Author's Note.
To all you readers: This was exclusively done as the space provided for me to summarize and clarify certain things in the respective section is extremely small. So let me elaborate on the finer points of this Fic.
While this is primarily a Bleach fanfic, I plan to borrow liberally from the Naruto and Fate/Zero universes for storytelling includes me borrowing certain characters (OOC's are inevitable), weapons, powers and the like.I also plan on utilizing a multi-POV style, and later in the fic, it may sometimes zoom through two or more perspectives in the same chapter. This is simply an experiment to keep things interesting. This also functions as a disclaimer: I do not own any of the elements borrowed from the anime multiverses. They belong to their respective creators. Any other characters et al. are purely original, and I will try and clarify if they are based on certain existing ones. This fic is also peppered with OCs, to whom I will try and do justice, even as it may be something of a Herculean effort. The same goes for universe only characters – apologies if they become too stylized and personalized. This is simply my way of portraying them.
I am also somewhat confused as to the label of this fanfic: I do not feel like putting it into the crossover section, but if it must be done, then I would appreciate you telling me, so that I may give my reasons and hear yours.
Chapter 01- No Second Strike
Murakami, Division 06, Third Seat
The essence of all drama is conflict; and so it is with this particular drama. Perhaps it's a not a drama if a Dramaturgist had any say- but thankfully he doesn't, and I take my liberties. A good story eventually ends up in adoption anyway, who's to say the fringes of a stage cannot extend indefinitely?
It was one of those nights, then, where the ones who dream in their beds are the safest, it's us sleepless ones who suffer, despite the lack of ignorance of the impending threat. The job of a sentinel is often demanding. The moon seemed to want to aid us in our misery, for its brightness was particularly severe that night. Me, I prefer the moon's gentle glow, but then they already think my head's full of these poetical sensibilities. Especially the melodramatic ones. For a sentinel, maximum visibility is essential, and the difference between seeing a potential threat, life and then death. What's death to a Shinigami though? And what is light, to someone who can manifest flame through a simple incantation, flickering at your fingertips? I sometimes questioned quite a bit of the strangely idiosyncratic, paradoxical world I lived in, for, in this world, I did not know my beginning, let alone some destined end. Humans have a more fulfilling life then, despite their fragility. They have faith, and they have time-bound, quick realities. A Shinigami simply does not grasp the value of fragility, for he has to be strong, you see. Strong is valuable, and there are a few things of value in this world. So we keep watch.
Ryunnosuke grumbled.
"Remind me again...why aren't we taking turns?"
No one replied, and the wind kicked up a sizeable whistle. This was Yamanashi; the 77th District of Rukongai, a dilapidated, two bit town at the edge of Inuzuri, which could be called dystopia itself. An urchin ran from alley to alley in the streets below, his little feet almost noiseless on the cracked street. I narrowed my eyes. He didn't seem to have any discernible Reiatsu.
"Ay, Murakami. That urchin again eh?"
I looked at the speaker. Behind her glazed amber eyes, Saya had no other warmth to her per se. Her figure was all angles and sharp edges, right from her fine, razor like nose, her straight long hair tied up in a severe ponytail, and her thin fingers, resembling that of a pianist, with ten slender and deadly fingernails. The nails of the left had been painted a deep turquoise. I never really got around to asking why that was, but then, she wasn't about the small talk. Other than nights like these, where the boredom needed to be dispelled, somehow. Funny how people's natures were altered by their mere essence of boredom.
"Hai. Although...he's just an urchin. I think."
"I almost killed him yesterday."
"Well, I'm glad you held back."
Her eyebrow arched. Even that motion was like some rigid object bending itself against its will, it's edge imperceptibly curved.
"Are you really?"
"No, not really." That was the truth. A runt from Yamanashi was a mere dustling, his life nothing but a speck in the wind. A Shinigami's Zanpakuto was too valuable to sully with that blood. He would die, rotten and alone, if he was lucky.
"Ne, ne, Murakami, and I thought you were more...humane."
That was Ryunnosuke. He had something of a flair for words, or so he liked to think. You'd often find his speech interspersed with concepts borrowed from many planes, although they were sometimes sadly outside context.
"Well, Ryunnosuke, humanity is not a quality we'd associate with, now would we?"
"Speak for yourself. We are all souls, with a human root."
"I wish I could've had the temerity to waste words, but I don't."
"Always the high road, eh, Murakami?"
"Always- we are from the court of pure souls. Emphasis on the pure, of course."
"Psshhh. What a racist."
"Tolerance isn't my strong suit. Not for foolish arguments."
"Meh, meh. In a foul mood, we are."
"This night isn't helping." I mumbled.
Finally, we got what we were looking for. That flare, that disturbance in the fabric of mundanity.
Ryunnosuke was instantly on his feet.
"Saya. Scan the western perimeter."
She nodded, her eyes losing focus for a moment.
"Bakudo #43: Byakugan."
This was a particularly delicate bakudo, mastered by fine ocular control, and necessitated the use of a Kido specialist. I'd seen a Shinigami lose his vision upon attempting to clumsily cast it.
"Found him...no, them. Seems like five Gillian class hollows. One Adjuchas. Identity, unconfirmed, but Reiatsu spike was definitely from that one."
