Mamoru frowned as he hurried. Ayuma had sent a message. She needed everyone to talk to her. She had sounded flustered… and worried. She found Ayuma sitting against a tree. She was shaking. "Ayuma?!" He rushed over and rested a hand on her shoulder. She jumped. "Are you okay?"
"Mamoru…" She looked up at him. "You're here…."

"You did call."

"She called all of us." Benitenchio said as she walked up. Miuri was following her.

Ayuma looked at each of them. "I just… I just learned something…" Ayuma's body was still shaking. "The enemy… I met another one."

"It seems we all are meeting new ones." Benitenchio frowned. "What is so special about this one?"

"He told me…. He told me he knew me… He went to the academy with me… He also… He said we all have powers…."

"Talents…" Miuri whispered.

"What?" Ayuma looked at Miuri.

"What did he say?" Mamoru crouched down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Ayuma?"

"He said we all are like him and his friends… We all have powers… He… He told me what powers we have."

Mamoru stiffened.

"Did he have proof?" Benitenchio asked.

"He said he had watched us… He knew…. Benitenchio… you could… you can create barriers… Mamoru can heal… Miuri can see into the future… I …. I can see… the area around me."

"There's no way that's true." Benitenchio growled.

"Actually she's correct."

Mamoru stood up slowly and turned to see a man walking towards them. He wore a dark business suit a had dark eyes. His dark red hair was pulled back into a short pony tail. He smiled. "My brother and sisters, we finally met."

"Who are you?" Mamoru moved in front of Ayuma.

"My name is Kuenai. I am just like each of you. Only I have the added bonus of the ability to see those who are like us." His eyes locked on Miuri. "Yes you are one of us. Yoshida was correct." He took a step forward and Mamoru drew out Nnoitora.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Really Mamoru." He shook his head. "I don't see why you are so insistent in fighting against us? You are one of us."

"And who is us?" Benitenchio asked.

"Every person is born in this world, or the human world with a small seed. That seed either dies or blooms. In most people that seed dies and fades away. But there are a small handful of people who that seed blooms. It gives them more power and it is a power that no one can take away and no one can copy. It is something special. It is us who are the true leaders of the world. We should lead everyone. For even we are stronger than soul reapers. For even soul reapers can become us." He smirked. "Those of you who transcend the soul reaper life are deserving of joining with us."

"And if we don't want to?" Mamoru growled.

Kuenai frowned. "Why wouldn't you want to join with us? You are part of the next generation and you belong with us. You are our brother and sisters. All of you belong at our side." He held out his hand. "Come with us now."

"What do you plan to do to soul society?" Benitenchio asked.

"It's simple. De-throne them." He smiled. "We will take over their place and we will take our rightful place. You can join us now… Or you can be left in the rubble."

"We won't let you destroy soul society." Benitenchio had her blade out now. "You'll have to go through us!"

"I see." He frowned. "But I also understand that you aren't fully thinking correctly now." He smirked. "I'll give you time to fully think ahead. I'll see you soon enough." He turned and started to leave but Mamoru wasn't going to let this one get away.

Mamoru swung Nnoitora down but the man held up a small knife. Surprisingly it was glowing light red and able to hold back Nnoitora. "You!"
"Really." Kuenai chuckled. "You think you can catch me?" He laughed. "I have more time learning to use my powers than you." He reached out and touched Mamoru's chest, right over the strap of his zanpakuto's sheath strap. It began to glow and heat up.

"MAMORU!" Ayuma yelled right as the strap exploded and Mamoru went flying.

"Mamoru are you okay?" Hikari stood over him. "That looked like a bad hit."

"I'm fine." Mamoru rubbed his shoulder. He looked over at the large hollow as it's tail thrashed. It roared out and slapped aside a group of soul reaper trainees that were trying to fight with it. "This guy is tough."

"I'm sure we'll be able to take it down. And if not I'm sure that captain watching us will intervene." SHe glanced around. "Where do you think they are anyways?"

"Not sure." Mamoru frowned. "I've got an idea…. Get the others I'll take the front you all get the sides."

"Got it." Hikari nodded and then charged out.

Mamoru crouched and waited till they all moved to the sides. Then he charged forward. The hollow looked a lot like a giant scorpion with crab claws. "GO!" Mamoru jumped and shot forward. He swung his blade and right as the blade should have hit the hollow straight in the face something slammed into him. He went flying.

"MAMORU!" Hikari was suddenly at his side. He felt a hand at his chest. "MAMORU!"

"I'm okay." He groaned and slowly sat up. Hikari's face looked horrified and scared. "What's wrong."

"You…" She reached out and touched his chest.

Mamoru looked down. A large cut was spread out across his chest. There was a little blood but not much.

"I… I was so worried.. I… thought…"

"I'm fine. I got lucky." He slowly touched her chest. I got really lucky.

"Mamoru?" Mamoru's eyes flickered open to find Ayuma and Miuri looking down at him. THey both looked worried.

"What happened?"

"He made your strap blow up." Ayuma looked like she was about to cry. "Your wounds… they were really bad… we thought you were dead but then…"

"You started to heal." Miuri whispered. "You… You almost died."

Mamoru felt a shiver run down his back. "So what he said is true."

"Yes." Ayuma whispered. "Mamoru… You… You almost died…"

"I'm fine." He smiled gently. "I… I don't think this is the first time." He stood up and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Now where is Benitenchio?"

"She ran after him…. But I don't think she'll catch him."

"I doubt it." Mamoru nodded and stood up. "I'm just glad you two weren't hurt."

Ayuma looked down. "Mamoru…"

"I'm okay. And since I can't be fatally injured easily there is no need for you to worry about me so much." He chuckled. "Come on… I feel like we have a lot to talk to the captains about."

The girls nodded, but both appeared shaken.

Nnoitora…

What? The blade answered back.

That guy… The knife… what was up with it?

It felt like it had power in it. I bet he has the power to empower objects… Like your sash. It couldn't hold that energy and exploded. Talk to Szayel and he could give you more speculation.

Thanks. Mamoru started walking. The girls at his side.