Out of lack of concentration, Seigi had forgotten to check the room he was searching in for traps, and suddenly tripped up over a thin wire.
NO!! He thought as he collided with the floor.
"Hey! What was that?!" Shouted a guard from outside.
"The trap's been sprung! There's an intruder!" Another responded.
Damn! What to do, what to do...
A flood of men charged into the room to find Seigi up against the wall. He growled and began to panic.
I can't kill them, they aren't the targets. Guess I'll just have to take them out without my zanpakuto.
Without warning two of the guards rushed out from the crowd to attack him with swords. They didn't seem co-ordinated, so Seigi didn't anticipate a synchronised strike. The two made horizontal slashes at Seigi, who jumped high into the air to avoid them. He outstretched his leg with sudden force and kicked the one on his right hand side in the face, breaking his nose and knocking him out cold. The other guard was stunned at the sudden disposal of his comrade. This gave Seigi enough time to give him a powerful punch to the chest. He could hear a bone crack as the guard was thrown to the ground next to the other victim of Seigi's martial arts abilities.
The other guards stared at the fallen men for a moment then looked up at Seigi, who smiled.
Looks like this might be easy after all.
The guards quickly became angered and charged in, drawing their swords. Seigi analysed their formation for a moment. It was slack, they just blinding charged as a mass of muscle with swords. There were four on the front row.
Perfect.
Once they got close enough to swing, Seigi ducked down and performed a sweep kick, knocking all of the poorly trained men off of their feet and making them tumble over forwards. Seigi rolled backwards from the men back up to the wall. As anticipated, the guards in the row behind also lost their footing as they tripped over the comrades who had just fallen at their feet. The row behind them stumbled forwards as well, creating a pile of idiocy. Seigi couldn't hold in a laugh as the men began to take out their frustration on the people above them, punching and kicking at each other and pushing dust up off the floor, creating a cloud. It made the scene look very much like a cartoon-style scrap.
Unexpectedly, the guards who had not even fallen over decided to join in, believing that the Shinigami was inside the mess and that their comrades had actually dogpiled onto him and started beating him up. What they found was that the situation was quite the contrary.
Struggling to contain his laughter, Seigi walked around the fight and sneaked out of the door while the guards continued to beat each other up on the ground.
I have to tell that to Tenchuu... He'll laugh so hard... Speaking of which I wonder where he is?
*
"Are you a warrior of justice, Tenchuu?" the wolf asked, peering back over her shoulder. The man slowly rose from his pathetic state and stood in the silver fields, his head once more looking up at the lilac sky.
"Yes," was his simple answer. "I am. I must win this fight to continue my service to the world. If I die here I am a name on a grave lost amongst many others. I cannot die. I must win."
"Then come, Shinigami," Said the creature softly. "Wield me. You know my name."
*
You know my form...
You know my power...
You know my name...
Say it.
"Scratch and scar... SHIRUBA!"
A sudden blast of light and reiatsu erupted from the doomed man, blinding the incoming assailant. He staggered backwards in shock and fell to one knee.
"W-what the..." He growled, attempting to stare into the silver light. "What did he just do?!"
"Hakkyou!" Shouted the strong voice of Tenchuu from inside the light. "By the order of the Gotei Thirteen, I'm here to kill you." This angered the criminal Shinigami further.
"SCREW YOU!" He cursed, charging blindly into the light and swinging for the silhouette of his enemy, afraid and enraged.
There was a sudden collision of metal and the light and reiatsu subsided. A veil of smoke covered and obscured the two fighters from the view of a surprised Yutaka.
What's going on? He asked himself, eyes fixed on the position where Hakkyou had just attacked.
The smoke had cleared just enough to see the combatants. Hakkyou's zanpakuto had collided with a strange weapon that had materialised on Tenchuu's right hand. It appeared to be a set of three long, metal claws, attached to his hand with a black glove that had ribbons wrapped all the way up his arm over his Shihakushou. With a closer look Yutaka could see a similar weapon on his other hand, except there was a set of metal tendrils coming off of each of his five fingers attached to the black glove instead of claws.
"What the hell is this?" Hakkyou asked, snarling and brinding his zanpakuto on the weapon. "Your shikai?!"
