The Unsuspecting Karakura

[Takuya]

Chapter 11 – A New Day! The Unsuspecting School!

Rika Takuya felt his feet impact the rooftop of Karakura High School, frowning slightly. He had reported the altercation in the Sakai Hayashi to his fukutaichou, who had assured him he had done the right thing. Despite that, he still felt as if there was unfinished business with the creature. If he ever saw it again, at least, he would try his best to exterminate it. Even if it did possess a strange, almost child-like sense to it, it had to be exterminated.

“Tch,” He said to himself, irritated. The school day was just completing as humans filtered out of the building below, dancing and rejoicing about the end of the day. They probably didn’t even know about the monsters that walked in their midst every couple of days, only to be cut down by a vigilant member of the Seventh, Second, or Thirteenth Division. It was the pride of these three divisions to defend the human world.

“I hope we don’t have another attack today,” he murmured, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade. He sensed no reiatsu yet, but he was sure that the instant he felt the spiritual pressure of a Hollow approaching him, he would be ready to move, ready to cut the beast into ribbons. A faint smile graced his visage. He would enjoy that, if only a little. He wasn’t supposed to enjoy killing Hollows, but… He did…

Only a little.

[.devious]

Still nursing my right arm, the one that had been wounded, but since transformed into its' original Hollow state, I, the mighty Rescuezo Draugr, would shrug my shoulders and blink my eyes. I had been perched near this place of human residence for a little while now, observing their movements. It still amazed me how it seemed like none of these little boys and girls could see me - what was it that made the souls of the dead invisible to the bodies of the living? Yes, sure, unconsciously they could feel my presence, the darkness and the hunger that loomed within my being, and that made them quicken their steps to move from place to place, but no, to their eyes, I was not within sight.

Shrugging slightly, I would leap into the air, my apelike body propelling itself forward at a rapid pace. I would jump from roof to roof; unlike most Hollows within their beginning stages, I wasn't huge and monstrous. I was almost human in size, despite my hulking limbs, and it was still quite amazing that I was capable of surviving within the realms of Hueco Mundo at all. As I continued my leaping, I would finally come to a halt, watching a great mass of humans beginning to pour out of a building, akin to ants from a pile. It was certainly an interesting watch, at least... until...

I could feel the presence of one of the ones who hunted my kind. Shinigami, Death Gods, or Soul Reapers, or any other number of names. The Black Robes and the silver blades, the murderers of Hollows, and somewhere near here, there was one. A sudden fear struck my heart, but it was just as instantly eradicated by a growing hatred. Why did I always have to run and hide? Run in fear? Shaking my head, I would then begin to twist and turn my reiatsu, allowing myself to slowly condense my body, ripping away the darkness that was my skin and replacing it once more with the Hispanic humanoid that I had seemed to taking a liking to.

Green eyes, tan body, frail body, long black hair; covered in clothes of the humans who were now leaving what they called high school, I would descend from my perch of the rooftop, landing with a soft thump upon the ground, and I would begin to look around. Hopefully I could spot and find the Shinigami before things got too dangerous... and hopefully he wouldn't sense my reiatsu and come hunting for me, too. That might certainly be interesting...

[Takuya]

Chapter 12 – A New Arrival! I See You!

“Tch,” Takuya Rika said again, annoyance crossing over his features. He was watching one particular specimen of human female, with long, flowing hair the color of a ripe pumpkin, chasing after a boy with similarly colored hair, who was doing his best act as though he hadn’t noticed or didn’t care at all about her approach. Takuya snorted, watching as she drew to walk beside him, but he continued ignoring him.

“A century passes and nothing changes,” He mused to himself. He readjusted his uniform, pulling the haori closed a little tighter and tightening his sash. He checked that his zanpaktou was snug within it’s hilt and settled back, staring down at the boy and girl as they exited the school grounds, passing between the arches that were the gate of Karakura High School. It seemed like it had been a fairly ordinary school day, so far.

HOLLOW! His senses screamed at him instantly, causing him to almost fall off of the rooftop as he felt the reiatsu wash over him. It was a hollow, no doubt. It felt familiar for a reason he couldn’t put a finger on, as well. He quickly vaulted off of the rooftop, heading in the direction of the disturbance. The dust didn’t so much as have time to puff into a landing cloud before Takuya was gone, running through the thinning crowd of humans in search of the Hollow.

“Of all the times,” He murmured to himself, his zanpaktou sliding out of the sheath with the harsh ring of steel. He gripped it in his left hand, holding it low to the ground, ready to slash upwards. He felt the pressure increasing as he moved towards the school. It was being exuded by one of these humans, who was certainly not a human. It had all the hallmarks of hollowified reiatsu… There!

