[Log] An Unfair Match
Thanks for the help fixing the code!
Who: Rukia Kuchiki, Ichimaru Gin, Renji Abarai, Isshin Kurosaki
Where: Somewhere in Karakura
When: September 10th. (Gin's birthday!)
What: In a chance passing, Rukia spots Gin in a crowd. She decides to follow him, but it proves to not have been the best of her ideas.
Watch for: Rukia getting PWNED by Gin's shikai move (Thanks for letting me!). Renji saving the day! And Dr. Kurosaki doing his crazy thing, saving the day in his own way. XD
Well, the earlier night was a disaster. Rukia couldn't help but dwell in it, even as she walks through Karakura Town with her hat and her usual dress. She is wearing that characteristic, thoughtful frown on her face, walking around and absently staring at the windows of the stores around the downtown area. She ought to be going home, she decides, looking up and watching one of the small clocks in the area chime the hour. It was getting late, and Yuzu was cooking something with eggs today. Mmm....eggs. Food cheered her up quite well these days, there were always so many things to try.
She idly makes a note to visit her brother's physical apartment while she was here. He would like for her to check in, and after the fiasco last night, he liked to hear from her regularly. She was in the area, couldn't hurt to stop in and update him on things that are happening, though since last night there wasn't much.
Taking a step in that direction, she moves over to where Byakuya's high-rise is.
There wasn't much to report from last night because they never even gave Gin the chance to tease them with a little information. But it didn't really matter. It wasn't his intention to help the others, but his job was getting somewhat boring without the usual crowd around to interact with. So if you can't bring them to you, then I suppose you must go out and find them yourself. Karakura was the popular spot for trouble after all. And after all, sometimes the bad guys have to gather information as well.
Still, with the town being so popular, it was often hard for a traitor to even set foot in the vicinity without being jumped. But if they thouht it was cowardly of him to say hello on neutral ground, then that perception might be broken by the glimpse of silver hair passing by as a group of people cross at a red light.
The walk light flashes green, with the little walking person from across the street. Rukia adjusts the strap of her sundress quietly, and starts heading across the street, mingling with the throng of people waiting to cross. It's like one of the scenes in dramatic anime, where the bad guy crosses the same street as the good guy from opposite directions, and the good guy doesn't know it. It's only when they start to pass one another that the scene slows down - as if in slow motion, that silver-haired head passing by her, and her steps moving slower, and slower, until she pauses and forces people to walk around her. Violet eyes widen.
She had to have been dreaming.
Gin was of a level where he could mask his reiatsu when needed. She whips her head around, while she's in the middle of the street, to try and look for the person who she thought she saw.
Ah, dramatics. Always a fun time.
Did Rukia think she was being followed? Or did she just have the horrible luck of always running into this guy? Maybe the writers just like setting up scenes like this because it's funny when the good guy's eyes bug out like that.
Gin makes no move to hide himself as he passes by, and for all it seems, he could either be ignoring Rukia this time, or waiting to see what she does. But she's right that he hides his reiatsu, for wandering downtown so close to so many captains, one of which he pissed of the day prior, it's only the logical thing to do. As for where he's headed, it's away from the crowded area of town, and in the direction of a more residential area.
She watches the same silver head move past her, and down the block. Rukia narrows her eyes. While she doesn't think to confront him, she COULD always see where he's going. She's small, and fast. She'd make a good spy, except she had been placed on the 13th and not the 2nd. And so off she goes, silently using the downtown crowd as she hurries with her tiny feet towards where Gin had disappeared to. She keeps a bead on him, if she can, moving to follow and shadow his presence. He may be hiding his reiatsu, but Rukia's got a pair of very good eyes, and she could always use them instead.
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "But are you hiding /your/ reiatsu? :)"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "No, I don't think Rukia's capable ;_;"
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "Thus, why you're in the 13th, not 2nd. ;)"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki dies!
Maybe he has a purpose in where he's going. It would be easy to use the path between Hueco Mundo and the living world to get somewhere quickly, but to do so also risks being sighted by Soul Society. The gates opening really have become convenient, and by now even Aizen's side had found it's own.
Eventually though, Gin's pace slows as the crowds start to thin. It might seem that he would realize he were being followed because Rukia had less place to hide among the others, but in truth...
The tall silver-haired man turns slightly, glancing to the path behind him, and speaks up to his silent shadow. "Tryin' out for a different division, are we, Kuchiki-san?" His creepy grin turns up a bit. Her reiatsu was pretty easy to pick out, always trailing just behind him and out of reach. Really, maybe she should have gotten her brother to tail him for her.
Except Byakuya wasn't here at present. But far away from the crowd, even as the smiling man turns around to ferret her out, Rukia hesitates, before she steps around the corner to look at him with baleful, violet eyes. It wasn't even angry, just determined - the sort of face one would expect from a Kuchiki. She says nothing, but she does note that he doesn't call her Rukia-chan. Just as she had suspected last night, he had been trying to goad one of them into attacking him. It was easy for him to think that - after all, he was the master of being laid back.
"You haven't been sighted here for a long time," she remarks. "I thought it worthwhile to follow." You think EVERYONE's slacking off at this Aizen business? Hah! Not her, she works nonstop.
Yes, Gin was egging people on yesterday. He always did that. He did it a lot in Soul Society too, but the rules always kept things from getting too out of hand. Besides, he always knew just how far to go without saying something incriminating. Unless of course, he wanted to. Just like yesterday, he stopped just short of a full conversation with those in the hub. And even if Byakuya had attacked him, the security system would have intervened. Not that it would have been a horrible thing to him had Byakuya actually drawn his sword on him.
"That's a dangerous thing t' do." He finally turns to fully face Rukia as she steps out to face him. He's currently dressed much like he was the day before, though one might get the feeling looking at him that it hardly makes him any less dangerous. "Besides, none o' you guys seemed t' care last night, so what's the special occasion today?" Careful, you might make it seem like they all miss him!
