Chapter 8

The Red-Haired Beast Roars

Face to face with the snake-like Hollow Akira Akiyama had forwarned them about, both Aaron Higuchi and Konoka Mitsumi discovered themselves frozen in its presence. Their instincts were shouting, literally screaming at them to flee, yet their legs refused to heed their wills. It was as if their limbs were stuck in cement. This suited the Hollow perfectly fine. Easy prey was prey nonetheless, prey that would soon be between its powerful jaws. The mere thought of this made it salivate like a kid in a candy store.

"I've already devoured a number of souls in the area, but I'll have to find room in my belly for you succulent morsels," it hissed, its forked tongue waving about.

To call things 'bad' would not have been an exaggeration in Aaron's mind. Not only was this Hollow's spiritual pressure making it difficult for him to breathe or even think straight, but he realized he could do nothing to defend he and Konoka once it did opt to go on the attack. Without Kana, he was unable to become a Shinigami, and without transforming into a Shinigami, he hadn't any hope of dispatching his foe. At the very least, if someone had to go down, he preferred it to be him.

"Mitsumi, make a run for it!" he whispered to his companion. "I'll do something to slow this thing down in the meantime!"

"What in the hell do you seriously think you can do against that monster?!" she replied.

"Don't worry about that! Just get the hell outta here!"

The Hollow uttered, "What's this now? I'm afraid I can't have either one of you slipping away."

It slithered its violet-scaled body toward its quarry, and Aaron responded by readying himself for anything. Thankfully, it appeared Konoka had heeded his suggestion considering she was nowhere to be seen.

"Great. That's one problem out of the way..."

Or so he assumed. To his dismay, Konoka barreled recklessly at the Hollow with a lead pipe in hand. She cracked it against the monster's mask, yet the sole thing that was broken was her makeshift weapon.

"You gotta be kiddin' me!" she declared as she tossed the object aside.

"Oh, you have quite a bit of vigor, young one," the Hollow remarked. "All the better to make your soul taste that much finer."

"Get real, freak! You'll eat me over my cold, dead body!"

"That's the idea!"

Though Konoka might have been putting up a brave front, Aaron could easily tell she was terrified out of her wits. The Hollow could as well, its yellow eyes taking great delight in her trembling legs.

"Ugh! Why didn't you just run when I asked you to?!" cried Aaron.

Konoka answered, "That ain't really my style! If I'm goin' down, I'm goin' down swingin'!"

"W-What, are you crazy?! This Hollow isn't like one of the punks at school! You can't just beat it to a bloody pulp and steal its lunch money! You will die if you keep this up!"

"Heh. That suits me just fine."

That honestly wasn't the response Aaron had anticipated. His features, filled to the brim with shock, made that clear.

"Like I said, I should've died too ten years ago, just like my parents," Konoka continued. "I've always considered myself as livin' on borrowed time, so if it's my time to go, it's my time to go. I might as well go out with a bang, right?"

"...Dear God, she really is insane!"

"So, a human has the gall to challenge me? Interesting," the Hollow said. "I'm willing to play a bit before my meal."

Konoka took a fighting stance. "Oh yeah?! Bring it!"

"Am I the only one around here with a brain or something?!" Throwing his hands up in resignation, Aaron decided that he too would have to toss his hat into the ring. His brown eyes surveyed the area for something to help him in his endeavors. He unsurprisingly found nothing of use. "I guess it would be silly if someone just left a sword lying around or something like in a video game."

Konoka dodged when the Hollow lunged at her with its agape mouth and then rolled to the side once the creature followed up its opening strike with a sweep of its tail. The Hollow might have been menacing, but Konoka found it easier to deal with an opponent that had no arms or legs. So long as she stayed away from its poisonous fangs, she figured she would be alright. Of course, how to actually finish the Hollow was a 'minor' detail she hadn't cooked up yet.

"Right. I forgot she said she practiced martial arts." Aaron nodded. "Wait, but what good will that do against a Hollow?"

Not much, he soon learned. The Hollow's massive girth disguised how speedy it was, and it managed to ensnare Konoka as she took a swipe at it. Struggling to free herself, even her might was no match for the Hollow's crushing grip.

"L-Lemme go, you freak!" she bellowed.

The Hollow, hissing, said, "Not a chance, my dear. Now then, allow me to savor this meal for as long as possible..."

It clamped down even harder on her, inducing a cry of pure anguish from its victim. This beckoned Aaron to dash up to the Hollow and slam his fist into it. As expected however, the blow did little to hurt the creature, instead half near shattering Aaron's hand. He ignored his pain, next grabbing a heavy rock with ideas of bashing it against the Hollow's skull. The monster caught on though. It slammed its tail into his chest, sending him flying through the cemetary before he collided into a headstone, incidentally breaking his fall.

"S-Son of a…!"

Every bone in his body felt shattered . Maybe they were, he thought. Nevertheless, he got back up, brushing a trail of blood leaking out of his forehead away. His pain was nothing compared to what Konoka was having to endure, and taking that to heart, he began to strategize.

"...I just need to get that bastard away from Konoka long enough so she can run! I just need a distraction..."

"Hello there, Mister Higuchi! Are you in need of some assistance?"

So lost within his thinking, it took Aaron a couple of seconds to notice someone else was there. His head shot over to the individual afterward, and his eyes widened when he sighted none other than Kisuke Urahara grinning at him.

"Y-You…?!" was all Aaron could get out.

"Hold still for a moment, Mister Higuchi. This won't hurt a bit!"

"Huh? What are you…?"

Without warning, Urahara jabbed his cane into Aaron's forehead. His Shinigami form then came careening out of his soulless body.

"W-What the…?! How did you do that?!" he asked in astonishment.

Looking totally serious for once, Urahara answered, "If you've got time to ask me that, perhaps you have a bit of spare time to assist your friend over there."

"K-Konoka! Right! Uh...thanks, Mister Hat and Clogs!"

Aaron, feeling as if he could take on anything in the world now, stormed into the fray.

"That's good, Mister Higuchi. Become stronger. You have to become strong enough to protect your princess. After all, you're her knight in shining armor."

Urahara dipped his hat over his visage, employing Flash Step to leave the scene.

Aaron drew his Zanpakutou, light glinting off the blade as he did so, and sliced at the Hollow enough to induce it to free Konoka.

"Not so fast!" he cried, creating a brick wall between her and the snake using his body.

"A Shinigami…?" The Hollow blinked. "So, you were a Shinigami the whole time? Perfect. It has been quite some time since I last dined on a denizen of Soul Society. Oh, my stomach is tossing and turning in anticipation."

