A/N: Well as it is yet another chapter into Kousou's unraveling life, it only gets harder from here on in for him. If it seemed bad before, know that it will only get worse as things continue to develop. Without any further adieu, the chapter shall begin!

(End A/N)

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Chapter V: The Nature of Predators

As Kou slept some hours after being healed, his dreams were full of ominous imagery and things he couldn't quite place. He was simply exhausted after having been in combat with someone of Gin's strength, he used most of his reserve energy during the fight and still he was trounced with ease. The gap was greater than any effort he could put forth during the battle. While he thought about it…the imagery continued to confuse him further and further on.

The image of a great lion set before him, beside that was a large serpent's shadow, next to that had been the image of a great…whale perhaps? shark? Some kind of a big underwater dwelling creature that he couldn't identify yet; just what was all of this supposed to mean? A great doe appearing next to him and nudging his sleeping body, it was almost like an out of body experience that he couldn't really name.

He was there and yet he wasn't, clearly surrounded by these shadows that threatened to engulf him…what was it to mean? At the very end a great crow's shadow had taken him up in some talons, yanking him off of the ground and then…he shot awake.

Kou woke up with a grunt, a small bit of pain from contorting his back after having it just healed. There were no tears or markings in his flesh of the slice; it was a fairly clean job of healing him. Though he still didn't understand, what did all of that mean to him? He couldn't quite place what it was overall, he shook his head and stretched out; unknowing that he was being watched.

"Finally your awake, you got the shit kicked out of you, I felt your reiatsu getting lower and lower, but you are strong for a subordinate." The words coming from the darkness nearby, as Apache walked towards him with her hands on her hips, a grin wide on her face.

There was something lurking in her vision and it became more and more obvious to him just what she was here for. There seemed to be something that was lingering from the past, she placed a finger on his cheek, using her hand and rolling him onto his back while she stroked through his hair.

"I didn't think it would piss me off this much not to have what's mine, but it damn well did. I want you to give me a good time today. As far as I can tell you are back with some greater strength…that's what I want to feel from you, you'd do well to give me your best tonight, since I am going to be trying something else; you will be curling your toes… maybe in pain, though it matters not as you have no say in my decisions." Apache's voice was bordering lust, something that she wasn't aware of.

Kou tried to get from beneath her, but the chance had already escaped him. His eyes looked up at the fraccion who had been the first to claim his body as hers, did he have a say in the matter? All things pointed to no, he lacked the power to do anything that wouldn't earn him a retaliatory act. He gave her a look of defiance for a moment and she just smirked and let her fingers stroke back through his long locks.

"I think the long hair suits you honestly, a good victim with something I can hold onto if I feel myself getting out of hand; just the way that I want." Her tone was dripping was sarcasm, she didn't care if he had long hair really.

Instead it seemed to prove that she enjoyed taunting him still, her little shincy victim that would give her more of this pleasure. She stripped him of his pants without much effort and led her fingers back through his hair once more and leading her lips to graze over the side of his neck. What was it about him that tasted so sweet? She couldn't put it into words really, just what made him the worth victim for her to embrace and to have. Her great bird that was her own to devour, it amazed her how tame he was after the first time she'd had him.

Her fingers parted his kimono and raked over his skin slowly, bringing a low shiver from his body. There she saw those glimmering eyes shine with something for a moment, a strange burden that he was bearing. For a moment she almost wanted to know what it was that he was struggling with, he was always so confusing to her in that way. She now found it almost impossible to hate her victim, he betrayed everything to her as she took him that first time; she wanted more of this purity that he contained.

Kou was deciding something else that he'd do now, it was inevitable that this act would happen, but maybe he could show her something that she didn't know was very possible. Perhaps Kou had no full understanding of it himself, though it was just a distant thought; he might help her know what it was to sample passion and not just lust…it might get her to lighten up he thought.

(--Mature content ahead--)

Apache wasted no time unlike their first time, all of his secrets were about to become hers once again. She was going to steal that which he held dearest to his heart, this was what enchanted her as a hollow was the chance to devour a part of this boy.

"There…my my, you are easily excited aren't you little shincy? I think you've even come to enjoy my attentions to your body; I suppose it's inevitable that a weakling like you would come to lust after the attentions of a female once you've tasted it." She scoffed and led her fingers up his sides, raking his flesh before she slid her left leg over his lap and sat down promptly upon his length.