Exactly. She was quite sure that Gin was well aware as to where he was when he decided to accost them at the Hub during the fashion show. Rukia keeps her eyes leveled on him, surprised really. Gin hadn't attacked yet, and she had expected him to by now - however, he didn't. Then again, he always nursed the reputation for being unpredictable. But he had to be planning something, she didn't know what it was yet. She knew she hadn't masked her reiatsu, so Gin didn't really take many steps to avoid her. So...why?
"I would assume we 'didn't care' because we were at a place where attacks aren't allowed at the very least. I assure you, if we were on a different territory, there would've been a fight." Rukia inclines her head. "It's not like we didn't care. In fact we care very much. It's just that you're quite good at masking where you go. Any one of us would be doing the same thing I am now, once you've shown your face."
Oh come on, now, that's mean to assume that Gin goes around killing everything he sees. He doesn't draw his sword unless it's neccessary. It even got him in trouble for not killing Ichigo when he intruded into Soul Society. If Gin ever followed a predictable pattern, or fell into the habit of eliminating every single thing he set eyes on that didn't agree with him, he wouldn't be as creepy now, would he?
"Hou... very true..." The words drawl slowly from the man and he seems almost too relaxed for this encounter. Would one even consider them enemies if they couldn't hear the words being spoken and simply watched from afar? Perhaps the distance between them and Rukia's body language was the only thing speaking of the tense atmosphere in the air.
"Well then, since I got obligations t' fulfill," He starts to continue, but pauses mid sentance, separating from his gigai with little effort. A second later the body begins to fall to the ground, even as he draws his sword and begins to charge forward with a smirk. "I can't be disappointin' no one!"
When Gin sheds his body, Rukia takes a step back, her eyes wide. Before she does anything though, she would need time to shed her body. Her pez dispenser was on her somewhere, but the good thing about being a kidou enthusiast was that she could use it while she's still in her gigai. "Art of binding number one! Sai!" She hurls the spell towards the emerging shinigami even as one hand digs into her pocket to pop a candy in her mouth.
Pyon flips backwards away from Rukia's emerging form, the cloud swirling around her to reveal the young woman in her black and white robes. She must be crazy. But if she engaged him long enough he might say something incriminating. He had a tendency to taunt with information, let's see if she could open his mouth for something substantial.
"What obligations?" she breathes, a hand on her zanpakutoh and sliding into a defensive stance. No time to call anyone. Gin knew that. He was too fast.
In a way, it's a good thing that they aren't downtown anymore. There was only one or two people left at the point that the challenges started, and when one body fell to the ground and the other flipped away, well. Those people quickly ran off to get help or call an ambulence. A shame they won't get to see the fight, but Gin didn't really care.
Charging at Rukia, he flash steps away as the spell is fired off at him. It disappears harmlessly into the concrete with a flash. Reappearing off to the side, he advances once again more as his opponent now bears Shinigami form.
His attacks are swift, jabbing, and like one might expect out of one of those commercials claiming to make julian fries. And perhaps that's what anyone on the other end might become if they aren't careful. Fast reflexes are a must. "Everyone's always wantin' a fight with me, see. You guys missin' me that much? You could always come an' visit!" He even sends post cards! But no one ever writes him back, or even comes to see him! It's so sad. The Arrancar get all the fun.
The binding spell misses, but it gives her time to be a shinigami. Rukia vs. Julian Fries-Maker Gin, fight! He'd make a killing as an Iron Chef, except she wasn't sure if he was actually a good cook. A good killer, though, that's a different story. And as Gin stabs and stabs at her, the raven-haired shinigami defends frantically. It's amazing that she could even block the strikes towards her, but she HAS been training, and Byakuya overseeing. She was determined for the Grimmjow bit never to happen again.
Rukia flashsteps to a different building, landing on the roof....and a deep slice from her sleeve manifests. It didn't break skin, but Gin does manage to get the moral first blood in this duel. "We'd visit..." Visit as in, SHINIGAMI RUSH KEKEKEKKEKEKE. "...if we knew where you were half the time!" she exclaims, her harsh contralto piercing the air. But she hurls another kidou spell at him. "Destructive Arts 31: Sokatsui!" Lightning flashes, crackling from her finger to aim towards Gin.
And then, she takes off running, shunpoing across the rooftops.
Gin probably would be an average cook, with just enough to get by. If it weren't for him, people like Rangiku might have starved as children! Ok, so that was just sweet potatoes. It really is about the fries!
So she's taking the fight to the roof. Gin pays absolutely no heed to the fact that he left his gigai in the middle of the sidewalk. He can get another or he can track down whatever human has it later. He instead lifts his sword to catch the blast from the Sokatsui, the blast mostly dissipating, although he fizzles slightly. At most it seems to have served the purpose of slowing him momentarily, as for what damage it did, he doesn't let it show.
Gin's smile doesn't change either. And as far as replying to Rukia, he doesn't just yet. He's quickly zipping off after the girl over the rooftops, with his own flash steps working to close the distance between them. Three or four buildings over, he calls out a familiar phrase. "Ikorose, Shinsou!" It's the call to release his sword's shikai, and the blade extends out, quickly stretching the last bit of distance between the two. But it doesn't go for the girl. It's aimed at the surface of the roof just below her.
She hears the release, and then the roof explodes underneath her. Rukia vanishes through it, and to her credit she doesn't even scream as she falls, just a hint of a gasp. She lands painfully in the debris, despite the round eyes of a family of four sitting and watching TV when the roof just collapses inexplicably. She then gets up and starts running again, flying out the back door. "Mae!" she calls out, withdrawing her zanpakutoh. And the katana changes, white bleeding from the hilt and the ribbon winking into existence, the little embellishment on it catching light.
She leaps up to a higher space, twisting and landing onto a wall. She was quite acrobatic, if the anime was any indication, and whenever Gin re-emerges, she uses her first release: "Tsugi no mai: Hakuren!" she yells, sweeping the blade forward and sending the wave heading for Gin. It was the ice wave, rippling through the air in hopes to catch him in frozen suspension.
