Heh...3 chapters in 3 days...I'm on a roll...^^
Sai was walking through the barracks in the Third division. Being a new officer and all, he had to figure his way around the place.
He'd sent Uryu to put up some fake evidence. The Second squad thought he was hiding out around the west end of Seireitei now. Later he'd go and meet up with them…
Soi Fon was working as overseer to the investigation, pretty much letting her subordinates take care of all the fine details. One of them ran up to her, ready to give the overall report.
"Captain! We've searched this entire section of the west wing. Are we certain that Cinereus is hiding here?"
Fon looked annoyed. "Of course he is. All the recent criminal activities, murders, burglaries, assassinations... they've all been around this area, and there's no criminal on the loose besides Cinereus. If you can't find him search again, you idiot. He's got to be around here somewhere."
"Yes ma'am!" The officer dashed off.
Soi Fon sighed. "What a bunch of idiots…can't do anything on their own…"
Sai heard the door to the training facility slam shut. He turned to face the intruder. "Ishida!"
Uryu tch-ed and glared at Sai. "Don't act surprised, Aquilla Neophix. I came to this ditch because you called me here. What's gone wrong this time?"
"Nothing really." Sai pretended to be nonchalant, carefree. "I just need a quick run-down on the conditioning of the Second division."
"That's all?" Surprise.
Sai put his hands behind his head. "Well, I'm new to the whole division thing. I know the basic things the divisions take care of; Fourth's for healers, Twelfth is for scientists, etcetera, but I don't know about the individual officers, really."
Ishida sat on a nearby rock. "So what you want me to do…is to give you a lesson on the officers in the Second division?"
"Yeah, that's just about right." Sai pulled an 'innocent' grin. "So what can ya tell me?"
Uryu sighed. "Well, their captain's brilliant. She'd developed a style of her own, combining Kido and martial arts. Her zampakuto can kill you in two hits, so watch out." Uryu gave Sai a warning glare. "As for their lieutenant, he's pathetic. You couldn't find a stupider person if you looked all the way in Rukongai; idiot bought himself his position, but can't even handle a low class hollow without freaking out. They all rely on their captain to make all the important decisions, so if you take her out, then the Second division is pretty much crippled for good."
"Right. So, the captain is?"
"A short woman. Black hair."
"Thanks. That's all I needed to know…"
"Captain!" The poor guy was panting, must be really tired. "We've –pant- searched the entire –pant- area hundreds of times already! –pant- Are you absolutely certain-"
"Yes. Now keep searching, you idiot."
The officer staggered off, forgetting, in his fatigue, to even give the customary, 'Yes ma'am!'. Soi Fon would reprimand him later for that…
"Wow. Discipline sure is strict in the Second division." A cold, mocking voice said from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Soi Fon raised Suzumebachi and glanced around. He's finally decided to show up, eh? "Show yourself you coward!!"
"Maybe I will. Maybe not. We won't know for sure, now will we?"
Soi Fon noticed the bushes nearby rustling. She tensed up, waited until the figure stepped out of the foliage, then charged, Suzumebachi ready to strike…
"CAPTAIN!! WAIT! IT'S ONLY ME!"
"Omaeda!" Soi Fon gasped. The bumbling Lieutenant could only shout in indignation.
"J-jeez Captian! You don't have to scare me like that! And what was that!? Charging at me with your zampakuto released! Do you want me dead!?"
"Actually-"The bushes at the other side of the clearing were shaking now. Soi Fon motioned to Omaeda. "Don't move."
She crept toward the bushes, weapon raised. The rustling seemed to stop, but even so…
Soi Fon pushed the branches aside, only to reveal…
Omaeda. Tied up and gagged.
"What!?"
The Omaeda behind her was breaking out in sweat, glancing nervously between the doppleganger on the ground and the captain.
Almost as if… He's been found out!!
Soi Fon dashed toward him, ready to strike. "You fake!" She stabbed him twice. Once on the shoulder, the other through the arm. He expired screaming for her to stop. She regarded the corpse. "Did you honestly believe that you could get a cheap shot on me that way, you imposter?"
"No…" The 'Omaeda' in the bushes stood up, the ropes around him disappearing. "But it did take care of that annoyance. I must say, though, it's a disgrace that I had to disguise myself as that imbecile. The very fact that I wore his face…" 'Omaeda's' face dissolved to reveal the cold, silver mask, his uniform fading into a coat of black and white. "Disgusts me."
Soi Fon glared at the impassive plate of metal. "The oaf was only useful as a distraction anyway…"
The image of Cinereus faded into nothingness. The captain stared at the spot it stood on for a second, then kicked to the spot behind her. A grunt could be heard from the echoing voice as Sai crashed through the thicket. Soi Fon glared at the spot where the destruction ended. "Don't think you can hit me with a tactic like that, either."
"Then I'll just switch techniques…" Sai began the incantation to a kido. "Three domains, land, sea, and sky. By the strength of all I command thee to-GAK!"
Soi Fon had punched him in the gut with enough force to send him flying. He crashed straight through a tree. "It's pretty obvious what you're doing and where you're gonna do it." She taunted. "I won't even have to use my zampakuto against you!"
"Kuh…" Sai coughed up some blood. That's bad… If she notices my position's gonna be discovered… "I suppose…you're tougher than I thought… Tch… Playtime's over, time for me to get serious!"
"Oho. I hope you're a real challenge then, Cinereus!"
Both fighters smirked.
Sai raised his arm. True, he had no weapon, but that couldn't stop him from casting. "HAIEN!" A purple blast of energy shot out toward the clearing. Soi Fon jumped out of the way, but it still hit the ground she was standing on. The entire area burst into flames, smoke rising to blind the captain in midair.
"So that's it, eh?"
Sai appeared behind her. "Not quite."
"What!?"
Sai kicked her down, slamming her into a nearby rock. "Now." Sai muttered, preparing to cast, "Divide and conquer. Separate and immobilize the enemy!" He raised his scythe. "Bakudo 62, Hyapporankan!" He swung, a rod of energy erupting from the guard on Kenhane no Kuronawa. Halfway between him and Soi Fon, it split into several smaller rods, pinning her onto the surface of the rock.
Sai landed close to the captain. "I admire your dedication to your work, your efficiency, Soi Fon, but it's really getting in my way. And with that, I bid thee Adieu." He drove his weapon into her chest, but 'she' simply faded away. "What!?"
"Utsusemi." Soi Fon stood behind him. "Remember this. I am Soi Fon, Captain of the Second Division of the Thirteen Court guard, and I will not lose to an amateur like you!" She kicked him in the back and sent him flying; eventually he disappeared in a flash of light against the sky. She wanted to follow, but her men were tired and her lieutenant dead. She'd just have to hope that she kicked him into next week.
Sai was later seen limping to his room in the Third division barracks. His roommate, a happy-go-lucky teenage-looking girl named Koyuki happened to run into him. Obviously concerned about his condition, she asked him what had happened.
Sai pulled up a pained grin and said, "Fell down the stairs."
"Aquilla Neophix" is the pseudonym Sai adopted for use as an ordinary Shinigami. 'Aquilla' means Eagle, while 'Neophix' is an anagram of the word 'phoenix'.
Yes. I like birds ^^.