"Alright men, spread out in groups of two," said Shinjui, the Shinigami leading this expedition.
Eight men from squad thirteen had moved out into the Rukon. There were rumors of a powerful spiritual presence in the area that may be causing fights and other violence in the area. Perhaps forming an army to storm the Seireitei. Perhaps just not even knowing what it was doing. Who knew? But to be safe the Seireitei was sending out a party to investigate the disturbance. And Shinjui Ibutsuki had been tapped to lead it.
"The invader is radiating a strong spiritual presence so it might be pretty powerful. If you find yourselves over your heads fall back immediately," explained Shinjui.
"Right, sir," answered his men.
Chasing down Rukongai is beneath me, thought Shinjui, hopefully he turns out to be something more then a Rukongai with an overdeveloped and uncontrolled spiritual presence.
The eight wore black robes and seemed to act in a disciplined manner. They were spreading out in groups of two. To look for me I would wager, thought Aveline. I have no quarrel with them. I will just lay low until…what was that?
"Barrier in place, sir," said Kenshiro Mizumi, "he won't be getting away."
"And you are sure that the presence is in this area?" asked Shinjui.
"Oh without a doubt, sir," said Yosuke Iori, "I feel the same presence I felt last night in the area."
"Good. Can you get an exact location?" asked Shinjui.
"Not quite. The initial release lasted only a moment so we didn't have a chance to really get a feel for the details," said Yosuke.
"But we still feel the presence in this area," continued Kenshiro.
"Well, that's good enough I guess. Better then nothing," said Shinjui.
Aveline tried pushing on the barrier. It was some kind of force field. Apparently someone didn't want her to escape. And she already knew who that someone probably was. Looks like this would be a fight anyway.
Not her fault; she had planned to slip away and avoid fighting the Soul Reapers. From what she had heard they were an okay bunch. But they had chosen this road, the road of war. If they wanted a fight Aveline decided she would give it to them.
She thought back to what Sir Everett had said, "Never hit a man if you can avoid it. But if you can't avoid it, put him out."
Aveline decided she might just have to that. She nimbly swung back onto the roof and began moving in on one of the pairs of searchers.
"Any idea what we are searching for anyway?" asked Reito.
"Someone with a lot of spiritual energy. So concentrate on your surroundings," said Bato.
"Well, I feel some very powerful energy around," said Reito.
"Like it was right on top of you?" asked a girl.
"Yeah, like it was…" started Reito, turning around in time to see a girl in a black with red hair and glasses drop Bato's limp body to the ground.
She lunged into him. Reito didn't even have time to draw his sword. She propelled him into wall. A sword seemed to miraculously appear at his throat.
"I am Aveline von Ravenstein. How do you do?" she asked with a wicked grin on her face. Gosh she was strong. And her spiritual power was immense.
"Don't kill me!" Reito stammered.
"Here I go an introduce myself and all you have for me is begging and pleading. What kind of fighter are you?" Aveline said.
"R…Reito. Reito Yasashiro. I am part of Squad Thirteen."
"Reito, is it? Well Reito, I have a bit of a problem and maybe you can help me. You see, I don't want to be captured by you guys nor do I want to get my pretty outfit covered with blood," Aveline said, pushing the blade closer to Reito's throat.
"What…what do you want from me?" asked Reito.
"The barrier. How do I get rid of it?" Aveline demanded.
"I…I can't tell you that," said Reito.
"Wrong answer," said Aveline, "Tell me or so help me God I will get a horrible stain on my shirt tonight."
"No…"
"And when people asked where it came from I will tell them it came from Reito," said Aveline.
"Fine. I'll tell you. You have to beat our leader Shinjui," said Reito.
"See. Now that wasn't so bad, now was it," said Aveline, releasing her grip, "You can be helpful when you really want to."
Reito was breathing heavily.