Whoops! Distruction of surrounding areas. That was against the rules, right? Well not when you're not a member of the Gotei 13 anymore. And people wonder why Gin left. Less rules, better benefits, and cooler clothes! Well ok, he's not really that shallow. But it is nice that he won't have to fill out a damage report for that. He's right on Rukia's heels as the roof collapses, but he backpedals quickly at the call of her release. The wave of ice zips past his side, freezing the lower half of one leg and halting his movement as he comes down on the next roof over. Ice slickens much of the roof like the day after a freezing rain.
"This fight's startin t' seem a little nostalgic." Gin's grin widens a bit, despite having been hit by Rukia's shikai. Yes, it was a little too much like fighting the tenth captain, and perhaps he was too laid back in his advance on the younger girl. But he doesn't seem too concerned, Rukia wasn't a captain after all. He calls out the attack of his own release once more, shooting it towards the girl, and on the chance that she moves, he attempts to swing it to follow after her. This is not all he has after all, but you save the best for last, least people start expecting it of you.
His first release pierces through her shoulder, Rukia being a little too slow to defend properly from that, crying out as crimson sprays across the wall and falling off it. Enough that Gin's follow up misses. Shunpoing to another rooftop, she lands and clutches at her bleeding shoulder, then fires a familiar ball of red energy towards Gin the moment her feet touch the ground. Life trails down and onto her fingers. It was folly to face a Captain, and she wasn't Ichigo, she can't bumrush offensively.
Taking off, she starts running again, firing another kidou attack and another ice wave. She's desperately trying to keep Gin off her.
Funny, the moment he says that, he sees exactly where the similarities begin and end. Rukia had nearly the same chilling attacks as Hitsugaya, but she hardly had the angry charge in her moves, nor the intent to kill. It was purely defensive here, and in a way, it was a little boring. It's a good thing Gin's not part of the 11th division, or he'd surely be complaining by now.
Frozen to the roof as he was, the ball of energy heads straight at him. But Gin uses the slipperyness of the roof to his advantage, dropping as soon as the first blast disrupts the ice on his leg, and letting the slipperyness of the surface drop him off the edge and away from the second attack. This again puts distance between the two, and he almost, almost frowns. "Hey, what was all that about there bein' a fight?" He calls after the retreating girl.
"I don't have time t' stick around all night chasin ya, so I might as well end this." There's another flash step and he's following after Rukia for a moment, and then he's on an adjacent roof. Was this really the best place to fight? Gin takes a step back, holding his sword up at an angle pointed towards the sky and facing the raven-haired shinigami.
"It ain't gonna like ya." He draws the sword back, and spiritual energy glows around the blade before he thrusts it skyward again as it extends much like his first release. "This rain o' mine." It almost looks like the sword reaches the sky, but it probably wouldn't do to look skyward at this point. That's because immediately blades begin to rain down from that point, a metal mockery of precipitation, towards Rukia.
Rukia wasn't looking for a fight to begin with! She just wanted to tail him, and see where she was going, and once he decided to go aggro, she does the smart thing and tries to run away. Only Gin....? Uses his shikai. She doesn't even hear him, shunpoing so fast that she disappears. And when she reappears, that's when the rain strikes. Gin's zanpakutoh strikes the heavens. And there is silence.
Until it rains. Blades. Thousands of them, falling around her. It was one of those attacks where it's impossible to dodge, and Rukia's own voice drowns out by the buzzing in her ears. She didn't even know she was screaming, blades cutting her down everywhere, shredding her clothes, her skin, making mincemeat out of her from where she stands. Julien fries, much? That's how she ends up, blood spattering everywhere.
When the rain stops, her eyes close, the violet eyes dulling, and she falls from the roof, spiraling down from the height.
You know. There are some days that it just dosn't pay to get out of bed. There are others where you are damn glad you did. This would be one of the latter for Renji Abarai. As Rukia spirals down from that height a black streak of movement flashsteps across the air, ending in a /very/ angry looking Vice-Captain of the 6th, perched on a telephone pole. One arm is gently cradled around Rukia, securing her to him. His other hand holds his shikai defensively infront of him.
You know, that kind of hateful glare that people get? The one that you sware that can burn through brick? Yeah. Renji is like that now. So mad that he's shaking trying to contain it.
"You damn smiling F***!"
Yeah, that just about sums up Renji's feelings at the moment. He would take him on right here, right now, and most likely get deaded up for it, but he knows he can't fight and protect Rukia at the same time.
Limp as a ragdoll, Rukia, to her credit, is still conscious, her eyes slipping open and shut occasionally. What does suck however is that she's bleeding all over his clothes. "Renji...." she breathes softly, her head lolling against his chest. "....run, Renji...." Don't fight him. The smell of him and her own blood lingers in her nostrils, the edges of her vision fuzzy. But she can't do much, save to lay there where he's holding her.
When the rain of swords stops, Ichimaru stands up straight with his sword at his side, and whether it's because of the atrocity of the deed, or the viewers imagination, his grin seems all the more malicious in contrast. He tsks as he is suddenly facing the very angry vice captain, and tilts his head to the side almost innocently. "Hello there, vice capn' Abarai. You know, your girlfriend should probably learn some manners about followin' an' acusin' people if she doesn't wanna fight them for her trouble."
Yes, he's scolding you for what is his fault. But then, Rukia /did/ follow him, and she /did/ say that were there not neutral ground, they would have fought him. He was only doing what was expected of him, right? And yeah. All that stuff yesterday? It's too amusing to simply not tease them about it.
Gin's words are noted, and stored for later retreival. In other words he will yell at her, when she isn't bleeding to death in his arms. "Shut up Rukia," He murmurs, his voice tight, worried and angry all at once. His eyes havent left Gin yet, though he hasn't gone Bankai yet either. He shifts the stance on his sword slightly as he stands there.
His face shifts into a wrathful smirk. "Why do you shut the hell up Fox-face." He snarls back before leaping further away. She needs a doctor right now. I mean she REALLY needs a doctor.
...DID SOMEONE MENTION OR PERHAPS EVEN THINK ABOUT A DOCTOR!?
IN KARAKURA!?
...Does anyone else hear ominous thunder in the distance, as a certain black-haired man goes out for his daily 'I think I'll leave before Karin punches my face in' stroll?
