Chasing the outcast

The area close to the edge of far Rukongai was the least monitored area. Consequently it was the most deserted one too. It had so few people that if you would fire a mass-destrustion kido it would hardly kill even 10 people. Not to say that it was completely abandoned, no. It had a number of residents, barely a hundred. Most of these people have never even seen a shinigami. However there was one that was staying over in this particular neighbourhood. The just didn't know he was a shinigami.

Iori was just taking a strol around the place. To anyones eye, he was just another resident of this damned place and just happened to be armed. He was looking for a house to take a rest, as well as to shelter himself for the night. He had heard rumors that the once in a billion years event has happened: the shinigami were coming to this place. Rumors also had it that they were thoroughly searching every district up until now. Some people were naive enough to think that they would be bringing provisions for them, others hoped that they were recruiting. Iori, unlike all of those people, knew exactly what the shinigami were coming for. They were coming for him. Damn, they still didn't give up on this shit. Should've fled to the Real World when i had the chance. Although these were only rumors, Iori didn't want to be taking any chances. this is why he wanted to spend the night somewhere where would not be noticeable at all.

(ok guys, whoever is in charge of the npc shinigami squad, you can waltz in now. DO not notice Iori just yet though.)

(Sorry it took so long. Was distracted by other things and had to think of a reason why a bunch of regular shinigami would be sent to capture an ex-captain. This was my solution)

"Alright everyone, we are within the last known location of the Ex-Captain Iori." The current fifth Seat of the 6th division, Kitayama Suzu, quickly looked at his small squad once again reminding them to be quiet. It was an unusual crew with a mix of members from 2nd, 6th, and 11th divisions. They had been sent out as a scouting party to get as much information as they could about the rogue captain to prepare the other squads for the eventual combat party that would be sent after him, if one needed to be sent at all.

There had been debate in the past on whether to deal with the rogue captain at all or just let him be. As far as they knew he had just been doing stuff on his own and, while still a threat, they wanted to focus on the Arrancar threat. However, hotter heads had prevailed due to the fear that he might be colluding with the Arrancar. As such a small squadron had been sent to first find his location, and then a second had been sent for the actual scouting.

Kitayama wiped some sweat off his brow quietly while tightening his grip on his twin firewheel zanpakuto. All of the group members had released their zans far in advance to make sure they wouldn't be sensed by Iori if they instantly released the moment they got near.

"We will stay within this area first. If anyone spots or senses the ex-captain I want to know immediately to see how we should proceed. Do NOT under any circumstances try to engage the captain. You would likely be killed before you could land a blow. Despite his years of exile and hiding I doubt his power has dropped that much." The rest of the squad nodded though the 11th division members didn't seem that happy about it. However they luckily had enough sense to know not to jeopardize the mission. "Kita and Akashiro make sure that our scent and sound aren't sent to the captain." The two squad 2 members nodded their heads before activating the power of their zanpakuto. They were often paired together due to the useful nature of their zans. Kita was able to control the winds to make them move, if only slightly so as to not increase suspicion, so that the target's scent would be pushed to the group while their own scents would be blown far away. Akashiro's control over sound allowed him to muffle their movements and disguise them as animal noises rather then the footsteps of shinigami.

This has a chance of working but we are still in a perilous position. If the Captain has any traps nearby we could be in deep trouble. Hopefully we are staying far enough away to prevent that though.

As it was getting closer and closer to midnight, Iori situated himself in a small, abandoned hut. It was halfway between the center of the neighbourhood and its edge. Iori has been travelling for days, taking breaks to either meditate train somewhat. He has not, however, gone to sleep this entire time. And it was rest that heneeded now. Damn, I swear to god, if anybody wakes me up today before I'm satisfied with my sleep... were Iori's thoughts as he prepped what could barely even pass for a bed. Yet it was good enough for him.

Without many second thoughts, Iori collapsed on the bed and was sound asleep. However this was not a regular sleep, no. Experience has turned his sleeping into the so called "soldier's sleep". Whenever he would be forced to wake up, he would either draw his weapon or cast a small defensive kido. It was now a habit of his that he could do nothing about.

Still almost silently moving through the area Kita and Akashiro made their way around the area with one of the members of 11th to see if they could spot the rogue Captain. Despite the darkness, they still had the advantage of the area of their ability to hide their scent, sound, and reishi levels. As such only someone with great eyesight would be able to note their presence. As they passed part of the sparse village they started to sense a spiritual pressure, a fair bit higher then that of the regular souls in the area. The fact that they could only sense the pressure suddenly pointed to two possibilities. Either they were actually being baited, unlikely since Iori had been hiding all this time and wouldn't be interested in suddenly making himself known, or he had gone to sleep which usually cut down on an individual's ability to suppress their reiatsu.

