Shunsui smiles a bit under his grass hat and tightens his grip on the tsuka of either Zanpakuto. He glances over his shoulder at the Arrancar behind him and then back to the one in front. "Well, seems like I'm in a bit of a jam," mutters Shunsui. "Huh?" He glances upwards, sensing the rapid drop in Daisuke's Spiritual Pressure clear as day. "Well...that doesn't seem good. We should probably wrap this up so I can go and see what's the matter...if you Arrancar don't mind, that is."
He jerks his head back and a split appears on the brim of his hat. He jumps back and then disappears inches from the second Arrancar. "Where are you old- graaahhaah!" roars the Arrancar as it's arm is hacked off at the elbow. It barely avoids the following blow and Shunsui arches a brow before turning and meeting the second's claws with his Zanpakuto. There's a loud 'crash!' and he hops back, feeling the weight of the strike in his arms.
He comes to a stop several yards away and turns his eyes to the split. "Huh. Ruining my favorite hat like that...now, that's just unfriendly."
"Shut-up!" demands the uninjured Arrancar, rushing forward. "I've had enough of your talking, old man!" Shunsui turns his shoulder, dodging the claws and bringing down his wakizashi down upon the Arrancar's arm. A deep slash appears, but it isn't cut through like he would have liked. The experienced Captain grunts a bit as he brings down his tachi, intending to cut it off this time.
Instead, a crimson flash in the corner of his eye demands he move and he does, appearing several yards away from the Cero. "Whew, that was a close one, huh? You could really hurt someone shooting a Cero at them while they're distracted, you know."
"Shut-up!" Shunsui back-pedals as the Arrancar rush him, dodging or blocking attack after attack with what seems like little effort. He weaves around them with ease and strikes out. A deep slash appears on the thigh of either Arrancar as he moves past them and then turns, cutting the Arrancar with only one arm from shoulder to hip with a single blow. "You bastard!" The second Arrancar whirls around just as Shunsui brings his Zanpakuto down, splitting it in half. "Guhhh..."
"You really shouldn't let your emotions get the best of you, Arrancar." He slowly returns both weapons to their saya as the Arrancar falls in two. "Now...I wonder what-" A large explosion from behind follows a bright golden glow and Shunsui blinks once before turning to face three Arrancar. Among them he recognizes Tia Harribel and it seems the Espada is holding her own against them...at least until a third and then a fourth appear. "Hmm...I should probably-"
He's silenced by the sudden spike in her Spiritual Pressure. 'Well...I see why Daisuke is so interested in her,' Shunsui muses to himself. 'Still I should probably lend a hand...'
Tia raises her Zanpakuto, looking back at the two Arrancar behind and then back to the two in front of her. There's a soft noise to her left and she glances over at Shunsui, the experienced Captain offering her a smile from under the brim of his hat. "Hello, Miss Harribel," speaks Shunsui. "Can I be of assistance?"
"No," replies Tia simply.
"Really? I thought you might be in a hurry considering Daisuke's Spiritual Pressure dropped off like it did." Tia glances up and then back down at Shunsui. "You go on ahead. If he needs mouth-to-mouth and I go then I'm afraid he might just die." The Shark Queen nods in understanding.
"Fine. You can take care of them, then." Shunsui raises a hand in acknowledgement, which is lost on Tia as she races towards the dome of Los Noches. She'd sensed his Spiritual Pressure drop off sharply but with four people attacking her she hadn't exactly been in a position to help him. Her Sonido carries her quickly towards the dome and she grips the blade of her Zanpakuto, golden energy gathering in the hollow part of the blade. "Ola Azul!"
The golden energy punches a hole clean through the dome and she passes through into the eternal night of Hueco Mundo. The moment the Shark Queen touches down on the dome, two figures pass by her. She follows them with ease and watches as Daisuke steps back and then back again, both times barely avoiding the slashes of the one armed Arrancar. He brings his Zanpakuto down with a loud 'clang!' upon the Arrancar's claws.