She does need a doctor, and she's fading fast. She'd be a bloodied mess once she's placed back inside her gigai, it would look like Rukia had gone through a paper shredder. But cradled against Renji's chest, she says nothing, as silent as death. Not death warmed over, but death. Her? Shut up? When she actually DOES is when someone ought to be concerned, because when Renji tells her that, she says nothing. Her head tips back, her eyes closed, and blood welling from the side of her throat.
GASP AND OR SHOCK! Isshin would be clapping his hands with glee, if he wasn't concerned! Why, from the scene, only one conclusion can be drawn!
Renji Abarai is a VAMPIRE! HE'S TRYING TO SUCK ALL OF RUKIA'S BLOOD!
The /REAL KARAKURA DOCTOR/ LEEEEAPS into action, as he BRAVELY ASSAULTS THE RENJI VAMPIRE by shoving a bulb of garlic in his mouth, then peering seriously at Rukia's wounds.
"Hmmm! Not good! Luckily, I'm here! And I have bandages, due to Tatsuki-chan leaving a path of destruction in her wake on many cases!"
Aaaaand, with that, the Real Doctor pulls a medical kit from his labcoat, and starts EMergency Triage!
...The real questions, however, are why is Isshin carrying a bulb of garlic around?
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "The REAL question, is why can Isshin see Rukia."
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "But I ain't askin."
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "OH HOH BUSTED"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "SO BUSTED"
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki says, "... I thought she was back in her Gigai."
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki says, "..."
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "AHahaha."
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki pulls out that little memory wiper thingy
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru XD
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki flashything
...Well, after Renji puts her back in her body...THEN ISSHIN'S ALLEGATIONS OF VAMPIRENESS ARE MADE TRUE. OBVIOUSLY. Yes.
You can't trust a dirty Hippie like that Renji! They're all vampires! Which is why, once Rukia is back in her body, she is OBVIOUSLY BEING ASSAULTED BY A VAMPIRE. Cough. THere was no misposing. There is only /Doctoring/. And Renji being offered garlic. Yeah.
Really. ANY MEMORIES OF ISSHIN STARTING HIS DOCTORING PRE-GIGAI ARE A LIE. THEY DO NOT EXIST. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE CHAPPY BEHIND THE CURTAIN. Or the little memoryflashythingy in Isshin's backpocket.
One moment he's glareing at Gin, and the next, after he sticks Rukia and himself back into their bodies, he is...assulted with garlic. "MMMRPPPPPHHHHHPLLLE!" CHOMP! GNAW! SPIT! "What the hell was that for!?" He roars...or at least he starts too before Isshin kneels down to tend to Rukia, then he pauses and seems to deflate. "...is she going to be alright?" He murmurs. Don't let her die again dammit, if she dies again he can't yell at her later!
Gin actually looks contemplative about sticking around for a moment. But really, he hadn't come here to fight. He had been followed, and now he's gotten rid of the trail. Sure, it meant that they knew he was there, but when did that change things? It basically put the situation back to the status at which if he had come through the usual path from Hueco Mundo.
But now, now more Shinigami were sure to show up if he stuck around. So it was more a matter of efficiency. There would be other chances, and there was plenty of time. And it'd be a shame to kill the lovely couple before he had a chance to go shopping at Sears. Wasn't that what that freaky other-planer had mentioned?
He also left his gigai back there. So he watches them as Renji hops away, simply offering a smile and a wave. The smile that grows as he's told to shut the hell up. "Don't be distant now!" He calls, and is about to shunpo away when suddenly doctor Isshin assaults Renji and gets to work on Rukia. He pauses mid wave, and squints at the man. That was the strawberry's dad, wasn't he? He didn't know he was involved in things. He snickers at Renji's misfortune.
When she's placed back in her gigai, Rukia looks like she'd gone through the meat shredder. Those things in restaurants that make ground beef for meatballs. As blood continues to spread - well, just how was Renji going to explain this to the good doctor? HIT AND RUN IS WHAT. And so she remains there, unmoving, while she's getting worked on.
Isshin Kurosaki casually smacks Renji one handed, then goes back to work. "Silence! You can't fool me, Freeloading Vampire Man! I'll deal with you in a moment! I have even more garlic, AND a holy relic! So don't even think of trying to steal her precious bodily fluids!"
Of course, that relic is a lock of Masaki's hair, but, eh, different strokes, different folks. HOWEVER, THE EFFICENT DOCTORING CONTINUES.
Renji...gets backhanded and looks like he is entirely ready to punt Isshin in the face. However. Isshin is working on Rukia, so instead of face punting, Renji just gives him a low growl and goes back to watching. Come on damn you idiot. No true dying. None. NOT ALLOWED!
Of course he does silently flip off Gin as he leaves.
...what the hell is a vampire anyway?
Renji, obviously.
So not!
You dress in girly colors and angst.
Totally a vampire.
...I DO NOT ANGST!
And leave, Gin does. He has his gigai to retrieve. Before some random human dumps IT in a hospital, and then more chaos would surely ensue. He shunpo's away, who knows to where.
Uh huh. What about that whole 'Oh, I will oppose you captain, because I have always hated you for being everything I'm not and I wanted to keep Rukia and not let her go I am so selfish' thing, HUH?!
ANyways! Isshin has totally slapped the vampire, and also been cleaning and binding up Rukia's wounds, afore calmly picking her up and hmming, then casually starts carrying her back towards the AMAZING KUROSAKI CLINIC. After all, if there's one thing that she'll definitely need after losing all that blood, it's food. AND GARLIC, TO KEEP HER FROM TURNING INTO A FREELOADING VAMPIRE.
...She's only a freeloader, at the moment, but he supposes he can put up with it for his son's fiancee! He coulda sworn he heard that rumor going around once!
Rukia Kuchiki is carried off to the Kurosaki clinic.
I drew a pic from the fight too!
Rukia player is teh best! She asked me to put her out for a week while she was away. Thank you for the scene, and I look forward to your return!