Slowly making their way to where they sensed the area they came across a small hut. Straining their eyes they could just see through the broken parts of the abandoned building to the shinigami inside. The man matched the description of Iori that they had been given. Right near where he was sleeping they could just make out his sealed zanpakuto showing that he was still armed.

Kita looked at the member of 11th that had been assigned to them. "Make sure Kitayama is informed that we have found the target and are awaiting additional orders," he said as quietly as he could. The 11th division member growled slightly at this order, obviously wanting to just go in and attack the captain, but obeyed running to where the other half of the squad was searching.

The two remaining shinigami continued to watch the sleeping shinigami deciding what to do. While they were safe from this distance while he was sleeping, they had to be careful about how to proceed in the morning. They had been ordered to simply watch and see if the rogue captain was making any contact with other groups or races or if he was simply staying on his own. If it was the latter then the attacking group might be called off for more important missions. If it was the former though, it wouldn't take long before a large group was sent to capture or destroy him.

However, as they stood watching and waiting, their attention was caught by another member of the rukongai who was making his way towards the shack. He was staggering slightly as he walked but didn't look that drunk. The two shinigami quickly looked at each other unsure how to proceed. It could be that the drunkeness was an act and this was one of his contacts, but if it was a real drunk person, it could wake Iori up and jeapordize the mission.

Before they had a chance to make a decision though the man stumbled again letting out a tremendously loud belch. Little did he know that would be his last as he stumbled his way into the hut confusing it with his own.

Iori was put half-way out of his sleep by a loud belch. He was closer and closer to being woken up by each of the loud footsteps. When he could be classified partially awake, his movement was fast and fluent. He got up, one know on the ground, his left hand on the scabbard. A fraction of a second later, his blade was in the position after it made diagonal swing upwards. The drunk man had a deep wound on his torso and collapsed, coughing up large amounts of blood. It was only then that Iori realized what happened. He looked at the man, then at his blade. "You stupid son of a bitch." Iori mumbled towards the man who was in great pain.

Iori swung the blood off and then sheathed his zanpakutou. "Oh well, no one's fault but your own." With these words, Iori made a powerful kick at the man, sending through the doorway of the shack, onto the streets, just outside the th. He then raised his hand in the direction of the man and mumbled "Hado # 31: Shakkahou". I red ball of Reishi formed in Iori's palm. After waiting a moment, charging more power into the attack, Iori unleashed it. The roar of the explosion, as well as the light from it was noticeable in the whole neighbourhood. The result of Iori's attack wasa noticable trench across the street that still had some flames in it as well as the fact that half of the shack was destroyed. The man from earlier was fapourized, not a trace of him left. Iori walked out of what remained of the little hut and stood at the side of the trench. Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to do. Oh well, not like there is anything they can do.

The moment Iori had slashed the soul Kita and Akashiro were on the move, fear in their eyes and hearts. They had figured that as long as it was night they had a chance to keep watch on Iori without worrying about being noticed. But not that he had been so rudely awakened, he would likely be paying extra attention to his surroundings. They only stopped for a brief moment as they heard a roaring of fire behind them. They stood for just a brief moment in horror at the giant kido explosion the rogue captain had used on the soul that had woken him up, no doubt simply as revenge for being awakened.

They quickly continued their run back to the rest of the squad to try to organize a retreat back to Soul Society. They had been told to retreat if their was any chance they might have to engage the ex-captain and with the neighborhood being blasted, it was likely they would be found soon whether he was searching or not.

However it was still a gamble to run as well. While they could muffle their sounds and keep their smell away when being still or slow, their abilities did not work when using flash steps or simple running. It would be up to chance if they were able to get far enough away before he caught on to their presence.

Iori was just looking around, not searching for anything in particular when he noticed movement in the corner of his eye. He looked in that direction. There were two figures on the move from him, seemingly startled by the explosion. But, as Iori peered his eyes and took a closer look...Shinigami. So they've found me. This could turn out bad if they get away. He used Shunpou to appear just a few meters behind them. He once again raised his arm in their direction, but this time with a different gesture. He was pointing his index finger and his pinky at the two fleeing shinigami. This is when he made his reiatsu much more obvious, the entire district and probably the next one could feel it. He was gathering all that reishi into another attack while whispering "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens." A blue ball of reishi formed at the tips of each of the fingers. His cloack rose and the dust and durt around him was blown away. Once again he whispered "Hado #79: Soren Sokatsui."

