[Compile] Gin, Hisagi, Mayuri, Yumichika

[incandescens]

Gin almost opened his eyes more than a slit. Why, that was Kurotsuchi-taichou, wasn't it? He was sure of it. Now was he going to try to find and dispose of the Captain, or was he going to focus on locating the little Arrankar . . .

Ah well, it had always been his policy to poke trouble before it poked him. With a lightness to his step, and very nearly a whistle on his lips, Gin called through the echoing corridors, "Kurotsuchi-taichou? Where are you?"

His zanpakutou was light and ready in his hand.

Hisagi was quick to follow Ayasegawa into the Twelfth. The reiatsu flare had already died back, but it had all too obviously come from the direction of the labs. He was dimly aware of other flares of activity from other directions, much further away.

"I wouldn't count on backup," he said to Ayasegawa as they headed toward the labs. As they got closer to the building, other shinigami--ones who wore white lab coats rather than the more traditional gear--ran past in the other direction, fleeing in panic from the scene.

When the reached the door, a tall, thin man with three short horns growing out of his forehead (what the hell went on in the Twelfth, anyhow?) was standing there, ordering the fleeing scientists to return to their posts, damn it. When he saw Hisagi and Ayasegawa running towards him, the expression on his face was less like someone who had received unlooked for and much-needed help and more like someone who had just had a golden opportunity set down right in front of him.

"About time you got here," he drawled. He noted that one of the two shinigami was from the hated Eleventh, and the side of his mouth crooked up a bit, imagining Kurotsuchi-taichou's reaction to that. "Ichimaru's turning our people into tartare, and frankly, we're more in need of brawn than brains at the moment."

Hisagi raised one eyebrow, but decided to ignore what sounded like an insult. "You're damned lucky we showed up. Why the hell didn't you call for help?"

In response, Akon simply shrugged and pulled out a cigarette. "Kurotsuchi-taichou's orders," was the laconic answer. No other explanation was forthcoming. He leaned against the door jamb, and nodded towards the lab proper as he lit up a cigarette and settled in to wait to see what happened next. "I'll go round up the rest of our men," he said, even though it was apparent he was settling in to have a nice leisurely smoke break while mayhem unfolded inside.

Hisagi simply gave the man a dirty look and headed inside. With each passing year, the Twelfth Division made less and less sense.

Mayuri gritted his teeth as the traitor's call echoed through his labs. Well, as long as the only thing that touched his equipment was that voice, he wouldn't have to take too long exterminating the vermin.

In an enormous room, cleared of any delicate instruments, the Captain waited, Ashisogi Jizou already in its shikai state. He leaned invisibly against the wall a meter from the only unsealed doorway, prepared to attack the moment Ichimaru stepped over the threshold. If he could paralyze the intruder immediately, punishment for the interruption could be exacted easily and quickly. If not...he'd have to collect an extra fine for damaged test subjects. And that would be a terrible shame, for everyone involved.

Rather than disappointing him, Hisagi's comment only served to elevate Yumichika's spirits. Though people sometimes forgot it, Yumichika was part of the Eleventh, and the prospect of battling Gin was almost enough to make him salivate. Almost. Salivating like a dog over a juicy steak was a most unattractive analogy, as accurate as it may be. Yumichika, however, preferred not to think of himself as a dirty little dog - more like an elegantly plumed eagle, swooping in for the kill.

All the same, he couldn't keep the eager grin from his face. Imagine what Ikkaku and Taichou would say when he strolled back in to the Eleventh and told them he'd defeated Ichimaru! Taichou would be jealous, of course, but proud at the same time, and Ikkaku...Just seeing the look on Ikkaku's face was something to look forward to.

They slowed as they neared the door, where Yumichika was immediately repulsed by the horned figure that greeted him. Disgusting - he was glad he'd never had cause to venture into these grounds before. The thought of encountering more unaesthetic inhumans like this one was enough to make his flesh crawl. It didn't help that one of them was standing right in front of him. His attitude disturbed Yumichika as well - as if he was more than ready to let his fellows perish rather than risk his own skin. What the hell could Kurotsuchi-taichou - never mind. He didn't want to know what that madman was thinking.

The two headed inside, eyes adjusting to the artificial lighting as they went. Yumichika stretched his senses, feeling for where Ichimaru was. He seemed to be recklessly expending his reiatsu - but without a huge explosion of it, Yumichika was really quite lost. He glanced at Hisagi to see if the vice captain had a better bearing on Ichimaru's location. Impatient as he was, Yumichika knew better than to charge head first into a confrontation, especially one that concerned a former captain.

