian and I shall make your pay for that!' Then he charged at Raijin, his blade right up in the air. Raijin shunpoed, and made his attack, a sweeping strike at the Espada's head, who dodged with Sonido and swung his Zanpakuto in a straight arc, which would have cleaved Raijin's head in two, had he not brought his blade up in time and diverted the strike away from his body. The Espada stopped, shook his head and then began to slice at Raijin again. Raijin avoided the blows, then disappeared. Socrates tried to sense Raijin and his eyes darted to each side, attempting to pick up the Shinigami. Raijin reappeared, right in front of the Espada and kicked him, sending the light Arrancar flying backwards. When he crashlanded into a building, raised his reiatsu and destroyed the building, Raijin realised that the Espada was stonger than he looked, though he still didn't seem to be strong enough to play around with for much longer. Raijin sighed and decided to release his Shikai, in order to save his strength. 'Strike from the thunderous realms above, Ajisukita!' A flash of grey and yellow followed, disrupting the skies around them and drew some of the dark clouds, from Toshiro's Bankai, over their way. Momentarily, lightning strikes began to rain down on Socrates, who dodged in dismay, his cheeky grin receding and a worried look came over his face, as he finally realised that Raijin was no-one to be messed with. Raijin reaffirmed this by holding his Zanpakuto up and absorbing all of the lightning, until none struck from the sky, but his Zanpakuto was glowing blue and sparking, as the energy struggled to stay within the blade. Raijin had absorbed much more of the lightning energy than usual and, as a result, the excess energy was trying to escape. Socrates coolly fired several Bala at him, but they bounced off of his body and exploded around him. Then he rushed through the air, aiming the blade at Socrates. 'Hiraishin, Haretsu!' The blade struck Socrates a glancing blow and the Espada was swallowed up by the explosion of intense lightning energy. Raijin stayed where he was, trying to see what had happened to the Espada.

'You fool! Now you have angered me... Prepare to face my wrath, Shinigami Captain!' the Espada thundered, his face red and a vein popping in his forehead.

'Bring it on!'

Socrates grew redder, then he relaxed and his face began to recede in redness, though the vein still was visible, if not prominent, as before. His reiatsu suddenly grew and the air grew muggy with dense reiatsu, that was nothing compared to Ulquiorra's, but nothing to scorn. 'Perceive, Manera Cierto!' His reiatsu grew even more and Raijin decided that it was going to be necessary to use Bankai soon. Presently, Socrates emerged, a laurel on top of his head and a roman-style toga, that seemed to fit him now. He had even grown more muscle and seemed to be much more wiry now. In his hands, was a tome, or script, which was rolled up. Socrates drew it open and relayed some words to himself, ones that Raijin didn't pick up. After this, the Espada began to form an axe in one hand, made from reishi, then made a sword in the other and grinned at Raijin. Raijin snorted, deciding that this wasn't such a great power and released his Bankai.

'Bankai!' The air grew thick with Raijin's reiatsu, his Bankai ruffling the clouds, and drawing more over them, from Toshiro's Bankai. Even more clouds seemed to form, as well. His appeared with the grey robe and distinctive Zanpakuto, Hageshii Raikouarashi. 'Hageshii Raikouarashi!' Raijin suddenly sliced his Zanpakuto through the remaining smoke and residue of energy, cutting it in half and then blowing it outwards in a massive cloud. Socrates acknowledged this with a solemn smile, then made to attack Raijin, disappearing with a well-placed Sonido and cutting into Raijin's shoulder. Raijin elboweed Socrates in the stomach, then shunpoed, slicing through his opponent's Hierro and drawing a ribbon of blood. Socrates snarled and dodged the next attack.

