[Flashback] - Tale of a Shattered Friendship

[Hibiki Shimizu]

The morning sun made its daily ascension up the boundless blue sky, as the citizens of the Soul Society all grumbled their way out of the comfort of their beds. The sun shot beams of light down onto the Rukongai, and eventually the Seireitei, as it illuminated the cityscape from the night's lingering shadows. The wind blew ever so slightly around the rooftops and the air was reasonably warm for late fall.

The city slowly became astir though it was just another ordinary day in the Soul Society, as the many dwellers of the Rukongai began their routine lives as they had many times before. The townsfolk went about their regular business, be it a leisurely activity, a career, or even pickpocketing; all people in the Rukon Districts had their role.

It wasn't a drastically different form from that of the current Soul Society, only in persons, essentially. The story takes place around 300 years ago, in the outer reaches of the Rukongai, namely the South Rukon District, as two young shinigami-in-training awoke with much delight and exhilaration toward this day's activities as they rushed towards their objective...

Barely having gotten any sleep the night prior, Hibiki hurriedly pulled himself out of bed when he had seen the first shine of sunlight roll across the hills. He attempted to eat a half loaf of bread as he stumbled around, trying to cloth himself in the proper attire for his meeting. As he attempted to force a leg through his Shihakushō, he tripped, flying headlong into the floor with a loud 'THUD'. He gathered himself once more, stumbling into the rest of his clothing, as he grabbed his nodachi on the way outside of his crude hovel.

He traveled westward, towards the edges of a small, nearby forest, where he was to have this meeting with his fellow student and master. Hibiki rushed passed some lingering townsfolk as he sprinted through the district, nearly running into a fast-moving cart full of fruit as the driver promptly cursed at the young man as he sped by. A woman carrying a large pot of some sorts almost crashed into him as well, as he turned around a bend in the district, and Hibiki apologized quickly as he agilely evaded her and returned to the task at hand. "Today's the day," Hibiki thought to himself as he raced through the town. "The one day I have to prove myself to sensei, and gain this new strength," the young shinigami stopped as he felt the presence of another close ahead. The other person he sensed was his standing near the tree line, obviously just as anxious, if not more than Hibiki was, for arriving early. Hibiki began a slow run over to his comrade as his expression turned from one of excitement to one of a shrewd and childish smirk. "Today's the day I master my zanpakutou, and finally beat that bastard, Ayumu."

[ayumutakeuchi]

Ayumu stood underneath a large oak tree, arms crossed, looking at the distant shantytown of the South Rukongai in disdain. He stared blankly passed the few hills and sparse brush that dotted the edges of the forest, as he recognized a familiar spiritual energy. Within an instant, Ayumu knew that it was his close friend, and mutual rival, Hibiki Shimizu, as the two young shinigami neared one another. The two friends shot each other glares of challenge when they met closer, Ayumu questioning cunningly, "Ready for this?"

"Of course I am!" Hibiki replied, pointing to himself with his thumb, his chest thrust out defiantly. "The question is; are you ready?" Hibiki said to his comrade, shoving an accusing finger in front of Ayumu's face.

Ayumu then scoffed, slapping his friend's hand from his face. "Don't forget, you're the one who can barely speak to his sword," the white-haired child retorted to his companion.

"Pssh, whatever" Hibiki said, a bit embarrassed, as he turned to face the entrance to the forest. "Enough, talk. Im sure that sensei is ready for the meeting by now. He always is." Ayumu nodded to his friend, feeling triumphant, as the two began to walk down the pathway of the forest, their combined excitement shining through their presence as they walked into the depths of the forest.

[Hibiki Shimizu]

The two young shinigami walked into the inner ring of the forest, the wind knocking small waves of leaves around at their feet. In front of them, their laid a small clearing, the form of a man cloaked in a captain-like haori sat in the center. The two youths approached the cloaked man, trying their best to act serious in front of this cloaked form.

"Good morning," Hibiki greeted as he and Ayumu neared the haori-adorned being. Ayumu proceeded likewise, though there was still an awkward silence between the three people, as a gentle breeze rustled the branches of the trees above them.

A short while had passed, and the cloaked figure sighed, turning its head to one side. The figure was a man, looking around forty years of age, when in actuality he should have appeared much older considering his old age - which was a least a few centuries in shinigami standards. The man had mid-length dark black hair, and a matching eye color, his stern visage ever-prevalent. "Early, eh?" the man spoke to the two youths. "You two certainly have your priorities when it comes to training, don't you?" the black-haired man stated plainly, rising from his previous stance and brushing the front of his clothing off. "I do hope the two of you are ready for today," the man somewhat warned, "You're task is not an easy one."

The two young shinigami looked at each other when their master had finished speaking, excitement practically bursting from their wide-eyed expressions as they turned back to their master. "We're ready, sensei. Both of us are prepared for the mission," Hibiki eagerly said, Ayumu quickly nodding in compliance.

"Good, I would hope as much," their master added, his stern appearance somehow amplifying under the growing time that passed. "In order to further your training under my tutelage, you two must now preform a difficult feat," the master said, his eyes narrowly open as he stared at his students. Hibiki and Ayumu both perked up, as if at attention, as they listened to their master intently. "I have been granted permission to open a Senkaimon, in which you two will enter, and begin your next 'session' of training," the teacher blandly said, coughing a raspy cough as he finished. "I can tell you little more of your objective due to my orders, as you both well know. Though, I am sure, that as long as you cooperate with each other, you two will be just fine no matter what the challenge presented."

The master of the two youths explained the mission a bit abruptly and straightforwardly to the pair, but they both knew well that that was the way their sensei spoke of such matters. They awaited anxiously to see what true mettle their challenge would provide...

[ayumutakeuchi]

Within the next few moments, Hibiki and Ayumu's master had begun the quick ritual in opening the Senkaimon. There was a blinding burst of light as their tutor opened the dimensional gate, as he turned to the two students, nodding slightly. Two Jigokuchō fluttered towards the two youths from the edges of their vision, as their master slowly turned his attention to Hibiki and Ayumu. He closed his eyes for a moment as the two young shinigami stood before him, the lot of them speechless.