"I-Is that stupid thing still talkin'?!" It took some effort, but Konoka managed to get to a sitting position. The first thing she took heed of was Aaron's black robes. "...Did Halloween come early or something, Higuchi?"

"Very funny! Maybe I should've let the Hollow eat you after all!"

"Tsk. Save your whinin' for someone who cares."

A comically-large vein throbbed on Aaron's temple. Here he was risking his neck for the Red-Haired Beast, and all she had to thank him with were reprimanding words. Then again, he figured he shouldn't have expected anything more from the likes of her.

Having unwisely lowered his guard, Aaron was just barely able to block the snake-like Hollow's fangs with his blade. The creature shoved him back, but he dug his feet into the dirt to counter.

"I guess running really isn't in my nature either!" he told Konoka.

Konoka smirked. "Heh. Is that so? Just try not to cut yourself on that butter knife of yours, okay?"

"...You're just a riot, aren't you?!"

"You are quite powerful, Shinigami," rasped the Hollow. "How's this though?"

Aaron swore beneath his breath his enemy prepped a Cero in its mouth. Bathed in its red light, Aaron made haste to grab Konoka and dart out of the way as the blast leveled a good portion of the graveyard.

"W-What the hell was that?!" cried Konoka.

"Now isn't a good time!" retorted Aaron. "Ugh! I should've seen that coming!"

"Why the hell does that thing keep sayin' 'Shinigami?' What is that?!"

"I'm perfectly willing to answer any questions you have, Mitsumi! Just not now!"

"Bullshit! I'm not leavin' until you tell me everything!"

"Do you want me to kill that Hollow or not, woman?! In case you've forgotten, it's still waiting to make us a nice, afternoon snack!"

"Who the hell are you callin' 'woman', asshole?! Maybe you've forgotten I've been known to rearrange people's organs!"

"Y-You little…!"

Aaron palmed his hand across his face. The argument was going nowhere; it reminded him of his countless debates with his older sister.

"Would you mind lettin' go of me already, perv? I guess I can get you wantin' to hold me this close, but..."

"W-What?! What exactly are you trying to insinuate?!" The shade of Aaron's countenance matched Konoka's hair. "I…!"

Casually, she told him, "Watch out."

The snake Hollow loosed a purple substance, one Aaron couldn't determine, at the Shinigami. Without delay, he rotated his body enough to avoid it. Some managed to splash on his black robes, and he shrieked like a helpless child when some of it began to smolder before burning away.

"Acid?!" he theorized. "No! Poison!"

Waving its tongue here and there, the Hollow said, "You're rather sharp, Shinigami. Indeed, that is a special brand of venom I've cooked up. I can say with absolute certainty that you'll die within minutes if so much as a drop comes in contact with you. Fear not however. You'll still make a suitable meal for me."

"Yeah, that isn't good!"

"You think?" chimed Konoka. She was already on a thin leash with Aaron, and it took everything in his power not to chop off one of her limbs. "What do you plan to do, Higuchi?"

"...There's nothing else to do but take care of that Hollow. I want you though to get outta here while you have the chance. I understand that neither one of us like to run, but how about you swallow your pride just this once? It won't help you much if you're dead anyway."

"I guess that's a fair point." Albeit annoyed, Konoka shrugged her shoulders and added, "Whatever. I'll just..."

"Ah! Now I recognize you, child," said the Hollow just then to the Red-Haired Beast. "Yes. I thought your face was familiar when I first laid eyes on you, but now I am certain."

She narrowed her eyelids, replying, "...You what? You're sayin' a freak like you knows who I am?"

"Damn. I know she's rather infamous, but..." mumbled Aaron.

"Yes, child. You were the one that got away," the Hollow clarified. It could tell Konoka still didn't get its claim thanks to her expression. "I know you, but perhaps it would be more appropriate to say I know someone who greatly resembles you."

"Alright, freak! Talk before I smash your face in!"

"Does this girl do anything besides threaten people?" said Aaron under his breath.

The snake Hollow, hissing lowly, was happy to oblige her. "I remember it well, girl. Ten years ago, I was hunting down a human, a human that managed to slip between my jaws during a previous occasion. That woman looks rather much like you. Yes, seeing your face, girl, is rather nostalgic."

"A woman that looks like her?" Aaron scratched his head. "You don't have a twin somewhere, right, Mitsumi?"

"Mother!" Konoka gasped.

"Huh?! Y-Your mother?!"

"Ah, I see. Perhaps it was your mother," said the Hollow. "No one before had escaped me save for that one human. I vowed to track that woman down and devour her soul, no matter the cost. Yes, it was all I could think about for the longest time. It took me some time, but I found that woman once again. She was in a car with a two other humans: a male and a young girl. That young girl was you, wasn't it, child?"

So stunned by the Hollow's tale, Konoka was unable to utter a peep.

The creature wasn't finished. "I struck quickly. Finally, I managed to devour that woman. I even got the male accompanying her. You though, child, were able to get away solely because a Shinigami drove me away as I would have claimed your soul as well. Fortune smiles upon me however. The two of us have been reunited, and I can at last finish the job I began long ago."

Aaron, sickened beyond belief, covered his mouth. He was sure he was going to throw up.

Konoka, on the other hand, fell to her knees. She plugged her ears using her fingers in order to drown out the Hollow's vile words, they being even more potent than its poison to her. Surely, it had to be lying. It was only spouting nonsense to pull at her strings. Indeed, she might have craved to believe that, yet in her heart, everything added up. She always felt her parent's accident was peculiar, even thinking it no accident at all. Of course, she gathered one of their associates had taken them out over monetary reasons. This though was too much for her to bear or comprehend.

"Y-You...you…!" she snarled at the Hollow. "I'll kill you!"

"M-Mitsumi! Don't do anything stupid! That's what the Hollow wants!"

Paying Aaron's warning to mind, Konoka shouted like a wild beast and charged at the snake Hollow in a blind fury. She decided she wouldn't be satisfied until she bathed in the monster's blood.

"You're mine, girl!" stated the Hollow as it closed in for the kill.

"Ugh! Doesn't anyone listen to me around here?!" grumbled Aaron. "Guess it's time to see if my training with Kana is going anywhere!"

