Behind the Masks
Chronicles
Chapter 1
Elegant Killer
The stories you are about to read are different from those you've read before. They will not be told by the one who usually would tell them, because he was not here when they happened. During the time these stories occurred, Chris Guruma, Captain of our first squad, had absolutely no clue of what was happening. Instead, the rest of us had to deal with the incoming problems that suddenly came out of nowhere…oh yeah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hiroki Felinnou, vice-captain of squad one, and this… is my Chronicle.
It started a bright, partly cloudy day. The sun shone down every now and then in between the clouds making the light brown sand along the beach shore seem almost white. Countless families enjoyed their time off together, taking a dive into the warm water. Others simply sat back and enjoyed the weather.
As I walked along the shore, feeling the soft sand caress my bare feet, in my mind I recreated the multiple training sessions, reliving the lessons Chris, and Bryan taught me, trying to find something I might have missed. I walked for a long time, looking down at the sand in meditation, reviewing everything I could remember again and again and again. I could have stayed there for countless hours, enjoying the soft breeze and the ever so light spray of water that gently flew across the beach.
Like I said, I could have stayed there for hours, had it not been for the sudden tremor that begun, and the large wave that seemed to come out of nowhere, only to wipe away most of the people in the beach with one swoop. In a minute, the beach was clean, everyone had disappeared. I jumped into the water and used it to hide while I changed into my soul form. As soon as I flew out, I saw what was causing the strange uproar.
It was a short, skinny figure, with black, neck length hair. There was what seemed to be some sort of hair pin clipped to her hair. Three stars adorned her forehead. She wore a strange looking white outfit with extra long sleeves that covered her hands. The outfit didn't cover her upper hips, making the suit look somewhat like what a model would wear. There was what seemed to be a pink handled Zanpaktou under her arm. I spoke to her, trying to see if I didn't have to fight.
"Excuse me miss… but would you mind telling me what you are doing?"
She turned at me with an utterly enraged face, her eyes flaming with anger.
"MISS!? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TOO?" She screamed
"Sorry lady, you don't have to get all mad. It's not my fault I don't know you." I apologized
"LADY????? You Bastard! How dare you confuse me with a woman?"
Apparently she wasn't a she… she, I mean… well… it, was a he. But honestly I thought it was a girl. He even talked like a girl. Anyways, after I apologized I asked him what he wanted and why he was wreaking havoc.
"You still ask why I am here. I am Arrancar number 6, Luppi! I am here to destroy you!" he shouted
"…and why's that?" I asked
"The sins of the father, the son will pay! You are clearly the descendant of the Shinigami I swore to kill: Toushiro Hitsugaya."
Seriously, that's what he said. He thought I was Toushiro's descendant. Apparently I kinda look like him, which is cool. Anyway, after he said that I tried to understand what exactly was going on. I mean, if what happened in the anime actually happened, then Luppi is supposed to be dead... so how was he standing right in front of me?
"Okay… you want me dead. It's understandable. But IF you manage to kill me, which is highly doubtful, what will you do next?" I asked
"I will destroy every Shinigami in existence! Plain and simple."
"I see. Well, this is awkward… I never thought I'd get to kill someone so honest. So… shall we begin?" I asked
"I'll finish you off quickly so that I can move on to the rest of your pathetic friends… Strangle, Trepadora."
A burst of wind blasted off from his body, blinding me for a second. The blast disrupted the spirit particles in the area causing a large cloud of smoke. As the smoke cleared his release form could be seen. It was the dumbest looking release form I have ever seen. A chest plate with a spinning wheel at the back with 8 tentacles connected to it.
"That's it?" I asked him
"Why you lit… yes, this is it… and it's more than enough for what I'll need. I only released it to save time, but I can easily kill you without it." He gloated
"I'm afraid you'll have to prove that. Now… rain…" I said as I unsheathed my zanpaktou "Mizumaru." (Water Ring)
My sword glowed blue for a second, the base of the handle extended as a chain with a diamond shaped kunai. I pointed the tip of my blade at him and smiled.
"Let's dance!"
The tip of his tentacles grew long sharp spikes, which he was obviously going to use to slash at me. He flung all eight of the tentacles at me, but using my blade I danced in circles slashing them all away like (as Chris would say) a mad spinning whirlpool. He seemed to be annoyed, and flung the tentacles at me at a higher speed, but I was able to knock them all back the same way. He continued attacking me and I continued defending, but after a while I realized I was going nowhere, so I disappeared from the area, and appeared some distance below him.
