I know this story might start off slow but please bear with me, I promise it gets better! I just wanted to fully introduce my original characters, not just throw them into a story. If you read this, please review...or at least PM me your opinion. I would greatly appreciate it. Hope you enjoy!
I
Blood soaked the street. Dust clung to every unmoving surface and ruin claimed nearly everything in sight. This was Rukongai's 78th District, but to those poor souls who resided there it was simply known as Hell.
On a hilltop overlooking the district Hisoka Satoshi sat alongside his best friends Isao Tamotsu and Takeshi Akio. Anyone else might find the hill's view of the town to be disgusting, something to avoid rather than be admired. But to Hisoka it was a place of peace, quiet, and freedom.
Like many of the other souls who had come to live in the Soul Society Hisoka had been separated at death from his friends and family. He had lived alone, fighting tooth and nail to survive in the harsh, unforgiving streets of the 78th when he met Isao and his "brother" Takeshi. The three had immediately grown close, their bonds formed first from necessity and then strengthened through years of co-dependance.
For a while the three operated alone, performing raids to provide for a living and steering clear of the massive gang that ran the 78th. They were struggling, barely making it by, but they were happy. To them, this was the only life they had known inside the Soul Society and it was something worth fighting for. Over the years a few others joined the trio of friends, adding to the "family" until it consisted of 14 members.
Hisoka, being the one responsible for bringing the group together, was named their leader. Although to say he hadn't earned that title would be a lie. With each new member it seemed that Hisoka's leadership would be challenged; and with each challenge Hisoka would grow further and further apart from the others reach until it seemed that only Isao and Takeshi could rival him in a fight.
"Their getting restless." Isao said, speaking for the first time since their arrival on the hill.
Hisoka did not acknowledge him. He did not need to. Isao knew what he was thinking. He knew that Hisoka had thought the same thing for the past several days. That he had run through every viable option. That they only had one option.
"We have to do it, don't we." he finally said, the words more statement than question. Isao nodded slowly.
"Is there no other way?" Takeshi asked hesitantly. His question did not require an answer. Takeshi had been a part of the group long enough to know that Hisoka would not make such a decision if he had another choice. His question was merely meant to ensure that the eagerness that was steadily building up inside of him would not suddenly explode in false hope. He was ready for battle.
"Gather the group," Hisoka said quietly, "We meet at sundown."
Without a need for further instruction Isao and Takeshi left, leaving Hisoka to sit alone with his thoughts. When he was sure his comrades were out of hearing he spoke softly to himself: "What are you about to get yourself into?" For a moment he sat silent, almost as if expecting an answer to be heard from the wind's steady whispering. But even should an answer mysteriously come to him, he knew what it would be: trouble, pure and simple.
For hours Hisoka sat atop the hill, his thoughts and the view his only companions. Only when the sun finally fell from the sky did he realize he was late to his own meeting, although such was often the case. With a sigh he stood up, dusted the dirt from his pants despite the pointlessness in the act, and started down the back of the hill.
It took only ten minutes to reach the hideout he and his fellow friends had chosen. A small shack, hidden amongst the trees and unnoticeable to anyone who did not already know its whereabouts. Just outside the door he braced himself, knowing what would be awaiting him once he stepped inside.
"Your late! Again!" roared a mingle of voices as he opened the door. As expected his "tribe" had been restlessly awaiting his arrival; And as expected they would have their share to say about his tardiness.
"Shut up!" Isao yelled, a rare occurrence that silenced the masses.
"Hisoka was just busy with his planning." Takeshi urged.
"Planning?" Jakov asked aloud, speaking the question now on everyone's mind. Once more Hisoka refrained from answering a question asked to him. His silence was the only answer they needed.
"You don't mean–" Kaleb burst out. When Hisoka nodded the room erupted in cheerful screams. Hisoka knew there wasn't a soul in the room aside from himself that hadn't been waiting days to hear this news.
"Sit." Hisoka said. Although his voice had not risen to a shout, staying at its usual calm quietness, the sound of that one word cut through the noise and ushered in total silence. It was no doubt to Hisoka that they had accepted him as their leader, and that only made the task he was about to undertake even harder.