The Hollow held his mouth open, intending to swallow the Red-Haired Beast in one go. It likely would have succeeded were it not for Aaron employing a speedy burst of Flash Step to get in between it and its meal. He was pleased to see his first use of Shunpo had gone according to the script but having the Hollow's razor sharp fangs sunk deep into his shoulder killed his elation in a hurry. His blood stained the soil beside his feet. Unable to keep a grip on it, his Zanpakutou fell close behind. His legs then buckled, and he dropped down to one knee.

"H-Higuchi!" bellowed Konoka.

"D-Don't tell me the Red-Haired Beast is actually worried about someone?" Perhaps mocking his dire circumstances, Aaron chuckled. "Isn't that something? I-I'm fine! Just...ugh...fine! I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need more than an ice pack after this though..."

He laughed again, noting he was only kidding himself. Even now, he could sense the Hollow's poison coursing through his veins.

"Oh my. I had intended to play with you a bit longer, Shinigami," said the Hollow after it removed itself from Aaron. "Hmm. I suppose there's no fretting over it now. You're already done for."

The Hollow's confident talk rang true once Aaron's entire body became wracked with pain. Hollering in unadulterated agony, he collapsed and writhed on the ground. Watching him in horror, Konoka wasn't sure what to do. Her mind emptied, and her skin grew even whiter.

"D-Dammit, Higuchi! I'll kick your ass if you die on me! You're supposed to be some kinda tough guy, right?! You can't let some shitty poison do you in then! Come on!"

"How touching. Regrettably, that boy will still perish. You can chat with him to your heart's content, but it won't change a thing," said the Hollow without a shred of humility. "Now then, why don't you come over here, girl? I promise to make your own demise as quick and as painless as you desire."

Though it was more than likely a mistake, Konoka shifted to the Hollow, balled her fists, and made it clear she wasn't ready to go down without a fight by taking a step forward.

"You're gonna pay, freak!" she roared. "Do you know all the crap I had to go through after you killed my parents?! People think having money is all that matters in life, but it doesn't mean squat when everyone you thought cared about you suddenly abandons you when they think the well is gonna go dry! I was all alone! Kids at school would pick on me, call me the 'rich girl!' I had to go through crap like that each and every day! So, I toughened up! I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't back down from anyone or anything no matter what! I decided I would just mow through any obstacles! Now, some people call me a bully. Like I give a shit! All I care about right now is avengin' my mother and father! Even if I die in the process, you're goin' down, you ugly son of a bitch!"

The snake Hollow rotated its head curiously. "...What's this now? What are you babbling on about? The only thing you'll be able to do, girl, is sate my rumbling stomach. Now then..."

The creature lost its train of thought, mostly because it was suddenly blinded by an intense light.

"W-What in the…?! What is that?! What's going on?!"

That's exactly what Konoka liked to know. The source of the disturbance came from her mother's pendant. While clueless to its strange, never before seen behavior, she didn't panic. No, she instinctively took hold of it, almost like a tiny but still audible voice were instructing her. In the wake of this, the light grew brighter, encompassing everything in sight.

#

The rain on that fateful day ten years prior was cold and unending. Yes, Konoka remembered the weather well. The downpour began in the wee hours of the morning and only increased as the day went on.

Konoka herself didn't enjoy rain much. It always prevented her from going outside to play, an activity she could barely do in the first place because of her wealth. Her parents preferred her to stay where her personal security team could see her, and she hadn't any friends since she was homeschooled right at the mansion. Her reward for finishing all her work, which included advanced subjects such as philosophy, physics, chemistry, and world history, was being able to enjoy herself in the backyard under then sun. She might have been alone in the midst of her fun, yet knowing nothing else, it suited her just fine. That was why she reviled the rain so much. Being stuck indoors, stuck having to stare at lavish walls and furniture she took no interest in, was the absolute worst for her.

So, she thought it somewhat ironic, if not cruel, that it would choose to storm on the day of her parent's funeral. Those in attendance were dressed in black, a color that matched the bleakness festering all around the cemetery. A six-year old Konoka gazed blankly at tall headstones, headstones that belonged to her mother and father. They should have been enough to slam home the point that they were gone, never to be seen again. Despite this, she kept waiting for one of them to say, "Surprise!" and hop right out of the ground. Indeed, she desired nothing more than for all of this to be one big, fat joke.

The funeral was over now. People that had come to pay their respects began to depart. Most, likely out of courtesy, expressed their sincerest condolences to Konoka. She recognized none of them. They might have been family or perhaps friends of her folks. Regardless, all of their talk sounded phony to her, prepared even. She got the feeling no one there truly gave a damn about her mother and father.

"Are you quite alright, Miss Mitsumi?" asked Jives. Her butler, holding an umbrella to shield them both from the rain, became troubled when the normally talkative Konoka remained quiet. "…I understand how much you must be grieving. Still, your parents wouldn't want you to remain in a funk like this, young mistress."

Konoka wasn't listening. The conversation behind her, one between two businessmen, concerned her more.

"What do you suppose will happen to Heishima's company now?" asked one of them, a lanky man smoking an expensive-looking cigar. He smacked his lips and glanced at the dark clouds above, annoyed at the rain trying to snuff his tobacco out. "None of us expected him to just pass away like this."

"Yeah. I've been attempting to wrap my head around the whole conundrum myself," replied a rotund, older man. Konoka had seen him before in the company of her father. She wasn't positive, but she figured he must have been an old, business associate. "It'll likely go under without his leadership."

The skinny man exhaled black smoke. "What about his daughter? I know she's a runt right now, but won't she be able to run things when she's a bit older?"

The round man shook his head. "I doubt she has the drive of her old man. Dammit. Curse my luck. I was so close to cutting a deal with Heishima before all this. We would've split the profits fifty-fifty. Just thinking about the riches I've now lost..."

His compatriot, shrewdly smiling, patted him on the back. "Heh. I guess you should've struck while the iron was hot. No point fretting over the whole matter though, right? What's done is done."

"Hmph. I suppose you're right."

The two walked away, Konoka glowering at their backs.

"...All anyone here cares about is money," she mumbled. The sting of her intonation was like nails against a chalkboard. "I'm sick of money! I hate it! I don't want any of my father's riches! I don't need them!"

Jives said, "...Please don't speak like that, Miss Mitsumi. Your parents left you everything they had in this life in order to make sure you were taken care of in the event something befell them. They wanted to see you succeed, even if they weren't there to ensure it themselves."

"I don't care! If they really cared about me, they wouldn't have left like this! I hate them! I hate them!"

Tears, warm and bitter, streaked down her rosy cheeks. The sight of them briefly left Jives at a loss for words.