"You know… for someone who looks like a girl you're a pretty good fighter. You've forced me to change strategies, not many of my opponents are able to do that." I said
"You're just delaying the inevitable. Why don't you just let me kill you so we can both save time?"
"Normally I'd say something smart about that, but you're really getting on my nerves." I calmly stated as I took a breath
SHUNKO!
A white glow surrounded me flowing the same way the waves did. It burned giving me the sensation of being inside a tunnel of water and wind. I could tell Luppi sensed the increase in my reiatsu.
"What sorcery is this?"
"It's a special technique that uses your raw spiritual pressure as both sword and shield, repelling anything that comes in contact. While training with Chris and Bryan I found I could combine this with Mizumaru's shikai for a more technical approach. How do you like me now?"
"Like I said before, you are only delaying the inevitable. Prepare to die." He called
He began spinning sideways. The tentacles began spinning as well, but different than the way he was spinning. They spun in two different directions, intertwining with one another, but not touching each other, nor touching Luppi. They began getting closer to me, so I prepared my stance. As soon as I saw the opening I took my chance, using shunpo to sort of dance over them and come in for a quick strike. Just as I was about to strike one of the tentacles flew off from the group and blocked my sword.
Luppi quickly turned around and sent all the tentacles at me at once. I used shunpo to dance them all away in a big circle. I circled around enough to get in close, but he switched his tentacles around and pushed me away. They were really getting annoying, so I would have to switch strategies if I wanted to get rid of him anytime soon. I don't know how it happened, but for a moment I got lost in thought trying to find how to finish him quickly without using too much energy.
At that moment, he quickly switched poses somehow, slamming down on me with all his tentacles at the same time. The blow staggered me enough to throw me down into the ocean (big mistake). I cancelled all spirit energy activity and calmed myself in preparation for what was coming. I rose back up to his level, holding my Zanpaktou close to me.
"You really should be worried now. I must congratulate you though; you've managed to get on my nerves from the beginning. I suppose I've learned something today… I shouldn't hold back my true strength. Call forth the tide…Mizumaru" I called
The chain on my Zanpaktou straightened itself and a glow released through the entire blade. The tip grew outward into a trident tip with Diamond shaped ends. The glow faded showing the crystal clear body of the Diamond like trident.
"That's it? That's your Bankai?" he asked mockingly "You really don't think you can defeat me with that? Ha!"
He sent three tentacles, one after another, straight at me.
"Chire" (scatter). I swung Mizumaru sideways, releasing a spreading wave that knocked off the first one.
"Mae" (Dance). I swung Mizumaru upwards, releasing a whirlpool that struck the second one out of the way.
"Hoero" (Roar). I swung Mizumaru downwards, releasing a large splash in the shape of a dragons head, breaking the third one into several pieces.
"AARGH… you little pest!" he shouted
"Had you let me finish, you wouldn't have felt anything when you died with my first shot. That wasn't my Bankai. This is Mizumaru's second form, the crystal trident. Now… this is my Bankai." I said as I raised my Zanpaktou.
BANKAI
The water from the ocean rose and circled around me, then released in a big circle. Mizumaru's six thin, bat-like water wings spread out behind me. My shirt became blue and opened up in the center, revealing a wing like tattoo that went up from the sides of my abs to about half way up my chest.
"Getsuei Mizumaru…" (Lunar Water Ring) "…Prepare to die." I said as I held my trident close.
"This power… how can it be so dense and so great?" he asked
"This is the true power of a Bankai… now… say goodnight." I said
A large wave formed up behind me as I held my Zanpaktou in front of me. I rushed towards Luppi and he rushed towards me. The wave covered us both. Our reiatsu crashed and exploded multiple times, as I slashed at everything in my way. One last explosion cleared everything, leaving a very thin cloud of smoke. As it vanished, I cancelled my Bankai and sheathed my sword. Mizumaru congratulated me on a well fought battle… for some reason. (He's really into fighting.)
The cloud vanished completely, revealing a severely beaten Luppi, with a cancelled release form. He looked at me with the strangest look in his eyes. It was as if he felt pain from having lost, but that he was thankful that I beat him. It was weird. I was expecting him to fall into the ocean and die there, but instead he slowly disintegrated into thin white lines. Just before he completely vanished, he flashed a smile in my direction. Then vanished completely.