PA18: Alright guys, Part 2. I'm sure you can guess what's going to happen so I'll make this intro as painless as possible. Najuro?
Najuro: Potentialauthor18 does not own Bleach, Tite Kubo does. The only things he owns is his OC's. Can I have my cookie now?
PA18: I don't think you need it but that was the deal. Here you go tubbers.*Tosses cookie*
Najuro: Mmm...*Crunch, crack, slurp, nohm nohm*
PA18: …how the hell do you slurp a cookie?
Chapter 2: The End is Where We Begin(part 2)
"Looks like this might be our last night together. At least I get to see you go first." Those were the last words Nakamura heard before a gaping hole appeared in his chest. He was lifted bodily into the air, twitching slightly. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head, the moonlight that reflected off of them making them appear to be luminescent. Blood fell in a river off his body, coating the green grass below. It pooled out, forcing Takeshi to take a step back.
It wasn't that the blood sickened him, far from it, but he had no intention of stepping in something that would be easy for a predator to track. Speaking of which, it appeared that this monster was invisible. "What the hell are you eh? Some type of giant chameleon or something?" He leaned forward, over the pool of blood, fascinated. "Come closer you big bastard. I want to know what I'm dealing with." The monster seemed to understand him and took a step into the red stained ground, leaving a definite footprint.
Takeshi did not believe in demons or gods. His analytical mind told him he was staring, though he couldn't see it, at some new super predator. Since he couldn't see it, he really had no idea what to prepare for. He roughly cut off the sleeve from his uninjured arm and slowly leaned down. He was fairly confident that this creature had yet to attack him because he wasn't acting like prey. He wasn't showing the signs of fear or making the sounds that a predator would associate with food. He quickly lathered his sleeve in Nakamura's blood, who was still comically hanging from thin air. Most people might not find that as amusing, but Takeshi wasn't most people.
"Alright. Let's see what you look like." He said quietly, not giving a clue as to what he was about to do. Moving far quicker than when he was covering his sleeve in blood, he whipped the blood soaked cloth in an arc, spraying the air in front of him with a red mist. He was careful to avoid getting any of the blood on himself.
The thing was big. Bigger than any tiger or bear. Not to mention it's face appeared to be a human skull. The thing that had created the huge hole in the bandit's chest was some type of spike, attached to what looked like a tail. It came from over the beast's head, like a scorpion. It's hands seemed to follow that feature, the blood covering them revealing large claws. Takeshi didn't believe in gods. But perhaps he was starting to believe in demons. He regarded the revealed parts of the creature with an upraised eyebrow. "Well, I guess it's decided...you're one ugly son of a bitch."
Nakamura's body fell bodily(lol) to the ground, making a sickening splash as he landed face down in his own blood. The air was split as the monster roared, that haunting sound telling Takeshi's basic instincts to run. Perhaps they were right. "Well, I'll just leave you to your dinner and be on my way. Good evening." He slowly began to back away, his eyes watching intently for any sign that the creature would attack. His left eye appeared to be relaxed, despite his rapidly beating heart. The right eye, hidden beneath his black tuft of hair, was wide open, absorbing every detail in front of him. One of the other reasons he grew it out.
The beast advanced on the black haired youth, blood dripping from it's limbs as it strode forward after him. He calmly reached into his belt, but he was frantically thinking of a better alternative. If he allowed this, thing, to get any closer, that tail would probably spear him before he could put any distance between them. If he went through with his idea, he'd gain that distance but lose his weapon. If this thing caught him after that, he'd be next to defenseless. He smiled and stopped, muscles tensing underneath his clothing. His face showed no sign of his fear, just his usual calm exterior. "I guess you leave me no choice then. Sorry about this." With a flurry, he drew his knife and threw it in one motion, the small but sharp blade sticking into some part of the monster's torso.
The blood covered beast screeched, sending everything within a mile running. It ripped the weapon from it's chest and then looked back up at the human that had dared attack it. He was no were to be seen. That roar sounded again, this time signaling it's anger instead of pain. With a frightening burst of speed, it ran into the dark forest, snapping branches and trees aside with it's great clawed hands.