Her body took to natural actions and began to grind in his lap, while her nails dug into his skin and made him shiver again, how he was so weak when he did that, could he know that it excited her? That was something that she wondered from time to time. Though there was no time to think about that, she'd wasted too much time…for now she demanded to have his hardened flesh trapped within her core once again, to feel his purity trapped by her needs once again, this was what mattered.

Her fingers now gripping the tip of his manhood and squeezing it in her hands, once more getting a soft gasp from him, before she'd squeezed harder and earned a grunt from him; he was so weak that it was pathetic and she loved that about the weakling. It was almost addicting to know that she had this kind of power over him and that he could not deny her.

"You are so weak Kousou Yuushin, I can't believe that you thought you had a right even to speak resistance. If I am alone too much for you, then you never had a hope to stand against me from the start. You should learn your place, mm…though that's enough preaching." She said as she felt his length finally thickening to her attentions. It was about time.

Apache didn't bother undressing; instead she decided that it was time for him to understand what 'surprise' she had in mind to show him. Slowly her zanpakuto was revealed to him as she sat on top of his half-erect member and grinded it beneath her as she drew her chakram-like zanpakuto and held them to his neck a moment while she held him still trapped beneath her legs.

"Learn the name of my Zanpakuto well, for you will be hearing of it again and again as time goes on." Her words were hinting at this becoming more violent.

Her teasing of his body did not end short of her, before she finally made the move she'd been waiting to do. The subtle release of her zanpakuto…she was timing it in succession with her forcing Kousou into her heat, in the past it had caused his reiatsu to spike, she'd ensure he did again.

As she straightened out his member onec more time with her hand, she brought his shaft to her lips and bit her bottom lip, did it always have to feel so good? She made a few sounds that seemed to be close to murmurs or moans; now she was very close to fulfilling her need.

"Thrust…" she spoke the command for the release of her zanpakuto as she thrusted onto Kou's member suddenly, this getting an immediate cry from her as she spoke the words of her zanpakuto.

"Cierva~!" which was half cried and half yelled as she gave way to her transformation, it was very sudden over her, as her body grew its fur, horns rising from the top of her crown and temples as she hilted him within her.

Was this what she had in mind? Kou felt the immediate pressures of her reiatsu burning around him, to that same moment he had no choice but to react; his body shimmering in the golden and navy aura as his dual reiatsu's presence picked up around him. The rise in his reiatsu was entwined with Apache's though as noted, it was not in anger or rage that this seemed to be the response. After about 5 minutes of their spiking reiatsu, it seemed to quiet down as Apache rested with him sheathed inside of her walls for some moments.

There a soft sigh rising from her lips as she bit on his skin a moment, just to taste his sweet flesh again. It would be so easy to hurt him with her true power; she knew that she'd have to be careful. But if felt so good...so much energy tingling between her legs, she could feel his reiatsu crackling around every inch of his body while her walls bared down on him softly, squeezing him a moment to get a grunt out of him. This would be wonderful, oh she could already feel it.

"Yes Kou, my little shincy...that's how your supposed to do this, good boy...good boy." she moaned to him and let her claws rake over his chest and draw some blood out of his skin, she was enjoying herself wholly, to think she hadn't moved once at all yet.

There was no way to describe the kind of appeal that this strange boy had to her, what else was the attraction to such a weakling? She had not discerned that clearly, something about the boy's soul was what called to her. What about this boy, who was at least of interest, and could somehow call to her intrigue her senses so much? To be honest it didn't matter what it was about him that did this to her, it was just the fact that she had him and didn't plan on letting him free.

There was no way that she'd let such pleasures go; perhaps she could tolerate his behavior more since this part of him was the better half she found.

As Apache's thoughts continued to consume her, her body was doing the rest for the pleasure of them both. While in her released form, her fur gave Kousou an odd sensation as she dragged her walls around his member harshly and then bucked back down, in some strange way they quelled a feeling within him that picked up greatly. It was still painful to him despite the odd moments that made it feel good, he wasn't really able to put it into words. He left it at Yami-Kou's influence over him. Curse that inner-hollow for making it feel even remotely good.