"This is a test of strength," the master said after a short while,"Strength of the body, the mind, and the will." The master then opened his eyes, extending a welcoming arm in the direction of the Senkaimon. Ayumu looked to Hibiki as they both stood motionless, their master's gesture still beckoning their departure. Noticing the opportunity, Ayumu held his chin a little high, walking straight up to the Senkaimon's great wooden doors. Before Ayumu could walk in though, the master chirped in, "Beware your temper, Ayumu. If you fail to maintain restraint, you will die." Ayumu looked to the old man, his mentor's gaze still fixed on the distance. The youth gave what seemed a glare of pure anger in his master's direction for a moment, as he then turned his attention to the Senkaimon and slowly passed through it.

Without consciously realizing as the youth walked along, Ayumu noticed that within the next few moments he had exited the Senkaimon. He looked around him, a bit confused, the Senkaimon still open behind him a short distance away. "Pft!" Ayumu sounded as he looked to his surroundings blankly, his attention more fixed on his master's words. "Like I have anything to worry about," the youth asserted to himself, kicking something absentmindedly on the ground. "At least I can achieve shikai. Psh, its Hibiki that should be given the warning, not me! 'Beware your temper' oooooooooo," Ayumu exaggeratedly mimicked his master in a mocking display, waving his hands in the air a bit as he walked around in a dance-like manner in a small circle. "You will die if you don't control it! Ooooo," Ayumu continued as he continued to mock his directive, "Honestly, how much more dreadful can you get about such a little mission?" The youth questioned to himself as he continued his anger-filled rant.

Ayumu then sensed something, off in the near distance, as he finally began to examine this new environment he had been thrown into, quickly taking the entire situation much more seriously. Just as he focused his senses to determine what the strange presence was, he felt the spirit energy of Hibiki exit through the Senkaimon. He looked back to his companion over his shoulder...

[Hibiki Shimizu]

Hibiki stood still as he watched his friend approach the Senkaimon, their master and the friend exhanging some words between each other that Hibiki could not quite make out. All the while, the teacher of the shinigami youths remained with his gaze fixed passed Hibiki. The stare was expressionless, yet cold, somewhere between a glare and stare, Hibiki had thought to himself. As the quiet youth watched his friend enter the Senkaimon's basking light, Hibiki began to walk towards his master as well.

He observed his teacher's stare; a stare that augmented in its suspiciousness by the still-open-armed-gesture that the master retained. Hibiki neared his master just as Ayumu had, only inches away from the Senkaimon's doors, as he peered into the hueless white light. Hibiki squinted a bit, and rose a hand up to touch the surface of the dimensional gate. Just then, the master chirped up once more, "Be wary, young Hibiki," as he still seemingly gazed to the horizon. Hibiki recoiled a bit, surprised at his teacher's sudden comment, as he tried to act serious once again. "This is unlike any other training I have instructed you in thus far, student. Everything you have learned up to now, must be culiminated and used to your advantage if you have any hope of succeeding in this task," the master said, now looking down from the corners of his eyesight, at his student before him.

Hibiki, looking up at his teacher, nodded slowly, and then turned his attention back to the gate. "Is there nothing else you can really tell us?" the boy questioned.

The master had now looked back to the horizon on the treeline, and nodded equally as slowly as Hibiki had, in decline. "It is more often than not, as a Shinigami, that you will be provided with situations and missions that you have very little, or even no, knowledge of prior. These situations will provide much hardship and challenge in your journeys, and there will always be negative results. There will be conflict, there will be death, there will be grieving. But, it is how one deals with hardship and challenge that will define their true character. It is the sole act of action that defines one's self, not the quality, nor the quantity. Your success is dependant on your action. Your success is your life. Your actions are your life," The master finished, as if quoting some philosophical passage.

Hibiki nodded once more, listening intently to his master's words - words that he had heard countless times in his training. The youth took his first step through the Senkaimon and was sucked into the light, the master deeply bowing as he dramatically put his arms down to his sides, the Senkaimon slowly fading away into the air...

Hibiki appeared then, through the Senkaimon, a few feet from Ayumu who stood just ahead. Hibiki felt comforted by his master's words, and yet he felt warned as well. He focused on the mission ahead, as he observed the surroundings, and noticed that Ayumu was looking in his direction. "So this is World of the Living? Interesting..."

[ayumutakeuchi]

The moon shone a radiant light over the midnight sky, as a chilling breeze bit at anything it could brush by. Snow padded the ground by several inches, and the tall oak trees that surrounded the area were coated with the pure, white fluff like a frosted layer cake.

Ayumu heard Hibiki mention something about how he was interesed in the fact that this was the infamous World of the Living, and the arrogant shinigami-in-training scoffed. Ayumu attempted to sense the strange energy he had focused on before Hibiki's arrival, but he failed, letting out an angered sigh. "Jeez, this place is cold," Ayumu complained as he rubbed his arms to produce some relative heat, figruing that the strange spiritual pressure would reveal itself again if he were not focused on it.

Hibiki walked closer to Ayumu, nodding in agreement. "Sure is. It must be winter," the shinigami-in-training replied to his friend, looking around near the treetops.

"No, really?" Ayumu mockingly asked, turning to his friend and giving a dumbfounded expression. "What on earth would have given you that idea?!" the youth continued, his voice getting a bit louder.

Hibiki shot a glare to his companion, a bit irritated. "Err- shut up! Im just voicing my observations!" Hibiki loudly retorted.

"Well, nodoby asked you anyways. I think I can figure it out myself that two feet of snow generally means its cold. So keep it yourself," Ayumu shot back, sticking his tongue out childishly as he chuckled.

"Eh-I---" Hibiki was cut-off in his rebuttal as the shriek of a woman's scream erupted in the air, silencing the two youths. Ayumu looked to the direction of the yell, as he stood quitely, placing one hand on the hilt of his zanpakutou. Ayumu turned to his friend, who wore a similar expression, as he nodded and ran off to determine the source of the sound. Hibiki was quick to follow...