'Curse you, Shinigami. Your speed seems to be incredible while using your Bankai. However, how will you dodge my next attack?' Then Socrates sonidoed, appearing right in front of Raijin, a blue Cero charging, then fired it straight at Raijin. Raijin was caught up in the blast and was obscured from Socrates' view. As the blueish energy remainder receded, Raijin came back into view, his body smoking and his robes slightly burnt and torn; however, he seemed to have taken little damage from the Cero and grinned at Socrates. 'How?! I fired that, point blank, at you; how did you manage to take so little damage?!'

Raijin continued to grin condescendingly. 'Well, it was a pretty weak blast and I used some of my lightning energy to shield me, too. Your energy didn't even manage to make it through an eighth of the energy my blade can store. You are far too weak to be fighting me... In that form, you wouldn't last a second against me in my ultimate transformation.'

'All talk... You are merely a Shinigami. How can you achieve anything greater than a Bankai?' Socrates sniffed in dismissal; as far as he was concerned, Raijin was just bragging and trying to make out that he was stronger than he really was.

[End Music 1]

'Whatever. Just you wait and see, you fool. I'm not going to take it easy on you, now.' Raijin drew a cage of lightning energy around himself and then one around Socrates, then began to pump a paralysing amount of lightning energy and pure electrical energy into a string of energy attaching between his cage and Socrates cage. In the other cage, Socrates screamed in pain, as 100,000 volts of electrical energy zapped him, paralysing his body for a short time and causing his heartrate to increase dramatically. Raijin chuckled and his cage disappeared. 'Densetsu Haretsu!' His ultimate Haretsu attack, plowed into Socrates' cage and washed it away, and exploding around Socrates. When he appeared again, his body was bloody and his robes were torn; it looked as though he was having trouble standing, too. He was puffing and looked frightened. Suddenly, a reiatsu appeared out of nowhere and collided with Socrates', who was sent flying into a building.

[Start Music 2]

'Now, now... Inferior fool, I will be taking this Shinigami as my opponent. You are far too weak to be fighting someone with such skill. I, Shinigami, am known Manuel Remandez, the new second Espada. I was informed that you beat Raiden, the former No.2. I will defeat you, to show everyone that I am the strongest. I am darkness itself!' The pale-looking Espada introduced himself. Raijin rolled his eyes, this was becoming annoying.

'I didn't ask you to interfere... I was having fun playing around with that kid, as well. Perhaps you should get in line... Ulquiorra is my next target. I have no time to play around with you.'

Manuel appeared in front of him, suddenly, and swung at his head. Raijin's eyes widened, he was fast, deadly fast; Raijin smashed his Zanpakuto into the opponent's and they pressed at each other, trying to force the other to yield. Raijin was surprised at the strength of the Espada, who was not quite as strong as Raijin, but still surprisingly strong for an Espada in his normal form. 'I think you may want to reconsider, Shinigami. I am not an opponent to be taken lightly.'

'Maybe not, but you're still nothing on me... You should understand that. Raiden was no opponent to be taken lightly, either, but I still defeated him... Not to mention I fought Ulquiorra and nearly beat him. You should watch your step.'

'They're both weaklings... Don't compare me to either of them. I am not exaggerating... Both are very strong, but neither possesses my skills and ultimate Zanpakuto.'

'Then show me. If you have such skills, then fight me! I always welcome strong foes such as yourself... Just know, if anything happens to my Head-Captain, I will destroy both you and Ulquiorra. I vow, fervently, that you will both have painful deaths.'

Manuel's eyes shut for a moment, then he leaped forwards and raised his Zanpakuto again, striking at his opponent. Raijin dodged, and, becoming sick of fighting hand-to-hand, decided to use his ultimate attack. 'Denji Shougekiha!' The blast charged on the tip of his Zanpakuto, then formed a massive aura of energy, and then was fired straight at the Espada. Manuel waited until the blast was almost upon him, then dodged it completely. The blast sailed beyond and exploded, a massive blast with a major shockwave, that threatened to rip them both from the ground.

'You're pretty strong, but that blast is too easy to avoid. I suggest you use a different attack.'