"As you know food supplies are growing dangerously scarce around here," Hisoka said aloud, although to noone in particular. Everyone in the room knew that fact without Hisoka having to speak it. But they allowed him to do so, knowing that starting with the commonly known facts was just his way of focusing and presenting his thoughts.
"And as you know the Kazuya gang are the ones responsible." Again, nobody needed Hisoka to tell them this painstakingly obvious fact. Anyone living in the 78th knew who the Kazuya were. They were the sole gang in power that ran this district. Anything and everything went through them. Anyone who didn't abide by their "laws" was made a rebel.
At first there had been much resistance to the Kazuya. The gang had fought for years to maintain control of the hardy, rugged people of the 78th. But slowly, one group at a time, they broke the spirits of the men and women living there until only a few groups dared live outside their power. Hisoka and his family were one of those few.
"The Kazuya have taken up a new policy. Due to the food shortage they have confiscated every last material that could provide nourishment to a person and have hidden them away in their "headquarters", as they call it. This food is handed out only to those loyal to the gang which, as you know, does not include us."
The last statement elicited a small wave of laughter from the group. Every last member of the "tribe" took pride in the fact that they were considered rebels. They clung to the idea that one day someone would rid them of the curse of the Kazuya and that their district could begin to grow and prosper.
"So, as you have known all along and I have just come to admit," Hisoka continued, "we will have no choice but to go the Kazuya for aid."
For a moment the group was silent, so quiet a dead body sleeping soundly in its grave would have become alarmed. Each and every person in the room knew what Hisoka had meant by going to the Kazuya for aid. The Kazuya had long ago declared Hisoka and his friends true rebels, enemies that no peace would ever be made with. The only way the group could hope to gain food from the Kazuya would be to take it from them.
It took hours for Hisoka to lay out the entirety of the plan. It took even longer to rehearse the details until every member of the family knew it inside and out. No mistakes could be made because none could be afforded. One slip up would mean certain death for them all.
II
Darkness enveloped Hisoka as he knelt beside the worn down building. The shadows were so thick they seemed to be more abundant than the air that now filled his lungs as he steadily slowed his breathing. This was what Hisoka was best known for. Stealth. He was a master of the shadows, a thief and an assassin with no equal in all of 78th District.
Gravel crunched beneath a footstep somewhere to his left. From the sound of the footsteps Hisoka determined that one of the two guards making their rounds on this side of the Kazuya headquarters was headed his way; but Hisoka didn't need sound to tell him that. He had a much more reliable source. The man's Reiatsu gave away his exact location, even though he was currently around the corner from where Hisoka hid and completely out of sight.
Reading Reiatsu was a skill that all Shinigami possessed. But Hisoka was not a Shinigami. He was a simple peasant from the 78th, but he had a natural gift for reading Reiatsu, a gift honed out of necessity. He could easily read an unassuming opponent's location, emotion, and energy just by the feel of his Reiatsu. He could also read their Reiryoku, or the amount of spiritual energy they possessed.
In truth, if he would ever admit it to himself, Hisoka took pride in these abilities more than anything else. It was something that set him apart from the common people of 78th District. It was gift for which he had once been told he would make an excellent Shinigami. Of course, the person telling him was his best friends but still he knew it to be the truth.
So why hadn't he tried to gain acceptance into the Shinoreijutsuin, the Shinigami Academy? He had gone over this question countless times throughout the years yet the answer always remained the same. He simply could not abandon those that depended on him. True, even with him gone Isao would continue to run the "tribe" without problems but it was a risk Hisoka was not willing to take. His family was everything to him.
Closing his eyes Hisoka blocked these thoughts out. He needed to focus on what he was about to do. If he should mess up, should he be discovered in any way the mission would be over.
Now fully focused Hisoka waited silently as the guard stepped around the corner. He held his breath, felt his muscles tense as the guard approached his area. On poised legs Hisoka waited, his focus more on the man's Reiatsu than on his actual person. Long ago he had learned that the trick to discovering any suspicion was hidden in a being's Reiatsu.