[Hibiki Shimizu]

"What was that? I don't feel any strong reiatsu in the---" an enormous pressure bore down on the two youths, causing them both to stop in their tracks. Breathing became difficult and fear consumed the both of them like a thick, toxic air. Then, as quickly as it appeared the force dispersed and the area returned to normal. Hibiki and Ayumu were both stunned, panting and trying to catch their breath. "Wha...what was that? It see...seemed like a Captain's reiatsu. Somehow I doubt that's...the case," After a brief moment of rest both the trainees were trying to decide what to do next. Move on or return home? "We can't go back. No matter what it is, we have to face this opponent. If sensei sent us here then he knows what we're up against, and that we can somehow beat it. Right." Ayumu seemed a bit less than enthusiastic but both boys picked themselves up and began sprinting towards the origin of the sound once more.

In a few minutes the two finally reached the site in question. There was a small clearing the forest, covered in freshly fallen snow and obviously well-trodden. Hibiki and Ayumu hid, a few meters away from the end of the treeline, quietly observing the creatures that stood in the open space in front of them. "AAAAAHHHHH!" the familiar shriek resounded through the forest once more but this time the two youths could see the perpetrator. It was the soul of a young woman, scarred out of her mind as the three hulking forms of Hollows surrounded her and closed in. "Hehehe," one of the Hollows croaked, picking up the woman by the leg and swinging her slightly through the air in front of his mouth. "Looks like we caught another one - another tasty soul. Hehehe!" One of the Hollows beside it, a Hexapodus, slapped the fellow Hollow on the hand and released the woman from its grasp. "HEY! What's the big idea?! Mad because you couldn't catch your own prey?!" The Hollows turned to face one another and leaned very close to each other, baring teeth and ominous growls. "You know what the boss said. We're supposed to collect these Humans first, not eat them on the spot! Yeah?! Well I doubt he'll miss a single, insignificant soul like this one! Besides, it's like I'm being...paid in advance."

"These Hollows seem peculiarly organized. You hear them mention something about a 'boss'? Yeah, that can't be good. But we have other problems in the meantime. We've got to rescue that soul before those beasts consume it!" The two youths nodded and then dashed into action.

"You think the boss hasn't comped us before? We always get our fill of souls when he's done with his work," the Hexapodus slammed one of its pincer-like legs down on the ground, piercing the young woman's leg and pinning her to the ground. She yelled a pitiful scream and continued to wince in pain. "Would you shuddup?!" the first Hollow, a shrieker, retorted towards the soul. "Act like a proper snack and remain silent. Now, as I was---" The Shrieker howled out in pain as its right hand was severed clean off. "What the hell?!" the Hollows all turned to regard whatever was attacking them, only to find the rather unintimidating form of Ayumu to greet them. "A child? Wait, is he a shinigami?!" As the Hollows gawked, Hibiki made his move while he had the chance. Jumping from behind the group, Hibiki flew down from above with a powerful sword swing that severed one arm of the Bulbous G that was near the back of the group. The Hollow roared in pain and now the Shrieker and Hexapodus turned to regard this threat behind them. "Stupid beasts!" Ayumu yelled as he ran up and attempted another attack, but he was swatted back by the Shrieker's fast movement. "Not likely! I won't fall for that trick twice, ignorant Shinigami!"

"Son of a---!" Ayumu had blocked a majority of the force from the swat but he still was flung back a considerable distance. "Time to put this plan in overdrive."

[ayumutakeuchi]

"Cloud your enemy's gaze and run them through in the dark...Tennohoko," Ayumu stated with a smirk as he rose his zanpakutou in front of him and ran his hand across the blade. A dim light shone from the blade and as he finished running his hand across the weapon, he miraculously held two blades now. With a brief chuckle Ayumu spun the blades playfully in both hands, displaying somewhat eagerly his desire to fight. I could've taken my time with these weaklings, but somehow I don't think Hibiki would like that.

"Who the hell are these kids? Worthless shinigami brats, that's who! They're meaningless, so let's eat up!" The Hexapodus charged in towards Ayumu but it was far too slow. Ayumu used his knowledge of shunpo to bring himself close to his enemy's side, and then slashed wildly at the creature's legs. Spider-like limbs were flung into the air as the Hexapodus disintegrated, shortly after Ayumu decapitated the Hollow with one quick swipe. "Heh! Kids, eh?" The Shrieker opened its mouth and shot out a secretion of acidic spit towards Ayumu. The youth dodged the strike only barely, unaware that the Hollow had such a strange ability. "Whoa! Close one!"

Meanwhile, the Bulbous G reached out with its remaining arm and slammed it hard to the ground, trying to catch the fast footwork of Hibiki. "Ha!" Hibiki took a single step backwards as the next fist from the Hollow struck the ground directly in front of him. Reacting quickly, Hibiki leaped onto the beast's arm and, using shunpo, traveled up the creature and to its shoulders. "You're finished!" Hibiki lunged his blade into the back of Hollow's skull, removed the blade, and landed on the snowy ground without any struggle. Hehe, that was awesome! One step closer! Hibiki looked to his companion and noticed that he had released his zanpakutou's shikai form. Shikai...right.

"Stop running away and let me hit you, shinigami brat! Like hell, you ugly SOB!" Another few shots of acid hissed at the ground around Ayumu, but the shinigami youth was adapting and soon found himself easily escaping the monster's range of attack. Spinning his swords again, Ayumu sprinted towards his opponent. "Die!" One shot of acid flew passed Ayumu, almost skimming across his cheek. The next blast, he pivoted. The Shrieker prepared another acidic shot while it inhaled but Ayumu leaped up high into the air and came crashing down into the beast. The twin blades stuck directly into the Hollow's mask, Ayumu struggled to stay atop of the dying creature as it swayed back and forth quite violently. Dislodging his blades Ayumu did a backflip away from the Shrieker and landed on the snow, triumphantly recalling his zanpakutou and sheathing them.