Raijin growled, angry at himself for wasting such a large amount of energy. If he didn't do something soon, he would end up using far too much energy and wasting his time. He needed energy to defeat Ulquiorra. He looked up and Manuel was laready aiming another attack. He dodged, rolling backwards and struck outwards with his blade, missing the Espada, then steel clashed with steel, as he parried the next blow, as he jumped upwards, landing on his feet. Manuel rose with him and began to charge a Cero on his fingertip. It was pitch black and negatibe energy was crackling with the innate energy in the air. He suddenly released it, and, with a ripping/tearing sound, it careened right into him, as Manuel Sonidoed right in front of him. Raijin knelt, his arms and legs bleeding and blood dripping from his mouth. It was a powerful blast and point-blank, too. He snarled with anger and raised his blade into the air. 'Hiraishin!' Lightning struck his blade and again, again and again. After a minute of charging, his blade was finally full again and he decided to use the unthinkable, a Densetsu Haretsu, with all of the power from Hiraishin, too. 'Hiraishin, Densetsu Haretsu!' Shunpoing towards Manuel, Raijin disappeared and then sliced into Manuel's shoulder and then the world around them exploded and Raijin found himself blown backwards, landing on the ground, on his head. He quickly righted himself and stood against the wind of the shockwave, which was almost strong enough to blow him away completely. As he looked, he realised that Manuel had survived the blast and was still strong enough to stand, even if he looked much the worse for wear. Raijin sighed. 'Not my friggin' day...'

Manuel appeared in front of him. 'That was some blast, Shinigami. I must say that I am impressed - I certainly didn't expect it. But, now it is all over... I have to finish this fight, otherwise I will be punished by Lord Aizen. Witness my Resurreccion! Hallucinate, Negro De La Noche!' Suddenly a massive reiatsu seized the world and tugged - it was so evil and dark, that Raijin was almost frightened by such a power, which seemed to be even more choking than Ulquiorra's reiatsu. He stared into the face of darkness. Speaking of which, his opponent seemed to be completely wrapped in darkness itself, and noticed that his robes were black, too. 'How do you like my power, Shinigami? Are you impressed?'

Raijin rather thought that he was, though he had no intention of mentioning said sentiment to the Espada and smiled instead, deciding that he would have to use Kaminari's power, if this opponent proved to be too powerful for him. He leapt at his opponent, but found himself striking thin air and turned to find Manuel, only to be kicked in the stomach and sent flying into building. With rage, Raijin's reiatsu exploded outwards and he raised it even more, deciding to try another attack on the Espada. He used another Haretsu, but soon found that it had little effect on the Espada and was dismayed, especially when he was sent flying into the ground once more.

Now what? What am I doing? I can't even defeat this Espada with my Bankai? How ridiculous. I should have just used Kaminari's power. Perhaps I would have already defeated him

'Thank you, Shinigami. I will replenish my health, now, by taking yours.' And he cut into Raijin with his blade. Raijin felt the blood running out of him and manage to swipe his Zanpakuto from his body, knocking Manuel's blade away also. Even so, Manuel's strength and speed were amazing and his powers were horrible. Raijin stood, resolve glittering in his eyes and gathered his strength and reiatsu together. 'Denji Shougekiha!' This time, the blast was right in Manuel's face and he couldn't avoid it, instead being swept away by the magnitude of the blast. Even after such a strong attack, the Espada still appeared once more, his face bleeding and his arms scratched and torn. Then he changed into a bat, avoided numerous strikes from Raijin, then reappeared as a man again. His injuries were completely healed. Raijin sighed once more, for what seemed like the millionth time for the day, then he resolved to finish the fight. He drew his hand over his face, and the mask appeared once more. His reiatsu suddenly skyrocketed and he saw Manuel's face grow surprised, as he sensed the massive upsurge in power. Moments later, Manuel was on the ground, bleeding, and Raijin was in the air, his Zanpakuto sweeping downwards, lightning energy crackling and sparking. It made contact, and the ground exploded, then cracked, as the energy caused the tectonic plates to react. Not even bothering to stop, Raijin continued with his momentum and crashed into the ground around Manuel. 'Raigou!' The energy formed above and Raijin jumped upwards, drawing Manuel towards it, then he shunpoed directly next to it, as Manuel continued to follow. Grudgingly, he let a massive wave of energy hit the Raigou and it dropped downwards, letting out a loud, warping sound, as it came in contact with Manuel. The sky exploded, and Raijin was flung backwards again. Then, his mask broke and he fell downwards, his energy completely sapped and smashed into the ground. He tried to stand, but it was to no avail and his legs collapsed under his weight.