The last of those there to bid their final respects to Heishima and Kyoko Mitsumi took their leave. Only Konoka and Jives remained, something Konoka fully anticipated happening from the beginning.

Wiping her eyelids, she proclaimed, "I don't need money! I don't need anyone! I hate everyone!"

Her tiny voice echoed across the hollow graveyard.

"...I never want to hear you saying anything like that ever again, Miss Mitsumi!" shouted Jives. Konoka flinched; never before had she heard her loyal butler speak in such a stern fashion. Taking heed of the fear in her face, Jives crouched down and put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen, young mistress. Your parents would never approve of you speaking in that manner. While they may have been wealthy, they earned every penny and every dime through hard work and dedication. They didn't trample over anyone to get ahead either. They were the very definition of honest. You may not be old enough to understand this yet, but I can assure you that everything they did, they did for your sake, young mistress."

Konoka sniffled. "I-I dunno. What if Mom and Dad were just like the people here? What if they didn't care about me? Maybe they only cared about money too..."

Jives smiled warmly. "Do you know how long I have been serving your family, Miss Mitsumi? I was your grandfather's butler. I was your father's butler. Now, I'm your butler. I would have quit long ago if I thought your family were anything like those horrid people here today. You must listen to me, young mistress. Do not give up hope. Do not succumb to despair. I will not lie to you; there are plenty of awful people in this world of ours, people that will try to hurt you or take advantage of you if they sense the slightest hint of weakness. Nevertheless, there are good people peppered in all the bad. Do not turn your back on them because they will be the ones you can rely on in times of need."

Reaching into his pocket, Jives displayed an item that made Konoka's eyes gleam like diamonds: an emerald fixed to a golden necklace. He opened her palm, placing the item into it.

"This was your mother's," he explained. "She wanted you to have this when you were older, but in light of what's happen, I believe now is as good a time as any to give it to you, young mistress. It belonged to your grandmother before that, and her mother before that. It's a priceless, family heirloom, so please take good care of it."

"R-Really?! I can have this for real?!"

Others likely wouldn't have seen the value in such a simple trinket. Konoka, on the other hand, couldn't wait to put it around her neck, enthralled to have something to remember her dearly departed parents by.

"I won't let anything happen to it, Jives! I promise!" she said adamantly.

Jives, chuckling, replied, "I have complete faith in you, Miss Mitsumi."

#

The illumination that had swallowed the entire graveyard faded away. The Hollow, discombobulated, hissed as its sight came back. This allowed it a clear view of its left side being slashed without warning. Blood spewed from the wound, whereas the snake Hollow howled in pain.

"What?! How?! Who?!"

Upon locating Konoka, some of its inquisitions were answered. More were created however once it laid its gleaming, yellow eyes on the weapon the Red-Haired Beast was wielding. The glaive was even taller than she was, its pole being a shimmering, golden hue. A lengthy, decorative chain of the same color was fixed to the end, and a red pommel adorned the shaft. The blade, constructed of emerald, was curved and about eighteen inches long. Three spikes protruded from the end of it.

"Playtime is over, freak!" Konoka declared.

"Y-You…! How could you have acquired such power?!" cried the Hollow.

"...The hell if I know," she replied, staring at the glaive in awe. "I just wanted a way to shut your mouth. Looks like I got it somehow."

Outraged, the Hollow bellowed, "I'm going to enjoy dining on your soul, girl!"

It slinked toward her with lust permeating its entire being. Konoka didn't waver. Her mother had left her some sort of gift, more than the mere necklace she had been carrying around all these years. With that in mind, the Red-Haired Beast wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

Konoka rolled to the left, letting the Hollow race past her. Next, she thrust her golden glaive into the snake Hollow's backside, the emerald blade plunging through its flesh like a knife through butter. A shower of blood exited the grievous injury upon her removing her weapon, yet the Hollow was far more disturbed a mere human had been able to strike it a second time.

"D-Damn you, girl!" it cried, tossing her aside with a headbutt.

"Tsk! Son of a…!" Konoka, acrobatically soaring across the air, landed on her feet in a cat-like fashion. Other than an average cut on her forehead, the Hollow's last blow hadn't done her much harm. "You're gonna pay for that..."

"If anyone is going to pay, it's you!"

The Hollow spewed globs of poison the Red-Haired Beast's way. Knowing full well what would happen if she came in contact with any of them, she darted out of the way, letting gravestones be melted in her place. No matter how hard the Hollow tried, it was unable to hit her. It was like a giant attempting to swat down a fly.

"Dammit! Sit still, you bothersome, little girl!" it said.

"Kiss my ass!" she shouted back, ducking another round of poison. "It's time like this all that trainin' with Jives doesn't seem so bad..."

#

A ten-year old Konoka, dressed in a karate gi, was sent tumbling to the floor by another of her butler's devastating attacks. Her features wrinkled, and wanting to cry, she observed a bo staff roll past her. It was the source of all her current misfortune. She soon learned she had far bigger things to fret over, whimpering once Jives pointed a staff of his own at her threateningly.

"Are you ready to give in already, Miss Mitsumi?" he asked politely.

Pouting her lips, she responded, "Y-You're too strong, Jives! I don't get why we have to do stupid crap like this in the first place!"

Jives sighed. "Young mistress, please do not speak in such a crude manner. It isn't fitting for someone of your status. Also, it is vital you be able to defend yourself. Because of your wealth, there will likely be many who intend to harm you for their own gain. As I do not desire to see such a thing happen, it is my job to prepare you for the unexpected."

"Huh? Don't I have a security team for stuff like that?"

"Indeed you do. However, they may not always be by your side."

Perhaps showing off, he twisted both his staff and his body in an impressive display. Konoka, wowed, proceeded to clap.

"The art of the staff, while complex, can also be beautiful, even fluent in the right hands," he explained. With a chuckle, he added, "And also deadly. Of course, I am not teaching you all this so you can go and start fights with random people. This is solely for self defense. Always keep that in mind, young mistress."

"O-Okay." Konoka picked herself, and her staff, up. "How am I gonna learn anything when you keep beating me though? You're really strong! I order you to let me win!"

"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. While I'm more than happy to obey your orders in most circumstances, this isn't one of them. Besides, how do you expect to win when you're already resigning yourself to defeat? If you truly desire to claim victory, you must remain strong and confident, no matter the situation. That is not to say you shouldn't pay heed to your fear. Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. However, you must not be controlled by it. There may be many times where you will have no choice but to rely only on your own strength. Now then, if you want to make sure that is never an issue, let us continue."