Ayumu ran over towards Hibiki noticing that his fellow student had already began calming the stray soul they that the Hollows had captive. "Yo!" Ayumu called, rubbing the back of his nervously but still wearing a triumphant smile. "You see that? Those guys were total pushovers! Haha!" Hibiki was crouched next to the wounded Plus, his expression a bit embarrassed from his friend's outburst and a bit stoic because he was trying to act professional and mature. "Yeah yeah yeah, whatever. We've got to preform konso before---" A tremendous shockwave of pressure seemed to shake the entire landscape. "W-w-what is this? I-it's the same...pressure as before..." All three persons found it extremely difficult to breath and maintain consciousness, looking to one another for an explanation. "Its him," the female Plus said somewhat ominously and struggling to find breath.

"Ugh. Killed my minions, have you?"

[Hibiki Shimizu]

The ominous and growling voice echoed through the forest, reverberating through the very bones of the two shinigami boys. Hibiki grabbed his zanpakutou in both fright and eagerness, drawing the weapon out only a few inches from its sheath. As he turned, his eyes locked onto the three monstrous forms that had just entered that part of the forest. Not like the Hollows that Hibiki and Ayumu had just cleansed, these three were truly merciless beings - one could tell just by looking them in the eyes. One of the Hollows stood roughly at the same height as an average person, but that's only when you looked at it from ground level. The beast had two muscular arms that propped it up at its secure height, but past its torso the Hollow's body extended into a lengthy tail nearly twelve feet long. The other Hollow looked similar to a Shrieker but had more prominent wings and a darker coloration.

Although, it wasn't the presence of those two particular Hollows that startled the group, but instead what they were following. The sheer form a hunter stood vigilantly watching the two shinigami boys and lone Plus, the Hollow's piercing red eyes glaring them all down at once. Its muscular form could be seen clearly in the pure moonlight of the evening, and its scythed tail swung cautiously to and fro behind the creature. Its barred teeth and sharpened, angular mask forced the light to shine just right as to darken half its face. And thus occurred Hibiki's realization. Something's not right. Who or what is this monster? Ayumu was similarly transfixed on the beast, though despite his nervousness, he managed to hold a scowl in response to the Hollow's glare. The lingering and wounded Plus was busy shivering in terror as she clutched her injury and mumbled a few inaudible prayers. Then, without warning, a sudden flux of spiritual pressure bore down on the three of them.

It was such a considerable force that it nearly caused Hibiki to fall flat on his face, and Ayumu had a hard time keeping his balance as he finally submitted to a kneel. Both of the boys panted loudly as they caught their breath. "W-w-what...was t-that?...Egh" Ayumu managed to utter first, knowing well that Hibiki had the same question. "It can't be coming from this thing, right? That's just...just unreal." As the other shinigami opened his mouth to speak, the clever-sounding and commanding voice of the powerful leading Hollow spoke up. "That was but a taste of my full power. You ignorant shinigami, coming here and killing my subordinates. The thought itself irritates me," the Hollow smacked the side of its tail against the ground, Hibiki and Ayumu looking towards the beast instinctively. "I guess its time to teach the pitiful Soul Society a lesson."

Ayumu gasped just after the lead Hollow spoke those words. "Crap. This isn't good. No, really?! Be on your guard, these aren't your everyday Hollows here. These guys could really---NO! Listen!" Ayumu and Hibiki spoke in harsh whispers, still confined to their kneeling stances by the effects of the spiritual pressure. "I've heard of these before - that lead Hollow I mean," with a desperate look in his eyes, Ayumu glanced towards the beast which now held its arms crossed in an observant manner. With a loud swallow, the shinigami in training continued. "They're called Crescent Claws - masters of the hunt. Those things can rip an entire unit to shreds single-handed, and here we are up against that and two other enemies. I'm not one for retreating from battle, but I think we better weigh our options and make a decision quickly. That's exactly what I'm saying! If we stay here, we're going to...die," the last word of the conversation made both the boys stop and consider the gravity of the situation. These Hollows in front of them were the real deal - high ranking beasts that would prove difficult even for a seated member of the Gotei 13.

"Okay, I have a plan," Hibiki whispered after what seemed a long time. Nothing had changed amongst the field. The Crescent Claw still stood observant and tall, the following Hollows motionless and ready to move at a moment's notice, and the nearby Plus whimpering on the cold, snow-covered ground. "We'll create a distraction with Kido and then make a run for the rendezvous point. But first, I'll need to preform Kons ---" as Hibiki turned to regard the Plus, a lightning fast form collided with his entire body, pushing him back many yards. In surprise of the event, Hibiki coughed as he looked down and realized what had happened. He was now suspended in the air by the sturdy, clutching hand of the Hollow with the elongated tail. The beast increased its hold on the shinigami greatly and Hibiki could feel his body ache from the pressure applied around him. "Let me...go!" the boy struggled, kicking out frantically with his legs. "Hahaha! Not likely, shinigami filth! Today you die!"

As the slithering Hollow pushed around Hibiki with his massive grip, Ayumu appeared just behind the beast. "Bastard!" Ayumu's sword came down hard on the beast, cutting at the base of its shoulder and emitting a bit of dark blood as the wound set in. "Argh! Blasted little---" The beast howled as it turned around and slapped away Ayumu with the brunt of its tail, seemingly un-phased by the wound it had just sustained. "Dammit!" Hibiki grumbled as he struggled out of the monster's hand once more to no avail. Ayumu sped through the air and skidded across some deep snow, pulling himself out of the fluffy substance with one heave. Blood ran down his forehead and his arm was bruised badly but he could still fight, so he picked himself up. "That all you got?!" he cried at the Hollow that had still held his friend tightly in its grasp, the creature not even bothering to turn around now. "Why you little..." Ayumu braced his zanpakutou for release, holding the weapon in front of himself as he closed his eyes briefly for a moment of concentration. "Now, cloud your enemy's gaze and---" A loud smack shook the forest for a moment, the result of the colliding impact between the second minion Hollow's and Ayumu's defenseless body.