A powerful kick to the stomach sends Daisuke sliding back towards Tia and she opens her arms a bit. She stops his slide with ease and he slumps back, looking over his shoulder at her. "T...Tia?" pants Daisuke, blood streaming from several deep wounds on his torso, arms and legs. "I thought you were...shit, here he comes!" With a loud growl Daisuke pulls himself to his feet and charges forward, trading several blows with the Arrancar.
"Why...won't you...die, Shinigami?!" demands the Arrancar, the two of them locked in a contest of brute strength.
"Unh...! Simple! An Arrancar like you...doesn't have what it takes...to finish me off!" Daisuke pushes against him, gaining ground and forcing the Arrancar to slide back across the dome of Los Noches before shoving him away. Regardless, it doesn't put him out of the Arrancar's reach and it lashes out, catching him across ribs and throwing him in the opposite direction.
Daisuke slides across the dome for several yards before eventually coming to a stop in a small puddle of his own blood. "Guh...unh..." He grunts as he tries to pull himself up, even attempting to use his own Zanpakuto to support himself.
"Shinigami...!" The Arrancar rushes him without a second thought, claws raised to deal a finishing blow...that never comes. The claws are stopped inches from impact and Daisuke looks up at Tia. With only a single arm she had stopped his attack as though it were nothing. "Tercera Espada Tia Harribel! You're siding with these Shinigami?! Their kind killed your Fracción!"
"I'm aware of that," replies Tia simply, not struggling to hold him back in the least. The Arrancar snarls loudly in response upon realizing that the Shark Queen isn't going to step aside for him. There's a loud grunt followed immediately by a spattering as blood streams freely from a deep slash across the Arrancar's waist.
"Buhuh..." It drops to it's knees before the Shark Queen and then falls to it's side motionless. Tia turns away from the Arrancar and then kneels beside Daisuke, leaning his battered body up with her free arm.
"Daisuke...?" He looks up at her, amber eyes burning with mischief despite the wounds covering his body.
"You know...we just can't help from...ending up in each others arms, Tia," teases Daisuke. A relieved sigh escapes Tia as a result and she shakes her head.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" Tia suddenly narrows her eyes and glances back at the Arrancar. "Still alive?" The Arrancar suddenly rears up, a Cero charging in it's maw only moments before it releases it upon the two. Tia bats it away with the back of her palm, not a single scratch appearing as a result. But before she can deal the finishing blow, Daisuke rushes past her and thrusts his Zanpakuto through the Arrancar's stomach.
Tia charges a Cero at her index finger and fires it at the Arrancar immediately after, completely removing it's head. Daisuke plants a kick in it's stomach that throws the now dead body away and stumbles backwards to the Shark Queen to stops his fall. "Got ya this time...prick!"
"Fighting a stronger opponent one-on-one...that was foolish of you, Daisuke." Tia helps support his weight with ease.
"Yep." Her sea-green eyes find his amber and he grins from ear to ear. "But...I knew that I could count on you to help me, Tia." The Shark Queen narrows her eyes in response. "What is it?"
"You were gambling your life on the assumption that I would come save you? Are you crazy?"
"I was right though, wasn't I? Here you are."
"...Idiot." Sensing several powerful Spiritual Pressure's blow Tia turns them towards the hole in the dome of Los Noches. "We should get back and..." Tia examines his wounds. "Actually, you should return and have your wounds treated."
"Like hell. I'm staying until things are done." Tia sighs a bit and then nods.
"Then try to stay out of the way and not get yourself killed..."
Kenpachi laughs loudly as the three Arrancar stand across from him, each one of them panting slightly from the exertion. For his part, he's covered in slashes from head to toe but showing no signs of stopping. "C'mon, already!" demands Kenpachi. "Which one of you is going to attack next? This is starting to get fun, you know!" The three of them charge forward and he brings down his Zanpakuto, pulverizing the ground and receiving several new slashes as a result.
Zaraki cuts a wide arc around him and they retreat before coming back quickly. He turns back quickly and nearly lands a blow on one of them before they retreat again. The wild Captain growls a bit and watches them approach again. In terms of sheer strength, it would be easy to completely over-whelm the three of them without breaking a sweat. But speed wasn't exactly his area of expertise, after all.