[End Music 2]

'Need some help there?' A familiar face grinned down at him.

-Toshiro-

[Start Music 3]

'You are finished, Shinigami. I will show you my ultimate attack... Lanza Del Relampago!' A green bolt of energy appeared, similar to the previous ones, but this one was far stronger and Toshiro could feel the murderous intent coming from it.

'If you release that here, you may destroy the whole Soul Society. I can't let you do that. You learnt before what happened when I used my Hyoten Hyakasso... Perhaps I should show you an even greater attack.'

Ulquiorra stared at him, then released the energy lance. Toshiro used the attack, which created a massive surge of ice to come out of the sky, surround Ulquiorra, and the energy bolt before it exploded, then it all froze, as pillars of ice were raised from the ice all over the ground, entrapping Ulquiorra. Suddenly, his reiatsu began to rise and Toshiro's ice began to crack, as the other power pulsated wildly.

'Powerful, but not enough. Perhaps I should show you my new attack, then. Lanza Del Grillos!' And the energy was manipulated into a ring of energy, which encircled Toshiro and he was suddenly almost being choked by the energy, as it restricted any movement of his. He fell to his knees, as the energy exploded with an incredible amount of force; his head was swimming, and he felt like he had been hit by a bus. Toshiro tried to stand, but coughed up a ribbon of blood and fell back to his knees. 'It can't-end-like this... Espada... I won't... let... you... ugh...'

[End Music 3]

'Fool. Stay down, otherwise you'll die of your injuries.'

-To Be Continued-

Music 2

Music 3

[Ultimate Weapon! Ulquiorra's Decision/The Wise Espada! Laurel of Fate] - Part Two

-Momo-

Momo conjured another Kido spell, then released it straight at Nero. The Espada dodged it, flipping backwards, then swung at her with the scythe Zanpakuto... She managed to parry the attack with her Zanpakuto, but was pushed backwards with his superior strength. Toku got into the action and dived at Nero, slashing at him and pushing the Espada away from Momo, then released a Sokatsui, which exploded in Nero's face. He rubbed it, idly, then a vein popped in his head.

'You pests are starting to annoy me... Perhaps I should destroy the two of you right now...' Then he began to charge a Cero in one hand, while firing Bala at them with the other. They avoided the Bala, but the Espada appeared in front of them, the Cero fully charged, then released it into their faces.

Momo took action swiftly. 'Bankai!' He reiatsu glowed orange and swathed her body, bathing the surroundings in an soft, orangey colour. Up above, a massive spout of reiatsu ascended with great momentum and the clouds were pushed into one big circular shape. When she re-emerged, her blade had assumed its Bankai appearance, and her reiatsu was much more powerful. 'Toku... I can feel something bad happening... Toshiro is in trouble and so is Raijin; please go and help them.'

Toku shrugged. 'I don't really want to leave you here by yourself... This guy is strong, and, despite the fact that you are using your Bankai, your spirit energy is surprisingly weak at the moment. I can only assume that it has something to do with his power, as I can feel it too.'