Seeing little choice in the matter, Konoka nodded and retook a fighting pose. She remained unconvinced she would ever need to employ these skills in real life.

#

The snake-like Hollow charged at Konoka again. She easily dodged, thinking the creature's actions were becoming more irrational by the second. Her theory proved to be something more after she put another gash on the monster with aid of her glaive. It retreated a good distance, something the Red-Haired Beast had no complaints with. It gave her the chance to get some fresh oxygen.

"Yes, you've been quite interesting, girl," it hissed. "However, I grow tired of dealing with your shenanigans! It is about time we ended this little game of ours!"

"Sounds good to me, freak! I ain't about to hold back any longer either!"

"I-Impossible! You're saying you haven't been using your full powers so far?! Y-You insolent, little brat! How dare you speak to me in that manner?!"

Bathed in a crimson light, Konoka froze as the Hollow launched a Cero. It wasn't exactly the same as her butler swinging a wooden staff at her, after all. Out of the blue, her instincts kicked her. No, that wasn't it. It was as if her strange powers were silently revealing what to do. Heeding them, she shouted at the top of her lungs and swung her heavy glaive vertically. The weapon responded by letting loose an emerald-colored blade of energy. It carved through the Cero, destroying it, ahead of continuing for the Hollow.

"I-Impossible!" it declared. "What in the world is that?!"

Once the energy blade sliced it down the middle, it never got the opportunity to ask.

"How?! H-How could I have been defeated by a mere human?!"

It disintegrated into nothingness, whereas Konoka fell to her knees and dropped her weapon. It rattled against the dirt and flashed ahead of transforming back into her mother's necklace. The trinket made her eyes become as wide as saucers.

"W-What the hell just happened? How did…?"

There was neither time for her to celebrate her victory nor contemplate how it came to be in the first place. Her mind went back to Aaron and his current plight. She ran over to the Shinigami, who's skin was pale and ice cold. He wasn't moving.

"Dammit! Get up, Higuchi! You're gonna let some stupid poison do you in?!"

If he had the strength to answer her, he chose not to. Now earnestly freaked out, she inspected his wounds, cringing at their severity. She got the hint she needed to do something, anything to treat them. She was no medic though. Ripping off a piece of her shirt, she figured the most she could do at the moment was dress the bites on his shoulders until she got him to a hospital. Then again, she wasn't sure there was anything a doctor could do. Aaron's injuries were of the supernatural kind.

"I-I gotta chill out!" she muttered, grasping her other shaking arm. "W-What the hell am I supposed to do?! Just...h-hang in there a bit longer, Higuchi! I'll…!"

"Hmm. I was certain the effects of that Hollow's poison would wear off once it was destroyed. Guess not! Anyway, why not leave him to me, young lady?"

Putting hands on her necklace, Konoka readied to do battle with whoever had managed to creep up on her. The courteous grin Kisuke Urahara gave her compelled her to relax however.

"I apologize! I didn't mean to startle you!" he said.

"D-Don't worry about it." Konoka figured it wise to remain cautious. "Wait a sec. Who are you?"

"Kisuke Urahara. I'm nothing more than a humble candy shop owner nowadays." Urahara bowed and briefly removed his bucket hat. "As I said before, allow me to take care of Mister Higuchi. I believe he can be saved but only if we move quickly. That poison must be wreaking havoc on his body."

Having no one else to turn to, Konoka nodded and said, "A-Alright. Let's go then!"

"Sure. First though, I have some questions for you, young lady." Urahara's grey eyes were slightly obscured by his hat. Nevertheless, Konoka could tell they were glued to her emerald pendant. "Are you familiar with the term 'Fullbringer?'"

"Huh? What the hell are you goin' on about, old timer?"

#

"Oh God. M-My head..."

Aaron was no drinker. He wasn't even old enough to consume alcohol. Even so, his skull was pounding like a marching band was playing inside of it. His sister, Izumi, often came home with hangovers once she got through partying with her friends, and this was how she described them.

"Ugh. M-Maybe Kana slipped something into one of my drinks while I wasn't looking. Wait, when the heck did I fall asleep?"

He felt covers and sheets on top of him, a good sign he was indeed resting in a bed. Desiring answers, he sat up yet was halted by something heavy on top of him. Kana had a habit of placing heavy textbooks on him every morning as a practical joke. He growled, wondering why she had to screw around so much.

"Damn! T-These are some thick books this time! What, did she check out a couple encyclopedias from the library?"

His heart almost stopped. Kana wasn't to blame for him being unable to move this time. No, all the credit went to Tessai Tsukabishi, the giant of a man in the employment of Kisuke Urahara. The man, wordlessly gazing back at Aaron, kept on resting on the boy like he were a futon.

"God dammit! N-Not again!"

With haste, Aaron slipped from under Tessai, stumbling upon safety in a corner of the room.

"H-How did you get into my room?!" he desired to know. On further inspection, Aaron realized he wasn't actually at home. "Huh? Isn't this Urahara's store? How did I get to Karakura Town?"

"Boss, he's awake!" Tessai shouted toward the door.

"'Boss?' Oh, he means Urahara. Guess I really am at his store..."

Aaron expected Mister Hat and Clogs to come and greet him at any moment, but instead, Jinta and Ururu came in through the sliding doors. Ururu, her pigtails flopping around, ran over to Aaron and quietly held up cup, one containing a substance Aaron couldn't readily identify. Whatever it was, it smelled horrible. Pinching his nose, he had to hold back the urge to throw up.

"...Drink it," said Ururu softly.

"N-No thanks." Aaron laughed halfheartedly. "I-I appreciate your hospitality though!"

"Just drink it! It'll help get all that poison outta your system!" yelled Jinta.

"'Poison?'" echoed Aaron. He then inhaled sharply, recounting his hair raising encounter with the snake Hollow. His focus then drifted to his bandaged shoulder. Running his fingers across the dressings, he could still sense the anguish from the Hollow's fangs. "Right. Guess I was poisoned. W-Wait, you're telling me that nasty junk is gonna help?"

"Yeah! So drink it already! Tessai'll kick your ass otherwise!"

"...Drink it," Ururu repeated.

Aaron gulped. "Ugh. I-It doesn't sound like I have much choice..."

Although he was convinced it would be the last thing he ever did, he discarded his fear and chugged the smoking liquid in one go. Soon after, his face went through all the colors of the rainbow prior to settling on blue. Through sheer force, he was able to hold back the contents of his stomach, merely gagging.

"I-I'm gonna die..."