So, only one thing left to do. He charges the trio, taking the blade of their leader without a single after-thought. It runs him through completely and he then captures the Arrancar by the wrist. "Got'cha, ya slippery bastard!" With a single blow, Kenpachi cuts him in two from shoulder to hip while the other two watch in a mixture of fear and surprise. He yanks the dead Arrancar's Zanpakuto free of his torso and tosses it away before tapping the back of his blade against his shoulder.
"Well? Who's next?" The two of them growl and then rush forward without a second thought...
Renji and Momo stand across from the Arrancar, the man sweating slightly under the combined effort of their attacks. Their battlefield is littered with debris and large craters from their attacks. "The two of you are becoming quite the thorn in my side," comments the Arrancar.
"Huh! Likewise, pal!" replies Renji. "I say it's time we end this! Unh!" With a grunt he sends Zabimaru sailing in the direction of the Arrancar.
"Hmph! I told you, that won't work!" He fires a Cero at the weapon, knocking it aside as a result and then streaks past it towards the man. Momo intercepts his attack, their Zanpakuto colliding as she Lieutenant works to fend him off. His eyes widen slightly and he Sonido's away only moments before a bolt of blue lightning passes in front of the Lieutenant. Momo and Renji look over at Tia and a wounded Daisuke.
"Captain!" exclaims Momo.
"Look out!" exclaims Daisuke. Momo looks back towards the Arrancar moments before he's intercepted by Tia. The loud 'crash!' of their Zanpakuto rings in everyone's ears as he's cast back with ease. The wounded young man approaches quickly, gripping the tsuka of his Zanpakuto. "Hate to cut in, Renji, but it looks like you need a little help to me. Renji?" A loud 'whap!' sounds as he punches Daisuke in the head. "That...hurts!"
He crouches down, rubbing the spot furiously while a vein pulses at Renji's temple. "Who the hell asked you to cut in, dumbass?!" demands Renji.
"Well, it looks to me like you could really use the help, idiot!" The two are nearly face to face now, growling at each other like a pair of dogs. "If you didn't need help, then you would have already finished him off!"
"Look who's talkin', jackass! You look like you got put through the ringer so why don't you just stay outta my way?!"
"Grr! Why don't you make me, pine-apple!"
"What'd you call me?! I dare you to say it again!"
"I'll say it as many times as you want! Pine-apple, pine-apple, pine-'whap!'-Ah! Ah-hah! My wounds! My wounds are bleeding again, pine-apple!" A second loud 'whap!' sounds, which Tia and Momo ignore completely, focusing on the Arrancar standing across from them. Momo breaths a bit heavy under the powerful Spiritual Pressure's of Tia, Renji and the Arrancar. It's a fact that doesn't escape the Shark Queen.
"Momo," speaks Tia. "Guard Daisuke while I take care of this." Momo looks from Tia back to the Arrancar.
"Can you do it, Tia?" asks Momo.
"Yes. But I cannot fight him if I'm worried for our Captain." Momo nods in understanding and then backs down. "Good."
"You're assisting these Shinigami, Tercera Espada Tia Harribel?" asks the Arrancar. "Hmph. Bearing your fangs against your own kind...how unseemly. Did you forget your pride as an Arrancar when you become a lap dog for the Shinigami, Espada?"
"You wage your war against the Soul Society at the command of Aizen, a Shinigami, and even after his death you continue to wage HIS war. It seems that you're the only one who's lost their pride."
"Disrespectful woman! I'll make you regret those words!" Without another thought he rushes towards the Espada. There's a soft 'click' as Tia reaches out and catches his Zanpakuto with her bare hand. "Wha-" A single blow across the stomach splits the Arrancar in half, killing him instantly. The Shark Queen sighs heavily, not liking the idea of killing...but realizing it is a necessity in this case.
She turns away and walks towards the others. "We should go help the others, Daisuke." Tia looks down at the sitting young man. Momo is kneeling beside him, apparently treating his wounds.
