Soi-fon let out a slow, deliberate breath, being careful not to disturb the air around her hiding spot. She had been motionless for almost an hour now, watching her target as he meditated. The temperature had dropped a bit, but she shrugged off the discomfort. It was a small price to pay for her level of stealth. Breathing in, she slowly exhaled once more, blinking once to moisten her eyes. Her target never moved.
Omaeda had told her of a powerful being in the 39th district, although being Omaeda, she had her doubts as to this man's strength. However, when three of her lower-seated ninjas failed to return from the observation mission, her interest had been piqued. Sending higher ranking ninjas resulted in more of the same, until she was forced to take the mission upon herself to cut her losses. It had taken her longer than she had expected to find the man; for being someone so powerful, his reiatsu was almost completely hidden.
He was tall, standing over most in her squad, and thin. His deep blue jumpsuit was covered with a light covered trench coat, and a large sheath was secured over his back. His black hair hung down just over his face; though she had yet to get a better look as he had kept his back to her position. The shack he was staying in hardly counted as a house; rather, it looked as if he had simply stopped there a short time before continuing to wander.
Soi-fon breathed again, allowing herself to blink once more as she continued to sit. The man had literally done nothing besides meditate the entire time she had been there. If this was the level of difficulty that had proved too challenging for some of her most experienced ninjas, her group obviously wasn't as trained as she thought. She closed her eyes, this time out of pure frustration, before opening them again.
He was gone.
Panic coursed through Soi-Fon as her eyes began to search the immediate area. Her eyes had been closed for no longer than a second, and unless he could use shunpo, there was no way he could have moved so quickly…
"Your irritation was as loud as an eagle's scream," a cold monotone voiced behind her. Spinning, the captain found herself staring at the stranger, no more than three feet away. His face was long and would have appeared youthful, had it not been for the ice-blue eyes that glared at her. Despite her reputation and pride, she felt herself shudder at the stare. There was nothing behind those eyes but darkness.
"If you wish to spy on me, then I will add your body to those of your comrades," he said, his voice utterly calm. From each end of his sheath, he pulled a kodachi, holding them in a battle-ready stance. Before she could make an argument, he lunged.
"Kaiten Kenbu, Rokuren!"
Soi-Fon could have sworn on her life that, at that moment, there were six blades arcing towards her neck. A quick use of shunpo backwards saved her life as her attackers blades sliced through the air. He glared up at her, undeterred, and lunged once more. She glared, drawing her own blade.
"Jinteki Shakusetsu!" she shouted, as the sword transformed on her arm. Her attacker paused for a moment, surprise written across his face. Soi-Fon smirked; he had obviously never seen a zanpaktu released before. Racing towards him, she struck out, ready to land two successive strikes and end this threat once and for all…
Except that her blade went right through an illusion. Soi-Fon's eyes grew and she glanced around quickly. All around her, circling, were flashing, vapor-like images of the stranger. Recklessly, almost spasmodically, she began to lunge at and attack each, but to no avail.
"Fool," she growled, glaring at whatever image happened to be in her vision. "Do you believe that you can escape from me? I am faster than any of the Gotei 13; Squad 2 captain Soi-Fon!" She lunged again, catching a glimpse of metal in the watery images. Her blade was blocked by a kodachi, and the stranger materialized in front of her.
"It is no matter," he responded, his voice calm as ever. "I have battled against the god of speed himself; yours is no match."
"You claim to be faster than me?" she asked incredulously.
"I am not. But he was," he replied. Before she could respond, he had disappeared again, the images flowing around her once more as the voice continued.
"It is not my speed which keeps you from attacking me. It is the constantly changing speed which confuses your mind and slows your blade. You cannot strike me. This is the power of Ryūsui no Ugoki."
Soi-Fon's temper rose, a growl forming in her throat. "Maggot! I will show you the true power of a Gotei 13 captain!" she shouted, using shunpo to launch her into the sky. "Jakuhō Raikōben!"
As the familiar bankai materialized on her arm, she inwardly smirked in disgust. To think that she would be forced to use her wretched bankai against a single opponent, and so quickly! She took aim and fired before her opponent could change tactics.
The explosion rocked the area, sending Soi-Fon flying a good distance from the battle. As her sword returned to its shakai form, she quickly shunpo'd back to where her target had been. A crater greeted her vision as she approached, though there was no immediate body to be seen. As she landed on the ground, a voice spoke from behind her.
"An impressive attack, the likes of which I don't believe I've ever seen."
The stranger stood, tattered and bloodied but still strong. Soi-Fon readied herself for an attack, but the man simply sheathed his blades.
"In my current condition, I am no longer a match for your speed. The fight is yours," he conceded, bowing his head slightly.
The captain watched him for a moment longer before relaxing. Someone of his skill could be useful… "Do you know of the Soul Society?"
"I do not," he answered simply. His piercing eyes continued to bore into her.
"Look it up." She said flippantly, before turning and starting away. After a few feet she stopped, turning to face him again. "You never did state your name."
There was a pause before the man answered.
"It is Aoshi. Aoshi Shinomori."