“Excuse me!” He said, talking to the frail looking boy, waving his hands frantically and trying to catch his attention. “Have you seen a big hulking beast of a thing around here?”

[.devious]

The gentle steps were very definitely a good thing. As I sighed in relief, I would then begin to feel the rage and terror bubble up inside of my body. I could feel the approaching presence of the Shinigami; its' reiatsu was too much to ignore. Gulping, I quickly developed a plan. As I continued my walking, I heard the sound of feet hitting the ground, and I knew that the Shinigami was upon me. I heard the ringing of steel as his zanpakutou was withdrawn, and I could hear the steps, yet still I tried my damnedest to ignore the thing. In this form, I'd be leaking the reiatsu of a Hollow, but how would that be possible when I looked human?

It was then that the Shinigami would come running forward. I could sense his confusion; he expected his prey to be here, but it clearly wasn't. A small smile filled my face, but it fell as the sound of a male voice called out. "Have yo useen a big hulking beast of a thing around here?" The sound of the voice almost made me start, but I managed to keep my temperament and continue walking as if I had heard nothing. The best defense in this scenario would be to attempt to be as human as possible, and humans couldn't see the invisible dead souls... therefore, I wouldn't either.

Hopefully it'd be enough to fool him.

[Takuya]

Chapter 13 – A Test Of Wits! Who Goes First?

I narrowed my eyes at the back of the possibly-not-human. It seemed he wasn’t going to fall for my tricks so easily. I held tight to my wakazashi and ran forward, gripping the handle lightly and flicking the blade in the air. It seemed we were going to have to play a little game to stop all of this. I moved with the best speed I could muster without initiating a Shunpo, coming up beside him and flying by with my blade extended.

The tip would barely catch his cheek, but it would be enough to inflict a small gash on his face. I smiled to himself. I had all the proof I needed as I did so. I turned as my run finished, grinning at my foe. It had been a good game, but I was ready to fight with no reservations. I was absolutely sure this wasn’t a human I was staring at now, with perhaps three meters of distance separating us. No, this was a Hollow.

“The jig is up, pal.” I said quietly, though I knew he would hear me. “This zanpaktou is made to cut through hollows like butter, not humans. It drags and pulls like a normal sword when it comes into contact with human flesh. In fact, against solid human flesh it’s a bit weaker than a normal sword. But you, you got cut without inflicting the slightest bit of resistance to my blade. That only happens with Hollows.” I smirked at him. “So what say you change back and we have a nice conversation about what you’re doing in my patrol zone?”

[.devious]

This was definitely getting more dangerous. As I continued my walk, ignoring my opponent, I would then feel the strength of blade meeting my face. My eyebrows would raise in surprise; a gasp of pain would fill me, as red, human blood would gash from my face, composed during my transformation into that of a human. Shuddering, I'd reach up to touch my face, feeling the blood fall from my face. My eyes open wide, I'd look around me, pretending not to see the Shinigami who lay before me. It was at this time that I'd begin to hear the conversation being directed at me. With a wound on me, I listened to the Shinigami's explanation of how the Zanpakutou works.

I was questioning it myself. Were his words true? That didn't seem plausible; swords were swords, right? No matter how magical they were? I wasn't positive, but neither was I yet ready to give up my charade. Shinigami were always difficult opponents, and I wasn't exactly ready to engage one yet. Instead, I'd call out, "What the fuck happened?!" Continuing to clutch my face, I'd then stand, as I had earlier fallen to my knee, and would continue to walk forward, feeling the blood ooze between my fingers. Breathing heavily, I hoped that my opponent's theory truly wasn't correct.

If it was, then there stood a chance that I was a dead man.

[Takuya]

Chapter 14 – Well This Sucks…

“Hm,” I sighed. This was getting boring. I looked at the possibly-human before me. He was surely reacting like a human, but all signs pointed directly towards him being a hollow. Well, the most important sign, at least. That was the sign of having a reiatsu that was levels above those around him. It was, quite simply, impossible to be human with that kind of disordered and monstrous reiatsu. It didn’t add up, and I was quite sure I was the subject of a ploy here.

“You know, it’s not very convincing. Good of you to call my bluff, though. But with all that spiritual pressure, even if you were a human, you’d be able to see me,” I said quietly, wiping the blood off of my blade with a clean cloth. “And it’s not organized like a human’s spiritual pressure, either.” I held my blade in front of me, this time gripping it with both hands. “You screwed yourself by not responding to me the first time.”