Who: Rukia Kuchiki, Ichimaru Gin, Renji Abarai, Isshin Kurosaki
Where: Somewhere in Karakura
When: September 10th. (Gin's birthday!)
What: In a chance passing, Rukia spots Gin in a crowd. She decides to follow him, but it proves to not have been the best of her ideas.
Watch for: Rukia getting PWNED by Gin's shikai move (Thanks for letting me!). Renji saving the day! And Dr. Kurosaki doing his crazy thing, saving the day in his own way. XD
Well, the earlier night was a disaster. Rukia couldn't help but dwell in it, even as she walks through Karakura Town with her hat and her usual dress. She is wearing that characteristic, thoughtful frown on her face, walking around and absently staring at the windows of the stores around the downtown area. She ought to be going home, she decides, looking up and watching one of the small clocks in the area chime the hour. It was getting late, and Yuzu was cooking something with eggs today. Mmm....eggs. Food cheered her up quite well these days, there were always so many things to try.
She idly makes a note to visit her brother's physical apartment while she was here. He would like for her to check in, and after the fiasco last night, he liked to hear from her regularly. She was in the area, couldn't hurt to stop in and update him on things that are happening, though since last night there wasn't much.
Taking a step in that direction, she moves over to where Byakuya's high-rise is.
There wasn't much to report from last night because they never even gave Gin the chance to tease them with a little information. But it didn't really matter. It wasn't his intention to help the others, but his job was getting somewhat boring without the usual crowd around to interact with. So if you can't bring them to you, then I suppose you must go out and find them yourself. Karakura was the popular spot for trouble after all. And after all, sometimes the bad guys have to gather information as well.
Still, with the town being so popular, it was often hard for a traitor to even set foot in the vicinity without being jumped. But if they thouht it was cowardly of him to say hello on neutral ground, then that perception might be broken by the glimpse of silver hair passing by as a group of people cross at a red light.
The walk light flashes green, with the little walking person from across the street. Rukia adjusts the strap of her sundress quietly, and starts heading across the street, mingling with the throng of people waiting to cross. It's like one of the scenes in dramatic anime, where the bad guy crosses the same street as the good guy from opposite directions, and the good guy doesn't know it. It's only when they start to pass one another that the scene slows down - as if in slow motion, that silver-haired head passing by her, and her steps moving slower, and slower, until she pauses and forces people to walk around her. Violet eyes widen.
She had to have been dreaming.
Gin was of a level where he could mask his reiatsu when needed. She whips her head around, while she's in the middle of the street, to try and look for the person who she thought she saw.
Ah, dramatics. Always a fun time.
Did Rukia think she was being followed? Or did she just have the horrible luck of always running into this guy? Maybe the writers just like setting up scenes like this because it's funny when the good guy's eyes bug out like that.
Gin makes no move to hide himself as he passes by, and for all it seems, he could either be ignoring Rukia this time, or waiting to see what she does. But she's right that he hides his reiatsu, for wandering downtown so close to so many captains, one of which he pissed of the day prior, it's only the logical thing to do. As for where he's headed, it's away from the crowded area of town, and in the direction of a more residential area.
She watches the same silver head move past her, and down the block. Rukia narrows her eyes. While she doesn't think to confront him, she COULD always see where he's going. She's small, and fast. She'd make a good spy, except she had been placed on the 13th and not the 2nd. And so off she goes, silently using the downtown crowd as she hurries with her tiny feet towards where Gin had disappeared to. She keeps a bead on him, if she can, moving to follow and shadow his presence. He may be hiding his reiatsu, but Rukia's got a pair of very good eyes, and she could always use them instead.
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "But are you hiding /your/ reiatsu? :)"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "No, I don't think Rukia's capable ;_;"
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "Thus, why you're in the 13th, not 2nd. ;)"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki dies!
Maybe he has a purpose in where he's going. It would be easy to use the path between Hueco Mundo and the living world to get somewhere quickly, but to do so also risks being sighted by Soul Society. The gates opening really have become convenient, and by now even Aizen's side had found it's own.
Eventually though, Gin's pace slows as the crowds start to thin. It might seem that he would realize he were being followed because Rukia had less place to hide among the others, but in truth...
The tall silver-haired man turns slightly, glancing to the path behind him, and speaks up to his silent shadow. "Tryin' out for a different division, are we, Kuchiki-san?" His creepy grin turns up a bit. Her reiatsu was pretty easy to pick out, always trailing just behind him and out of reach. Really, maybe she should have gotten her brother to tail him for her.
Except Byakuya wasn't here at present. But far away from the crowd, even as the smiling man turns around to ferret her out, Rukia hesitates, before she steps around the corner to look at him with baleful, violet eyes. It wasn't even angry, just determined - the sort of face one would expect from a Kuchiki. She says nothing, but she does note that he doesn't call her Rukia-chan. Just as she had suspected last night, he had been trying to goad one of them into attacking him. It was easy for him to think that - after all, he was the master of being laid back.
"You haven't been sighted here for a long time," she remarks. "I thought it worthwhile to follow." You think EVERYONE's slacking off at this Aizen business? Hah! Not her, she works nonstop.
Yes, Gin was egging people on yesterday. He always did that. He did it a lot in Soul Society too, but the rules always kept things from getting too out of hand. Besides, he always knew just how far to go without saying something incriminating. Unless of course, he wanted to. Just like yesterday, he stopped just short of a full conversation with those in the hub. And even if Byakuya had attacked him, the security system would have intervened. Not that it would have been a horrible thing to him had Byakuya actually drawn his sword on him.
"That's a dangerous thing t' do." He finally turns to fully face Rukia as she steps out to face him. He's currently dressed much like he was the day before, though one might get the feeling looking at him that it hardly makes him any less dangerous. "Besides, none o' you guys seemed t' care last night, so what's the special occasion today?" Careful, you might make it seem like they all miss him!