Takeshi ran through the dark woods, bright white light shining through the tree tops. Luckily the moonlight revealed the path for him, but it also made the forest look eerily like a wooden graveyard. It was an apt description, as he passed the bodies of Nakamura's men. Or what was left of them. How sad. Poor bastards probably never saw it coming. Ha. He allowed himself to chuckle at his little joke. The beast was silent after its last roar, causing him to wonder if that beast wasn't hiding behind any of these shadows. He wouldn't know, the damn thing was invisible. As if it knew he was thinking about it, that unholy sound came from behind him, along with the sound of wood breaking. He glanced back, cursing inwardly.
Pushing himself harder than before, the young man increased his speed, breathing heavily through his mouth. Unfortunately, the second he'd taken to look behind him cost him. He tripped on a large tree root, cursing outwardly this time as he fell but the sound was muffled as he threw up his arms to protect his face. He leaped hurriedly to his feet, hardly staying on the ground for a second. He looked behind him again, hearing the forest fall silent again. The shadows danced as a cool wind blew through the woods, the branches flowing softly in the breeze. All was still, except his own breathing.
*Plip* The sound came from in front him, heard easily in the silence. He caught his breath in his chest as he felt a presence stalking forward. *Plip* The sound was heard again, and he couldn't help but notice that it sounded closer. The presence felt closer as well and soon he saw the reason for both. Dark footsteps, almost black in the night, appeared along the forest path, three toed claws visible on the grass.
Takeshi instinctively reached for his knife, but of course, it wasn't there. The plip sound he heard was blood dropping from the creature's bulky form, hardly visible at all now. But he knew it was there…and it knew he had nowhere left to run. A low growling sound emanated from it, making his blood run cold. The footsteps drew closer and he knew he was going to die. He gritted his teeth, eyes wide, and stepped forward. The monster's progression stopped, again surprised at this human's boldness. "Well? Are you going to kill me or what? Kindly get it over with and stop this ridiculous stalking! Are you scared or something? I have no weapon! Remember? I threw it into your damned chest!" He smiled fiercely after his last sentence, feeling the primal anger leaking from the beast.
Feeling more anger than it had felt in it'd damned existence, the monster leaped forward, one of it's pincer like hands descending on the defenseless youth. Takeshi made sure to stare at his killer, not wanting to show weakness in his last moments. The pain that followed the creatures blow caused his resolve to waver, but he stiffened it just as fast. He didn't expect himself to start slipping away so quickly, but his vision seemed to darken as his blood flowed from the massive gash, a black pond in the night.
"Seems I'm done. Ah well, guess that means my problems are over." He used the last of his strength to look up at the monster. His eyes widened as it seemed to come into focus, as if the closer he got to death the more he could see it. Takeshi then suddenly felt much better. "Is this dying? It's not so bad." He regarded the monster with a sarcastic stare. "You should try it sometime."
Looking down, he was met with a rather interesting sight. "Well, well, who's that handsome devil?" he said softly as he stared at his own face, a huge tear from his shoulder to hip.
He also saw a metal chain on his chest, the end broken off. Putting two and two together, Takeshi decided that the chains must have been linked at some point. Perhaps when I was alive? He wasn't allowed much time to think on it as the almost forgotten monster made it's presence known again. Quickly jumping away, the young man rolled and stood, staring in some type of fascinated horror at the now fully visible creature.
It seemed that it's skeleton had grown on the outside rather than inside it's body. It's tail was large and fleshy, but he could tell that it was made from pure muscle. The claws served to confirm his earlier thoughts and make this thing look decidedly scorpionish in appearance. It stood on two feet but a second set of much smaller arms were situated below it's rather large pincer ones. Theses ended in small spikes, nothing fancy. He also noticed with interest that a hole was above where it's heart should be. Smirking, Takeshi saw that a small nick was on the topside of the hole, probably from where his knife struck it. "Bet that didn't feel too good. I'd say sorry about that but I'd be lying."
To finish of this horrible masterpiece, the creature's skull(of which is all it's head seemed to be) was white bone, similar to a human's. Yellow eyes stared hatefully out of those black sockets, locked on him. If you're done staring now, I'm afraid it's time to kill you again. A wildly distorted voice came from it's mouth, causing Takeshi to raise an eyebrow.