"Let me help you there, you seem a bit weak in the knees," said Aveline, helping Reito to sit down on a crate, "really scared you, didn't I? Sorry about that. I just needed an answer in a hurry."
Reito was confused. Just five seconds ago this crazy girl had a sword to his throat. And now she was helping him sit down. And she was apologizing! And what of Bato? Reito looked over at Bato's body. No blood.
"Your friend will be okay. I just knocked him out for a bit," said Aveline, "He will have a bad headache tomorrow so tell him to put some ice on the back of his neck. That should help the pain."
"Why…who…why…" stammered Reito. He did not know what question to ask first.
"I told you who I am, so that should answer one of your questions. For the second, I have no quarrel with the Soul Reapers. You guys started this. So I am going to end it," said Aveline, "Doesn't mean I want you guys to die though."
"Would you have killed me if I didn't tell you how to disable the spirit barrier?" asked Reito.
"Spirit barrier? Is that what it is called? And no. I wouldn't have killed you," said Aveline, "and I won't kill you if you are thinking that."
Reito took a sigh of relief. This girl was scary. And now that she wasn't trying to kill him, kinda cute too.
"Do you remember what I told you what to do about your friend's headache?" she asked.
"Uhhh, yeah," said Reito.
"Good. Because it will work for you to. Sorry, but I can't risk have people attacking me in the rear," said Aveline, "Goodnight."
Reito barely felt the blow.
"Sir!" yelled Yosuke, running down the alley, "SIR!"
Shinjui looked at young Soul Reaper running down the alley. "What is it?"
Yosuke arrived, panting. "We found Reito and Bato," he said.
Kensuke arrived shortly thereafter. "They were unconscious."
"What?" said Shinjui in disbelief.
"They were both unconscious. There was very little sign of a struggle," said Yosuke.
"Neither had even drawn their swords," said Kensuke.
Which meant…
"So they were taken unaware," said Shinjui, "By who?"
"We don't know, sir," said Kensuke.
"By the time we found them, they were already out," finished Yosuke.
"Was it bandits, perhaps?" asked Shinjui.
"I don't think so," said Kensuke, "Both still had their swords and nothing seemed to have been taken from their bodies."
This did not bode well. Was it the target they were pursuing?
There was a scream not far off.
"That sounded like Maeda…" said Itsuko, Shinjui's partner and the greenest of the eight that Shinjui had taken with him.
Aveline blocked the blow with her sword. This guy was better then the other three she had taken out; he actually had his sword out within moments of his friend being taken out out by Aveline's blow, delivered by the scabbard for her sword.
"Who are you?" asked the man.
"Who are you to ask for my name?" replied Aveline, disengaging from him.
"Maeda Usuhiro, soon to be seated officer of Squad Thirteen," he responded, "You arrogant girl!"
"My, don't you feel special?" Aveline responded, "And since you answered so nicely, I will tell you my name." Aveline ducked down to dodge a slash. "Me name is Aveline von Ravenstein."
"That's a strange name," said Maeda, making a downward swing.
"You like it?" said Aveline, stepping aside and countering with a swing of her own, "It was my mother's name."
Maeda parried the attack, "Not bad. Now get home, girl. We have an invader to find."
"Sorry, but I think I am the invader you are looking for," Aveline said, making another swing just like the last one.
"You? Don't make me laugh!" said Maeda, once again blocking the attack, "We are here to find a dangerous intruder. Not some little girl."
"Little girl?" said Aveline, "How dare you! I am Aveline von Ravenstein, heiress of the great houses of Ravenstein and Summersford! And you will respect me!" Aveline readied an attack just like the last two.
"I don't care who you are! You are nothing but a girl with a sword who knows a few sword moves," Maeda said, locking the attack just like the last two, "and not very good ones at that."
"I admit that katanas are not my preferred blade," said Aveline, "but I have a few tricks." Making the same attack again.
"Oh? Like what?" said Maeda, blocking that attack like the last three.