"Yes," Tenchuu replied with a neutral expression and tone. He suddenly pushed his claws to the right, and Hakkyou's blade with it. "It must be." With incredible speed he slashed upwards at the open Shinigami with the tendrils on his left hand. Hakkyou tried to jump backwards from the attack, but still received a deep set of gashes on his chest. This seemingly angered the insane man further.
"You... you..." He murmured, failing to find his words. Out of hatred and blinding fury he charged again, unable to comprehend a strategy. His insanity had completely taken over his mind. "YOU!!!"
The vile being slashed downwards again at Tenchuu, who suddenly dodged out of the way with his quick speed, stopping behind Hakkyou and mercilessly thrusting the claws on his right hand into the criminal's spine.
The screech that followed was extremely blood curdling. Hakkyou's body became paralysed below the chest, and his legs buckled as he fell to the floor. He still screamed loudly, being able to feel the pain in his back where Tenchuu's claws had struck.
"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" He cursed as he lay on the ground, screaming. "I'm going to die!"
"Don't worry," Tenchuu said as he walked around the fallen criminal to his front. "I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm taking you back to the Gotei. We need to know about Kusemono." The name seemed to scratch at whatever was left of the man.
"YOU KNOW HIM!!! YOU KNOW HIM!!! GIVE ME THE DRUGS!" He wailed, tears streaming down his cheeks onto the cold floor. "Give... me... the drugs..."
Tenchuu sighed at the pathetic Shinigami. He had probably once been a great man. But he had been reduced to a snivelling pile of drug-addicted garbage. Tenchuu no longer saw a threat in the man and looked at his Shikai.
Thank you, Shiruba. I couldn't have done it without you. You can go now.
The gloves shined white for a second, morphing back into spiritual energy. It reformed itself in Tenchuu's right hand as his sealed zanpackuto. He swore as the energy writhed around it whispered "You're welcome".
"Didn't you hear me?! I said give me the stupid drugs!" Shouted Hakkyou, suddenly finding resolve again. "If you don't I'll kill you!" Tenchuu became annoyed by this sudden outburst.
"Oh? And what are you going to do about it, cripple?" He snapped coldly. "Bite my ankles off?"
"BRING IT ON, LOW-LIFE!" Roared the downed Shinigami.
That was it.
Tenchuu's mind snapped. He took his zanpakuto and raised it high.
"DIE, WORM!" He raged as he swung down his blade with all his might.
A loud metallic sound rang out.
Tenchuu's swing had been interrupted by another blade. A Shinigami with brown eyes amd grey hair had appeared between Tenchuu and Hakkyou, holding up his zanpakuto horizontally.
"SEIGI!" Tenchuu blasted. "LET ME KILL HIM!"
"What's wrong with you?!" Seigi replied loudly. "Since you've become a Shinigami, every time an enemy mocks you you go for them! Do you think you're superior, now?! That no one has the right to tarnish your pride?! GET A GRIP, YOU JERK!" Those last words woke Tenchuu from his state of bloodlust.
"I... I..." He murmured. He dropped his zanpakuto immediately, and it collided loudly with the floor, creating a clanging sound that echoed throughout the whole room. "I... didn't even know I was doing it."
"You what?" Seigi asked, his eyebrows narrowed and eyes sharp as daggers. "How can you not know when you're about to kill someone?"
"It just... happened..." Tenchuu told him, wide-eyed, taking a few steps back. Seigi's expression was now one of concern. He was completely clueless what had happened to his friend.
"It's not like you to have fits of rage, Tenchuu," He replied, standing up and sheathing his zanpakuto.
"Hey!" Shouted the voice of Yataka from the other end of the room. "Have you forgotten about me?! Hello!"
Seigi snapped his head around the face the man. He was sat on the floor and his arms and legs had been tied up.
"Is that Yataka?" He asked Tenchuu, calming down.
"Yataka-Sama," The captive corrected. "Now free me from these binds. How am I getting out of here? Why aren't the guards coming? Surely they heard all that screaming?" Seigi could tell he was one of the more pompous officials of Rukongai, thinking himself above everyone.