"Not likely, Mister Higuchi!" With his cane in hand, Urahara strolled onto the scene. "Tessai's home remedies always leave a foul aftertaste in your mouth, but they're effective! You should be fine with a bit more rest, so do try to take it easy."

"Right. Thanks," Aaron told Tessai. The huge man nodded, smiling a bit even. "Then again, I can't really even think about sleeping soundly thinking you're gonna be there every time I wake up..."

Perishing the thought, he turned to Urahara. "I guess you must've saved me again. Sorry, and thank you. It's not my intention to have you bail me out every time I screw up."

Urahara replied, "Nope! Can't take credit for taking care of a Hollow this time! Miss Mitsumi was the one who dispatched that last one!"

"H-Huh?! Seriously?! I-I knew the Red-Haired Beast was scary as all hell, but she's even strong enough to beat Hollows?! R-Remind me to just run the next time I see her coming down the hallway at school..."

"Ha! That girl wasn't that scary!" Jinta proclaimed with conviction.

"But...you were hiding from her the whole time she was here," said Ururu.

"H-Hey! W-Why'd you have to go blabbering about that?!"

Wrenching on Ururu's pigtails and making the girl weep was a more than suitable punishment for her loose lips in Jinta's opinion. His fun was cut short though when Tessai bopped the boy on the cranium with enough force to break something.

"D-Dammit! What's the big idea, Tessai?! You really are trying to give me brain damage, aren't you?!" Jinta, now crying himself, shouted.

"We're leaving, Jinta, Ururu. Give the boss some privacy," said Tessai. Whereas Ururu had no qualms with complying, Tessai was forced to drag Jinta along with him by his shirt. "Don't forget, Jinta. You've still got some chores you need to finish."

"L-Lemme go already! You know I hate cleaning the bathroom!"

Aaron couldn't help but feel better after witnessing all of this. He then paused, noticing Ururu hadn't left just yet. Her cheeks rosy, she dashed up to him and said nothing for a few moments, making one of his eyebrows heighten.

"...Get better soon," she said in a hushed tone before scampering out of the room in a hurry. Aaron, taken off guard, could do nothing more than rub the back of his head.

"I can marry you two if you want!" Urahara said just then.

Aaron choked on his own spit. "W-What?!"

"Well, I'll have to have you wait a number of years for Ururu to 'mature', but I can start preparations for the ceremony right now if you want, Mister Higuchi! She's a rather sweet girl, so I believe she'll do nicely as your bride!"

"Thanks, but no thanks! I'm not some kind of sick lolicon!" Aaron said as loud as he could. Calming, he got a good look around the place and picked up on something amiss. "Say, what happened to Mitsumi? She alright?"

"Other than a few scratches, she was perfectly fine. She didn't want to leave until I assured her you would be okay."

"...You're kidding, right? The Red-Haired Beast was worried about me?"

It seemed Konoka Mitsumi was just chock full of surprises.

"There's something I still don't get," he continued. "How is it possible for someone like Konoka to defeat Hollows? Even I still have trouble with them, and I'm a Shinigami."

"Hmm? Doing such a thing would be no problem for a Fullbringer like her, Mister Higuchi!"

"...Come again? What in the heck is a Fullbringer?"

#

"...What in the hell is a Fullbringer?" asked Konoka, leering at Urahara like he were a loon. While Tessai put two cups of piping, hot tea on at their table, Urahara picked at his beard stubble, not really sure why the Red-Haired Beast had to glower at him so intently. "You said that before, but I still don't understand."

"That's...uh...honestly a very good question!" he said apprehensively. He quickly got to the point after Konoka cracked her knuckles. "...I don't know much about them myself. I've only run into a few here and there over the years. What I can tell you is that Fullbringers have rather peculiar abilities, powers you put on full display against that nasty Hollow."

Konoka, crossing her arms, said, "Tsk. I don't know how I did what I did. I just wanted to survive. For the record, I don't plan on doin'...whatever the hell it was I did ever again. I don't want people sayin' I'm some kinda freak. This whole thing is a pain in the ass though. Where'd I even get powers like that from?"

"...A Fullbringer's powers stem from their mother surviving an attack from a Hollow before the Fullbringer is born."

Konoka ceased drinking her tea upon hearing this, her scarlet eyes broadening.

Urahara went on with, "A portion of the Hollow's spiritual energy remains with the mother, and this very same energy is passed down to the child."

"I-I see..."

Now the snake Hollow's story of it having once hunted her mother was beginning to make sense to Konoka.

"Ah! Tessai's tea is excellent as always!" Urahara stated contently before taking another sip. "Anyway, it is your choice if you wish to use your powers, Miss Mitsumi. After all, you didn't ask to be a Fullbringer. That choice was made for you, even before you were born. Nevertheless, I feel it prudent to inform you that you'll more than likely be a target for Hollows and other supernatural entities because of your awakened abilities. Even though Hollows like the one you fought today are usually uncommon in these parts, ones like it with unnatural strength have been appearing all over your hometown of Hino as of late."

"So? What does that crap have to do with me?"

"...Nothing really if you choose to ignore them. You have the power to make a difference though. Don't you think it would be better if you did something rather than nothing, Miss Mitsumi?"

Konoka abruptly got to her feet. "...I'm no hero, old man. I ain't puttin' my neck out for anyone if I don't have to. Besides, what has anyone ever done for me? Higuchi and his buddies are more than welcome to kill themselves stoppin' those Hollows, but leave me the hell out of it."

Urahara said nothing to this as he drank the rest of his beverage. Grabbing her backpack, the Red-Haired Beast slung it over her shoulder and headed for the door.

"...Thanks for the hospitality," she muttered.

"Not a problem! Of course, you're welcome to come back for a visit anytime you desire, Miss Mitsumi!"

"...Whatever. Just look after Higuchi for me, alright?"

"Hmm? I thought you didn't like 'sticking your neck out for anyone?'"

"Shut up. I didn't ask for your criticism. Just take care of him, alright? He saved my ass twice now, and I don't like owing anyone any favors."

#

Back in the present, Aaron nodded at what Urahara's story.

"I should probably check in on her when I get the chance."

"That's a good idea, Mister Higuchi," said Mister Hat and Clogs. "I wasn't kidding when I told her she would be a target. At the very least, she seems like she's more than capable of taking care of herself."

Throwing on a shirt, Aaron again nodded. "You got that right. I'll go see her as soon as I can. I'll probably have to go home first."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea? Miss Mitarashi might become upset if she finds out you've been hanging out with other women! That's not to mention the fact you're supposed to be marrying my dear Ururu!"

