Interlude
Ryohime felt a surge of relief when Herald and Steve arrived on the scene. She was tired, very tired, and she couldn't fight two Hollows at the same time. Herald was the strongest of all of them, and Steve's unique ability to ensnare enemies and puppet their actions would be invaluable.
Between the three of them, they might just scrap out a victory.
Hardly had Ryohime thought this then a stranger, wearing Caro's colors, appeared in a flicker of green in the air behind Steve. Ryohime started. That wasn't Sonido or Shunpo, it was like nothing she had ever seen before. Before any of them could react, he had slashed his raised Zanpakuto down across Steve's back.
For a moment, Ryohime thought he must have missed. Steve hardly seemed phased, in fact he basically ignored the man and began taking control of the fighting Hollows. Ryohime hesitated, wondering if the enemy would attack again, but he simply vanished. Steve finished seizing control of the Hollows and called out for Ryohime and Herald to finish off Caro's monster.
That's when the enemy struck again, taking advantage of Herald's distraction to stab him in the back. Ryohime screamed – she couldn't help it. The sword speared right through her friend's chest, it was impossible to mistake that for a miss.
And yet Herald, too, hardly seemed to notice it. He stumbled, yes, then caught himself and continued on as if nothing had happened.
That was when Ryohime turned and attacked the newcomer. And that was when Steve and Herald turned on her.
They knew this man? They expected her to know this man? How could they possibly ignore the fact that he had just tried to kill them both? Why were they going to such lengths to protect him...?