The explosion was actually visible this time for miles. The ground trembled and the blast wave knocked down a few huts. Iori now stood on the other side of the large cloud of smoke. Two isn't enough for a reconassance mission like that. The rest of the squad must be hiding somewhere close by. In any case, they're sitting ducks.

((Can't think what to write so just gonna make a quick transition post before the brutality continues.))

Explosions tend to be bad news on surveillance missions. Especially when they come from the direction that your subordinates were investigating in. It was obvious from the huge flash of reiatsu that Takeshi was nearby, and that his power hadn't disappeared during his time in the Rukongai.

The moment they felt the wave of wind and reishi the team quickly sprinted back to soul society as fast as they could. It was quickly shown though the difference in capabilities. The two Squad Six members led the charge with Kitayama in the front, his subordinate lagging a fair bit behind. Even farther behind them were the two 11th members who seemed fairly inept when it came to shunpo. Crap those two will likely be easy to spot as we are running if they don't speed it up! Kitayama said to himself still panicking. They hadn't even had time to get back up yet using a hell butterfly due to how close Iori already was. Hopefully they could make it to the gate just in time.

Iori noticed a few more reiatsu signatures. Well what do you know, five more of them. At this point he went on the move towards them. He was not even trying to supress his reiatsu and was closing in to his targets rather rapidly. He did not want to let them get away and then let the whole of the shinigami army know that he as still around in Rukongai. Damn, really should've left whn I had the chance to. Iori thought again as he blurred past the shinigami squad and then appeared a few meters in front of their leader. The way the moonlight hit him, he seemed like the reaper from stories: a faceless, hooded and cloaked man-like being, about to harvest some lives.

Kitayama cursed as Iori appeared in front of them. It was obvious at this point that their cause was lost. There was no way they would be able to out run the ex-captain no matter what they tried, any messages they sent would be intercepted and flat out battle was suicide.

"Well I guess its our time to die." He said quietly as he jumped back. At the same time the other member of 6th jumped forward to slash at Iori, knowing full well that he was already dead, but wanting to give just a few seconds for their last ditch plan. They had known from the beginning that they might not survive this battle and that it would be important for the rest of the Gotei to at least find their bodies if they failed.

So they had kept a back up plan just in case. Kitayama heard a scream but ignored it as he pulled out his twin fire wheel zanpakuto. With no hesitation he suddenly used the sharp flame-like protusions to slit his wrists and slice his chest blood pouring out of both. As he did so he heard the two members of 11th arrive and jump screaming and hollering at their foe.

They had promised to try to bind the shinigami up for even a few seconds if they could, if 11th division members were anything they were stubborn and wouldn't let go until they were dead, but he knew that still would likely only give a few more seconds. Using those to the best of his ability he suddenly spun around in a circle, his own blood flying off his zan in a circle around him, calling out his zan's most powerful attack.

With a roaring explosion his blood burst into flames billowing upward into the air, twisting around themselves to make a huge tornado of flame all around him. It was a move that was normally saved for last resorts. Its radius was very small and the flames weren't even that hot. Not only that, but Kitayama couldn't move very fast while still maintaining his spinning motion. Added to the fact that he was still bleeding from the injuries necessary to start the attack, it wouldn't be long before he would likely pass out. All in all it was an attack almost useless for battling the Captain.

However this time it wasn't for battling. Despite how useless it was in combat right now, it was large, tall, and extremely bright. The perfect signal flare to be noticed by at least someone in the Seiretei. Sure even with this they still wouldn't be able to get help in time since it would take a bit of time to mobilize a force, but at least their corpses would be found.

The two shinigami dashed at him, but before they were even half way there, Iori's finger was pointing at one of them. "Hodo # 1: Sho." The shinigami seemed as if he was yanked back by a rope that would be tied to his stocmach. Meanwhile Iori moved into the reach of the attack of the second Shinigami and stopped his attack by grabbing his wrist before the blow landed. He still had his finger pointed at the shinigami that was flying off. "Hado #54: Haien." A purple ball of energy, reletively small shot out and followed the shinigami. Once it hit, the shinigami was engulfed in flames, making a short scream before desintigrating. He then move the same finger unbder the throat of the seconds shinigami, almost like a gun. "Hado #4: Biakurai". A white shot of reishi shot right through its victim's skull. It was only the that Iori noticed that the leader was slashing his own chest open. Huh?! What the hell is that guy doing?