"W-Would you be quiet about that already?! Besides, it's not like that at all with Mitsumi! She's just a classmate!"

Despite being only half dressed, Aaron marched out of the room before Urahara had a chance to poke more fun at his expense. His haste to go lead him to bump into someone who had been patiently waiting outside the doorway. Like a bowling ball colliding into pins, the two hit the ground.

"Ugh! S-Sorry about that! I didn't mean to do that, I swear!" he was quick to say, helping the petite woman to her feet. "Are you alright?"

In a respectful tone, the woman said, "I'm fine, thank you. It's nothing to worry about."

The girl wore a school uniform, though Aaron didn't categorize it as belonging to Hino Municipal High School. Chewing the matter over, he recalled students from Karakura High School wearing a similar attire.

On the subject of her appearance, Aaron was shocked to see he basically towered over her. Kana might have constantly—and honestly insufferably if Aaron had anything to say about it—referred to herself as delicate, yet she was nothing compared to the person before him.

Her hair was short and black, with a long bang hanging across her face. Meanwhile, her eyes, a deep shade of purple, carefully inspected the bandages peeking out from Aaron's unbuttoned dress shirt.

"Did you hurt yourself?" she inquired.

"S-Sorta. It's uh...nothing to worry about! I should be right as rain in no time thanks to Urahara!"

"Ah! Is that Miss Kuchiki I see?" Urahara, elated to say the least, nearly pushed Aaron over to get to the girl the latter had been speaking to. "Welcome back!"

'Miss Kuchiki' wasn't remotely as thrilled to see him. "...I'm just here for more supplies."

"Of course, of course! You'll be happy to know the ones you ordered are in stock! Why not have a look?"

He retrieved the items in question, and the woman inspected them attentively.

"...There's something about her," Aaron said without really thinking. He covered his mouth with his hand, thankful the person he was gossiping about hadn't heard him.

She did take heed of his gawking though. Becoming totally rigid when she stared back, Aaron began whistling naively.

"Did you need something from me?" asked Miss Kuchiki.

"M-Me?! N-No! Nothing at all! Sorry!"

She didn't think much of his conduct, nodding and going back to what she was doing.

"You still haven't been answering my calls, Urahara," she said to the man, irritation painting her speech.

"I apologize!" Urahara said sincerely. "I've been rather busy as of late, you see! I believe I've told you of the strange things that have been happening as of late."

"That's no excuse..."

"Don't be that way! Oh! I know! I have just the thing to cheer you up!"

He displayed a rabbit-shaped candy dispenser, one that made Aaron and Miss Kuchiki inch closer.

"Chappy!" they both shouted. They then turned to one another.

"W-Wait, how could you possibly know who that is?" said a suspicious Miss Kuchiki.

"You took the words right out of my mouth!" replied Aaron. "I thought Kana was the only one silly enough like Chappy."

His slight struck a cord with Miss Kuchiki; she flared her nostrils and wrinkled her visage. This change in demeanor threw Aaron for a loop.

"How could you say such a thing?! Chappy is adorable!"

"I-I guess..." he weakly retorted. "Y-You don't have to get so..."

The bell above the entrance to Urahara's shop rattled, informing those inside that someone was coming in. Kana Mitarashi, humming a sweet tune to herself, located Aaron and skipped over to him at once. He cringed after she latched herself onto his arm like usual, threatening to rip it right out of the socket.

"There you are!" she cried. "I've been worried sick about you! Urahara told me what happened, so I got over here as soon as I could! Are you alright, CT?"

Blushing slightly, Aaron said, "M-More or less. Uh...t-thanks for going outta your way to come see me. I...erm...didn't know you cared so much."

"Of course I do, silly!"

"Oh, t-that's great!"

"Who would take care of those Hollows for me if you were gone?"

Aaron paused, becoming expressionless even, ahead of shouting, "T-That's the only reason you wanted to make sure I was alright?! W-Why you…!"

Kana giggled, seeing nothing wrong with her line of thinking.

"H-Hold on! Wait a sec!" she shouted abruptly. "R-Rukia?! Is that you, Rukia?!"

"K-Kana Mitarashi…?" Rukia squinted but was positive the brunette in Aaron's company was indeed Kana. "It really is you! Y-You changed your hair..."

"Yeah! Everyone says I look better with brown hair, so..."

Aaron peered at Kana and then Rukia. "...I get the feeling I'm missing something here."

Urahara scratched his head. "You and me both!"

"I heard you disappeared from Soul Society, though I never imagined you were somewhere here in the Human World, Mitarashi," said Rukia.

Kana stuck her tongue out jovially. "Ha! I'd tell you what happened, but it's a long story! Say, how come you're here in the Human World too, in a Gigai no less?"

Rukia awkwardly replied, "It's...also a long story."

"Oh. Now I see why you recognized Chappy. You must be a Shinigami from Soul Society like Kana here," said Aaron.

"You...know about Shinigami?" said a shocked Rukia. She glanced at Kana, gathering Aaron's wealth of knowledge was her doing. "I see. Well, I suppose it would be correct to say I was a Shinigami."

"Aw, don't tell me you accidentally gave your Shinigami powers away to some human too?!" exclaimed Kana.

Rukia became even more dumbfounded. "...S-Something like that, yes. Something tells me your story is far longer than I imagined, Mitarashi."

Urahara snapped his fingers. "I'll have Tessai prepare some more tea! I get the feeling you all have a lot to discuss with one another!"

"Y-Yeah..." said Aaron. "It's been a hell of a day…"

#

Konoka hardly had the strength climb out of her limousine. Even though she had received treatment for her wounds at Urahara, her body still ached here and there. Her chauffeur, realizing her plight, came to her aid and assisted her up the walkway of her mansion. She thanked him and assured him she could make it the rest of the way on her own. As she did so, her legs felt like gelatin, and couldn't wait to pop a few aspirins. She hadn't been this worn out since her last training session with Jives.

"Tsk. This is why I ain't gonna waste my time playin' the hero," she muttered while stretching her neck. She then rose her emerald pendant up to her face, unsure what to make of it now. "I should just throw this stupid thing away. It's gonna cause me nothin' but problems in the future. I can see it comin' now."

Flinching, she couldn't bare the idea of actually getting rid of the item. Rather, she tucked it down her shirt for safekeeping. So long as nothing reared its ugly head, she would have no reason to use the powers locked within it.

"Ugh. I need a shower. I'm startin' to reek like that damn Hollow."