[ayumutakeuchi]

Ayumu's body was sent flying through the air once more, colliding with the snow as rolled over a few times. "Dammit..." the young man grumbled, finding it hard to move his right arm and leg - the parts of his body hit by the bulk of the Hollow's sneak attack. Propping himself up on one knee, Ayumu still held his zanpakutou in his other hand. A fierce look overcame his eyes then, a look of desperation and wild rage. "NOW! Cloud your enemy's gaze..." the boy began in a low murmur, his teeth gritting in anger, "AND RUN THEM THROUGH IN THE DARK!" The outburst from Ayumu was soon followed by a just-as-violent burst of energy from the shinigami. The spiritual pressure was great indeed, but nothing in particular that seemed to startle the Hollows nearby. As a slight mist cleared around the boy, washed away by a hue of golden light, the true form of his zanpakutou revealing itself for the second time today. Sure, it was a bit more of a dramatic sequence than he usually preformed, but after everything that was happening before him, Ayumu couldn't think of a reason not to act both cool and powerful.

"Hmph! So this boy can achieve shikai? Impressive for a shinigami his age. Unfortunately for him it won't make any difference," the Crescent Claw noted to himself in a dreary whisper, its head propped up slightly skywards so it could examine the moon. Looking back down to his other subordinate Hollow, the Crescent Claw eagerly paid attention to the other scenario.

"URGH! EGH! LET GO!" Hibiki commanded of the beast, wiggling around until he finally broke one arm free from the Hollow's grasp. The Hollow was busy looking at Ayumu for the moment, so the shinigami took the opportunity to formulate a quick plan of action - after all, this was real combat and he might not have another chance. Holding his free hand before him in a kind of half-prayer position, Hibiki focused all his willpower towards his spiritual pressure. I've only got one shot. One chance. You can do this Hibiki, focus! Opening his eyes after the brief ritual, one would notice that his expression seemed much more defiant than it had before. "Bakudou number thirty! Shitotsu Sansen!" As the young man began forming the proper shape by outlining the thing in the air with his fingers, a golden light began to glow around his hand. The Hollow that still held him high in the air looked over towards the boy with a half-hearted look in its eye - clearly it was not amused. "Would you shut up already?" the beast retorted to the casting of the spell. But before Hibiki could finish the ritual, the Hollow flexed its massive upper muscles and tossed the shinigami to the sidelines with one flick of its wrist. Uninterested in its former prey, the Hollow turned around and watched the brewing fight between Ayumu and its counterpart.

Landing on his back hard against a tree, Hibiki really had to consider the situation he and his friend were in now. I dropped my zanpakutou back there! Crap! the young man thought, struggling to get up as he was a bit dizzy from the impact of the tree. I came all the way out here today to achieve shikai! And look at me, getting thrown around by these damned Hollows! Pitiful! As he approached a few more meters, just behind the Hollow that once held him, Hibiki glanced around for his weapon. Honestly the thing could have been anywhere, but buried in the snow seemed the most likely avenue to search. As Hibiki crouched down to examine the ground closer, his instincts suddenly kicked in and he found himself falling backwards. "Ugh! What was that?" The young man looked up and noticed what had flashed before him was the huge, spiked tail of the Hollow he knew all too well. "I thought I told you to shut up, shinigami scum! I'll eat you when I see how this little bout goes, so wait your turn."

Meanwhile, Ayumu was busy with his own problems. He charged the creature with both swords at the ready, leaping high into the air and hurtling his body downwards for an aerial strike. The Hollow saw through the maneuver easily enough and raised one winged arm horizontally to meet the twin blades. As Ayumu's zanpakutou met its steel with the Hollow's hide, it didn't do as much damage as the shinigami intended. The young man remained in midair, his blades embedded slightly in the Hollow's forearm, just enough that he couldn't budge them out. Curse it all! My swing is too weak. My arm is too damaged. I'm too slow with this injury. At this rate I'll --- The Hollow's other winged arm suddenly appeared from below the shinigami and delivered a devastating uppercut that Ayumu could not avoid. Taking the brunt of the attack sent Ayumu flying in the air for the third time today, but this time he wouldn't meet the ground with a humble thud. The Hollow followed up its attack by spitting out small objects about the size of basketballs. The projectiles all hit Ayumu's body as he was at the zenith of his thrown height, sticking to him and wrapping themselves fully around his body. "What is---" the young man muttered aloud, but it was already too late by that time.

The explosion was large enough to catch Hibiki's attention even with the huge-tailed Hollow standing angrily over him. The flash of light and plume of smoke all made Hibiki's worst nightmares seem like reality in that single instant. "AYUMU! No!"

[Hibiki Shimizu]

"What is...what is going on?" Hibiki gawked, his hazy white eyes opening wide in terror. "What is...what is....what is..." the young shinigami repeatedly muttered to himself, falling to his knees as he stared blankly at the cold, snow-covered ground. "This can't be...happening. What is going on?!" Hibiki clenched his hands into fists, digging up the loose snow between his fingertips. This is a real battle - a real battle! Why did sensei send us here? He must've known from the beginning. Then why did he...? Hibiki was breathing hard now, and a million thoughts ran through his mind. The young shinigami looked up at towards his impending doom - the three Hollows. Ayumu wasn't moving and was covered in a dim smoke, his clothing still smoldering from the explosion. The Shrieker stumbled its way over to the wounded shinigami, knowing that it could take its time now that its prey was wounded. A shadow lurched over Hibiki again. "Your time's up now, shinigami brat. Enough waiting. Time to die." The massive fist of the long-tailed Hollow hurtled down from above, crushing the young shinigami where he laid.

Hibiki slowly opened his eyes, staring sleepily into a vast expanse of clouds above him. Clouds. Clouds... The young shinigami blankly looked into the golden dawn of clouds above him, his eyes dead and weary. Am I dead? Hibiki couldn't build the will to sit up, and instead remained laying on his back, staring at those clouds for what seemed an eternity. Then, just as that feeling of eternity was starting to settle and soothe, a force scratched at the boy - forced him to pull his body up despite that he had no strength. Panning his miserable looking gaze around, Hibiki realized that he was most definitely not on the ground anymore. He was flying! Or more so, floating atop that great expanse of clouds. Setting one hand down he realized that he could not feel the fluffy objects, giving him the sensation of floating on air to a greater extent. Where am I?