Exactly. She was quite sure that Gin was well aware as to where he was when he decided to accost them at the Hub during the fashion show. Rukia keeps her eyes leveled on him, surprised really. Gin hadn't attacked yet, and she had expected him to by now - however, he didn't. Then again, he always nursed the reputation for being unpredictable. But he had to be planning something, she didn't know what it was yet. She knew she hadn't masked her reiatsu, so Gin didn't really take many steps to avoid her. So...why?
"I would assume we 'didn't care' because we were at a place where attacks aren't allowed at the very least. I assure you, if we were on a different territory, there would've been a fight." Rukia inclines her head. "It's not like we didn't care. In fact we care very much. It's just that you're quite good at masking where you go. Any one of us would be doing the same thing I am now, once you've shown your face."
Oh come on, now, that's mean to assume that Gin goes around killing everything he sees. He doesn't draw his sword unless it's neccessary. It even got him in trouble for not killing Ichigo when he intruded into Soul Society. If Gin ever followed a predictable pattern, or fell into the habit of eliminating every single thing he set eyes on that didn't agree with him, he wouldn't be as creepy now, would he?
"Hou... very true..." The words drawl slowly from the man and he seems almost too relaxed for this encounter. Would one even consider them enemies if they couldn't hear the words being spoken and simply watched from afar? Perhaps the distance between them and Rukia's body language was the only thing speaking of the tense atmosphere in the air.
"Well then, since I got obligations t' fulfill," He starts to continue, but pauses mid sentance, separating from his gigai with little effort. A second later the body begins to fall to the ground, even as he draws his sword and begins to charge forward with a smirk. "I can't be disappointin' no one!"
When Gin sheds his body, Rukia takes a step back, her eyes wide. Before she does anything though, she would need time to shed her body. Her pez dispenser was on her somewhere, but the good thing about being a kidou enthusiast was that she could use it while she's still in her gigai. "Art of binding number one! Sai!" She hurls the spell towards the emerging shinigami even as one hand digs into her pocket to pop a candy in her mouth.
Pyon flips backwards away from Rukia's emerging form, the cloud swirling around her to reveal the young woman in her black and white robes. She must be crazy. But if she engaged him long enough he might say something incriminating. He had a tendency to taunt with information, let's see if she could open his mouth for something substantial.
"What obligations?" she breathes, a hand on her zanpakutoh and sliding into a defensive stance. No time to call anyone. Gin knew that. He was too fast.
In a way, it's a good thing that they aren't downtown anymore. There was only one or two people left at the point that the challenges started, and when one body fell to the ground and the other flipped away, well. Those people quickly ran off to get help or call an ambulence. A shame they won't get to see the fight, but Gin didn't really care.
Charging at Rukia, he flash steps away as the spell is fired off at him. It disappears harmlessly into the concrete with a flash. Reappearing off to the side, he advances once again more as his opponent now bears Shinigami form.
His attacks are swift, jabbing, and like one might expect out of one of those commercials claiming to make julian fries. And perhaps that's what anyone on the other end might become if they aren't careful. Fast reflexes are a must. "Everyone's always wantin' a fight with me, see. You guys missin' me that much? You could always come an' visit!" He even sends post cards! But no one ever writes him back, or even comes to see him! It's so sad. The Arrancar get all the fun.
The binding spell misses, but it gives her time to be a shinigami. Rukia vs. Julian Fries-Maker Gin, fight! He'd make a killing as an Iron Chef, except she wasn't sure if he was actually a good cook. A good killer, though, that's a different story. And as Gin stabs and stabs at her, the raven-haired shinigami defends frantically. It's amazing that she could even block the strikes towards her, but she HAS been training, and Byakuya overseeing. She was determined for the Grimmjow bit never to happen again.
Rukia flashsteps to a different building, landing on the roof....and a deep slice from her sleeve manifests. It didn't break skin, but Gin does manage to get the moral first blood in this duel. "We'd visit..." Visit as in, SHINIGAMI RUSH KEKEKEKKEKEKE. "...if we knew where you were half the time!" she exclaims, her harsh contralto piercing the air. But she hurls another kidou spell at him. "Destructive Arts 31: Sokatsui!" Lightning flashes, crackling from her finger to aim towards Gin.
And then, she takes off running, shunpoing across the rooftops.
Gin probably would be an average cook, with just enough to get by. If it weren't for him, people like Rangiku might have starved as children! Ok, so that was just sweet potatoes. It really is about the fries!
So she's taking the fight to the roof. Gin pays absolutely no heed to the fact that he left his gigai in the middle of the sidewalk. He can get another or he can track down whatever human has it later. He instead lifts his sword to catch the blast from the Sokatsui, the blast mostly dissipating, although he fizzles slightly. At most it seems to have served the purpose of slowing him momentarily, as for what damage it did, he doesn't let it show.
Gin's smile doesn't change either. And as far as replying to Rukia, he doesn't just yet. He's quickly zipping off after the girl over the rooftops, with his own flash steps working to close the distance between them. Three or four buildings over, he calls out a familiar phrase. "Ikorose, Shinsou!" It's the call to release his sword's shikai, and the blade extends out, quickly stretching the last bit of distance between the two. But it doesn't go for the girl. It's aimed at the surface of the roof just below her.
She hears the release, and then the roof explodes underneath her. Rukia vanishes through it, and to her credit she doesn't even scream as she falls, just a hint of a gasp. She lands painfully in the debris, despite the round eyes of a family of four sitting and watching TV when the roof just collapses inexplicably. She then gets up and starts running again, flying out the back door. "Mae!" she calls out, withdrawing her zanpakutoh. And the katana changes, white bleeding from the hilt and the ribbon winking into existence, the little embellishment on it catching light.
She leaps up to a higher space, twisting and landing onto a wall. She was quite acrobatic, if the anime was any indication, and whenever Gin re-emerges, she uses her first release: "Tsugi no mai: Hakuren!" she yells, sweeping the blade forward and sending the wave heading for Gin. It was the ice wave, rippling through the air in hopes to catch him in frozen suspension.