"He shouldn't move, Tia," replies Momo. "Some of these wounds are very deep."
"You and Renji go on ahead," Daisuke tells her. "When my wounds have quit bleeding then I'll catch up." Both of them head for the door without another word. "Tia!" The woman stops and looks back.
"Yes?"
"Make sure that Renji doesn't screw up too badly and get himself killed," taunts Daisuke.
"Oh, you can kiss the darkest part of my-" begins Renji before the Shark Queen hauls him out of the room. Daisuke grins in response, feeling as though he's gotten the upper-hand in his argument with Renji...
"Captain Kyoraku!" exclaims Renji. "We're here to help, Captain...Kyoraku?" The man looks at the opponents surrounding the experienced Captain, each of them dead by a single blow while he stands completely unharmed.
"Oh, there you are, Renji," replies Shunsui. "Glad to see you're unharmed...eh? Where's Daisuke?"
"Lieutenant Hinamori is treating his wounds."
"He sent you ahead to assist, huh?" Renji nods in the affirmative and Shunsui sighs. "Well, I guess as long as he's alright then things-" There's a large explosion behind the three of them and all look towards it to see Zaraki barrel out of the small cloud of dust after two fast moving figures. "Looks like Kenpachi is enjoying himself."
"I imagine he always does when there's killing involved," comments Tia bitterly.
"Isn't that the truth?" calls the voice of Daisuke from behind them. They glance over at the young man, being helped towards them by Momo. For her size the small Lieutenant is doing a good job of helping to support his weight but Tia replaces her only moments later. "You don't seem too fond of him, Tia." The Shark Queen is silent for a moment, watching the man battling the two Arrancar.
"He reminds me of Nnoitra."
"An Espada?"
"Former, yes. He enjoyed the act of shedding blood the act of killing...it was disgusting."
"Sounds pretty bad. Were they all like that?" Tia responds with a shake of her head. "Anyone you miss? I mean, besides...well, you know."
"Not particularly."
"That's not a 'no', Tia." She sighs a bit in response.
"...Starrk, I suppose. If I had to pick one of them. He was the most relaxed of the others. Didn't like combat."
"The Primera...I heard Shunsui fought against him in the Fake Karakura Town."
"I didn't expect he would survive but I had at least hoped that what happened to me would serve as some kind of warning to him." Daisuke nods in understanding, watching the fight taking place in front of them.
"It seems to me that we aren't exactly needed here anymore," comments Renji.
"I agree," adds Momo. "I cannot sense anymore Arrancar, Captain Arata."
"Guess we wait for Captain Zaraki to finish his opponents," replies Daisuke, only moments before the psychotic laughter of Kenpachi fills the air. Both Arrancar, dead with a single wide blow. The man approaches them, blood streaming from his wounds and Zanpakuto.
"That was fun," comments Zaraki. "A pretty good work out." He looks down at Tia with a large grin. "Hey, Espada. How about you and I-"
"The thought of fighting someone like you holds no interest," interrupts Tia before Daisuke can. "You are little better then the Arrancar we were ordered to exterminate, Kenpachi Zaraki. You fight for no other reason then you can...and I refuse to lower myself to the level of a beast like you." Renji whistles astonishment, Momo looks away with a small smile while Shunsui and Daisuke grin from ear to ear in response. "I do not sense anymore Arrancar. We should leave." Tia turns and opens a garganta for the group...
- - Soul Society - -
The young man opens the door to his office with a sigh and steps inside the well lit room. "Welcome back," speaks the familiar voice of the Shark Queen. He looks over at Tia who is sitting quietly behind his desk with a book in hand. "Hinamori was here earlier. She left something on your desk." He blinks in confusion and then approaches, picking up the paper in question.
Sea-green eyes follow him curiously the whole time. Daisuke sighs heavily and then drops the piece of paper back onto the surface of his desk with a rather irritated look on his face. "Something the matter?"
"Yes, Tia," replies Daisuke curtly. "Lieutenant Hinamori just resigned from the Fifth Division..."