"Any idea where he could be?" Yumichika queried, glancing around the dark corridors. Fujikujaku was clutched in his hand, practically singing for release.

All Gin's senses prickled as he stepped into the room. Danger, danger -- it was only by the barest of fractions that he avoided Mayuri's stab, darting further into the room.

Time to do some high-duty killing.

A flap of white fabric swung loose from his sleeve as he turned, lips parted in what was not a smile. "Shoot 'im dead, Shinzou," he whispered, and his zanpakutou lengthened itself, slashing out towards Mayuri.

The rising reiatsu levels told Hisagi that Mayuri and Ichimaru were most likely starting to mix it up. Hariuguisu was twittering in eagerness and anxiety, and Hisagi could sympathize with her; his training and common sense told him not to get involved in a fight between two captain-class shinigami, but instinct told him that it was far more important that Ichimaru be stopped, honor and safety be damned.

"It's hard to tell what direction it's coming from, and with all of these corridors... Who the hell knows where they lead." Hisagi had stopped at a crossroads. The emergency lighting was sparse, and all possible paths seemed to lead off into darkness. He held out his hand, palm cupped, and he murmured a brief incantation.

"Way of Binding Thirty-Four - Path of the Returning Sparrow." A small sphere of green light formed above his hand. It didn't do much to give them any extra light, but it tugged at his reiatsu as if pulling him towards the battling shinigami.

Of course, it tried to tell him to go straight through a wall, but it seemed clear to him that if they headed to the right, it would draw them in closer.

"Let's go!" he called out, running off down the hallway and trusting that Ayasegawa would follow.

Mayuri hissed as Ichimaru slipped away from his attack, his invisibility falling away to reveal furious metallic eyes and clenched teeth. A quick shunpo removed him as soon as possible once he realized he had not done the damage he had hoped to incur. He saw, briefly, Ichimaru's attack slice through the space he had so recently taken up, but immediately started upon his own counterattack.

Having a zanpakutou that was only effective at a close range was always mildly irritating, but Mayuri had had many years to make additions to his arsenal to compensate for that fact. His opportunities for practicing their use hadn't been frequent, but that did not discourage him. He'd also made a few modifications since his run-in with the Quincy.

Mayuri pulled out his left ear, forming a blade, and swung it across the room in an arc toward the traitor. It had not extended far when, with a twist of his right ear, the weapon detached, allowing it to continue on its path while the Captain shunpo'd behind his opponent, seeking once more to penetrate and paralyze him.

The entrance of those who might be able to assist in the extermination of the intruder was not something Mayuri's subordinates deigned to inform him about. Not that he was particularly listening for such news. Either fresh weapons and targets would materialize or they wouldn't; either way, Ichimaru was going to regret wasting Captain Kurotsuchi's time.

Yumichika watched with mild curiosity as Hisagi called forth a small ball of energy. It didn't seem to have any purpose, really, so he assumed it would help them find the dueling captains. While not really envious of the kidou arts, seeing them in use always made Yumichika wonder how good he would be at them if he actually trained in it. Fujikujaku's shikai, after all, was strongly kidou in nature.

He only had a moment, however, to ponder this, as they were suddenly off down the corridor. As they approached the location of the two captains, Yumichika felt the reiatsu levels growing - not steadily, because they were getting closer, but erratically, as if they were deep in the heat of battle. Yumichika's spirits fell - he had been hoping to face off against Ichimaru himself, but if Kurotschi had already engaged him...all he could do is stand back and watch. Although...this was not an 11th division battle, and if Kurotsuchi-taichou decided to call them in...well, then he would have no choice but to step in and give the fight his most valiant effort.

An eager grin curved his lips, and he picked up his pace. They were so close now, and the captains were being so careless with their reiatsu levels, that he could tell where they were without Hisagi's aid. He shot past the vice-captain, slowing gracefully as they came upon the room where Kurotsuchi and Ichimaru were fighting and coming to an elegant stop in the doorway. He saw only Ichimaru - completely missing Kurotsuchi behind the former captain in his excitement.

"Ichimaru!" he shouted, if only to announce his presence to both combatants. If Hisagi had been hoping for a surprise attack, that opportunity was lost now. The 11th Division simply did not do 'sneaky.'