For what seemed like an hour Hisoka waited as the man passed by slowly in front of him, shuffling along in a bored daze. The moment the man was past Hisoka and his back was exposed Hisoka launched from the shadows with only a splash of blood to mark his presence. He was a ghost who had just taken his first kill of the night.
With his target exterminated Hisoka signaled for Takeshi to execute his mark. Within seconds he felt the second guards Reiatsu fall, indicating that Takeshi had accomplished his goal. Despite himself Hisoka sighed aloud. Takeshi was the only other fighter in their group who could rival him in stealth and if it wasn't for Hisoka's ability to read Reiatsu Takeshi would actually have surpassed him.
In truth, although Isao was the toughest guy Hisoka knew Takeshi was the most skilled and as such was his biggest rival. The man was deathly good with a blade, third behind Hisoka and Isao, as well as being the second stealthiest. Not to mention that he was the fastest and strongest of the group, although Hisoka came close in speed and Isao rivaled him in strength. Takeshi was a born fighter and he absolutely relished combat.
With the two guards patrolling the eastern entrance dead the coast was clear, at least until the next guard exchange which would take place in exactly 30 minutes. If the tribe had not accomplished their goal by then there would be trouble, and lots of it. So, eager to be done with such a dangerous task Hisoka signaled Isao, Kaleb, and Jakov.
The plan was simple, Hisoka and Takeshi would lead the group inside and locate the food storage. Then Isao, Kaleb, and Jakov, being the best suited for transporting the heavy goods, would load themselves down. After that the group would slip back out the way they came and the entire tribe would steal away into the night.
Of course, there was always the chance that trouble would find them. This was why Hisoka and Takeshi would be tagging along with the "carriers". There was little trouble they alone couldn't handle inside the building, assuming they did not run into any large groups.
"What if you get discovered and surrounded?" Lexi had asked. At 16 years old Lexi was the oldest of the three girls in the group, ahead of Katie and Daisy by one and two years respectively. She was also the most cautious in the group, having grown up on her own longer than anyone else.
It was her caution that had prompted the group to develop a plan in case this situation should arise; or rather, to listen to the plan Hisoka had already developed for it. While the five guys designated to retrieve the food supplies were inside the rest of the tribe would be waiting at the now guardless entrance. Should the retrieval squad, as they were known, not make it out in exactly 15 minutes the rest of the tribe was to enter the building ready to help them fight their way out.
They never had to put such a risky maneuver into play. The plan went off without a hitch and in less than an hour the whole tribe was back at their hideout, enjoying the latest of their plunders. "Just another day in paradise." some would say.
After divvying up the goods Hisoka was the first to leave the hideout. As usual he would be spending the night alone ontop the hill, or so the others thought. Only Isao and Takeshi knew the truth. Only they knew that Hisoka took at least 3 hours out of every night to train alone, that he did this in order to remain strong enough to protect the family should anything happen.
"Just as I thought." Isao said, shaking his head as he approached Hisoka deep within the 78th Districts woods. Hisoka, in the midst of a rigorous physical exercise, did not respond. This only prompted Isao to continue speaking, unabated by Hisoka's silence.
"You didn't even eat anything." he protested. Again, Hisoka remained silent. Seemingly giving up Isao sat down, pulled a plump peach from a small travel bag slung on his back, and bit deep into its flesh, juices flowing freely down his face.
For several minutes the two remained like that, Hisoka forcing himself through his daily workout and Isao silently eating his fruit as he watched. The only sounds to break the silence were the occasional slurps of Isao biting into the juicy fruit or the even more occasional grunt as Hisoka had to push himself to continue.
Finally, when he could ignore Isao no longer Hisoka halted his workout and plopped down opposite him. Without a word Isao reached into his bag and produced another peach, tossing this one to Hisoka. "Your going to kill yourself with all this training." he said disapprovingly.
Hisoka, mouth full of food, could not respond. When he finally swallowed and opened his mouth to speak his argument another voice cut him off. "Nonsense Isao," Takeshi, who had just approached the clearing, said, "there is no such thing as over training."
Everyone in the tribe knew that Takeshi was an avid fan of both battle and training, believing both honed the body into a perfect machine. He could often be found throughout the day training alone or in small groups, when he wasn't busy stirring up trouble or flirting with the local girls that is. Of all people Takeshi understood Hisoka's desire to grow stronger more than anyone.