Another grunt rising from her little shincy as her walls slammed down hard over him, the kind of pleasure that this boy was bringing her made her delight in the ideas of repeating this again sometime. She didn't guess that she'd be this sensitive while in her released state, did he know how good he felt? Oh She'd be sure he knew, as she grabbed both of his shoulders and sat him up, curling one of her legs around his lowerback and grinding into his lap, making sure he was massaging her walls deeply.
"Nnnhh..! You know boy, you have a way of making me feel good…that's very wise. You feel so wonderful, I think I can overlook..nnghh..your resistance of me the first night." The words passing from her lips were playful.

It was an interesting thing to say that she seemed more…responsive to general talk during such a carnal act. Kou was freely observing this as she rode and grinded on his length, she seemed not just happy and satisfied for the moment; but almost calm in a way. Her throes of passion however quickly sent Kou's mind back to the matter at hand, back to the moment and what he was feeling before: pain.

His back arched towards her forcefully, due to the grip of her powerful leg around his lower back. She gasped loudly and then hissed at him, biting into his neck and bearing down her nails into his back as she held him like a vise for a moment. There was no moment that he was free from her actions or her need. Every moment that Kou took to breathe was crucial, since every other moment was full of some kind of pain. She was just far too strong and far too rough for him to have enjoyed it for more than a moment of time.

Apache didn't really care if he was enjoying it, now that she'd found yet another position that suited her wants for the moment, she took advantage of exploiting it. She wanted to feel him buried deeper within her if it was possible; that was the ultimate goal here, to bring this boy closer to her with each action. She was desperate almost to feel his length rolling around inside of her, it was one of the things that she had first held command over in her life that was new: her pleasure given by this boy.

Then suddenly, without her permission did the moment suddenly end curb, a white light engulfing her vision as she clenched her entire body around him. A sudden grip that made Kou bear down on his teeth, he bit his tongue…hard in that moment. More than enough for him to have nearly severed the tip of it. His reiatsu rose in accordance to her climax, which forced him to release…how could he not? Against his will, her walls gripped him far too hard to not respond to. His essence shot into her without another moment's warning; it was finally over…right?

Apache had suddenly dropped his upperback and collapsed on top of him while she rested her face in his hair, sighing harshly as she greedily took air in while holding him in her body vicegrip. There was silence with the exception of Apache's panting fresh in his ear, along with other sounds of her pleased and still disappointed response to the sudden release of her body.

"Damn it...mmmnn...I guess I couldn't handle it. It felt too damned good, that's fine...for now I suppose. The first time is always the hardest to hold back, I found that out with our first night." she said this with a soft grin, he knew what her resurreccion felt like now; in a different light than what it was like to face her in combat.

(---End Mature Content---)

As she had finished with her pleasure for the time being, Apache remained for the last few moments that he remained within her until he naturally shrunk to normal. She got up and dragged him to the bath with her, knowing well that he'd need to be clean and she had hurt him more than he was really able to recover from in such a short time. It was annoying that he was so fragile, well she imagined this was what came with the territory of having power over such a weak boy; she adjusted his back for him and helped his body maintain its normal bone alignments.

"Toughen up or something Kou, I need you to be stronger than that if I'm gonna do this again, you understand? You'd better get stronger so that I can enjoy myself more." She said as the tub filled up with water, this here was a one sided conversation and yet it didn't matter to her in the slightest. As long as he heeded her at some point.

She made sure that she herself was clean and watched Kou's body and the new bruises...she had done that and it made her smirk a bit; was it something to be proud of? Certainly it was! She had in a way marked her territory, as long as it wasn't lethal and he'd be good by tomorrow then she could be sure that she'd remain pleased. After sealing away her true power, Apache left Kou in the bath and had dried herself off. Feeling refreshed she looked back one more time at the boy's form and grinned, he did have a way of making her feel much better...after her discovery she found that she was more spry after having a good time.

"I'll be seeing you Kousou, that was fun again." she said before disappearing out of the boy's room all together.

Kousou was left to his thoughts, his aches, and of course to apply his balm to his joints after the bath. He was damn sure that he'd be doing some work tomorrow and wouldn't be let off for bruises; let alone if whoever it was knew just who had given him said bruises. It wasn't really something that was very common or acceptable, he doubted that. Even more than now he doubted that such acts were common amongst most arrancar, that or he just had pretty terrible luck.