"Such a trivial question, that which you keep asking," the approach of a sudden voice seemed to respond instantly to Hibiki's thoughts. "You've become so utterly distraught with fear that you've lost all sense of direction - moral and physical. How childish," the voice continued, growing louder and louder from every direction within in the clouds. "Where are you? Who are you? Show yourself!" Hibiki growled with a bit of helplessness in his voice, hurriedly looking around the area to try and find the newcomer. Then, a touch on the shoulder caught Hibiki off guard entirely and the boy's heart skipped a beat. He turned his head very slowly and finally saw clearly who the owner of the mysterious voice had been. A large figure, adorned in the most splendid armor of ancient design. Its vibrant metal shined a bright white in the dawning sunlight, and the golden etchings glistened with a kind of mystic glow of their own. The armored figure turned around, bringing its eyes to meet those of Hibiki. Hibiki gasped. The armored figure had no eyes, nor any facial features at all - just a blank, featureless face like a mannequin.

"W-who..." was all the young shinigami could utter. "You know very well, Hibiki Shimizu. I am...your zanpakutou," It took a long moment for Hibiki to realize the scope of what was happening before his very eyes. The strange realm of clouds, his lifeless feelings, this armored and faceless figure calling itself his 'zanpakutou'. Hibiki rose to his feet weakly, his expression turning a bit more resilient. "My zanpakutou?" The figure nodded the slightest of nods and crossed its arms, a clear presence of authority surrounding the spirit. "What you've desired for so long has finally come to pass - I, your zanpakutou, have finally decided to manifest." Sure, it was truly a sight to behold, seeing his zanpakutou for the first time, but Hibiki knew he had other troubles at hand, a friend in danger, and a million other questions. "Why? Why now?!" The young shinigami was half angered and half trembling in fear, gritting his teeth in confusion. "After all this time, you choose now to appear? When everything's gone to hell and...and...Tch!"

The armored spirit hadn't moved at all, remaining speechless and observant with its featureless expression. The spirit knew all too well what the child was going through, after all, being a part of the boy's energy and all. Hibiki's knees went weak and he soon found himself back on the ground, tears swelling up in his eyes. "I-I j-just...want to be stronger!" The young shinigami slammed his clenched fists against the floor of clouds, almost weeping in full now. The armored spirit took a step forward and reached downward, grasping Hibiki by the collar of his Shihakusho. The manifested zanpakutou raised its wielder high into the air and forced its blank face towards Hibiki's, the two of them only inches away. "Control yourself!" The spirit let go of Hibiki suddenly, letting the boy fall with a loud smack as he hit the ethereal ground. "You want to get stronger? You desire the strength to protect your friends and loved ones? In order to do so, there is only one way. I will lend you my power,"

Hibiki didn't know what to say despite that he wanted to thank the zanpakutou a thousand times over. In fact, this was exactly what Hibiki had been waiting to achieve for such a long time, but he couldn't bring himself to speak a single utterance. "To answer your previous question: I am here now because it was my first opportunity to contact you. I had tried numerous times before, but there was always something blocking my efforts - a barrier of sorts. I believe it was your doubt, the lack of confidence in yourself and in your ability to defend those around you. You seek guidance and knowledge," the armored spirit turned around and looked at the many hundreds of thousands of clouds in the realm. "The moment you were attacked by the Hollow everything vanished. All doubt and all confidence, everything. You sunk into despair, leaving yourself vulnerable. And here you find yourself now, confronted with a decision."

"I will lend you my power," the armored spirit declared after a brief pause as it extended one arm to its side, a light abruptly covering the limb. As the light passed, the clear form of a large, two-handed nodachi was now in the zanpakutou's grasp. "But you must accept my Truth." The spirit turned around, metal armor clanking loudly between the being and its silent master. "Truth? What are talking about?" Hibiki stammered, straightening himself up to a more attentive sitting position. "That is my power to you," the armored spirit began as it started walking towards the young shinigami, "If you are to accept my power, you must accept Truth. In victory and defeat. In life and death. In everything and nothingness. You must accept this tremendous power if you wish to protect those around you." The spirit rose its arm up, blade in hand, as it presented the weapon before the awestruck Hibiki. "Take this blade and uphold Truth."

Hibiki hesitated for a long while, his eyes finally starting to resemble that youthful fire he had before. Cautiously, the young man extended one hand to grasp at the offered blade's hilt, his fingers shaking visibly in nervousness. "Know this, Hibiki Shimizu. If you cannot control this power, you will only end up destroying those you care for," the spirit added as a last reminder to the boy, but Hibiki already knew that some underlying factor as that had existed. As his fingers curled around the white and golden hilt of the blade, one that appeared as elegant as porcelain but was as sturdy as stone, a dim glow began to envelop the entire weapon. "What...is your name, zanpakutou? Heh, my name? You already know it..."

The forest burst out with an incredibly ominous energy, pushing out with such an energy that the nearest trees were felled instantly. "What the hell--?" the Crescent Claw gasped, bringing its massive claws up to protect itself from some loose debris that flew at the beast. The burst of sudden energy subsided as quickly as it had appeared. "What's going on here?" The Hollow that had crushed Hibiki not a fraction of a second ago landed right next to the Crescent Claw, severed cleanly in half. "Erh?! Who did---?" the lead Hollow looked to where its subordinate had been, an area now completely devastated by a crater. A solitary figure walked up from the edges of the impact crater, clothed in slender white-golden armor. A large two-handed nodachi was wielded by the approaching being, glimmering in the moonlight.

"Shinjitsu."