“So,” I concluded, narrowing my eyes at my foe. “Are we going to have a nice quiet talk about the deplorable habit of human consumption your kind tends toward, or am I just going to have to do this the hard way? Aka slashing you right down the face and seeing if you really do go poof?” I stared directly into his eyes now, looking for reaction from them. The truth was always in the eyes, no matter what…

[.devious]

It would seem as if the Shinigami had been bluffing. I almost performed a sigh a relief whenever he didn't turn to cut me down, but then a thought struck me. I now focused intently upon the words being spoken by my new friend, it seemed, and I listened carefully. As he began to pour out secrets that I hadn't, until this point, been aware of, a smile lit up my face. With my hand still pressed to my cheek, I'd turn my head towards the Shinigami, the smile still upon my face, as I slowly drug my hand down towards my lips, allowing the crimson liquid that was my blood in this form begin to dribble into my lips. Moving my tongue, I'd lap up a bit, my emerald eyes showing that I was, quite possibly, crazed.

"Well, Shinigami, it appears that you've found me out." Chuckling a little bit, I'd turn to face my opponent in full; now that it was clear that I was what he was searching for, I'd need to keep my eyes upon him. Shinigami were not to be trusted; they would turn and kill you the moment you believed that you had befriended one. That's how this whole mess had started to begin with... way back when. Once more, infinite rage began to boil within my veins, and it took all of my self control not to activate an immediate transformation and begin racing towards my opponent right here and now. Besides, I'd probably lose, still nursing the injured right arm.

Perhaps it was time to engage him in conversation, then. "Why are you stopping to talk to me instead of killing me? That's the way of the Shinigami; slaughter first, then ask questions. To your kind, we are all a bunch of mindless monsters, yet there you stand, ready to converse with me. I have to say that I'm surprised. As to your declarations of deplorable, I must say that as a Shinigami, the kind that has started every spiritual war in existence, I don't believe that you have room to speak of deplorable."

[Takuya]

Chapter 15 – Sophistication? Consorting With The Enemy!

I grinned. This was what I was looking for. A smart hollow. I had no stomach for the mindless ones, and they were nothing but to be exterminated. All hollows were to be exterminated, I reminded myself. My encounter with the coffin-esque hollow had proven that. Displays of intelligence weren’t said nothing about the endless, killing hunger that lurked inside of hollows. I frowned at him, loosening my grip on the wakazashi, holding it lightly.

“Just because the black pot calls the kettle black doesn’t mean the kettle isn’t black. I know we’ve made a habit of exterminating your kind on a regular basis,” I grinned widely. I was enjoying myself way too much in this conversation. Hollows were beasts, the enemy. Yet someone, I felt like I knew this beast, in some way. “Most of your kind is rather mindless, and you do tend to eat humans and rend their souls from their bodies to feed your heartless hunger.”

I shifted my stance slightly. I was relaxing, but not lowering my guard. It wouldn’t help me to be all tensed up, but nor could I afford to let my senses dull. Experience told me now was the time to leap in and cleave the creature’s mask in half and obliterate it. Instinct, however, didn’t follow suit. And when experience and instinct didn’t cooperate, I knew it was the bloodiest kind of red flag. I recited my kido quietly in my mind.

“And I mean, I have to ask you back; is there any good reason for a creature that sustains itself on souls to be disguised as a human and infiltrating a school full of them? That’s not the sort of thing I could let by in good conscience.” I wondered what the humans around me saw. It was entirely possible that the creature had slipped out of human sight, as was wont with spiritual creatures. I doubted that any of the kids had the spiritual force to see me, at least. I would have sensed them…

[.devious]

"But did you ever stop to think about what happens to the souls that we eat? They do not vanish; no, instead, they're still thrown into the cycle of death and rebirth once more. It's not a final death, but the start of yet another life. In the same manner that we Hollows are slain by the Zanpakutou and our souls 'redeemed' and allowed another chance at life, so are the souls that we 'devour' to feed our hunger. Perhaps that is why we can never feed the soul, eh? Because we gain no nourishment for our hunger."

As the words came out of my mouth, I stopped myself. I hadn't meant to say that, it had just come forward as a great forward flow of information. It was a revelation, something that I had never stopped to consider before, but somehow unconsciously knew that it was the truth. My mouth would fall agape, and I'd look at the Shinigami, who, through his pointedly aggressive methods of address, had managed to awaken some hidden knowledge within my soul to tell me of something that I had never thought to actually consider before... and that knowledge was terrible.