Gin was beginning to grow irritated. For a long time now he'd rated Kurotsuchi Mayuri as not being that combat-capable. Sneaky, certainly, and well-provided with weapons and poisons, no doubt about it, but not as awkward as Hitsugaya-kun, for example, in a straight battle. But now the man (if he could still be termed a man) was being more than a little inconvenient.

He was busy moving to dodge flying earpiece and flying blade, flash stepping around the room and wishing for a little extra space, when Yumichika's yell caught his attention.

Ah. Extra targets. His smile widened.

Yumichika's brazen shout was quickly followed by a curse from Hisagi. Why did the idiot have to go and call attention to them like that? He closed his fist around the ball of kidou, reabsorbing it as he called Hariuguisu out into her first release.

"Try to bring him in alive," he hissed at Yumichika. "People are going to have questions for him."

Hisagi had several of his own, not that he had any real hope of getting answers to them. All he knew is that he was grateful it was Ichimaru he was facing and not... someone else. Holding a sword to that person's throat was something he was not sure he could do again, even knowing what he knew.

"Anyhow, I hope this will be over quickly," he whispered. "Now cover your ears!"

A sonic blast rocketed towards Ichimaru. Yes, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou would likely be caught in the fringe, but Hisagi honestly couldn't bring himself to care.

Mayuri snarled as his prey escaped both of his attacks, and his mood only worsened at the sight of Eleventh insignia. But it became apparent after only a moment that this was only what he'd asked Akon to send him...a few bodies with which to distract his opponent and make the task of neutralizing the threat quicker and easier. Let alone less dangerous for him.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go-" Suddenly, something rippled through the air - through everything. His audio-sensors went crazy for a moment, especially the now-vulnerable left side, sending a brief but searing pain through his head and making him blink, even flinch a little. Ooooo, that could have been nasty had he caught that full-on. Still, these twerps should know better than to turn a Captain such as himself into a victimized bystander because of their carelessness.

"Watch where you aim that thing, fool!" Mayuri spat at the Vice Captain. He'd had enough of that other no-name abandoned puppy without this one biting him in its rush to prove its worth.

Having allowed Hisagi to jump into the battle first, Yumichika felt no burden on his conscience for joining in himself. He was bound by virtue to only initiate one-on-one battles, but if there was a team fight going on, he wasn't about to miss it.

Yumichika knew his limits, and he also knew there was no way he had any chance against Ichimaru without releasing his shikai. As much as it pained him to show it twice to Hisagi, and to show it at all to Kurotsuchi (hopefully the captain wouldn't be interested in 'research'), he knew when such discretion was ridiculous.

Whispering the words of release, Fujikujaku's form illuminated, peacock feather shaped tendrils flowing from it and up Yumichika's arm as he followed in the wake of the vice-captain's attack, prepared to slash at Ichimaru whether it missed or not.

Gin snarled. The sonic attack had taken him unawares (he really should have pressed Tousen a bit more on what his vice-captain's shikai was) and knocked him off-balance for a moment, and now he had to defend against Yumichika, parrying the other shinigami's blows.

This was no longer amusing. He was sure he could take both the vice-captains separately, and probably even together, but Kurotsuchi Mayuri couldn't be left unattended-to.

So. Step one, keep Ayasegawa near him as a body shield. It wouldn't make Kurotsuchi so much as hesitate, but it'd cut down on Hisagi's distance attacks. Step two . . .

"Eh, Shuuhei-kun!" he called as he parried Yumichika's slash and thrust wickedly at the other man's stomach. "Glad you're here -- Tousen asked me to bring you along with me when I came back. Looks like you're saving me trouble."

Instead of closing in, Hisagi had fallen back, and was circling to the side, trying to get to an angle where he could attack Gin without doing any permanent damage to Ayasegawa. When he saw the glowing feathers emerging from Ayasegawa's zanpakutou he grinned wolfishly. It was good to see that Ayasegawa could put aside that bizarre Eleventh Division code of "honor" when needs must; this fight might be over before Ichimaru knew what hit him.

He hissed between his teeth when he saw the blow aimed at Ayasegawa's midsection, but Hisagi never saw if the blow connected or not. Ichimaru's words stopped him as effectively as a physical blow.

"Tousen-taichou?" he whispered. Too much rushed through his head at once: memories, grief, denial, rage, disbelief... His vision grayed at the edges as if another dizzy spell had hit him, but this was worse than the others. Tousen was with the traitors. Tousen wanted to see him.