Momo sighed. 'Do what you want... I am going to finish this...' She jumped forwards, releasing a Shakkaho into Nero's face, then combined it with a Kido net, trapping the Espada, then she finally used two Hado spells, Raikoho and Tenran, combining the two together to form a tornado-like blast, with lightning crackling through it. Then it hit him and he snarled in anger. Suddenly, his reiatsu began to grow stronger and stronger, and the Kido net began to crack. Nero pushed himself out of the net and leapt straight for Momo, who dodged swiftly and swung at him with her Zanpakuto, releasing a massive wagve of fireballs at him. Nero dodged them all and dove in for the kill, but Momo was still slightly faster and managed to avoid it. Their blades clashed together and Momo felt herself weaken, as the Espada's power began to take its toll on her.

'Dammit! I have to win!!!' And Momo used her most powerful attack. 'Okibibanda: Shuuban!' A large branch of fire and spirit energy surrounded the Espada, locking him into place and holding him there. Momo released the Fireball Wave again, and this crashed into Nero, doing a small amount of damage and enraging him even further. Then, she combined Shakkaho, with Sokatsui in a combined attack, which crashed into him, inciting a large string of curses. Finally, she used Kurohitsugi again, this time not even bothering with the incantation. It inverted around the Espada and he was obscured from view, and screams of pain could be heard, then there was silence. Mom sighed in relief and let her guard down, as she turned to Toku. Nero was still very much alive and took this chance to blow everything around him into pieces, in a furious rage. He cut into Momo's chest, drawing a thick ribbon of blood, then kicked her brutally into a wall. He hovered over her, ready to strike the killing blow. Then, he saw stars, as the other Shinigami slammed his knee into Nero's face, then grabbed his legs and swung him round, letting go flying into a building. Then the building exploded, as a Hado 88 was used.

'Curse you, Shinigami. You caught me by surprise... I suppose I should congratulate you on injuring an Espada, but, as you know, we have Hierro and damage cannot be done easily to us. You are deluded if you think you can win.

'I don't think I can win... I know I can win against you... You have no idea what I have been through, who I've fought and what I've done... You are just an Espada, who thinks that he, and his race, are better than everyone else. Well I have news for you... You aren't so great. Now shut up and witness my power.

-Shunsui-

'You have outclassed yourself, Espada. Last time you were powerful... Now you are ridiculous!'

Starrk smiled, his reiatsu causing a dense feeling around them. 'I have been training, Shunsui Kyoraku... I have been training and anticipating meeting you in battle once again. This will be our last fight, whether you win or I win.'

-Kogase-

What-the... He's fast, deadly fast. I need to use my Bankai, otherwise he'll destroy me

Kogase avoided another slash from Grimmjow's claws and parried, knocking the Espada aside and aiming for another attack. Grimmjow disappeared again and came from above, surprising Kogase and leaving far too little time to respond. He was pushed downwards and then smashed brutally into the ground. 'Ughhh!!!'

Grimmjow grinned sadistically. 'I thought you were going to be a good fight, Shinigami, but then I find that you are a weakling. Use your Bankai, or else I will kill you now!'

Kogase smiled. 'Bankai!'

Bp: It's almost Christmas time... Or maybe I should say that the season of Xmas is upon us.

Exorcist: I notice that you are trying to make the application of this idea as difficult as you possibly can. Perhaps you should just stop being a bore.

Bp: Grrrr. Perhaps you should shut up!

Wantadog: OMG! Guys, it's Santa... I heard someone coming down the chimney.

Bp: ...Really?

Exorcist: Oh no! It must be a robber, coming to steal our food.

Bp: That's something Luffy, or Goku would do... Maybe Santa does exist after all.

Exorcist: That's lure of it... Everyone thinks he exists, even though he reputedly doesn't... But, people try and say that he does, because people come down the chimney... Does that sound right to you?

Bp:...I'm sorry, you were saying...?

Exorcist: (Sighs) Well, at least I tried.

Bp: Sorry, little buddy, but I had no idea what you were trying to say... All I heard was you saying same thing over and over again.

Whiteflame: Guys, let's not argue. It's Christmas time! The season of joy!