She halted. The butlers and maids that usually awaited her were absent today. In fact, as she took a gander at her surroundings, she saw she was the only one present. Even her annoying security team was nowhere to be found. Her senses sharpened, and she tentatively stepped toward her front door.

"...Jives ain't even here. What the hell is goin' on?"

Her loyal butler might not have been there to welcome her home, but someone else sure enough was. It was a man Konoka wasn't familiar with, one who was checking out the interior of her mansion from a large window. He picked up on her presence, doing an about-face and grinning.

"There you are! I've been waiting here for a long time! I didn't think you'd ever come home!"

The tall, fair-skinned man curled his lips some at Konoka saying nothing.

"Oh, sorry. Did I come at a bad time?"

"...How did you get past security?" asked Konoka sternly. "I asked them not to let anyone I don't know past the front gate. How did you sneak in here?"

The black-haired man held up his arms defensively. "Whoa, whoa! Take it easy! Don't worry, I'm not here to start trouble!"

"We'll see about that."

Sighing, the man got the hunch Konoka wasn't going to lower her guard against him. Then again, if the situation were reversed, he would more than likely behave in the same manner.

"Uh...my name is Kuugo Ginjou," he started, extending his hand. Konoka leered at it but otherwise ignored the gesture. "The reason I'm here is because I have a proposition for you, Miss Konoka Mitsumi."

"You know my name? So what. Everyone does. Whatever the case, get lost. I don't want whatever the hell it is your sellin', and frankly, you face is startin' to piss me off."

With those less than kind words, Konoka walked past Ginjou, making the latter chuckle.

"Now, that's just coldblooded!" he said to her. "I just wanted to see the rich heiress of the Mitsumi fortune with my own, two eyes!"

"Take a damn picture for all I care. After you're done, get the hell off of my property."

"Man, you really aren't making this easy for me. How about I buy you some ramen? We can have a nice chat while we're eating! What do you say?"

Konoka, quickly losing her patience, stopped trying to unlock her front door to say, "...If you're tryin' to hit on me, you're wastin' your time. I don't date old geezers."

Ginjou smacked his lips. "Come on. I'm not that old! W-Wait a sec! That's honestly not why I'm here."

"That's it! I'm about ten seconds from rearranging every bone in your face!"

"...Is that so?" Ginjou smirked. "I'd really like to see you try."

"Tsk! You son of a…!"

Just about forgetting her physical discomfort, she rushed at him with a full head of steam, but she came to a grinding halt when Ginjou tossed something at her. She caught it and then stared down at a black business card.

"It's yours," said Ginjou. "You're a bit too wound up for your own good, so when you're ready to chat instead of butting heads, you can use that thing to get in contact with me!"

"W-Wait a second! Just who are you?! What do you want from me?!"

"I'm just like you, Miss Mitsumi!"

"'Just like me?' ...What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Heh. Now you want to talk? If you really want to know more, you're just going to have to use that card to reach me. Later!"

Ginjou saluted her and leaped right over the tall gates surrounding her mansion ahead of disappearing altogether.

"...I seriously have no clue what that was all about. Tsk. That guy pisses me off."

Again looking over the card Ginjou had given her, she considered it unnoteworthy until she read 'Welcome To Our Xcution' in bold, white letters. She then flipped the object over, stumbling upon a phone number, probably Ginjou's.

"'Xcution?' Never heard of it," she mumbled. "Is this even a real business card? That Ginjou guy was probably just hitting on me after all. And what did he mean 'just like me?' Is he a Fullbringer too?"

All of this was too much for her to sit back and calmly think about in her worn out state. She readied to toss the card and be done with the whole matter, yet something compelled her to stay her hand. She didn't know what exactly, but regardless, she slipped the card into her backpack, deciding she could worry about what to do with it after she got a shower and some shut eye.

"...Yeah, I better get inside before Jives starts to worry. I'm usually not this late gettin' home, and the old bastard is liable to think I got into another fight. Heh. I guess it wouldn't be a lie this time."

#

With his mission being partly successful, Kuugo Ginjou casually trekked down an empty street of Hino with his hands in his pocket. He hadn't a care in the world until his phone started to ring. He reluctantly answered it, grimacing when a shrill voice on the other end penetrated his ears.

"What's taking you so long, Ginjou?! You're telling me you aren't done already?!"

"Jeez! Chill, Riruka. I was just..."

"'Just' nothing! You're screwing around over there, aren't you?!" this Riruka bellowed.

"Of course not! Can't you count on me to do anything? Anyway, I wasn't able to convince Konoka Mitsumi to join our little group, not yet anyway. Even so, I think..."

"You're telling me you screwed up already?!" Riruka shouted, somehow making her intonation even louder. For his own safety, Ginjou moved his cell phone a couple inches away from his face. "See?! This is why you should've just let me handle this! I told you this would need a woman's touch!"

"Right, right. I get it, Riruka. You don't have to scream. Don't worry. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm sure Miss Mitsumi will see our side of things after a bit more convincing. Man, she's almost as insufferable as you though."

"What was that?!"

"Uh...I'm actually kinda busy with somethin', Riruka, so I'll call you back!"

"Don't you dare…!"

Ginjou dared. He hung up, pocketing his phone alongside a sigh of relief.

His alleviation didn't last long. Becoming deathly serious, Ginjou faced a tall, oak tree directly beside him.

"...How long do you plan on following me? If you've got something to say to me, just say it to my face."

Leaves in the tree rustled, and out of nowhere, Akira Akiyama appeared.

"How strange. I had a feeling you knew I was there," she said. "Still, it's troubling for someone to find me out so easily. I'm supposed to be able to track people undetected."

"A Shinigami, eh? I haven't seen one of you guys in a while. It's kinda nostalgic."

"Can it already, jerk. You're not a normal human, are you? It's bad enough you can even see or hear me, but to sense me following you all this time..."

"I'm not normal, huh? Heh. You might be onto something. Then again, you're not exactly normal either, are you? A Shinigami spying on people is new in my book. You're the pot calling the kettle black. Since you're here, I've got some questions for you."

"...Come again? You and what army?"

Ginjou wrapped his hand on the X-shaped pendant adorning his neck. "Well, I guess I don't really have an army. I'm pretty sure though I've got something that'll work just as well."

Behind a flash of green light, his pendant suddenly transformed into a giant claymore. Akira, completely taken off guard by this, unsheathed her Zanpakutou.

"This should be interesting," an eager Ginjou chimed.

"...I don't get paid enough for this shit," griped Akira in contrast.

END