Before Iori could do anything about i though, two more shinigami jumped at him. They attacked him simultaniously, making a horizontal swing each, aimed at his neck. In responce, Iori dropped down, letting the attacks pass. He then dashed forward, so that the two shinigami would be behind him. He then grabbed each of them by the collar, and forced them back, knocking them out of balance. He then dashed to the left and held his right hand out, with his index and middle finger in a position like the would carry something. "Bakudo #62: Hyapporankan". At the two fingers, a rod formed. Iori threw the rod so it would impale both of the shinigami. The distance was too close for the rod to multiply, and if it did, it would ruin what Iori had in mind for these two. He then jumped up, over the two Shinigami. "Bakudo #9: Horin" Iori used the rope tie the two shinigami and bring them back to back, while they were sstill impaled. As he landed, he chanted the last attack of this whole combination "Hado #11: Tsuzuri Raiden." A lightening went throught the rope, zapping bothof the shinigami. They both died after with a sinchronized scream.

Iori, then, was taken by surprize by the bright light that almost came out of nowhere. What the? As he looked at the source of the light, he saw the same shinigami that was slicing himself open earlier. "So that's what you were up to. A signal." At this point, Iori was not pleased at all. This meant that the little slaughter that happened here would be quadripple checked and he would eventually be found. So now, he let loose all his reiatsu, as terrifying as it was. He was preparing to kill the shinigami in one of the most brutal ways he could thinkof.

(Alright, Fuerza. Open the Garganta and come in. Say you were drawn in by reiatsu spikes of something.)

(( I hope this is alright with Zaf ))

When Iori turned around to face the signalling Shinigami, a Garganta opened behind him.
A single figure was standing in the darkness of the gate to Hueco Mundo.
It was Cuarta Espada, Fuerza Sombras.

"My my... What's going on in here?..." Fuerza smirked.
"This reiatsu is just irresistable."

He took a few steps forward to analyse the situation.
Fuerza closed his eyes for two seconds and made his decision.
Let's see how this turns out.

(( I hope my next move is acceptable ))

He was suddely standing next to the Shinigami who was surrounded by a vortex of
bright flames. In the blink of an eye the bright fire disappeared and the shinigami dropped on his knees. His head was laying a couple of meters further away.
Fuerza didn't even seem to have moved at all.

He then turned to face the berserking ex-Captain.
"And what's the matter with you eh?" He said looked at the corpses around him.
"Turned on your own kind have you?"

He stared the Shinigami straight in the eyes, trying to figure out what was going on inside the man's head. But Fuerza sensed a lot of other strong Shinigami coming their way.

"Better speak up fast, you don't have much time." Fuerza said.
He knew he sounded more like an ally than an enemy. But he actually meant he wasn't planning on talking too long before he killed the Shinigami before him and got the hell out of Soul Society.
But his curiousity had gained the upper hand and he wanted to know more about the situation here.

(Not what I planned originally, but works too)

"Turned on the? Well I guess you could put it that way." Iori lowered his reiatsu, a sign that he was not hostile. "To be perfectly honest they turned on me. You see, they were hunting me down. The shinigami in general have been hunting me down for the past, oh what, hundred years or so. It's been such a pain ever sinse I got kicked out." Iori also noticed that the alarm must have indeed been raised in Sereitei. He also sensed a few high powers moving in their direction. He stared at the sky "I don't think they will ever stop untill I either cut down every single one of them, or they capture or kill me." He then thought of something. "Say..." he looked at the garganta and then at the Arrancar "you wouldn'e happen to be one of them Espada now would you?"

(please don't jump me)

((Just so ya know I don't have an issue with the posts. And hey, one less topic to post in. Now I can revive Otaku topic yay.))

"What do you care?" Fuerza smirked.
He turned around and opened a Garganta.
Whoever this man was, he wanted to know more about him.
He might be of further use, a worthy adversary or just a satisfying snack.
The strong spiritual pressures were getting closer and closer, and there were more of them
than a minute ago now.
Obviously his presence alarmed more strong Shinigami, maybe Captains.

"If you want to continue this conversation, follow me.
If not, stay here and get killed." Fuerza said and stepped into the Garganta,
waiting for the Shinigami to follow.

Before Iori could say anything, the Arrancar opened up a Garganta. "Well, it looks like great minds think alike." Without hesitation Iori followed the arrancar. This was his second chance to get out of Rukongai, and he was not gonna mniss it. Iori knew that eventually he would be found if he stayed in Rukongai. He would also be executed immidiately. Following this arrancar was had a better chance of living for him. Although there was still this possibility that the arrancar would attack, Iori didn't want to count on it.

(Will be continued in Las Noches)