"Humph. Something's off. An Adjuchas is mere cannon fodder."
"They aren't all that weak. They'll feed on quite a few residents, and if that Adjuchas is at its peak, it'll manifest into a Vasto Lorde."
Ryunnosuke smirked.
"And then, we'd at least have to use our swords. I say we let that happen."
Saya didn't respond, looking at me. They both were. I was third seat, and Shinigami were roughly trained to follow the chain of command.
"Right. There're no other interferences. Saya...?"
"None that are discernible."
"Well then, protocol for an Adjuchas with five Gillian would be to engage and eliminate directly. Stealth is not a priority. Saya, engage the Adjuchas. Ryunnosuke, the Gillians. I'll provide support."
Saya and Ryunnosuke turned, their bodies blurring with the speed of their flash steps. My world warped, as roof after roof was but a mere snapshot in time, with the flickering Reiatsus getting closer with each frame. Flash steps were something quite out of the realm of the mundane, despite their repetitive nature- most of my training had been honed to accommodate speedy combat.
The hollows were clustered around a clump of hutments, emitting their signature howls. While bloodthirsty to some, the seasoned Shinigami would regard it as a mere nuisance, a guttural noise one often associated with the puny insect. The Adjuchas was not as animalistic, despite it's shape- it resembled a wolf, with a white exoskeleton and occasional red tufts of fur. It's eyes, while feral, had a silent power to them- the hollows barreled into the first hut they found, as screams of the occupants were soon heard.
"Hado #31: Shakkaho." muttered Saya, as a red flaming shot emitted from her fingers, hitting the Adjuchas squarely in its midsection, sending it careening into the nearest wall, kicking up a cloud of dust and rubble.
Ryunnosuke appeared in front of the first hollow to barely take notice of what had happened, and his Zanpakuto sliced upwards, shattering its mask into fragments instantaneously. The second hollow turned around, seeking the new, stronger source of Reiatsu, and immediately was bisected in two, while Ryunnosuke's form blurred and moved on to the third.
The Adjuchas was not down, not fully. Seeing Ryunnosuke's progress, it seemed like we could both focus on it. Saya seemed to realize this as she raised her hands once more.
"Hado #4: Byakurai."
A thin, while filament of lightning shot out to where the Adjuchas was steadying itself, while I was stepped near it, my sword leaving it's scabbard. The lightning had just struck it then; and it seemed to stagger a little. I brought down my Zanpakuto hard on its head, narrowly missing, as the creature seemed to realize and swerved. My blade did catch its neck, though, and it howled as it retreated.
Saya was soon on it, her sword aloft as she flash stepped behind it, cornering it.
"Pitiful..." I muttered, and got ready to deliver the final blow.
"Murakami!" That was Ryunnosuke.
Saya made an imperceptible nod, and raised her hand.
"Bakudo #61: Rikujo Kourou."
Six rods of light slammed the Adjuchas in the midsection, pinning it firmly, even as it kept howling, it's eyes now full of malice. And fear.
I turned around, raising my voice so that it would carry beyond the noise.
"What?"
He seemed like he was out of breath.
"Seems like this was a diversion. There was just an entry into Inuzuri, and the Reiatsu is strafing from two alleys beyond. It flared while she fired her Kido shots, but since I was nearer, I sensed it. Someone definitely moved fast and away from that area. I gave chase, but they're long gone."
I looked back at the creature, which was still wailing.
"This is the kind of diversion they provide...hm."
My eyes felt like they were hard, as my Zanpakuto cleanly executed the Adjuchas, ending all sound. The wind whistled once more, as Saya used her Kido.
"I can see them...but very faintly. They've covered ground, and are slowly fading from view. Reiatsus are suppressed and controlled. Can make out two outlines."
Her amber eyes suddenly rolled back into view. She shook her head.
"Gone."
Ryunnosuke swore.
"It's all right. Good call, at least we know that this was leading to something." I deadpanned, my leadership classes coming to the fore.
This was problematic, as we didn't really know the trouble those unidentified escapees could cause. It was getting colder, I could tell, as my next set of words led to wispy smoke coming out of my mouth.
"Let's report back. Today was the last day of sentinel duty. It's bad enough that we, the reconnaissance division are being expected to perform such tasks. The Sixth is being sidelined in the course of whatever this is, as we don't even have enough information, as to why we were even stationed here. I'm suspecting the higher ups know more than they let on..."
Ryunnosuke nodded. "I vouch for returning. I need a nice bed, you know."
Saya didn't respond.
"They were humanoid, Murakami. Which means three things...Souls, Shinigami, or higher hollows- Vasto Lordes or Arrancar. Oh, and I forgot, humans."
I turned around. "Inferences are dangerous...and we can report this, but we'd be speculating at best unless we have more information. We can't follow them now, can we?"
With the lack of a reply, I continued.
"So then...let's make camp for the night. We set off for Seireitei at first light...or..."
"We can leave right now." Muttered Ryunnosuke.
"We can leave right now." I agreed. Saya simply shrugged.
"Well, then, shall we?"
The moon was unusually bright that night, as our forms vanished from the dilapidated townscape, as the residents watched on in abject terror, fear, and some, in ignorance.