The knowledge that I now owed a Shinigami for revealing such a powerful thing to me... I shook my head, and then sighed, closing my eyes for the briefest of moments before glancing back towards the Shinigami. "As to why I am disguised as a human... do you think that these beings can actually see me? Nay; it is only for myself that I perform this transformation. To reminisce back to what I was... back into what I would wish to become. I do not wish to devour mindlessly, for such actions betray me as the darkest of monsters, yet still, I must attempt to sate the hunger that saturates my soul.

"So I seek to devour only the most powerful of souls, to gain strength through the most quick and calculated of methods. I seek to avoid the slaughter of thousands if I can avoid it, and want only to devour the most powerful of souls so that perhaps my sins will be less in count when I reach the strength to conquer this hunger and become my own being... But I don't think you understand any of that, do you, Shinigami? Since your soul was carried into Soul Society, you've heard of the evil of us Hollows, at how we devour and kill and for what? To you, nothing. But we kill humans for the same reason that your kind kills us.

"For strength."

[Takuya]

Chapter 16 – Sword-Edge Logic

“Really now?” I asked sarcastically, but with less venom then I should have used. “You’re freeing souls to the next life? They should be allowed to die in their own time, however. If we weren’t around to hold the rampage of your kind in check, the population of humans would dwindle, and it would go real fast.” I hefted my wakzashi, regarding the edge of the blade closely. “You’re using a sort of sword-edge logic here. Reason by the blade.”

“But maybe so am I,” I conceded a moment later, hardly believing I was saying it. “Maybe I’ll never understand what it’s like to be a Hollow, to hunger for something to fill the void within and to dream of a life where death wasn’t the bread and butter of existence. But I do understand that it is my responsibility, as someone who can do something about it, to allow living souls to opportunity to die in their own time, not be cut down by the hunger.”

“I know plenty about your kind,” My tone grew flat as his next sneer surfaced, demeaning my people and what they knew of Hollows and their evil. “More than you probably think, Hollow. I’ve seen what your kind can do and what they can become. I’ve met some of them. Does the name Hacher Taliasega ring a bell with you? It was her and some psychotic Arrancar that tore out my heart when I was a human. How does that sound to you?”

[.devious]

Chortling, I'd say, "I never said I was freeing souls for their next life. I said that the souls that we 'devour' do not perish. To the eyes of humanity, we are perhaps a natural phenomenon; you also fail to realize that we do not hunt or kill those who cannot see or sense us. It's only the souls, or those with powerful soul perception amongst the living who are targeted and killed. I do not ask for your understanding, because your eyes are blind and bound to the will of your hypocrisy.

"I have not met with many of my kind. I do not seek to associate with those that would bring mayhem and destruction upon themselves. I seek to survive, and to exist, and to become powerful; for no other reason do I remain here as a Hollow; a creature that by all means should be mindless, but have been somehow graced with a mind." There was a pause here, and then another question. "You mention the name of your killers as a Human. Does that mean that you somehow have memories of your life...?"

It was immensely interesting, that concept. Perhaps there was more to this worthless Shinigami. If he could recall his past... what did that mean for his future?

[Takuya]

Chapter 17 – Brush The Memories

“I…” I paused, considering what the Hollow was saying. Despite myself, I was interested in what the beast had to say. I knew it was my duty to destroy him, but I couldn’t force myself to do it just yet; the things the Hollow had to say were immensely interesting to me. “I do remember what I was before this… I remember living in Maebashi, the Karakura Town of a previous century… I remember watching the battle of Shinigami Captains and the Espada as a simple human over Maebashi. I remember being killed and having my heart removed.”

“I had no heart from the beginning of my death, I don’t think,” I said, frowning. It wasn’t that I was compelled to share the story of my death with this Hollow by anything special it possessed; I just felt like someone had to hear it. Only Shun had ever heard the circumstances of my arrival in the Seireitei, and he had begged me to keep my history to myself. “I was almost one of you, you know. My Chain of Fate was broken. But I was sent to the Dead World in time to stop it from happening.”

“There was no reason for it,” I concluded, “Other than the psychotic rages of a power-hungry Hollow. You bring the fight to the human world, and we are forced to confront you there, where innocent souls are caught in the crossfire.” My heart wasn’t so much in the argument any more. I was far too concerned, troubled even, by the questions that the Hollow was raising, especially the unspoken ones of my past… Why did I remember?