"A member of the Fourth Division will be here momentarily to pick you up," Seigi told the man. "I already took out the guards on the way here, it's a sure bet they're all still unconscious."
"Okay, now mind setting me free?" Yataka asked bitterly. Agitated, Seigi slowly walked over to him and cut his bonds with his zanpakuto. "Now how long before the Fourth Shinigami gets here?"
"Hakkyou, you are under arrest," said an unknown voice. Seigi wheeled around and three Shinigami had appeared in the room around Hakkyou. "We're taking you in for interrogation."
"What?!" Hakkyou cried. "NO! NO I NEED MY DRUGS! NO!"
His cries were immediately silenced as the Shinigami suddenly disappeared from view, along with the criminal.
"What the hell? How can they be so fast? I didn't even see them come in!" Seigi said, bewildered and amazed.
"Don't you remember from our studies, Seigi?" Tenchuu asked. Seigi had just noticed that he was now sat on the floor at the wall with his arms wrapped around his legs. "It's called Flash Step, or Shunpo. It's what I'm trying to work towards."
"Wow, really? Guess I forgot about it," Seigi replied, still in amazement. "Man... they literally just appeared out of nowhere and took him."
"Yeah, it makes them look like they're teleporting," Tenchuu told him.
*
A little later, the Fourth had arrived and taken Yataka for a medical check-up before they escorted him back to his residence. Tenchuu and Seigi were now left alone, laid on the rooftop of the complex watching the orange sunset. The breeze was refreshing up high.
"So you can't control your anger now?" Seigi asked his friend, concerned. "I wonder why?"
"I have no idea," Tenchuu replied, rubbing his head. "I just hope you can stop me again before I kill someone I shouldn't." However his anger was not the main focus of his thoughts at that moment. There was a question that circled in Tenchuu's mind.
Should I tell Seigi about my Shikai? He asked himself, staring at the bright orange clouds. If word gets to Yakuin, he might send me on different missions than Seigi, thinking I'm more skilled. Maybe I should keep it secret for now.
"I hope so too," Seigi finally responded. It seemed he too had been thinking about something. "You'd better try and control it, though, I might not be there to stop you one time. Anyway, I suppose we'd better get back to the Twelfth."
"Yeah," Tenchuu replied simply, slowly pushing himself up into a standing position. He looked at Seigi, his best friend, and then to the sun setting behind Rukongai. He couldn't help but let out a sad smile.
This life can't continue forever. It'll change one day. But for now I'll have to make it last as long as I can. I won't let anyone know about my Shikai unless I have to. But there's one last thing I need to do.
*
The next day Tenchuu found himself walking into the Fourth Division's Infirmary. It was a relaxing and cheerful environment. He supposed it needed to be, seeing as people need to be motivated that to live through life-threatening ailments. He followed the signs of the to the help desk.
"Hey, I'm looking for Yataka-Sama," he told the Shinigami at the desk. "I was one of the Shinigami who rescued him."
"Of course," she said. She opened the draw and pulled out a small map, giving it to him. "Ward Two-Seventy, he's being treated for a few injuries. He should be in bed."
"Thank you," Tenchuu told her before heading off into the corridors.
*
Tenchuu walked into the ward specified. It was a beautiful place. Classic and pleasant designs covered the walls, and the clean smell of roses was in the air. He noticed Yataka in one of the soft, white beds and approached.
"Yataka-Sama?" He said. "I'm Kuromeiun Tenchuu, I was one of your rescuers," explained the Shinigami. The official opened his eyes and looked at him. "Oh, yeah. You were the one who paralysed that Hakkyou person. What do you want?"
"You noticed me Shikai, didn't you?" Tenchuu asked him quietly, nervous people around him might hear.
"Yes, why?" Yutaka replied, frowning.
"I'd like you to keep that secret for me," Tenchuu told him. "I fear my life will change for the worse if word gets to my superiors about it." There was an awkward silence for a moment, but slowly, a sickening grin began to form on his face. Tenchuu knew this wasn't going to go well.
"I will keep it from everyone else," he said. "If you become my personal assassin."
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Will Tenchuu go against his own morals to keep his shikai a secret? Find out next time in the beginning of the 2nd arc!