For the next few hours of the evening Kou was left to himself, as the boy left himself soaking for about the next half hour in the water until it started chilling; Kou then followed up with drying up and applying the balm to his bruises. How had he been so lucky to just take bruises from her rough treatment of his body? That wasn't something that he honestly understood at the moment, his body was frail in comparison to that of the arrancars, so how was it that he was moving with almost no problem now?

'Man you are thick aren't you Kou? Don't you get it?' Yami-Kou's voice sounded in his head with a soft laugh.

'What do you mean?'

'The fact remains that you are in Hueco Mundo, I reside within you and your power is mixing more and more every day right?'

'Yes...so you are telling me that I am gaining more Hollow-like properties?'

'Pah, more or less kid...you'll never be a Hollow obviously, but it doesn't mean you won't toughen up.'

'But its been so little passage of time, no more than what...a few days to a week? I can hardly tell anymore.'

'That's because passage of time in Hueco Mundo shifts to a point, its not like in the living world or even Soul Society. You'd better get used to it...you'll be here a while.'

'Once again you are right, thank you Yami-kun.'

'...Stupid kid, don't thank me! I'm just telling facts nothing more.'

Kou's thoughts were quieted afterwards, he hadn't heard from Kazashiryuu in some time, he wondered what it was? Though for right now he was just tired...very tired and not wanting to think too much. He was going to lay back down and get some sleep, that was what he wanted to do with his day. So once he'd found the oversized couch-bed that he'd been using. He got comfortable and just curled up before setting himself off to sleep, his body quickly growing heavy while darkness overcame his mind. He was asleep in no time.

As time came to pass, it was all put towards rest and Kou slept away without a worry on his mind. He was in such a deep sleep that he had not noticed the presence in his room while he slept soundly. Someone who watched his sleeping form with a hint of amusement.

"Perhaps this is the safest for him, look at him snooze so deeply. Hold yourself together boy as your burden will only grow. Do not lose yourself, do not let go of your sense of self, keep true to your path while the burden of being in the presence of such a man as Aizen will only grow heavier."

The figure of mystery took off out the window, soundlessly hopping into the air and heading for the sand below...how could one get in with no sound nor hint of spiritual pressure? It was the mystery that would go unsolved for the time.

--Later that evening--

As Kousou slept, he was unaware of the plans of Harribel-sama, who decided to take the training of Kousou into her hands; after having seen him beaten so badly...she felt some compassion towards his situation and would increase his skill with his hollow powers. So without more than her presence in the fraccion hall's center, did her primary fraccion gather and stand before her silently.

"Good Evening Ladies." her voice was calm and gentle, as was normal in the presence of her fraccion.

"Good Evening Harribel-sama."

"Greetings Harribel-sama."

"Good Evening Harribel-sama."

They were quick to respond to her evening greeting, though question lay in Apache's eyes, In Mila-Rose's eyes were curiosity, and for Sun-Sun it was simply respect. There was overall no verbal questioning of what brought her down. Was it something important? The reason's possibilities were ultimately endless in that regard.

"My reason for coming down this evening was simple, I have come to oversee a regular training period between my fraccion. While you are all more than capable, your newest teammate is not up to par with his strength. As I watched him today, I can say that his full power is somehing comparable to at least one of you and his skill is exceptional. But he lacks the inability of working with a team and...I would also like to see about pushing his Hollow powers to a greater level." Harribel knew Kou was sleeping, he likely knew nothing about showing up when necessary; that was just as well for now.

The three looked to one another, well did that mean they'd be showing him or would it be something of a battle royale perhaps? The questions mounted again in the small silence, but were soon answered with Harribel's following statement.

"I would like each of you to show him the technique and see just how far his Hollow powers may go, I would like to see just how far this young man can push his powers. He is the anti-thesis of each of us and yet his access to hollow powers seems not only comparable to fraccion's level, but skillfully used, we will...push the wire." Harribel decided that her interest in this was far enough, whenever he wasn't resting on free time, doing a job, being trained under Aizen-sama's tutelage, he would be training under her watchful eye and with the instruction of his fellow fraccion.