Takeshi sat down with a "thump" and pulled his own food from Isao's bag. There was no need to ask, the three often shared such material things. It was the way a family like theirs worked.
"I'm just saying that maybe it wouldn't hurt for him to spend a little less time alone and a little more time with the tribe." Isao countered.
"He's right." Takeshi said, switching sides in the argument before Hisoka could even defend himself. "You need to find a balance between the two." he added earnestly.
"Says the guy who has yet to beat me in a sword fight? Maybe its you who should learn to better balance training and socializing. I mean, if you spent more time training you might actually be able to fight worth a damn." Hisoka countered teasingly.
"I know what your doing." Takeshi responded, voice stern and serious. A split second of awkward silence hung in the air. This silence was quickly broken, however, by Takeshi yelling, "And dammit its working!"
In the blink of an eye he was on his feet, his twin swords drawn from their scabbards. With a grin Hisoka glanced at Isao who shrugged, having seen this coming the moment Hisoka said what he had. Of course, this was not the result Hisoka had been seeking with his teasing but there was no telling Takeshi that. Everything was a challenge for him. Besides, Hisoka enjoyed his sparring matches with his two best friends, they were a fun and easy way to unwind from the stressful life of leading a tribe of rogues.
"Your on." Hisoka said with a grin. He sat his unfinished third peach aside and stood up, making a show of moving slowly and seemingly without care or concern. Hisoka knew that if there was anything that irritated Takeshi it was someone who didn't get absolutely psyched by the prospect of a challenge.
"Come on already, draw your sword!" Takeshi burst out impatiently.
"Alright, alright. Calm down." Hisoka said with a taunting grin sliding onto his face.
Moving a little faster now to accommodate to Takeshi's impatience Hisoka drew his sword. The blade was Hisoka's most prized possession, given to him by Isao the day he had become the tribe's leader. Throughout the years Hisoka had done his best to modify and enhance the sword in any way he could, knowing very well that with the limited materials available in the 78th that it would never be more than a rusty old blade of now real value.
"Let's go." Takeshi said eagerly.
"You first." Hisoka replied, gesturing politely with his sword for Takeshi to make the first move; an offer Takeshi was only too willing to accept.
Like an arrow from an overdrawn bow Takeshi shot forwards, his twin blades swinging wildly in perfect unison. Having expected such a fierce approach Hisoka flung his blade up in an easy defense. Takeshi had yet to learn a move Hisoka had not learned to defend.
As though in a well choreographed routine Takeshi and Hisoka began to dance around the clearing, their blades whistling deadly tunes through the air. In a perfect flurry Takeshi launched his attacks, yet nothing he tried could break past Hisoka's guard. Although Takeshi was the faster of the two Hisoka fought on pure instincts and this combined with his speed and knowledge of Takeshi's moves allowed him to easily fend off Takeshi's assault.
When several minutes of vigorous combat had passed Hisoka decided to make his move. He ducked a swift slash to the head and jerked his blade up to block the other, his handle facing the sky. The moment Takeshi's blade glanced off his own Hisoka arched back into a handstand-backflip.
While his left heel rose, slamming hard into Takeshi's unguarded chin, he stuck his blade deep into the ground. Finishing his rotation he landed hard on his feet and sprang back, jerking his blade from the earth and up into a defensive stance as he did so. Just as he had expected Takeshi had launched his own counter. Reacting quickly Hisoka knocked Takeshi's flying sword from the air and pressed in.
With Takeshi down to one sword the match began to move in Hisoka's favor. Takeshi simply could not hold his own in a sword fight against Hisoka if he did not have both of his swift blades at hand and within minutes it was over: Hisoka's blade tip lay firmly against Takeshi's neck, daring him to make another move.
For a moment the two stood like that, seemingly frozen in time. Then Hisoka drew his sword back and sheathed it in one fluid motion. Takeshi sheathed his own and moved to retrieve his fallen blade as Isao said: "Looks like you lost again Takeshi."
Takeshi grunted and Isao continued, "You gotta stop letting him get you down to one sword. He beats you like that every time."