It took Hariuguisu screaming almost loud enough to deafen him to snap him out of the fugue. With a shout of rage he ran at Ichimaru, but his left leg buckled, and he stumbled a few steps, trying to recover.

Mayuri stepped back, as far away from the fighting as possible, watching the two newcomers risk their necks in his place. Clumsy as the Vice Captain had been, it looked like he and that Eleventh Division mutt might actually perform as need-

Or not. The Captain hissed under his breath as Tousen's former pet faltered at the mere mention of his traitor of a superior. Clearly the mistake earlier had not, as Mayuri had dared to hope, been a one-time thing. Of all the unreliable, witless soldiers in all of Soul Society, why did it have to be this one who happened to volunteer?

Mayuri clenched his jaw, the only expression of his displeasure and distrust noticeable from behind his mask, other than his ever-present glare. The other shinigami seemed to be doing his part, but how effective his zanpakutou would be seemed rather questionable - not at all what he would have expected out of someone from that division. Mayuri didn't bother reflecting as to whether he preferred that or not. He just continued to watch, keeping his guard up just in case more clumsy attacks came his way. If these two proved unworthy fodder, there was still his plan.

His hands itched to find the number pad on the wall a couple meters to his left, to key in the sequence that would lower the doors to the room and dissolve them into the walls, quarantining the threat. But he did not want to draw attention back to himself so soon. Captain Kurotsuchi did not have much trust for anyone, let alone these, but he would trust anyone who felt like throwing themselves at Ichimaru to at least slow the man down a little, to wear him down so that he'd fall faster when the poison hit his lungs. Should things come down to that, that is.

Yumichika barely dodged the blow - Shinzou grazed his side just enough to tear the fabric of his haori. His eyes narrowed, but there was no time to complain about the state of his clothes, as he noticed Hisagi falter from Gin's verbal attack.

"Pull yourself together, Hisagi-fukutaichou!" he shouted. This was no good - it would be all too easy for Ichimaru to get to Hisagi, and Yumichika would need his support if anything were to happen to him. What made matters worse was Kurotsuchi's obvious disinterest in helping and the fact that Hisagi's strongest attacks were long range. He was a firm believer in handling battles alone, and he knew he was strong enough to handle most obstacles in his way, but Yumichika was not so battle-crazed that the importance of this fight was lost on him. To his chagrin, it looked like he would have to end this battle quickly.

At least he wouldn't get dirty and sweaty this way. Unfortunately, he would still have to change. A tear in his haori was simply unforgivable.

Cursing under his breath, Yumichika drew Fujikujaku up, placing his hands to hold him firmly at the hilt. Abruptly, Fujikujaku brightened, the featherlike tendrils growing and waving more intensely. Yumichika directed the attack at Ichimaru, hoping it would act quickly enough that the captain would be immobilized and not try to draw Hisagi into it, and that Hisagi would have the presence of mind to keep out of Ichimaru's reach. If he was able to distract him, that was all well and good, but Yumichika did not want to have to deal with his allies getting in the way.

The attack by Fujikujaku caught Gin by surprise. Had the circumstances not been quite so life-threatening, he'd even have considered trying to recruit Yumichika later. Someone who could keep a shikai like that hidden all those years would be someone Aizen could appreciate.

Under the circumstances, however, it was more than annoying, it was dangerous. He could feel the draw on his energy, the haziness of its suction. He might be a powerful Captain, with commensurate reiatsu, but he couldn't just let Yumichika continue this forever.

With barely a glance at Hisagi, he turned towards Yumichika. If the 11th Division shinigami wanted his attention, he'd got it. "Shoot'im dead, Shinsou," he murmured, and his blade leaped towards Yumichika.

There was no way Hisagi could reach Ayasegawa in time to knock him out of Shinou's path. That didn't keep him from lunging forward, swinging Hariuguisu in a wild arc and hoping against hope the blast of sound would be enough to knock Ichimaru's aim off true. He hit the ground hard but was able to roll back into a shaky crouch. Hariuguisu was humming so loudly you could practically see the vibrations.

"What the hell did you two do to Tousen-taichou?" Tousen had betrayed them. Had betrayed him. Had left him. This much was true. It couldn't be denied. "There's no way he would have followed someone like you on his own, you bastard!"