[.devious]

Due to a lot of busyness on my behalf and the wanting to complete this storyline, Takuya has special admin permission to exist in another thread aside from this one. When this thread is complete, his number of threads will be reduced back to one, but for now, since I can't manage a post after such a long time, he can exist outside of this thread so long as he considers this thread to have happened first.

[.devious]

Scoffing, I'd look at the Shinigami. "WE bring the fight here? Nay, Shinigami; all we do is attempt to alleviate our hunger. YOU bring the fight; both here and everywhere. You're the hunters of our kind, not the other way. It astounds me, the amount of brainwashing that the Shinigami put their own kind through. I doubt you'll listen to my words, though. Your past though... it is truly interesting."

As we had been speaking, I'd become quite aware of a feeling that I wasn't sure of when we first met, but now I was certainly sure of it. Yes... I could feel the nothingness within him, just waiting to break free, for something to awaken it. My eyes narrowed as I looked at the man, but it would seem that not even he was aware of what he was, or what he'd one day become. I shook my head in dismay, and then sighed; then, giving a careful smile, I'd continue.

"My name, Shinigami, is Rescuezo Draugr. Do you have a name as well?"

[Takuya]

Chapter 18 - Split Principles

“Twist it into the pure desire to alleviate hunger all you want,” I retorted, “its still murdering and consuming souls. Call it whatever you want, call in natural order, but as long as you’re trying to rip out the souls of people and feast on it, I’ll be here, we’ll be here, to take you apart piece by piece.” I refrained from adding a notoriously annoying addition to that sentence in the form of ‘believe it.’ I felt like the world had heard enough of that one, given its enormous popularity amongst Shinigami of late.

“Rescuezo Draugr,” I repeated quietly, turning it over in my mind. I was going to remember that name. I needed to find if there was any lore in the Great Library about Rescuezo Draugr. If there wasn’t, there would certainly be a file soon enough. I didn’t think I had the power to kill him here and now, nor was he doing any harm. That wasn’t an excuse Central 46 would accept if they heard about it, but it only made it harder for me.

“Rika Takuya,” I said, returning my name to him. “7th Division Shinigami.” I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth running through me. I wasn’t sure why this excited me, but it did in a quiet way. Not in any way like a normal battle. It was quieter; colder. “I have a patrol to complete, Draugr,” I continued. I hesitated before the next statement. “You’re doing no harm here… I need not report an altercation with a Hollow at Karakura High School if it stays that way.”

[.devious]

I was actually surprised. Somehow, I managed to avoid actually conflicting with this Shinigami for long enough to at least make him curious. Interesting; he spoke of the Seventh Division. The rumors of the 7th were that they were merciless towards Hollows; perhaps the rumors were wrong, or he was a strange member of the 7th Division, or I interested him in the same way that he interested me. As I listened to his final words, I found myself drawn to mention the things that I had noticed, that perhaps he had not. But should I? I didn't want to provoke the Shinigami, and such news would surely have that effect.

After hesitating for a moment, I gave into my urges, and I looked straight at the Shinigami's eyes. "There's a difference in you, that extends beyond your abilities to recall your past. There's a hidden part of you, one that has yet to be awakened. It is within you, and it waits and bides its' time before it reveals itself."

Pausing once more, I'd then continue. "Come seek me out, Rika Takuya, when the change happens. You'll know what I'm talking about when it does." Sighing, I'd then turn my body from him and begin to walk in the opposite direction. Aye, these Shinigami were certainly interesting folks, indeed...

[exit?]

[Takuya]

Chapter 19 – Shifter Speaker Killer

I tapped my foot against the ground, agitated. There was something about this Hollow I couldn’t understand, something I could perceive, something about him beyond the rough, roaring state of his reiatsu that touched my mind and resonated in my memories that I couldn’t place. Perhaps it was his human form, bringing rise to my memories of humanoid Arrancar seeking to rip free my heart from the confines. Somehow, the shifter Hollow had caught my attention long enough to keep me from killing him.

“What are you talking about?” I asked suspiciously, staring hard. The Hollow was speaking in riddles, and I couldn’t figure out what he meant by it. He was talking about something within power, some ability that was somehow connected to my ability to remember my time in Maebashi. Hidden places and secret waiting power inside me; it was all a massive riddle. I wondered what triggered the Hollow to say it.

I watched silently as the Hollow walked away into the crowd, peaceful as can be. Seek him out… Yeah right. I may have stopped to talk to a Hollow, but nothing could happen in the future that would make me want to consort with one, to abandon Seireitei and the Gotei 13 to hang out with a Hollow. Still, something about him… Rescuezo Draugr. I would remember him… There was a blur, and I was gone.

[…Exit]