"Its not like Im unskilled if I only have one sword." Takeshi protested.
"No," Hisoka replied, "But the only way you can fight with a single blade is if you have something with some weight."
"True." Takeshi said with a shrug. "I think we ought to head back, join the celebration the others are no doubt having." he added. Isao glanced at Hisoka who merely shrugged before heading towards the hideout. Takeshi and Isao joined in on either side of him, the trio walking in silence.
III
It took only twenty minutes to reach the hideout. As expected music blared noisily from within and every light was on, causing the house to shine like a beacon in the darkness. "What's the point in having a hidden base if these idiots are just going to broadcast its presence." Hisoka complained as Isao opened the door.
The sight before them caused all three to stop in their tracks. Blood smeared the walls of the hallway that led to the dining hall. Laying against the floor, still with no signs of life, was Kaleb.
In a panic Isao and Takeshi tore off down the hallway. Hisoka, however, stayed rooted in place. He knew what he would find. He hadn't noticed when he first approached the hideout but now he realized, the place was devoid of Reiatsu. Either the tribe had been forced to leave or they had been murdered just as Kaleb had.
A loud scream of rage soon told him which it was. Moving for the first time since discovering Kaleb's dead body Hisoka shuffled along down the hallway, his mind numb and unable to process this. At the end of the hall he stopped once more, gasping at what he saw.
Bodies littered the room. Furniture was smashed and broken. Weapons were scattered about the floor. And everywhere blood soaked the walls like a fresh, drying paint job.
Hisoka did not need to ask who was responsible. The several dead gang members laying about the room told him that. And even if they hadn't, he would have known. Only the Kazuya could have been responsible for this.
"Any survivors." Hisoka managed to choke out. The look on Isao's face answered him. "Anyone missing?" he asked. This time Isao shook his head. Noone? Unable to process this Hisoka hit his knees, his mind seeming to be disconnected from his obviously grieving body. There had been no survivors? Noone had escaped?
"Raaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Takeshi was screaming in anger, but Hisoka could hardly hear him, the noise seeming like a whisper amongst the storm that now raged in his heart.
"I'll kill them!" Takeshi continued to rage. It took a few moments for the meanings of these words to reach Hisoka and Isao. Takeshi was already headed out the building, right towards the Kazuya hideout...alone.
Moving at the same time Hisoka and Isao bolted out the door until they stood on either side of Takeshi, a hand on each of his shoulders to hold him back. "Calm down!" Isao shouted.
"How can I!?" Takeshi roared back.
"You have to!" Isao screamed back.
"Why!?" Takeshi challenged.
"Because if you don't it will just disgrace the memory of our fallen comrades!" Hisoka yelled. This stopped Takeshi cold.
Now that he had Takeshi's attention Hisoka spoke quickly, his voice returning to its usual soft tone: "Do not misunderstand me, Takeshi. We will get our revenge. But first our priority is to bury our comrades. They deserve that much. Then, well then all three of us will make the Kazuya pay for what they have done."
Takeshi nodded in understanding, unable to speak as tears flowed from his eyes. He wasn't alone, all three of the young men stood there with tears pouring from their eyes. In the space of one night they had stood atop the world and then lost it all.
It took several hours to dig the graves for and bury their friends. Eleven of them had lost their lives that night, taking with them a full dozen Kazuya. The bodies of the enemies, Hisoka had burned. They had not earned a proper burial, nor would they receive one.
By the time the entire process was complete the sun was softly peeking over the edge of the sky, as if it too was afraid to look upon Hisoka, Takeshi, and Isao's sad world. With the bodies buried Hisoka ordered the hideout to be burned. No matter how things turned out the boys had agreed not to return. They were through with the 78th district. Their lives existed only for revenge, a goal they were willing to, and probably would give their lives for.
After burying the dead, burning the enemy's bodies as well as the place they had come to know as home, the three were ready to act. They gathered the few items they had chosen to save from the now charred hideout and buried them beneath a nearby tree, marking it with a cut from a knife. If they survived they would return for their things before leaving the 78th completely.