Hisagi didn't even look to see if Ayasegawa had avoided the blow. All he wanted to see was that there was something left he could believe in, something that would tell him that the man he had served, the man he had loved was more than just a lie.

Yumichika rolled out of the way of the attack, forced to draw off his attack to avoid getting hit - but he wasn't quick enough to avoid the gash to his cheek. He winced as he felt it open, blood gushing down his skin, hot and disturbing to his very core. He reached a hand to touch it, the fingers coming away crimson.

Immediately, rage bubbled to the surface, his eyes flashing with fury. Ichimaru was going to pay for it, and dearly.

"How dare you! Have you no idea what you've done?" he spat, shooting to his feet and the renewing the attack with escalated intensity. This much force in his shikai was enough to draw the flesh from Hollows, but Yumichika could care less at this point.

Gin sighed inwardly. That was quite enough. He was clearly going to have to convert the mission to a rapid exit. Hopefully Aizen would understand. Probably Aizen would understand. Well, maybe if he brought Aizen a souvenir or two, Aizen would graciously consider understanding after the inevitable punishment.

Time to raise the stakes and show these two what being a Captain was really about. He wouldn't have more than a few minutes after this, since the reiatsu disturbance couldn't go unnoticed, but in the meantime --

"Bankai," he said, eyes flickering open as he smiled and drove his zanpakutou down into the floor. His reiatsu rose like a storm.

[OOC: my version of Gin's bankai is about to have a lot of blades coming out of the floor. Centred on Yumichika. Feel free to react as you wish.]

"Hariuguisu, scream!" Hisagi reacted almost instantly, flinging out a sonic attack. It was more out of rage and frustration, but there was a chance it might stop Ichimaru, or at least slow him down. He had no idea how much of the bone-shattering scream would get through the traitor's reiatsu. He also had no idea if Ayasegawa would get caught up in the fringes, but it had to be better than being caught by Ichimaru's bankai--whatever it was.

Hisagi had only a vague notion of what it might be, based on the man's shikai, but he had no doubt whatsoever that it was lethal.

Ironically, it was Hisagi's attack that saved Yumichika - otherwise he would surely have been killed.

Having no idea what Ichimaru's ban kai did, Yumichika had simply stayed still. There was, after all, no way to avoid the unknown, and all he could do was wait until it showed itself.

Yumichika just didn't sense it in time for the foreknowledge to be of any use. A split second before the blades shot from the ground, he felt their coming, and just as that barest inkling touched his mind, the shockwaves from Hisagi's attack caught him up and launched him into the air.

So when the blades did emerge with the quickness of lightning, they could not impale Yumichika all the way through. Instead, they simply slashed ribbons across his perfect skin, tattering his clothes in the process. Airborne for only seconds, Yumichika then came crashing gracelessly to the ground. Miraculously, he clung to consciousness, and was free to marvel both at the beautiful deadliness of Ichimaru's ban kai, and the fact that he had landed where there just happened to be no blades to pierce his flesh. He also seemed to grasp the fact that this ban kai must be greatly diminished due to his own attacks upon the former captain.

If only all of that energy he'd drained from Ichimaru could take effect more quickly. "Fujikujaku," he called faintly to his zanpakutou, and the blade shimmered in response. Almost immediately, he could feel fresh reiatsu slowly pouring into him.

His confidence restored, Yumichika struggled to regain his feet as his strength increased. He had to make sure Hisagi didn't speak of this ability of Fujikujaku's to Taichou or Ikkaku either, or he would be the laughing stock of the Eleventh.

Gin smirked as his blades sent Yumichika flying. He watched the 11th Division shinigami tumble to the ground, pierced and bleeding, and a cruel smile curved his lips. That should keep the annoying fool out of the way.

Mayuri was staying out of it. Good. He didn't know if it was because the Captain was plotting something or because he just didn't care, but he'd use the opportunity.

"Hisagi-kun," he crooned, turning towards the other man. Thin trickles of blood ran from his nose and ears where the sonic blast had hit him. "Why don't you make it easier on us all, mm? Come with me now and I'll call it a day. I won't hurt nobody else. I'll take you to Tousen, let you talk to him, mm?"

Hariuguisu was screaming, demanding to be released again and trying to keep Hisagi from listening to the lies pouring out of Ichimaru's mouth. Hisagi's eyes flickered to the left just long enough to see Ayasegawa getting to his feet. That damned zanpakutou of his was glowing. If Ayasegawa could get the drop on Ichimaru, could drain the traitor the way he drained Hisagi...