Bp: ...Believer, are you?

Whiteflame: (Grins) Why, yes, I am.

Wantadog: (Impatiently) Who cares? I want to find out who is coming down the chimney!!!

Bp, Exorcist, Whiteflame: Okay, okay. Let's go, then.

(They leave the foyer and head to the lounge, where the fireplace is, even though it is unused, in order to leave the warmth-controlling to the heat pump. They gather around and listen out for the mysterious person coming down their chimney)

Wantadog: I can hear it... I wonder if it really is Santa...?

Bp: Who knows... I guess we'll find out sooner, or later.

Whiteflame: Shhh! I can't hear properly.

(All of a sudden, a thump resounds through the fireplace and an object bumps into the ground, rubbing its rear tenderly)

????: Dammit... That hurt.

Everyone: 0_0

????: Well, look, it seems I have an audience... I must introduce myself! I am Santakurosu... And I have something for each of you.

Wantadog: I KNEW IT!!! YIPPEE, SANTA IS HERE!

Bp: ...Well, this has certainly come as a surprise.

Whiteflame: I agree most wholeheartedly, Bp.

Exorcist: WELL I DISAGREE... This is but a fallacy, just a trickster come to try and deceive us!

Bp and Whiteflame: (Glance sideways at Exorcist) ...Er, never mind him... He's just high strung and thinks that Santa is trying to disappoint him. Just ignore him.

Exorcist: I CANNOT BE IGNORED! I SHALL PLAGUE YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR MISERABLE LIVES!

Bp: Yeah, yeah... We hear ya, buddy. Why don't you go and sit down somewhere and let the big boys talk, okay.

Exorcist: Don't speak to me like I'm a child... It's very patronising.

Bp: (Sighs) Alright, alright.

Santakurosu: Uh, okay then... Here you go, lads.

Bp: Thanks.

Whiteflame: Thanks.

Wantadog: YUUUSSS!!!!! I GOT WHAT I WANTED!

Exorcist: What's this thing...? Is it edible? Can I talk to it? What does it do?

Bp, Whiteflame: (Face palm) It sure is, goodbye, Santa!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I LOVE THIS PIC, IT REMINDS ME OF A PARTICULARLY FUNNY SITUATION.

Lol@ Kisuke. XDDDDDDDD

Santa: I agree...

Grimmjow: Where's my pony...?

Santa: You can have the presents, but I'll leave Ulquiorra with you fellas, if it's all the same to you.

Grimmjow: What?

Santa: You heard.

Grimmjow: Cero!

Haha, poor Jushiro. XD

[Unshakable Wills]

White and white steel met silvery iron in a shower of sparks as Idoya and Tsubaki repeatedly exchanged blows. Tsubaki scored the most hits, but the fight was quickly balancing out as Idoya began to acquaint herself with the little captain’s fighting style.

“Praying Fang!”

The tips of the blades fanned between her fingers came together and lashed out like pincers. Idoya gritted her teeth and pushed off from the ground beneath her, getting in under the range of the strike. Tsubaki widened her stance, allowing the tips of the blades to separate and swinging them further around.

“Sweeping Claw!”

Blades clashed and the weapons in Tsubaki’s hands scattered. Idoya pressed her advantage, wielding a blade in each hand. Tsubaki grimaced, flipping backward and bringing a shower of swords up at her opponent with her feet. Idoya took several cuts as she pushed through them, swinging with deadly accuracy at Tsubaki. At the last second, Tsubaki twisted, kicking one of the blades out of Idoya’s hand and catching the other in her armpit. She ignored the pain as a bloom of red formed where the blade cut into her, and reached her other hand out into Idoya’s face. Blades fell around them both from Tsubaki’s earlier kick as she said the words.

Tsubaki: Hado #31: Shakkahō!