For nearly an hour the three worked in deathly silence, sharpening blades, inspecting armor, and gearing up for the fight of their lives. When they had finished they headed to the top of Hisoka's favorite hill for one last look at the town.
For anyone looking upon the scene it would have appeared as a thing of wonder. Three boys, two of which were 18 and the other 17 in physical age, staring down at the world with blood in their eyes.
Takeshi was dressed in full battle gear: a leather chest plate, leather forearm and hand guards, leagher thigh guards, and leather leg armor. His fine brown hair was, as always, spiked wildly backwards.
Isao, a mountain of a man, looked deadly in his battle gear. He had opted for leather leg and chest armor, as well as a leather helm that hid his short, shaggy brown hair. The rest of the armor he had left of, preferring to leave his hands free of weight in order to better wield the giant sword he was so fond of.
Then there was Hisoka, the youngest and yet most dangerous looking of the three. His long, dark red hair hung down to his back with a few backwards spikes stubbornly remaining in the otherwise straight hair. His eyes, an unusual white, where almost misted over in determination. Like the others he was wearing leather battle armor, an uncommon sight only found in the lower districts like the 78th they resided in, except he only wore forearm guards. The rest of his body was left unprotected and weight free.
"Lets go." Hisoka said calmly.
As the three walked through town, figures of death walking side by side, the citizens of the 78th hurried out of their way. They knew where the boys were heading and wanted no part of it. The citizens undoubtedly thought the boys were heading to their death, and they probably were.
Within minutes of entering the city the three stood before the Kazuya's headquarters, a large three story building that looked as though it had once been a warehouse. Outside sat two guards paying them no attention, their focus on a game of cards they had been playing. With Hisoka's tribe dead they most likely thought that they no longer had any fear of attack, as no other rebel group in the district was brave enough to try such a thing.
Not even bothering to slow their advance the trio walked directly towards the front door, infront of which the two guards sat. When they were within thirty paces one of the guards finally looked up, his hazy eyes suddenly widening in fear. He never had a chance to give that fear a voice, however, as two daggers flew through the air and buried themselves deep within the gangster's throats. Takeshi had killed the two without ever breaking stride.
With the guard dead the boys strode straight through the front door. Inside sat four gang members: one sleeping soundly on a nearby couch, two standing by a bar with drinks in their hand, and one who had just walked into the room. Takeshi took the one entering the room first, his dagger making its home in the man's throat before he could utter his suprise. At the same time Hisoka, who had learned how to handle a dagger from Takeshi, had taken out the two standing.
The killings were quick, leaving no noise behind but the soft "thuds" as the knives slammed home into the enemy and the even louder "thud" as the standing bodies hit the floor. The one sleeping on the couch never even woke up. "He's yours." Takeshi said to Isao.
Isao nodded and drew his own dagger. With a flick of the wrist he sent the blade flying into its victim's chest. He was deadly accurate with a blade, as they all were, but he lacked the speed Takeshi and Hisoka had. He would be of more use when it actually came to an all out fight. For now the boys were just lucky they hadn't been caught.
"Where is the largest group?" Takeshi asked Hisoka, who nodded to him in understanding. They were tired of the quick kills. They wanted the gang to die knowing who had killed them and why they had been killed.
For a moment Hisoka was silent, his focus on the Reiatsu throughout the building. Takeshi, eager to be moving, tried nudging him but Isao stopped him before hand, knowing Hisoka needed to concentrate.
"Got it." Hisoka finally said.
"Where at?" Takeshi asked eagerly.
"There are two in the room to our left, on the far side of the room. In the next room over is a massive living room. There are about 10 of them in there." Hisoka informed.
That was all the information Takeshi and Isao needed. Within seconds they had busted through the hallway door and taken out the two in the room nearest them. Without ever stopping Takeshi and Isao rushed through the room and burst through the next doorway at a dead run, eager to catch the group waiting inside off guard.
Takeshi was the first through the door. He flew through like a bullet, his twin swords ripping through the nearest enemy before he had a chance to look up. The startled enemy reacted slowly, most likely due to a recent hangover, and by the time they had focused their attention on Takeshi Isao blew through the doorway, his giant sword tearing through one of the guards and completely cutting him in half.