If he hadn't been weakened, Hisagi wondered, would he have been able to stop Tousen? Would it have changed anything?

He pulled his attention away from Ayasegawa, hoping that Ichimaru wouldn't notice how the man was regaining strength by the moment.

"You'll give me your word on that?" Hisagi didn't lower his sword. He cocked his head to one side, as if studying Ichimaru. "No one else gets hurt, and you'll take me to see him? To see Tousen?"

He didn't have to work very hard to fake the wretched hopefulness in his voice. He wondered just how much--if anything--Tousen had said about him to this man. The idea of Tousen talking about him to the two traitors, the idea that everything that he knew about Tousen may have been nothing but falsehood, these were things he could not think about without the earth pitching beneath his feet.

"You really mean that?" Hisagi hoped Ichimaru was lying. If he wasn't, then Hisagi didn't know if he could refuse the offer. Just the thought of Tousen walking up to him, smiling gently the way he so rarely did and explaining what had happened in a way that made everything all right again...

Hisagi's hand and leg had gone numb. He shifted, trying to regain his grip and restore his balance. Hurry up, Ayasegawa, he thought. Please.

Yumichika was not pleased

No, wait - that was understatement. Yumichika was pissed. He did not appreciate getting torn up - though it helped that Fujikujaku's ability tended to mend the damage to his clothes as well as any wounds upon Yumichika's person.

But that was beside the point. The point was that Ichimaru had marred his perfect flesh (no matter how temporary that marring was), and the former captain was going to receive his just desserts.

Yumichika slowly eased himself behind Ichimaru as his strength flowed back into him, counting on the former captain to assume he was unconscious on the ground and focus all of his senses on the threat in front of him. It didn't seem like Fujikujaku's shikai was having much of an effect on Ichimaru, although the zanpakutou had certainly siphoned off a lot of energy - enough to fully revitalize Yumichika. No one could resist the drain, it really just depended on how much - and most importantly, how quickly Fujikujaku had to suck away to render the opponent helpless.

Yumichika had never fought anyone of Ichimaru's caliber before. The closest was Taichou, and it'd been Ikkaku doing the fighting then, with Yumichika witnessing. Thus, Yumichika had no idea what effect increasing the pull's force and speed would have on himself. His last attack had still been within his known and tested limits - if he increased it even more...he didn't think he'd able to control it. Hisagi might get caught in the attack, and if Yumichika himself somehow got caught too...

But this was no time to hesitate. If he didn't attack Ichimaru now while he was distracted, they were both going to die anyway.

Yumichika lifted Fujikujaku, his strength fully restored by now and, with a flick of his wrist, the sickle-shaped weapon split into four blades (having returned to a single after Gin's attack). As silently as possible, Yumichika launched himself at Gin's back, blade ready to pierce.

If it connected, the featherlike tentacles of energy would spread from the wound, immediately sapping Gin of his reiatsu - to what amount, Yumichika didn't know - he only hoped it would at least be dramatic enough a drop that the former captain would be forced to flee.

If he missed...well, then. Yumichika would just have to pray he didn't miss.

[ooc: if you do intend for Yumichika to miss, he will simply let go of control, lest Fujikujaku only suck himself in. Fujikujaku will then begin draining the reiatsu not only from Gin, but everyone else in the room, and most likely the spirit particles of the room itself. :3 ]

"Oh, I mean it," Gin said. He did. It'd be beyond amusing to be able to bring Hisagi back along with him. Course, if the conversation with Tousen didn't go quite as expected, that wasn't his fault, was it? And Aizen'd be glad to have another shinigami to work with. Or on. Whatever.

"I'll give you my word," he said. "If ya believe it, of course . . . But if you do, then I'm sincere. Won't hurt nobody here no more. Figure that poor little Arrancar who Kurotsuchi-taichou's got locked up, you know, the one he's been torturing -- he won't last much longer anyhow. I might as well get what I can out of things. Come along with me, Hisagi-kun, and we'll get things all sorted out nicely . . ."

Hisagi didn't dare look over to see what Ayasegawa or Kurotsuchi were doing. He could only hope that the other two would find a way to use the time Hisagi was trying to buy for them.

"Tell me something Tousen told you about me," Hisagi demanded. He fought not to let his guard down. His heart was racing and his balance was off. He wanted to believe what Ichimaru was saying and he hoped his performance was convincing. "Did he really say to bring me back? Why?"