After a few moments of deliberating amongst themselves, Sun-Sun took it upon herself to go wake Kou up, he was still sleeping after all of this...what had happened to him? She knew he was fine earlier and now he was sleeping like no tomorrow, so she simply knocked on his door calmly; he had manners so she expected him to be up in moments.

And it seemed she was right to count on it since he shot up from his sleeping, using shunpo he moved himself to the door and straightened out his bed hair and his attire; it was good that he bathed before sleep. He opened the door and looked tosee Sun-Sun present.

"A Meeting of the fraccion before Harribel-sama? Oh beg my pardon! I must've been sleeping too deeply, my apologies Harribel-sama!" he said as he made himself presentable through some quick brushes and walked outside, following the silent Sun-Sun back to the other fraccion.

She shook her head at that, well it was good to see that he was quick to be ready.

"Do not worry yourself over it, this was unannounced, but be sure to feel for the change in reiatsu around you. My appearance can be important or otherwise; so keep your wits about you Kousou." Harribel's words were something of warning though more friendly advice right now.

He gave a soft shoulder power and waited for whatever was being done, well perhaps to hear something about the mission ahead? He figured it was something even if it was unannounced.

"Come Kousou, you are going to be trained right now in your hollow powers. I know that you can use them, but I would like to see them more developed...if you are to be my fraccion, then all of your skills will become more developed; I would like you to use all of your skills whenever on duty. This will ensure your chances of surviving...as unlike Karakura Town or Soul Society, Hueco Mundo is far less forgiving." again, her words cooly delivered, yet spoke volumes in an icy tone.

Kou took it as it was, a fact that Hueco Mundo was far more punishing. Things were mostly run by power and strength, two things that he lacked...neither having much physical power or strong pressure in order to defend himself successfully against anything stronger than a lieutenant of ranked in Shinigami. Anything below was a simple matter of defeating, now he'd be trained by those stronger than him, in use of his powers that he normally kept on the down-low whenever using it. His power had already begun to mature...now it was a matter of cultivating it more.

All the shincy could do was nod to his superior, without more than a few moments more to prepare, they all headed out to the desert for training under Harribel's watchful eye.

--In the desert of Hueco Mundo--

Starting with something light, Harribel had commanded Kou to watch closely, as she had the three women under her command perform Cero.

"Watch closely Kousou, as though you perform it with relative ease, there is actually an art to releasing cero. As the amount you can gather can make or break its use in a fight when you need it in a hurry. The use of cero can help you survive while delivering with it a potent blow towards an opponent. What's most important is what your mindset is when you are commanding the presence over spiritual particles; it is a domination that takes place. While you may gather reishi as I have heard that Quincy do, you must be less passive in gathering cero; you exert a domination over it and command it to form in whatever pattern that you prefer. You seem to mold it into shapes well enough so I won't bother describing that to you, but first: watch and then follow the example." Harribel's instructions were simple enough to follow and Kou did just that.

First up was Apache, nominally she was the one to become most angry and appeared to be the loudest; however within her right the use of Cero was quite natural for her. She gathered the end of a glowering red light around her horn, summoning in the surrounding light with great command in her ability; it was something well practiced.

The red cero fired from the horn without much need to wait, immediately at which the large mass of energy struck the sand and exploded violently, scattering the sand where it hit. As the shockwave of wind and force from the semi-distant blast hit them, Kou was still paying close attention as he watched in silence. Mila-Rose was up next.

As Mila-Rose took it upon herself to show the next shot, the orange mass of light began to gather over her knuckles as she looked out and imagined her target; it was always easier when one was focusing on the area where she'd fire. As Mila-Rose gathered the cero at a casual rate, to show Kou the difference she fired the blast immediately following its minimal amount necessary in order to hit the sand. Upon impact her blast of cero created a surprisingly deep impact in the desert scenery.

Last to step forward was Sun-Sun, as Kou knew her to be refined...she effortlessly held her well hidden hand and above the long sleeve did the dark pink energy gather. Almost in a refined manner did the spiritual energy gather around her focal point of cero, like soldiers coming to the aid of her princess...this was what he thought of what he saw, the cero gathered under her command and to did it release itself in a violent narrow burst. While most cero could vary between wide and narrow, Sun-Sun's appeared to have its own agenda and was in its own way dignified.