[ayumutakeuchi]

Amidst the melted snow and freshly turned earth, Ayumu had to struggle to retain his consciousness. He couldn't move any part of his body, his arms and legs feeling increasingly sluggish, not to mention it hurt to breathe. Well, this can't be good. The wounded shinigami tried to keep his eyes open but he simply hadn't the physical power at the moment. Uh, excuse me? What are you doing? The voice that penetrated Ayumu's mind hissed with a certain scolding undertone. You do understand that if you don't get up and fight, we're going to die?! HUH? Ya, ya, alright. Just gimme a minute. We DON'T have a minute, idiot! Wake up, get off your lazy butt, and get to your feet! The young shinigami could feel the presence of the Shrieker looming close over him, but as to why the creature hadn't taken the finishing strike already, Ayumu had no idea. Ayumu's breathing became slower and his eyes closed pleasantly, the cursing and condescending rant of Tennohoko berrating his subconscious. At that point, Ayumu couldn't stay focused. Not on Tennohoko's scolding or even his own thoughts. Not even breathing. Slowly, the boy slipped into a hazy blackened slumber.

Then, the pressure. An immense explosion of power rocked the entire forest, perhaps even the nearby town was hit by the incredible aftershock. The air rumbled something terrible, as if concealing an even more ominous presence than death itself. Ayumu suddenly perked back into consciousness and Tennohoko had grown gravely silent. What is it? I can't...see...I can't... Ayumu still had one hand around his weapon, and with all the force he could muster, managed to move only his forefinger. "Hngh, dammit." The Shrieker, a bit bored with its own unconscious prey, was startled just as well as its comrade Hollows when the explosion of unknown power went off. The beast looked over its shoulder only to be hit right in the face by a cascading tree limb, pushing the creature passed Ayumu as it landed right on its face. "HRRGH! What the heck was that? Is the boss going to---" The creature grumbled angrily, picking itself up and looking to the Crescent Claw that commanded it.

Right beside its leader laid the body of its other comrade - the Hollow that was half-tail and half-torso. "What's going on?" the Shrieker hissed, barring its open jaws into the air menacingly, but not towards anything in particular. Then, the Hollow saw what it believed the perpetrator - some kind of armor-clad figure in the distance, walking at an oddly slow pace out of a crater. The Crescent Claw didn't move an inch, the beast's body somewhat locked into a pose of defense. "If your not gunna make a move~" the Shrieker yelled into the skies as it spread its wings, "then I will!" The Crescent Claw looked upward and observed its subordinate soaring haphazardly in the air above, preparing for some kind of aerial attack no doubt. "Fool! He'll just end up..." The Shrieker narrowed its body as it made one last circle in the sky, folding its leathery wings to its sides as it descended at an astounding speed. "I don't know who you are, but you're gunna pay for killing---!"

THUD! The Shrieker had made its descent with a little less grace than one may have intended - the beast colliding very awkwardly into the snow-covered ground of the clearing. Except, it was now cut in half. Right through the mask and all the way down the length of the Hollow in one precise cut, blood scattered everywhere between the two parts of the beast. The Crescent Claw gasped momentarily and looked to where the armored figure had been near the crater. "Not there?! But...where then?" the Hollow looked around frantically until it sensed the reiatsu of the being, standing high above the Crescent Claw. "That bastard! How is he so fast? I didn't even catch those movements." The lead Hollow, now very much less a leader than it was moments before, readied itself mentally, spreading its footing to prepare for a quick getaway or attack. "Who are you?..."

The armor-clad figure, shining bright in the moonlight that overhung the being, seemed mesmerized by the giant orb in the sky. The plates of armor clanking and scratching against one another arose from the armored being as it cocked its helmeted head to one side. "...truth..."

[Hibiki Shimizu]

A moment of silence passed between the two combatants, shinigami and Hollow staring at one another intently as the night drew on. The winter wind howled through the clearing, shaking the forest humbly back and forth. The faint snowfall began once more, clouds beginning to march over the moonlight as the particles descended like lazy falling stars. The armored figure made its move, disappearing from the air above and reappearing next to the Crescent Claw. The figure lunged out, blade in hand, with a powerful enough swing to fell a tree. The Hollow anticipated the action, jumping up and tucking its legs tightly under itself and the beast countered with a swing of its own. The Crescent Claw's scythed tail slashed through the air threatening to decapitate the armor-clad figure, but not before the figure used shunpo to escape masterfully. This time, appearing above the Hollow, down came the armor-clad figure's blade fastened by both hands, like a guillotine. The Crescent Claw threw up its arms in a criss-cross form, still in mid-air from its jump and unable to evade otherwise.

"Uughh! What is going on? That spiritual pressure...it feels kinda like..," Ayumu muttered as he struggled to turn his body over, finally managing to lay on his back. "Phew." With a labored sigh, the boy looked to his side, one of his eyes almost entirely swollen from the impact of his previous fight and a thousand other scrapes and bruises littering his body. There were some blurs of movement to his side, obviously from the lead Hollow and...and some other figure that Ayumu couldn't identify. "Hibiki, where the heck are ya?" An arm landed directly next to the young shinigami, severed and spouting fresh blood. "Eugh! Wha?" Ayumu observed the object for a second - long, vicious claws protruding from the hand. "No way..."

The Crescent Claw withdrew from the fight hastily, taking a few jumps backward in a zigzag pattern. "Lucky bastard," the beast cursed under its breath, grasping at its newest wound - a lost arm. "What the hell are you?!" The armor-clad figure had no response this time, walking slowly towards the Hollow with its sword slanted downwards and to one side. "Not a talkative one, eh? Suits me just fine! I don't have to deal with any showy crap." The Crescent Claw extended its remaining hand, long prodding claws stretching far into the open air as a dim red light began to glow around them. "Eat this!" A crackling energy built around the creature's extended hand, forming briefly into an orb, before blasting out in one intense display of energy. The resulting explosion spread wide and hit the armored figure head-on. Unexpectedly, another flux of reiatsu shook the entire forest again, and the large explosion of red energy soon dissipated into nothing more than smoke. The figure remained motionless, sword still at its side and armor seemingly unaffected by the blast. "Impossible! A full-power Cero shouldn't sent you straight to hell! AAARRHHH!" The Crescent Claw, clearly irate, leaped forward and charged at its foe, screaming all the while.