A red orb of energy formed and exploded in her palm, sending Idoya rocketing backward along with a dozen swords. She slammed into the ground a large distance away, only bearing light burns from the Hado strike. Idoya knelt down without a sign of emotion, grabbing hold of two of the blades around her and surrounding them in her white energy. Tsubaki launched a salvo of blades at her, but Idoya merely threw the two. The moment they came into contact, the two swords glowed.

The white energy expanded outward rapidly, scattering all of the blades around them. Two other blades followed them, slamming into the ground where Tsubaki stood only moments before and exploding with the same concussive force. She was caught off guard by the range, flying backward and barely managing to stop herself by ramming two blades into the ground beneath her.

Idoya: I hate the unstable, but introducing a little instability into my cero is effective.

Tsubaki: You disgust me, treating your weapons like this…

Idoya: Victory is victory. If you’re so concerned about how I use your blades, then you shouldn’t have made them so plentiful.

Tsubaki sighed: Is that all you think of? Possession? A Zanpakuto is not a tool to be wielded. It’s a friend to walk through life with, a living being that can create bonds.

Idoya: Another bond to protect, another person to be concerned with, and you’re wielding it in battle. Would you wield your friends in battle? Would you wield your family?

Tsubaki: My friends and family are not my weapons.

Idoya: Such dependency… And your blade must wish to fight for you as well… what happened to your desire to protect?

Tsubaki: We protect together, though that’s something you could never understand.

Idoya huffed: Nothing but pretention, captain. You pretend to be the stalwart defender when you put your closest ally in the way of harm. And you justify it with such meaningless statements. It’s insulting.

Tsubaki frowned: We are all children of the sun, Espada. You would do well to know your place under its glow. Amateru.

The two blades she held in her hands had white lines form at their tips, following the edges of the blades till they covered them to the hilt. She slowly rotated them in her hands, afterimages of the blades forming behind them as they moved. Idoya watched her carefully as she rushed forward. She picked up two the blades around her, forming white energy around them and launching them at her. Tsubaki shunpoed away from the first, clashing with the second. To Idoya’s shock, the blade was launched to a safe distance before exploding, the speed and force of the strike so powerful that the destabilized cero wasn’t fast enough. She bent down and raised 2 swords of her own, preparing for the clash.

Tsubaki: White Lotus!

The sweep of her blade caught Idoya’s own, creating an almost floral arrangement of afterimages as her blades clashed with Idoya’s. The Espada grunted with surprise as she was forced backward by the impressive strike. Repeatedly the attack came, and repeatedly Idoya was forced backward, unable to respond with anything other than defense. Notches formed in the blades she wielded, blue and white showers of metal accompanying each slash. Through the afterimages, Idoya could hardly even see as she changed her stance to a more reinforced one, readying for a more powerful strike.

Tsubaki: Light Road!

The white-edged blades swung down together, then up. They shattered Idoya’s own, sending a spray of blue and white shrapnel into her chest and face. She could hardly see through bloody eyelids as Tsubaki came in for the killing blow. Only her instincts saved her – a quick, unstable Bala shot out of her hands, doing more damage to her than Tsubaki as it forced them apart with a powerful explosion of air. She slid to a stop on the swords behind her, Tsubaki not losing the opportunity and rushing forward. Idoya picked up one of them, focusing all of her energy into a cero that surrounded it. It crackled blue and white as the white streaks of Tsubaki’s blades met it. It was Tsubaki’s turn to be shocked as Idoya held her ground, pushing back and forcing Tsubaki back several steps. She readied for Idoya’s assault, but all she did was raise a hand.

Idoya: You see how this fight will end, captain. You’re powerful, I grant you that, but you find me unyielding.

She raised another blade off the ground, removing some of the cero’s power from her first blade and transferring it to the other.

Idoya: I don’t need something to defend. I don’t need your foolish ambitions, or thoughts about the blades I wield. I only need my strength to carry me forward.

Tsubaki shook her head: Then you’ve already lost.



Sorry that took so long. Honestly, I kept writing up drafts and hating them, and I finally got one I enjoyed. I've certainly enjoyed this fight thus far, and I don't plan to half-ass it.