Even as it struck the blank sand with immediate results that could be seen; a very powerful shock have delivered a shallow and yet broad divide between the sand where her cero struck. The displays were clear and the manner of the types of blasts were also visible, Harribel's gaze turned back to Kou and he understood what she wished: for him to show her his cero.

Without another word, Kou's hand rose above the side of his face and drew down the formation of that ever strange golden mask he'd worn before, so many times had it been presented in such a method that kept most from knowing what it was.

The shock of pressure that came off of the boy was always a little of a shock to her, more of a thrill in truth. It was something that made Mila-Rose glad that she pushed so much onto him as it was this mystery of the mask that he wore, she knew the very basic about the mask: it increases his power tremendously, it was certainly the source of his hollow powers, but what else did it have to do with it all? His reiatsu was naturally blended and yet he had no access to his hollow powers without his mask, she found it to be rather a curious thing. Her eyes watched intently as the golden cero gathered around the edge of the boy's left hand, swirling into the center of his balled fingertips.

"Cero!" releasing the powerful burst of cero gathered up by his fingers, Kou had to of course command such. It seemed that even though it was possible to be silent, as he called the attack name; the blast became more fluid and blasted the sand apart in a wider radius.

Harribel was quiet for a moment, analyzing the way he formed the blast and to that she began to comment on it.

"As it seems you are versatile with your release of cero, that bow you used before I assume was your quincy powers and the center of it you are able to form cero; as you would an arrow. Furthermore, when not in use of the power it appears you still choose to announce the attack as a means of increasing the power within the cero itself. But you still lack command over cero as a force, even though through your focus gathering it is not that difficult for you." she seemed to find him decently adaquate in that area of making use of the power.

Kou wondered what was next and the demonstrations would continue for the next four hours. Kou had begun studying and making use of further skills that included: Bala usage, deeper cero understanding, and perhaps an experimented use with sonido. It was to see if the boy's extent of hollow-like powers were limited to only a few exclusive bits of use. To Harribel's satisfaction, he had learned to use Bala and appeared at least capable of sonido: both required a heavier focus on the hollow reiatsu that he was using for these attacks.

By which at the end of the four hours of straight practice, Kou was at this point exhaused and trying his best to appear fit for continuation. He didn't want to appear weaker than he already was in the eyes of the other fraccion, he knew that his chances of avoiding more of the said 'worse' treatment would depend upon it. Granted he'd be sleeping well tonight, it didn't mean that he wouldn't try to resist once more. He felt stronger for a change, having learned more about his hollow powers than his father had been training him in use of.

"Very good Kousou, if it is anything that you do have...is the ability to learn things quickly, though your growth rate leaves something to be desired, I will not say that I am not impressed with what you have learned thus far. You will develop both powers equally this way Kousou, your shinigami and your hollow powers will get stronger. But you must keep all of your skills at your use; this includes your Quincy powers...but only you can train that. Do what you must to see it is retained, as my fraccion I would see you battle ready in all regards." this was something big with her, all of his powers would be ready.

After being dismissed, Kou drifted back to his room, both exhausted and wary from still earlier activities that he was pressed into; it had been time now for a little tea before his evening rest; something he was very glad to indulge in as tea was always pleasant for him. A knock at his door sounded, tensing at it for a moment, Kou took a breath and released before moving to the door and opening it.

"Sun-Sun-san, welcome. Won't you join me for tea before the evening comes to a close?" his offer was polite and being offered to someone he rather liked greatly in comparison towards the other two fraccion; who regularly now visited him in the night for a lot more than just tea. His rape appeared to be a more common thing now between Apache and Mila-Rose.

Sun-Sun entered the room upon his polite request and without a word, she was offered a seat and her tea cup; all presented in a very respectful manner. All of his mannerisms were enough to sate her actually taking time to visit with and speak to him. This was something that was done regularly now for the past few weeks, again...in Hueco Mundo the passage of time seemed to be something lost and endless. In the end there almost appeared no real point to trying to follow it, all that Sun-Sun really cared about was the fact that she enjoyed his company regularly and had come to like tea more since her exposure to it.

"Sun-Sun-san, would you prefer some mint tea this evening?" Kou asked her politely, in this way he had been introducing her to different flavors and seeing which she liked and hadn't liked. However to her credit she had been tolerable and even enjoyed 80% of the selection thus far.