Whoops! Distruction of surrounding areas. That was against the rules, right? Well not when you're not a member of the Gotei 13 anymore. And people wonder why Gin left. Less rules, better benefits, and cooler clothes! Well ok, he's not really that shallow. But it is nice that he won't have to fill out a damage report for that. He's right on Rukia's heels as the roof collapses, but he backpedals quickly at the call of her release. The wave of ice zips past his side, freezing the lower half of one leg and halting his movement as he comes down on the next roof over. Ice slickens much of the roof like the day after a freezing rain.
"This fight's startin t' seem a little nostalgic." Gin's grin widens a bit, despite having been hit by Rukia's shikai. Yes, it was a little too much like fighting the tenth captain, and perhaps he was too laid back in his advance on the younger girl. But he doesn't seem too concerned, Rukia wasn't a captain after all. He calls out the attack of his own release once more, shooting it towards the girl, and on the chance that she moves, he attempts to swing it to follow after her. This is not all he has after all, but you save the best for last, least people start expecting it of you.
His first release pierces through her shoulder, Rukia being a little too slow to defend properly from that, crying out as crimson sprays across the wall and falling off it. Enough that Gin's follow up misses. Shunpoing to another rooftop, she lands and clutches at her bleeding shoulder, then fires a familiar ball of red energy towards Gin the moment her feet touch the ground. Life trails down and onto her fingers. It was folly to face a Captain, and she wasn't Ichigo, she can't bumrush offensively.
Taking off, she starts running again, firing another kidou attack and another ice wave. She's desperately trying to keep Gin off her.
Funny, the moment he says that, he sees exactly where the similarities begin and end. Rukia had nearly the same chilling attacks as Hitsugaya, but she hardly had the angry charge in her moves, nor the intent to kill. It was purely defensive here, and in a way, it was a little boring. It's a good thing Gin's not part of the 11th division, or he'd surely be complaining by now.
Frozen to the roof as he was, the ball of energy heads straight at him. But Gin uses the slipperyness of the roof to his advantage, dropping as soon as the first blast disrupts the ice on his leg, and letting the slipperyness of the surface drop him off the edge and away from the second attack. This again puts distance between the two, and he almost, almost frowns. "Hey, what was all that about there bein' a fight?" He calls after the retreating girl.
"I don't have time t' stick around all night chasin ya, so I might as well end this." There's another flash step and he's following after Rukia for a moment, and then he's on an adjacent roof. Was this really the best place to fight? Gin takes a step back, holding his sword up at an angle pointed towards the sky and facing the raven-haired shinigami.
"It ain't gonna like ya." He draws the sword back, and spiritual energy glows around the blade before he thrusts it skyward again as it extends much like his first release. "This rain o' mine." It almost looks like the sword reaches the sky, but it probably wouldn't do to look skyward at this point. That's because immediately blades begin to rain down from that point, a metal mockery of precipitation, towards Rukia.
Rukia wasn't looking for a fight to begin with! She just wanted to tail him, and see where she was going, and once he decided to go aggro, she does the smart thing and tries to run away. Only Gin....? Uses his shikai. She doesn't even hear him, shunpoing so fast that she disappears. And when she reappears, that's when the rain strikes. Gin's zanpakutoh strikes the heavens. And there is silence.
Until it rains. Blades. Thousands of them, falling around her. It was one of those attacks where it's impossible to dodge, and Rukia's own voice drowns out by the buzzing in her ears. She didn't even know she was screaming, blades cutting her down everywhere, shredding her clothes, her skin, making mincemeat out of her from where she stands. Julien fries, much? That's how she ends up, blood spattering everywhere.
When the rain stops, her eyes close, the violet eyes dulling, and she falls from the roof, spiraling down from the height.
You know. There are some days that it just dosn't pay to get out of bed. There are others where you are damn glad you did. This would be one of the latter for Renji Abarai. As Rukia spirals down from that height a black streak of movement flashsteps across the air, ending in a /very/ angry looking Vice-Captain of the 6th, perched on a telephone pole. One arm is gently cradled around Rukia, securing her to him. His other hand holds his shikai defensively infront of him.
You know, that kind of hateful glare that people get? The one that you sware that can burn through brick? Yeah. Renji is like that now. So mad that he's shaking trying to contain it.
"You damn smiling F***!"
Yeah, that just about sums up Renji's feelings at the moment. He would take him on right here, right now, and most likely get deaded up for it, but he knows he can't fight and protect Rukia at the same time.
Limp as a ragdoll, Rukia, to her credit, is still conscious, her eyes slipping open and shut occasionally. What does suck however is that she's bleeding all over his clothes. "Renji...." she breathes softly, her head lolling against his chest. "....run, Renji...." Don't fight him. The smell of him and her own blood lingers in her nostrils, the edges of her vision fuzzy. But she can't do much, save to lay there where he's holding her.
When the rain of swords stops, Ichimaru stands up straight with his sword at his side, and whether it's because of the atrocity of the deed, or the viewers imagination, his grin seems all the more malicious in contrast. He tsks as he is suddenly facing the very angry vice captain, and tilts his head to the side almost innocently. "Hello there, vice capn' Abarai. You know, your girlfriend should probably learn some manners about followin' an' acusin' people if she doesn't wanna fight them for her trouble."
Yes, he's scolding you for what is his fault. But then, Rukia /did/ follow him, and she /did/ say that were there not neutral ground, they would have fought him. He was only doing what was expected of him, right? And yeah. All that stuff yesterday? It's too amusing to simply not tease them about it.
Gin's words are noted, and stored for later retreival. In other words he will yell at her, when she isn't bleeding to death in his arms. "Shut up Rukia," He murmurs, his voice tight, worried and angry all at once. His eyes havent left Gin yet, though he hasn't gone Bankai yet either. He shifts the stance on his sword slightly as he stands there.
His face shifts into a wrathful smirk. "Why do you shut the hell up Fox-face." He snarls back before leaping further away. She needs a doctor right now. I mean she REALLY needs a doctor.
...DID SOMEONE MENTION OR PERHAPS EVEN THINK ABOUT A DOCTOR!?
IN KARAKURA!?
...Does anyone else hear ominous thunder in the distance, as a certain black-haired man goes out for his daily 'I think I'll leave before Karin punches my face in' stroll?