Heh, no problem man. It was a good post, I think. Anyway, Merry Christmas! XDD

Same to you dude. Merry Christmas!

[Christmas Adventures! Holy Mistletoe] - short skit post

(It was a winter wonderland, the whole of the Soul Society was under snow - glittering white, coupled with light-grey clouds and constant snowflakes falling. Raijin glanced up at the sky, all negative thoughts forgotten, and grinned at nothing. He was happy, for some reason, though it didn't necessarily have anything to do with a certain Shinigami girl... At least, that's what Raijin was thinking in his denial of feelings.)

Toku: Just go with your feelings, man... Just go and tell her that you like her.

Raijin: I've never done that before... Where do I begin? What do I say? How do I say it without sounding weird, or awkward?

Toku: I'm sure you'll find your own way of doing so. Tell her underneath some mistletoe... You know what they say about mistletoe.

Raijin: Ahh, no... What do they say about 'mistletoe'?

Toku: That it makes you want to kiss people.

Raijin: (Turns beet red) ...Ahem... Perhaps we should talk about something else.

(Then Isamu appeared.)

Isamu: You know, Toku is right. You should just go and tell her how you feel, and see what happens.

Raijin: (Sighs) Maybe you're right...

(Raijin got up, however grudgingly, then left the other two and headed to Squad Four barracks. Upon entering, he bumped straight into Captain Kotetsu.)

Isane: Captain Masamune... How are you doing?

Raijin: Great, thank you, Captain Kotetsu. Do you know if Yuue Ishimoto is about? I need to talk to her for a moment.

Isane: She's floating about somewhere. Something tells me taht this isn't work-related... Ooooo, do you like her...?

Raijin: (Turning red again) ...Maybe...

Isane: You're too cute when you turn red like that. Never been with a girl before?

Raijin: Well, maybe once or twice, but not like this.

Isane: I'll send her your way. You'll be at Rogue Squad temporary headquarters, I take it?

Raijin: Okay, thank you, Isane.

Isane: You are welcome, Raijin.

(Raijin left and headed back to his office. He warned his secretary that he didn't want to be disturbed, unless it was a girl from Squad Four. Then he sat down, brooding, trying to think of what he would say, when suddenly, the door opened and 'she' walked in. She was beautiful, one of those are types that had a great personality and still had the great looks. He looked up at her, into those gorgeous, green eyes and smiled.)

Raijin: Hi there.

Yuue: Hi, Raijin. (Blushes slightly, then looks back at him, a smile creeping upon to her face) Can we talk here?

Raijin: Yes, but we can talk wherever you like. Perhaps a walk would be nicer...

Yuue: A walk? Sure, that does sound nice.

(They left and began to walk towards the setting sun)

Raijin: I came to Squad Four today, to talk to you, because I wanted to tell you something.

Yuue: Please, go on.

Raijin: I think I like you. I find it hard to ascertain my feelings sometimes, but there is no doubt of how I feel about you.

Yuue: (Smiles with her green eyes glinting in the wavering sunlight) ...That is why I came to talk to you. I wanted to say the same. I like you, Raijin. You're sweet and funny, but can be deadly serious and determined. You've done a lot for the Soul Society - for us Shinigami that see no way to defeat Aizen. Yet, you vowed to destroy him, just to help us.

Raijin: And, I will. He will not get away with trying to form everything into his own empire. He cannot kill innocent people so easily. I won't let him!

Yuue: That is why- (Presses her slender figure towards Raijin and nuzzles into him, then draws her face closer and kisses him tenderly on the lips) why I like you... And want you. (Then she drew him even closer and they held each other for a time, until they decided to walk back to their prospective Squad buildings.

Raijin: Goodnight, Yuue.

Yuue: Goodnight, Raijin. (Then leaves a another kiss on his cheek, smiles and then leaves)

Have you got much planned for Christmas...?