Chapter Five- Failed Restraint

The man completely blocked out Soi Fon for he was large both in height and weight. His black hair was styled fashionably and he wore an attention inducing purple collar along with his Shinigami uniform. The prisoner however chose to focus his attention to the armband that the man wore on his left arm it featured the number 2 and a pasque flower, this was the Lieutenant of the Second Division.

Before the prisoner could muster a response Soi Fon grabbed the man's shoulder annoyed at the interruption and furious at the idea that she would need protecting.

'You have my deepest apologies Lieutenant, you have my gratitude for watching over The Second Division all these years, I look forward to working with you!'

Soi Fon's grip on his shoulder eases and she let go.

'Stand down Omaeda.'

With a look of surprise caused by the reaction of both parties Omaeda sheathed his Zanpakuto and introduced himself.

'I'm Marechiyo Omaeda, pleased to meet you' he said with a slight bow out of reciprocation to the prisoners show of respect.

'Omaeda is it? So you come from that rich family. I guess that explains the luxurious nature that the grounds have embraced, a much different sight compared to the days I once spent here.'

Omaeda grinned at the praise the new third seat officer was showering him with.

'Well now that you two are acquainted I shall take my leave, Omaeda will be your instructor for today.'

Soi Fon turned to her Lieutenant to make the next part clear.

'I expect a full report by sundown. He will be heading into Rukongai tomorrow to deal with the intruders and I am assuming he didn't get much sleep last night if any at all.'

The prisoner smiled, she was right he had spent the entire night wide awake, his time asleep was over.

With that Soi Fon took her leave wishing that her Lieutenant hadn't arrived early to interrupt along the way back to her office.

'I'm sure you're tired of wearing that prison robe, let's get you a uniform from the barracks, this way' Omaeda informed the prisoner as he began to head to their destination.

Omaeda lead with a proud stride, this was his division and he was its Lieutenant, there wasn't a place he felt more comfortable than the Second Division grounds as he himself was the catalyst for its divine appearance.

The prisoner on the other hand had never felt so disconnected, his surrounds had changed beyond recognition along with his position and companions. The only remnant of his past was Soi Fon herself and she was not in a position to indulge him, not that he was confident she would indulge him even if she were in a position to do so.

He embraced it however, he had been allowed to re-enter society and was going to take advantage of it.

The two of them reached the barracks and entered, Omaeda approaching the two Shinigami at the front desk with an air of confidence as they noticed him.

'Good morning Lieutenant Omaeda' they greeted him fiercely at attention.

He offered them a single nod in response before speaking.

'Fetch a uniform for my companion.'

One of them hurried into the room behind the desk and emerged rather quickly with a standard black Shinigami uniform.

'You can change in the room behind if you wish' he stated as he handed it over to the prisoner.

He accepted the uniform with a bow before entering the room which he found to be filled neatly with Shinigami and Covert Ops uniforms along with the basic equipment available to any member of the Gotei Thirteen.

He closed the door behind him and began to change once again being prone to a feeling of unfamiliarity. Though he had a Zanpakuto he had never worn a Shinigami uniform, his place had always been in the shadows as a member of The Covert Ops and a prisoner of The Nest Of Maggots.

In spite of these feelings he managed to exit the room with a small sense of pride.

'This way' Omaeda instructed as they left the building, the two officers bowing as they did so.

'There's a place not too far from here where we won't cause interruptions, will you be able to keep up if I pick up the pace?'

'But of course my Lieutenant' the prisoner announced with his playful smile.

Unamused by his change of personality Omaeda took off instantly chaining flash step after flash step before looking behind to check on the prisoner, he did indeed keep up with him as he said he would maintaining a close distance as they moved through the Second Division's grounds.

Refusing to be upstaged by an officer with a lower seat than his own Omaeda used his full speed for the last three flash steps before reaching his destination, when he arrived he turned to find that the prisoner was nowhere to be seen.

'Looks like your cocky attitude was unwarranted' he said with a smile of his own, it was only a moment after though that he heard the prisoners voice from behind him.

'My my you're quiet fast for your appearance, as expected of a member of the Second Division.'

The prisoner looked around while Omaeda stared at him in shocked.

'Nice place you've got here, nothing but grassy plains for quite some distance. This should be just fine.'

Omaeda wanted to respond but before he could put together the words the prisoner spoke again with a smile.

'It seems you're eager, come at me then!'

Omaeda calmly drew his Zanpakuto and raised it in front of him.

'Well? Aren't you going to draw yours?' Omaeda protested.

'Me? I am the third seated officer of the Second Division, remember? I believe that being warden of the Nest of Maggots comes along with that position, am I correct?'

'Yes... and what of it?' Omaeda asked.

'Well that means I will be using hand to hand combat quite a bit in the future so I would like to get some practice in now if that's okay?' the prisoner said slyly.

'As you wish' Omaeda said smiling once again

He rushed forward bringing his Zanpakuto up for a downward attack, as he attacked however the prisoner stepped back disappearing and immediately reappearing on Omaeda's right side in a crouching position.

With an explosion of speed the prisoner raised his palm under Omaeda's strike landing a blow right into his gut. Omaeda dropped his Zanpakuto and took a couple of steps back before falling forward into unconsciousness.

In the short time after the prisoners strike and before Omaeda's fainting he had felt immense fear and regret for trusting such a person, his life was now in this criminals hands.

As Omaeda fell forward the prisoner smiled more widely than he ever had before for his freedom had now truly begun.