"Now that's a surprise. Quite a nice voice you got there." He gripped the chain with his good arm, confident that he could at least hit this thing before it attacked him again. "Since you're able to talk, mind sating my curiosity and telling me what kind of creature you are?"
The monster laughed. I guess I can grant one last request. I am called a Hollow, and I am hollow inside. The now identified Hollow took a step forward. A hollowness that can only be filled with the souls of those I kill. Enough chatter, it's time for you help me fill that hollow feeling!
It jumped forward, pincer arms coming from both sides. Takeshi jumped backwards and then sidestepped quickly to the left, avoiding the tail as it came crashing down into the spot he was last in. He ended up with his back against a tree. Might as well make my stand here. "Sorry pal, but I'm afraid that I don't swing that way. Might I suggest a brothel? I'm sure you could find someone for your needs, though truthfully you'd probably need to pay quite a bit to get even the picky ones."
Slowly standing from it's failed attack, the hollow's yellow eyes narrowed in their just as hollow sockets. The only thing you're doing is making me angry. I'll tear you apart before this is done! It again ran forward, giving him no escape route like the last one.
Grinning, eyes wide(out of fear or excitement one could not tell), Takeshi raised his arm and began swinging his chain. "Not if I get you first!" He held it in front of him, the chain a whirling arc of metal. Both screamed at each other, black eyes locked on yellow ones. Suddenly, a black shadow appeared between them both, it's back to Takeshi.
It appeared to be a samurai, though without the usual armor. Instead he wore a simple black kimono. A black sheath was thrust into a white obi which wrapped around the black clothing. The man was overall rather plain, with closely cut black hair and some stubble growing on his chin. "Mind if I cut in, of course you don't." Answering his own question, the man's sword suddenly left it's scabbard, cutting the dumbfounded hollow in half.
Takeshi stood calmly, though his right eye observed the short battle with interest. The hollow seemed to disappear in black smoke, more like it just fizzled out into nothing. "Thanks for that. So, what now?" He'd already come to the conclusion that events had spiraled far out of his control. This man had killed the hollow, protected him, so he was content with waiting on what this dark clad man wanted.
The samurai turned around, sighing. "Now, I'm going to send you to the other side." He hefted his sword and Takeshi flinched slightly.
"Uh, if that's how you plan to do it, why not let the hollow do it?" Why does everyone want to kill me today?
The man sighed again. "I'm not gonna kill you. In case you hadn't noticed, you're kind of already dead."
Takeshi pretended to think about it. "Point taken. Very well, then, what involves your sword that doesn't also involve cutting me with it?"
Another sigh. "You ask to many questions. I've already sent half of those other souls to the other side. I've got a headache from everyone asking the same questions."
The youth tilted his head in confusion. "I assume you mean the bandits. Only half of them? The other half just not good enough for you?"
The samurai walked forward and raised his sword hilt. "Of course not. The hollow just got to them before I could. Now shut up." With that he placed the bottom of the hilt, with more force than possible needed, on Takeshi's forehead.
Takeshi had enough time to go cross eyed looking at it before he was encompassed in a blue light, then he felt himself moving, fast. Soon enough, he was left standing in the middle of a dusty road, groups of people walking past him as if people popping up in the middle of a road was a common sight. Feeling slightly dizzy, Takeshi walked up to the first person he saw. "Excuse me, my names Takeshi and I'm wondering if you'd happen to know where I am."
The man stared at him like he was dumb and pointed to a nearby sign. Nodding his thanks, Takeshi walked up to the sign and regarded it thoughtfully. "District 64 Sabitsura. Rejoice in The Field of Departed Souls." He shrugged. "Not what I would've called the afterlife, but I guess that's not my decision."
He turned around and surveyed the grungy streets, and equally grungy people, and the little shacks that made up people's houses. "Looks kind of similar to home so I guess life here shouldn't be much different. Or should I say death?"
Hello people! Glad to see you've read the second chapter. Now that Takeshi's dead, things will get more interesting. Sorry if this chapter isn't as long as the last one, but I was planning on doing these as one chapter but didn't have enough time. Let me know what you think and please subscribe, uh, I mean review. Later!