The two stood there, side by side, as the remaining eight guards crowded in around them. Takeshi glanced to the side at Isao, a wicked grin on his face, and said: "Ready?" Isao nodded and Takeshi's grin widened, threatening to split his face wide open.
In the blink of an eye Takeshi shot forward, his twin swords dancing through the flesh of a nearby enemy. Just as two tried to counter Takeshi ducked as Isao's greatsword flashed over his head, knocking aside the enemy blade and sending them flying from their masters' hands. Then, as the two tried to retreat Takeshi darted around Isao and brought his blades up, slashing across both his enemy's unarmored chests.
As Takeshi killed those two a trio of daring enemies tried to attack him from behind, only to be backed off by the threat of Isao's greatsword swinging at them. The two rebels fought like that, side by side, dancing around one another and leaving no blind spot. It was a technique born from hours of training and practice. It was Takeshi and Isao's Zero Blind Spot combat combination.
While his teammates fought fiercely against enemies that outnumbered them 4 to 1 Hisoka was headed in a total different direction. He took a different route and came upon the stairwell, killing the three gang members who had stood in his way. Takeshi and Isao may be out for as much blood as they can draw but Hisoka had a different goal, or rather a specific target: Kabuto Kazuya, the man responsible for the murder of all his friends.
With every room he overtook Hisoka would check up on Takeshi and Isao's Reiatsu. By the time he reached the stairwell the two had already cleared the living room and had moved on to another largely populated one. The two were an unstoppable machine together.
Hisoka knew that with the fighting having broken out into full swing the entire gang would soon be on them. If he didn't act fast he would miss his chance. So, picking up the pace, he took the stairs two at a time, completely bypassing the second floor. He knew where Kazuya would be without having to check for his Reiatsu: the most expensive room on the highest floor of the building.
It took only a few precious minutes to reach the doorway to what he knew to be Kazuya's room. However, once he stood outside it he was stopped dead cold. The amount of people inside astounded him. A full three dozen! That was half of the remaining gang, just in one room! Had they been waiting for him?
"You have to do this." He told himself as he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was just as he had expected: large, full of expensive furniture(or expensive for the 78th district at least), and loaded with enemies.
"Your late." Kazuya said, not even bothering to look up from his desk.
So he was expecting me. Hisoka thought. "I came as quickly as he could." he responded, his voice level and void of any traces of fear.
"I'm sure." Kazuya replied offhandedly. For a moment he was silent before standing up and looking at Hisoka for the first time. "Your quite the fool, you know that boy?" He asked, almost as if expecting an honest answer.
"We'll see." was Hisoka's only reply. Drawing his blade he glanced around the room slowly, making sure to focus on each person's Reiatsu rather than their actual body. The Reiatsu would tell him who was going to come at him first.
"So be it. Kill him." Kazuya ordered, pointing his finger at the nearest four men. It was clear he did not perceive Hisoka as that much of a challenge, a misconception he would soon regret.
The four came at Hisoka in a run, their blades held back to strike. It took less than thirty seconds for Hisoka to weave his way through them, killing each one with ease. However, he realized his mistake a moment too late.
Those first four were obviously the worst fighters in the group. They were but pawns to Kazuya: Their purpose, to draw Hisoka away from the doorway so that the others could close him in.
Hisoka was now trapped with nowhere to go; or at least so he thought. The moment the gang closed in around him the door blew open and both Takeshi and Isao bolted inside, their blades swinging wildly. Within seconds they had created a path through which Hisoka retreated.
With a whole blown open in their plan to capture Hisoka the gang withdrew around Kazuya, forming an effective shield through which the boys could not hope to break. To make things worse, the multitudes of enemies the trio had bipassed to reach this room could now be heard storming down the hallway, headed straight for them. The three knew their fate was now sealed, their only hope to take as many as possible before they died.
"I'll kill you!" Takeshi roared as he rushed Kazuya and the dozens of warriors guarding him. Like a wild animal he tore into the human wall defending Kazuya and was soon joined by Hisoka and Isao, who fought with equal savageness. They were determined to take the man responsible for all their pain with them.