"It ain't so much that he talks about you," Gin said, enjoying the expression on Hisagi's face. "It's the way he kinda turns round to say something to you, then realises you ain't there. It's the way he looks, you know, forlorn when he's giving an order, like he was wanting someone else to give it to . . ."

A fraction of a second too late, he became aware of Yumichika's movement. He turned, but the four sickle-blades of Yumichika's zanpakutou scored four deep slashes across his back, slicing through the white silk of his robe and drawing blood as they cut through skin and muscle.

Gin hissed between his teeth as he felt the draw on his reiatsu. He knew he had to move quickly before Yumichika could pull enough to seriously weaken him; he wasn't sure how the thing worked, and he couldn't give it a chance to try.

"Gonna shoot you dead," he breathed, falling back to the gutter street patterns of his youth, and completed the turn to face Yumichika.

Shinsou leaped out directly at Yumichika, vengeful and hungry for blood.

Yumichika couldn't help but gloat a little as the blades connected, leaving four deep score marks across his back. Immediately, feather-shaped tendrils identical to those spiraling around Fujikujaku emerged from the wounds. Fujikujaku's tendrils lengthened and snaked around Yumichika's arm at the same time, and he felt an instant jump in his own reiatsu.

It happened in seconds - before he could finish the swing, Gin was already taking aim. There was no possible way for Yumichika to dodge it.

If he was going to survive, he could only hope that either Hisagi would do something to buy him time, or Fujikujaku would sap Ichimaru quickly enough to save him.

If he died...at least Ikkaku and Taichou would be proud.

Mayuri was sick of this nonsense. The longer this drew out, the more likely other 'help' was to barge in and complicate things. He didn't know what Gin was trying to pull, speaking to the abandoned puppy in such a way. Was he just entertaining himself in his customary way, or had he truly changed his objectives? But he didn't really see a need to get involved, not as long as both of the other shinigami were still alive and fighting.

More importantly, the Eleventh Division member's zanpakutou was interesting. Very, very interesting. Completely unexpected, considering who his Captain was. Mayuri watched intently as the strangely well-groomed mutt managed to actually land a blow on him opponent. Brows narrowed behind his mask as the subject of his appraisal failed to extract himself in time to dodge Ichimaru's retaliation.

He decided to step in. Ichimaru, distracted and drained of at least some of his reiatsu, should at least be approachable at this point. While Gin was bearing down on the feather-headed shinigami, Mayuri stepped behind him, trusting his trident toward the space between his target's shoulderblades. It would be nice if this paralyzed him in time to avert the death of the shinigami with the interesting zanpakutou, but if not...he'd have much bigger things to worry about than a new test subject. Like having one less body to throw at the former Captain.

Ichimaru's words hit much, much harder than Hisagi would have expected. He told himself that the man was a liar and a sneak, but that didn't keep him from standing there for three precious seconds, wide-eyed and unaware of anything but his own memories and loss.

By the time he shook off his stupor, Ayasegawa had gotten in a good hit, Kurotsuchi was moving in for the kill, and Ichimaru was taking aim at Ayasegawa.

The only thing he could think to do was deflect Ichimaru's aim again, but the three other combatants were standing too closely for him to release Hariuguisu's scream. All he could do was leap into the fray, slashing downwards in an attempt to knock Shinsou off course or even remove Ichimaru's sword arm.

Attacked from three directions at once, Gin's stroke missed. Instead of punching through Yumichika, he sliced into Hisagi, the blade going deep into the other man's body -- and at that moment, Mayuri's trident took him in the back between the shoulderblades.

He felt the poison hit him, and knew what it was, and cursed himself for having ignored the Twelfth Division captain. He'd thought that as long as Kurotsuchi had other people to fight for him, he'd stay out of the battle.

Another mistake.

He sank down on one knee as his body began to grow limp, cursing under his breath. Soon he'd only have the strength to scream. No backup. No assistance. Could it be that Aizen had planned this all along? That he'd deliberately sent Gin to get killed? It was possible. He knew the other man too well to be certain.

But he was going to be killed here and now -- or worse, captured, and lost in Kurotsuchi's laboratories for as long as he could be made to last, or doomed to face the Execution Scaffold as Kuchiki Rukia had done.

Weren't going to be nobody to rescue him, either.

Gin's lips curled in one last smile. There was still a final way out.

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