After the wate was steaming, Kou poured the tea...this time seemed to be a blur before his eyes. He figured that he was just more tired than he thought, he and Sun-Sun often just chatted about experiences and just how he was doing here. Kou was able to relax almost completely around her, the only thing he found himself worrying about was whether or not he could catch any trap questions she might ask him this evening.

Even while the two discussed the evening, the experience that Kou himself held towards the training, and most of all any plans that he may have had in the future; all of this was based upon something short away that was passing through Sun-Sun's mind. At first she had not been interested in anything that the other two foolish fraccion she worked with might do; what had peaked this curiosity was the fact that Kousou was at the center of it all. She found that his mind was well developed for his youthful age, though he was sadly naive when it came to trusting people. Right now the only thing that she found was a major weakness in Kou was directed at two things: his innocence all-round, and his guard being dropped when he felt he could trust someone. He was always trying to make friends...and while she at least considered him worthy of talking to, he was prey....so helpless in this regard that even latent predatorial tendencies were beginning to show.

"Well Kousou, I have decided that I will help you discover more for your training. Your mind is sharp but you lack the experience to cope with your situation. You are capable and that is a plus...you may yet make an excellent adjuctant as a fraccion, but you must learn more about hollow. Your knowledge is lacking and to your credit you admit that fault, but you must do more than admit it." her words were spoke coldly, hard and refined facts to something that Kou knew was true.

"What you speak is true...but what is it that I can do towards that Sun-Sun-san. I mean as I know in truth, I will never be a hollow...and I shall not evolve in the same way that you have; but certainly I can become more than I am. What is it that you might suggest?" Kou felt that he could trust it, he could trust in her as she was and her words; cold facts might have hurt when spoke...but they were no less true.

Why did he have to be so trusting? It was not her nature to devour the foolish, yet here this boy was openly inviting her coils to entrap him; willingly he seeked the knowledge of the elegant but deadly Snake Princess...how could she refuse? Such a trusting soul would be only more inviting, she would give him a lesson in this while teaching him the nature of a hollow.

"I suggest that you and I tomorrow discuss more facts about a hollow. You seem to have a strange notion about us Kousou, your trust is most strange...even if it is well mannered trust; you are willing to accept everything. From your status as a prisoner to becoming a fraccion, you are very malliable...but your trust, you must be careful with whom you give it." she said again, in warning against what was before him.

But Kou remarked, in a far more trusting nature. Innocence and purity...it seemed he had still not lost it.

"While you are right as always about me Sun-Sun-san, I find that my trust in those near to me are just. Even should I be taken advantage of 20...no 30 times even down the line, beings of our nature cannot survive without this trust. It is a sacred thing, no matter how much I am haunted by what I bring upon myself; maintaining a relationship with those close to me is what is important. I know that I bring it upon myself, my actions are my own to take; the path becomes whatever it will. But my beliefs and will to trust are part of what make me who I am. I feel in a strange way...I can sacrifice my person towards fulfilling these ideals, since I believe that my bonds will only aid me in the end. As long as they are positive in a light, I can hold onto them and embrace them." his words were true.

No matter what either Apache or Mila-Rose did to him, he was certain whatever bonding they were doing to him; with him present it would only latch them together. He felt strange about admitting his conviction to her, not really embarrassed as much as he was just sure that the truth in his words on some level did frighten him...He was really dedicated to it on such a level.

"I see, well then young Kousou, I will see you tomorrow after you rest and your lesson will begin." she was impressed by his willingness to persist in his beliefs. But he was moving willingly into the coils of a predator, didn't he know...that birds, no matter how big were still food for snakes?

All would be disclosed to the young shincy as Sun-Sun's plot would unfold...what was it she would day? She planned to test the limits of his mind with her lesson about the hollows. As she left, the thoughts began to toil as she realized; that this boy did hold some interest. How far was he willing to go for his ideals? That she would test.

All would be disclosed by the next day of the boy's mind would be pushed, what more did she have planned? That lay in wait.

(end chapter)

another chapter up and done, I hope that you are enjoying the story as it unfolds. I hope to throw some more curves as the story unveils itself. Enjoy what lays in wait!

Till then adieu

-Quentix