"This," said Aveline, moving around Maeda with a twist, wrapping her leg around Maeda's and sending him toppling to the ground.
That is when Maeda screamed.
On the ground, face up, momentarily dazed, Maeda looked over at Aveline. "Your error was in becoming too complacent. You thought you had my attack figured out." Aveline kicked the sword from Maeda's hand, sending it skidding across the alley. "And now to finish this!" Aveline slammed her heel into Maeda's chest knocking the wind out of him and maybe cracking some ribs. She then flipped over to his feet, grabbed them and arced Maeda into a wall, shattering it.
Two Soul Reapers appeared at each end of the alley. "Oh, so you guys finally found me."
"Who are you?" demanded the oldest looking one, "Are you the one who has been attacking my men?"
"Aveline von Ravenstein. And I have been defending myself from these reckless attackers who seek to arrest me on mere suspicions," she said, "Are you Shinjui?"
"Shinjui Ibutsuki, twelfth seat, squad thirteen," said the older more confident looking one.
"Very well. Lower the barrier and I will let you and your men leave unharmed," Aveline said.
"You are surrounded and outnumbered," said Shinjui, "You surrender and I promise not to hurt you when I arrest you."
"And after?" asked Aveline.
"And after?" asked the girl.
"I cannot make any promises," said Shinjui.
"At least you are honest," said the girl, "A lesser man would have lied just there." She relaxed her stance.
"Thank you," Shinjui said, "Does that mean you are surrendering?"
"Far from it," said Aveline, smiling, "If you are going to fight a man, it never hurts to be courteous."
"Why are you smiling! Can't you see you are outnumbered!" Shinjui demanded.
"What you call being outnumbered, I call an opponent rich environment," she said flippantly.
This girl seemed arrogant. But her spirit power, which before was already fairly strong, was really building up. Could she back up these words she was saying? Did she have any idea who she was up against?
"I don't want to hurt you. Just give up and this can be over," said Shinjui.
"Don't worry. You won't hurt me," Aveline said.
"Very well," said Shinjui, "Squad Thirteen, ATTACK!"
Finally. These guys sure liked to talk during fights. It was like fighting was some kind of social affair like afternoon tea. That comparison made Aveline giggle a little.
She noticed the two in the back had started moving. Well one had, the other was making some strange hand signs. Aveline had seen enough movies and television shows to know that strange hand signs were never good. She leapt up and bounced off the wall, landing beside the guy making the hand signs.
He panicked at her fast arrival and odd method of approach and apparently lost concentration on what he was doing. Aveline kicked him into the wall.
Yosuke didn't have time to react as the girl had appeared to flash step next to him! Impossible! How could she flash step? That move had caught Yosuke completely off guard. Then her sudden kick sent him into the wall as he went out.
First opponent down and no longer surrounded. "Is that the best you guys can do?" Aveline taunted.
Maybe these guys had something with this combat socialization. Talking during fights was fun. More fun then most talks during afternoon tea at least.
Kensuke didn't even notice the girl had moved behind him and taken out Yosuke before it was too late. Fear crept across Kensuke's face. She had just flash stepped.
Kensuke turned to face Aveline and held his Zanpaktou out and made ready to charge even though Kensuke doubted he could beat her.
Shinjui's mouth was agape. Her spirit energy was still going higher! It was easily at the level of a seated officer. And had she just flash stepped? This did not look good.
"Let's kick this up a notch," said Aveline. She held pout her hand. These guys obviously already had an inkling about her energy blast. Might as well show them what it can do.
It looked like she was aligning a kido. But she wasn't saying anything. Kensuke began advancing on the girl.
Shinjui felt the spirit energy the girl was radiating to be…building up?
"Itsuko, take cover," ordered Shinjui.
The blast had taken the advancing Soul Reaper by surprise. She made it a powerful blast to make sure that Soul Reaper in the alley went down. And wide, don't want to cause too much damage to him.