A blinding flash of silver swiped across the beast as it rushed forward, a flurry of attacks that Ayumu could only barely decipher in his wounded state. The Crescent Claw continued its charge passed the armor-clad figure, slowing down to a walk and finally a complete stop. The creature then exploded into a mess of gore as the armored figure continued walking forward, away from the bloody spectacle. "No way! A Hollow of that power, wiped out so easily...I've never seen anything like that." Ayumu, be careful. What are you talking about? Something wrong? This person - whoever they are - seems to hold great power, that is true. But also...I sense something much more foul. Fouler than these Hollows - like a hidden evil. Ayumu didn't want to admit it, but he also felt the same feeling from this mysterious figure he could barely see. Whoever or whatever they were, at least they hated Hollows. But now that the Hollows were dealt with, what was this being's true intentions?

The figure trudged through the snow effortlessly, blade still drawn at its side. The struggling, distraught Plus woman whimpered quietly in the open expanse of snow, her face covered in tears and fresh snowfall as she curled up on the ground. She looked up and turned to face the ominous figure, trembling in uncertainty. Footfall after footfall, crunch after crunch, the armor-clad figure neared until it was hovering right over the Plus. The female soul clenched at the ends of her dress with one hand, the blood still fresh from her wound when the Hollows from earlier had struck her leg. It was clear from her expression that she was terrified, absolutely paralyzed in fear. What's he doing? I don't know, he's just...just standing there. Looming over that Plus.

The armor-clad figure rose up its blade, metal plating clanking together as it moved its arms up for an overhead swing. A single stroke. Down the blade descended, and the Plus was no more.

[ayumutakeuchi]

Ayumu couldn't believe his eyes - the Plus woman cut down in cold blood. He struggled to turn himself on his stomach, inching his way over the snow and earthen rubble to move closer to the sight. No way. No way. That did not just happen. Foot by foot, Ayumu carried his body over the embankment of snow, his wounded arm and leg lulling lifelessly beside him and only one of Tennohoko's blades in his free hand. The armor-clad figure was still staring at the body, transfixed on the corpse. Ayumu's breathing became more labored when he could clearly see the truth that he had tried to deny. "WHAT THE HELL! You bastard! What is your problem?! That was just a Plus, she wasn't going to hurt anyone! You damned coward, look at me!"

The armored figure did no such thing as the shouting shinigami far behind it had commanded. Then, nothing ensued but the chilling winter winds, screeching once more through the forest as a low howl. "Look at me, you...you bastard," Ayumu muttered in a defeated tone. You're in no shape to fight. Don't try to egg it on. "I don't care. This guy needs to answer for-for slaughter! Just who the hell do you think you are?!" As the young shinigami's final shout echoed across the clearing, the armored figure finally turned to regard the vagrant noise. As the being did so, the mantle over its face rose up, flapping wildly in the wintery chill. A familiar face, Ayumu recognized - Hibiki's face. Except, blank, expressionless, morbid, empty. "...N-no way...w-who..." The figure disappeared in a blur of movement once more, seeming to teleport directly over Ayumu's injured form. Ayumu raised his head, eyes filled with a thousand questions and a thousand thoughts of despair. The wind chimed once more through the forest and up went the nodachi of the armored swordsman - Hibiki's nodachi. As the cold breeze passed, so too did the blade descend.

Ayumu had closed his eyes, not really knowing what to think for a long while. He just remained still, very very still, trembling in the cold. A long while passed that seemed to the boy like a dozen lifetimes. Ayumu opened his eyes.

Black hair and a captain's haori, leaning over the path of the descended blade with one arm outstretched. "Master...?" Ayumu mumbled meekly. The black-haired man before the two was indeed their sensei, and having caught the blade that would've surely killed Ayumu, the man was not surprised at the tone of his student's voice. With a gentle smile the Master nodded towards Ayumu, still holding Hibiki's nodachi in place with only a single hand. "Well, well. Seems you two have run into some trouble." Silence passed over the three, just as it had when they met not a few hours prior. "Sir...th-that thing there...it...it's...I know!" The Master quickly replied with a chuckle, a tremendously nonchalant chuckle that sounded awkward given the circumstances. "I thought I sensed some trouble so I decided to come here myself. Looks like I had the right idea," the man continued with another brief laugh.

"I-I don't understand! How can you act so calm about this?! Sensei, that thing is Hibiki! He-he...he...I know," the Master retorted once again, this time much more serious. "I know you have many questions, my pious student. And they will all be answered in time. But before any of that~" The Master forced Hibiki's sword to the side with a simple flick of his wrist, then flung his other arm out as he chopped at the boy's neck. The armored Hibiki fell limp instantly, slumping over only to be caught by the black-haired teacher. "Okay, chop chop people! Let's get a move on!" Three dozen black-armored figures suddenly made themselves visible around the clearing, looking very much like shinigami but somehow oddly more disciplined. Another man - this one in a lab coat - appeared amongst the bunch, using shunpo to hastily near the Master and his pupils. "Take this and make sure to stabilize him upon our arrival back home," The man in the coat nodded with a sly grin, snapping his fingers as three of the armored shinigami ran up and took the armored Hibiki in their grasp. "Wh-what is going on?!" I don't know. Where could they be taking him? Ayumu, I sense something foul here. Its that presence I was talking about earlier. We should leave, now! Ya, I would if could, trust me. But I can't just high-tail it outta here without getting some answers.

All of Ayumu's thoughts suddenly shut down when his Master turned and looked down to him, the pitiful, wounded student. Something unsettling took hold of Ayumu then, as a mist of flowers seemed to blur his gaze. "D-dammit...a kido...?" Ayumu fell into a deep slumber, losing grip over his sword as Tennohoko tried to repeatedly awake him. "Take this one too. Project Arc Wing needs another subject, right? He should do just fine." Three more armored shinigami nodded and approached the unconscious Ayumu, picking him and his weapons up as a senkaimon opened at the far end of the clearing.