Chapter 3- Crashing the Party

Even though the funeral was recent and the mood is somewhat somber, most everyone is happy. This is the 70th District of South Alley Rukongai. While it is not the coldest nor the most dangerous part of Rukongai, it is one of the poorest and not a place to be when night falls. The local noble recently passed away and the very generous Daichi, the noble's only son, threw a lavish party a few days after the funeral.

There was food to feed the whole district and the only cost for this is for a troupe of people with spiritual power to perform some kidous, which in turn is a gesture to get himself launched into local politics as the town magistrate. So for one day, everyone is fed and most people are happy. Ichimaru is of course, among the masses, even had two knapsacks ready to be filled with food. The salted fox and rabbit pieces he made from the last hunt were almost gone and food was in short supply.

The first performance had a huge boulder hauled in for him. "Thanks, Jidanbou!" says the performer on the platform.

"No problem!" he called back good-heartedly as he stepped off.

"Ladies and gentleman, all of you just saw the famous Jidabou, one of the four gatekeepers of Sereitei struggle to lug that lump of rock on to the platform. I could show you the extent of my spirit power and send this boulder flying back to whereever it came from! Prepared to be amazed!" broadcasted the performer.

With a cocky look and a step forward, the performer thrusted out his right arm as if to push the gray boulder. "Destructive Art 1, Sho!" The force of the push was directed toward the bottom of the boulder. The result was the boulder being airborn twice the man's height. The man shunpo'ed to beneath the boulder and just when he was about to meet his maker, another Sho was cast, launching it like a missile.

The crowd cheered and clapped enthusiastically. As the man started to bow, a shadow started to darken. The boulder was falling down again, this time with exponentially greater momentum.

"BAKA!" yelled a disgruntled famale voice. A flying elbow came from left field and sent the guy bouncing out of harm's way but not without a hit and a couple of hits first. A girl with spiky blond hair in two pig tails, red gym clothes and sandals stood calmly and closed her eyes. "Destructive Art 54!" she opened her eyes and raised her arms. "Haien!" Her hands glowed purple, followed by the rapidly falling boulder glowing the same purple. A second later, there was a shimmering and the boulder vaporized like a freshly slain hollow.

"H-hi honey, wow, you're...energetic today! What are you d-doing here, hehe?"

::Bulging vein:: "What am I DOING!? YOU GOT SOME NERVE!! You told me you were getting wood and coal for the fireplace, what the heck are you doing here!?"

"H-honey, don't be mad, figured w my abilities I could make some quick cash and-"

The girlfriend's sandal collided into the male performer's face. "Don't honey me, you're in deep trouble, mister! After tonight you'll WISH the boulder got to you before I did!" The irate witch dragged her better(or in her view, her worse half) off the performing platform by the ear as he is wailing in pain and crying. "Someone help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-" And the angry lady shunpo'ed off with her hapless significant other.

The audience was in an uproar of laughter. They expected lots of flash and glam, which was entertainment nonetheless but with the spontaneous humor, this became a pleasant surprise. Even Ichimaru with his constant expression loosened his plastered grin to a more genuine article.

The MC stepped up. "Wow...that guy's gonna have explaining to do at home." Laughter. "Lots of couch time. And chocolates." Even more laughter. "Well ladies and gentleman, that performer was suppose to go on for quite a while. Anyone want to impress us while the next performer gets ready? "

Ichimaru's smile became a toothy grin. "Ra' here!"

What no one knows is that there won't be a next performer. As the focus and attention was on the stage, a man with a calm look, wavy brown hair and glasses dropped bits of round white crackers around the stage. A moment later, the air in the forest behind the crowd shimmered and numerous beings with white masks and holes where their heart should be slithered into existence.

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Ichimaru Gin was on fire. The rope dart he carried around with him, he replaced with a seven pound fishing weight, turning the usual piercing weapon to a beating weapon. His first stunt was a set up of thirteen hanging vases. Each labeled with their numerical character and with the Sereitei's respective squad's insignia. In four swings, each hitting three of the vases. The remaining one was the one marked "three" with a white sun insignia in the center and black and white diamonds surrounding the rays.

His next stunt was to duel any fighters present. The whole lot of them were not even able to get close to him. The first couple he caught them squarely in the chest with the rope and fishing weight. When Ichimaru saw that the people he's facing were not worth such safe measures, he became creative and sent the fishing weight flying past the opponent just to loop the rope around the opponent's leg, tripping them. With another, he knabbed the guy's knuckles making it painful to punch. Finally, one man with small pupils, spikey hair and a death stare flexed his muscles and as if an invisible barrier was generated, the group of human opponents with no reiatsu were blown away. He leapt right in sword swinging. Ichimaru was able to rope the sword and snatch it out of his hand but the fist that follow caught Gin squarely in the solar plexus. Before the muscular man with spiked hair could deliver the volley he had in mind, screams pierced the air.

The crowd dispersed chaotically. The screams got louder and closer then died suddenly as a blood chilling bone crunch stopped all screaming like a knife severing vocal cords. Ichimaru barely got a glimpse of what's responsible before a jaw of sharp teeth and a forked tongue blotted out his view and his world is black.

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Author's notes:

The two comments I received are greatly appreciated but more would definitely make my day. This chapter required a bit more thinking than the others, but I hope it paid off. Anyone able to pick up the characters I introduced?

I know some people want to see Rangiku already but I promise I'll get to her soon.

Anyone good with Japanese out there? I'm making up Ichimaru's bankai, it's called "Rally the legions." Someone could get that to me, it'll be great.

Thanks again for the support thusfar.