It took several seconds, and almost a dozen men, for the warriors guarding Kazuya to fight off the crazed rebels. By that time the other two dozen gang members had entered the room. The boys were effectively backed to the wall, Takeshi sporting a wounded, temporarily cripple arm, Isao with multiple minor wounds covering his body, and Hisoka with a large yet shallow gash across the left side of his chest.
"Stop." a voice ordered. The warriors obeyed at once, as they always did when their leader commanded them to do so.
"Looks like you lose boys." Kazuya said with a wicked grin. The warriors had thinned in such a way to reveal him standing there, yet close enough to leap back into a protective stance.
"See, that's the problem with you and your rebels Hisoka. Your trash. Nothing but lowly peasants. You could have joined us, worked for me, and lived a luxurious life. But you chose to remain trash, pure and utter tra–" His voice was cut short as a blade burst through his chest.
"What would garbage like you know of luxury?" a soft, commanding voice asked.
In shock every set of eyes in the room turned to gaze upon Kazuya, a blade protruding from his chest and two tall figures standing over him. One was dressed in a white shitagi, a black kosode, a black hakama, a white hakama-himo, white tabi, and waraji, his long red hair tied up in a wicked ponytail and a giant sword slung over his shoulder. The other, clearly the leader of the two, stood with his sword deep inside Kazuya's body. He wore the same clothing with the addition of a white haori over the top of it and an extremely expensive looking scarf. His long black hair hung to his back, white decorations strewn through it.
"You're..." one of the guards stammered.
"You're shinigami!" another shouted in panic.
"Wrong, we are your executioners." the leader said softly. "Renji." He commanded.
"Right Captain." the red-haired one said.
"Howl Zabimaru!" He roared as he slung his sword around. The blade separated, thick cords stringing through the pieces and holding it together. In a few simple maneuvers his blade whipped around and cut down every single soldier in the room. It was so fast the three rebels barely had time to flinch, ready for the blade to strike them next. Waiting for a blow that would not come.
"What are you flinching for?" the one named Renji asked.
The boys opened their eyes and saw the results of the Shinigami's attack. Dead bodies, most of them cut in half, covered the floor. Kazuya, a gaping hole in his chest, lay at their feet. The two had already sheathed their blades and the leader was already headed towards the door.
"Renji." the Captain said.
"One sec Captain, I wanna talk with these three." Renji replied.
"As you wish." the Captain replied. In a flash his body vanished from the spot.
"You boys did well." Renji complimented. "I haven't seen anyone in the lower districts with your kind of guts for quite some time. Districts like the 78th seem to have a way of robbing the spirits from people."
"What do you know of life in the 78th." Takeshi demanded.
"Well for starters," Renji said, "I used to live here. Lived in a "tribe" just like you and watched my friends killed by the lifestyle we lived, just as you have."
"How do you know our friends died?" Isao asked cautiously.
"Simple, I sometimes come to the 78th when Im troubled and look at it from this large hill nearby. Anyway, I cam here this morning just in time to see you boys burying your friends. I watched all morning as you worked, and only moved when you came to the hill.
"I knew what you were going to do and where you were headed the moment I saw you strap on your blades. So I watched you through the city and kept an eye on you when you were inside by watching your Reiatsu and boy was I surprised. Not only did you boys get in without a problem but you must have killed off nearly three dozen of these guys before they truly had you was about that time that my Captain showed up to fetch me for an upcoming mission. But I had him help me clean these guys up first."
"Why?" Hisoka asked quietly.
"What do you mean why?" Renji countered, not quite understanding what Hisoka was so confused about.
"Why did you help us. We're strangers to you." Hisoka asked, expanding his question.
"Oh, well because I thought you deserved it. I've been where you are before. So I know the feeling. What's more is that you three are incredible fighters with a lot of potential. So I thought maybe I would offer to get you into the Shinoreijutsuin, if you want that is."
For a moment the three stared at him in astonishment. Had they really just heard him correctly? He was offering to get them into the Shinoreijutsuin, the Spiritual Arts Academy, an opportunity so few ever received? How could they refuse?
When they said as much Renji smiled and told them to gather their things. He would put in a word for them and meet them back on top of their hill in three days time. If they got in he would take them there. If they got in their new life would start in three days.