She does need a doctor, and she's fading fast. She'd be a bloodied mess once she's placed back inside her gigai, it would look like Rukia had gone through a paper shredder. But cradled against Renji's chest, she says nothing, as silent as death. Not death warmed over, but death. Her? Shut up? When she actually DOES is when someone ought to be concerned, because when Renji tells her that, she says nothing. Her head tips back, her eyes closed, and blood welling from the side of her throat.
GASP AND OR SHOCK! Isshin would be clapping his hands with glee, if he wasn't concerned! Why, from the scene, only one conclusion can be drawn!
Renji Abarai is a VAMPIRE! HE'S TRYING TO SUCK ALL OF RUKIA'S BLOOD!
The /REAL KARAKURA DOCTOR/ LEEEEAPS into action, as he BRAVELY ASSAULTS THE RENJI VAMPIRE by shoving a bulb of garlic in his mouth, then peering seriously at Rukia's wounds.
"Hmmm! Not good! Luckily, I'm here! And I have bandages, due to Tatsuki-chan leaving a path of destruction in her wake on many cases!"
Aaaaand, with that, the Real Doctor pulls a medical kit from his labcoat, and starts EMergency Triage!
...The real questions, however, are why is Isshin carrying a bulb of garlic around?
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "The REAL question, is why can Isshin see Rukia."
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "But I ain't askin."
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "OH HOH BUSTED"
(OOC) Rukia Kuchiki says, "SO BUSTED"
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki says, "... I thought she was back in her Gigai."
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki says, "..."
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru says, "AHahaha."
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki pulls out that little memory wiper thingy
(OOC) Gin Ichimaru XD
(OOC) Isshin Kurosaki flashything
...Well, after Renji puts her back in her body...THEN ISSHIN'S ALLEGATIONS OF VAMPIRENESS ARE MADE TRUE. OBVIOUSLY. Yes.
You can't trust a dirty Hippie like that Renji! They're all vampires! Which is why, once Rukia is back in her body, she is OBVIOUSLY BEING ASSAULTED BY A VAMPIRE. Cough. THere was no misposing. There is only /Doctoring/. And Renji being offered garlic. Yeah.
Really. ANY MEMORIES OF ISSHIN STARTING HIS DOCTORING PRE-GIGAI ARE A LIE. THEY DO NOT EXIST. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE CHAPPY BEHIND THE CURTAIN. Or the little memoryflashythingy in Isshin's backpocket.
One moment he's glareing at Gin, and the next, after he sticks Rukia and himself back into their bodies, he is...assulted with garlic. "MMMRPPPPPHHHHHPLLLE!" CHOMP! GNAW! SPIT! "What the hell was that for!?" He roars...or at least he starts too before Isshin kneels down to tend to Rukia, then he pauses and seems to deflate. "...is she going to be alright?" He murmurs. Don't let her die again dammit, if she dies again he can't yell at her later!
Gin actually looks contemplative about sticking around for a moment. But really, he hadn't come here to fight. He had been followed, and now he's gotten rid of the trail. Sure, it meant that they knew he was there, but when did that change things? It basically put the situation back to the status at which if he had come through the usual path from Hueco Mundo.
But now, now more Shinigami were sure to show up if he stuck around. So it was more a matter of efficiency. There would be other chances, and there was plenty of time. And it'd be a shame to kill the lovely couple before he had a chance to go shopping at Sears. Wasn't that what that freaky other-planer had mentioned?
He also left his gigai back there. So he watches them as Renji hops away, simply offering a smile and a wave. The smile that grows as he's told to shut the hell up. "Don't be distant now!" He calls, and is about to shunpo away when suddenly doctor Isshin assaults Renji and gets to work on Rukia. He pauses mid wave, and squints at the man. That was the strawberry's dad, wasn't he? He didn't know he was involved in things. He snickers at Renji's misfortune.
When she's placed back in her gigai, Rukia looks like she'd gone through the meat shredder. Those things in restaurants that make ground beef for meatballs. As blood continues to spread - well, just how was Renji going to explain this to the good doctor? HIT AND RUN IS WHAT. And so she remains there, unmoving, while she's getting worked on.
Isshin Kurosaki casually smacks Renji one handed, then goes back to work. "Silence! You can't fool me, Freeloading Vampire Man! I'll deal with you in a moment! I have even more garlic, AND a holy relic! So don't even think of trying to steal her precious bodily fluids!"
Of course, that relic is a lock of Masaki's hair, but, eh, different strokes, different folks. HOWEVER, THE EFFICENT DOCTORING CONTINUES.
Renji...gets backhanded and looks like he is entirely ready to punt Isshin in the face. However. Isshin is working on Rukia, so instead of face punting, Renji just gives him a low growl and goes back to watching. Come on damn you idiot. No true dying. None. NOT ALLOWED!
Of course he does silently flip off Gin as he leaves.
...what the hell is a vampire anyway?
Renji, obviously.
So not!
You dress in girly colors and angst.
Totally a vampire.
...I DO NOT ANGST!
And leave, Gin does. He has his gigai to retrieve. Before some random human dumps IT in a hospital, and then more chaos would surely ensue. He shunpo's away, who knows to where.
Uh huh. What about that whole 'Oh, I will oppose you captain, because I have always hated you for being everything I'm not and I wanted to keep Rukia and not let her go I am so selfish' thing, HUH?!
ANyways! Isshin has totally slapped the vampire, and also been cleaning and binding up Rukia's wounds, afore calmly picking her up and hmming, then casually starts carrying her back towards the AMAZING KUROSAKI CLINIC. After all, if there's one thing that she'll definitely need after losing all that blood, it's food. AND GARLIC, TO KEEP HER FROM TURNING INTO A FREELOADING VAMPIRE.
...She's only a freeloader, at the moment, but he supposes he can put up with it for his son's fiancee! He coulda sworn he heard that rumor going around once!
Rukia Kuchiki is carried off to the Kurosaki clinic.
I drew a pic from the fight too!
Rukia player is teh best! She asked me to put her out for a week while she was away. Thank you for the scene, and I look forward to your return!