The blast hit the Soul Reaper in the alley with full force. He was sent flying down the alley almost thirty feet. His body had gone rag doll mid flight, meaning that he was probably already knocked out by the blast hitting him.
Kensuke's body skidded to a stop behind Shinjui. He looked okay; no blood. But he was definitely out cold.
"Will Kensuke be alright?" asked Itsuko.
"I think so," said Shinjui.
"What…what is she?" asked the scared Itsuko, "She is so powerful!"
"I don't know," said Shinjui, "But she is taking great care to not seriously hurt any of us." That was odd. Shinjui had just noticed that. Was this girl, this Aveline von Ravenstein really an invader? If she was, why would she be taking such great care to not kill any of his men?
"Reconsidering that offer I made?" she asked.
Aveline casually walked down the alley. "Recondering that offer I made?" she asked, "Let me repeat it for you if you forgot. Lower your barrier and let me go."
Itsuko looked at Shinjui. Tears were almost welling up in his eyes. How could he fight someone like her? Itsuki had been out of the Academy for only a week.
The Academy…
The Soul Reaper Academy, the place were Soul Reapers were trained was holding entrance exams soon. Someone like this girl would get in for sure. And as powerful as she was untrained, she would be incomprehensibly powerful with proper Soul Reaper training.
"Of a sorts, Miss Ravenstein, was it?" said Shinjui, standing up, "I have a counter-proposal for you to consider."
"Master Ibutsuki, what are you doing?" whispered Itsuko.
"What we should have done in the first place," said Shinjui.
"It would be Miss von Ravenstein, if you want to be formal about it. The 'von' means from and denotes nobility," said Aveline, "but if you want to be friendly about it, feel free to call me Avey."
Aveline was intrigued by this. Maybe she could find someone to reason with in this mixed up afterlife after all.
Nobility? Shinjui had never heard of a noble house called Ravenstein before. Either way, she seemed to be receptive to an offer.
"Avey, then. Then call me Shinjui," he said, "Let me explain something to you. You are a brilliant fighter."
"Flattery is unbecoming of you, Shinjui," said Aveline.
"Right. Well, you would make an excellent Soul Reaper. I was thinking you could come with us and instead of being arrested, maybe you could take the Soul Reaper Academy entrance exam and become a Soul Reaper," he said.
"And come after suspicions in the dark?" asked Aveline, "I do have honor and standards, you know."
"I deserved that. We don't normally do this kind of stuff. Coming out to search the Rukon for possible invaders, that is," said Shinjui, "Normally we fight Hollows and make sure that the spirits of the dead make their way to the Soul Society. In doing so we regulate the balance of souls."
Aveline was giving him a quizzical look.
Join them, Aveline thought, why would I join them? And what's a Hollow?
"What is a Hollow?" she asked.
"A Hollow is a human soul that has lost it's heart to despair after it's body has passed on. Once corrupted the spirits devour the souls of both living and deceased humans," explained Shinjui.
Aveline seemed to consider this for a moment.
That sounds terrible. Was it true. It seemed too ridiculous to be a lie. If he was lying he would have made up something less…strange.
"So you fight these Hollows to protect people's souls and make sure they find their peace here?" Aveline said.
"Yes," answered Shinjui.
"You, Itsuko!" Aveline called, "Do you fight Hollows? Do you protect innocent souls?"
Itsuko was obviously surprised. "Yes, ma'am!" he said. Yelped really. Little guy seemed kinda jumpy.
Aveline sheathed her sword, "Well, let's gather up your friends."
"So you accept?" asked Shinjui.
"No," said Aveline.
"But…" started Shinjui.
"I decided on my own to go to the Soul Reaper Academy. And then I decided to sheath my sword and stop fighting you," Aveline said, "But if you still want to try and arrest me, go ahead."
Shinjui smiled a bit, "No, that solution seems good enough to me."