Memento Mori

[Kaze]

Well, this is only the prologue to the story, and since I have little or no idea as to what might happen next, you might find yourself stuck at this point should you decide to read what I have to offer.

Edit: I DO have something to offer, so read on. ^_^

Index
Chapter One (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=931641&postcount=3)
Chapter Two (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=958147&postcount=6)
Chapter Three (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=961431&postcount=8)
Chapter Four (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=974894&postcount=10)
Chapter Five (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1090116&postcount=13)
Chapter Six (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1100463&postcount=19)
Chapter Seven (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1209485&postcount=25)
Chapter Eight (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1284113&postcount=28)
Chapter Nine (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1372941&postcount=32)
Chapter Ten (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1393312&postcount=35)
Chapter Eleven (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1415934&postcount=39)
Chapter Twelve (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1428410&postcount=46)
Chapter Thirteen (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1586209&postcount=49)
Chapter Fourteen (http://forums.bleachportal.net/showpost.php?p=1639385&postcount=51)


Prologue

Have you ever felt that kind of pain that surges through your body, more specifically your chest, somewhere around your heart? You know; the one that tears your soul apart, the one that doesn’t heal by itself, the one that always needs another person’s touch. Yeah, I bet you have, and if you haven’t, then lucky you. Ignorance is bliss, huh? I used to think that love was something extraordinary, something that made you feel complete, something that took your breath away but kept you alive just the same. Like I said, ignorance is bliss.

My period of infatuation was excruciatingly short, a small interval relative happiness, that undoubtedly added much experience to my very light folder of knowledge, but which never bore any fruits, except for the pain I’ve been feeling lately. I found myself alone for the first time in my life, and that made it more terrible than it already was. As a result, I covered myself with philosophical concepts and cowered behind psychological theories, telling myself that the pain was only a process through which my mind had to go through, that the pain was merely an inconvenience, proof of my own weakness, a weakness that I deemed unnecessary, but which I had not realized was my ability to feel. Ignorance is bliss.

I tried writing sometimes; I tried to put the pain on a piece of paper and fold it into a crane, hoping that it just might fly away from me. I failed, of course, miserably. Whenever my pencil came close to whatever I wanted to write on, it stopped; I couldn’t bring myself to do it, writing off all my pain on one damnable piece of paper! And I hated myself for it; I felt pathetic, and I began to think that I was a waste of human flesh, or rather, spirit particles - serious amounts negativity for an optimistic person like me, wouldn’t you say? Well, I guess I haven’t shown you my optimistic side, yet, have I? If you’re interested, then stay a while, grab some warm sake and listen to what I have to say. I’ll start with the beginning, with a swing of the sword.

[SpongebobSquarepants]

Wow, this seems pretty cool. Can't wait to see what you write next. This seems like it will defeinitely be worthy of reading even for me and I haven't read that much lately. Lemme know when the next part comes out.

[Kaze]

Burial

“And it scares the hell out of me
And the end is all I can see”
Muse-Thoughts Of A Dying Atheist


If you look around this room, devoid of any unnecessary objects, save for the small comforts that I allow myself to have, you’ll notice that you see white walls, walls that lack a ‘personality’, so to speak, so much that one could go so far as to call them colourless. Like I said, it all started with a swing of the sword, and it continued with a swift rush of blood to head, and the inevitable gush of blood that stained most of the first wall. You see it now? Its red, dripping red, blood red image wakes me up every morning. Of these four walls, it is the only one that yells out; it is almost as if some enraged beast hides behind it, and come to think of it, I know who it wants to kill, a man, a man dressed in black.

Have I bored you yet? Well, I suppose there’s still time; this could be a long tale.

When I first saw that man, I thought to myself: What’s wrong with this guy; walking around dressed like that in the middle of friggin Shinjuku, and carrying a sword. What a weirdo, geez.

You’ve probably guessed by now that this man was no ordinary human. He was a death god; you know, the ones that guide souls into the afterlife. The strange thing about that man was that he didn’t seem very - how shall I put it? - divine, if you know what I mean; and any doubts that I might have had were all blow away the moment he started running towards me with his sword pointed at my throat.

Why me, you ask? I didn’t know, but I can remember his words after he cleaned his katana as clearly as if it had happened yesterday. Hmph, how was that, you bastard? I’ve taken my revenge for all these years of humiliation. I bet you’re still wondering what the hell just happened, well, let me shed some light upon your totally confused ass: YOU’RE FRIGGIN DEAD, DEAD. Burn that into your friggin skull, you bastard.

And, yes, that did shed a lot of light upon my completely confused rear end. However, I couldn’t understand why that man was insulting me like that, almost as if he and I had known each other, almost as if we had been rivals. Well, I’m not sure if we had been rivals, but I know for a fact that we became rivals later on, but telling you about that would be skipping too far ahead. For now I shall tell you about my soul burial.

As the man spoke my vision became dim, and the sounds of the alarmed people gathering around my body, no, corpse, disappeared completely. And then it happened: I awoke. I saw my lifeless shape on the ground, its head covered in blood that still gushed from its neck, which, in turn, was almost cut off. Needless to say, I was very shocked to discover myself dead somewhere in a foreign country, in the middle of a street, whose name I couldn’t even pronounce properly. The second thing I noticed was the strange chain attached to my chest; I saw that it ran to my body, but at some point it had been severed. That’s when I realized that I had died and that there would be no going back. It was a strange epiphany, and it was certainly awkward to have it in those circumstances.

Here we go, fool, the real trip starts now.

The man in black robes walked up to me and raised his sword again. This time I actually had time to panic; I started backing away as fast as I could, trying to somehow not die twice (if it was possible). That’s when the man suddenly got angry and started yelling at me to stop running like whipped dog and show some dignity. When he mentioned the word dignity, I don’t know exactly what happened, but something ticked inside of me. Hearing someone who killed a defenceless person like me with such a cowardly attack speak of dignity was too much, even for the small amount of self esteem I had at the time. I had barely uttered the word ‘you’ when the man in black was knocked backwards by an extremely strong gust of wind.

Curse you, you bastard, even as a normal human soul you spit in the face of I, Tsumemaru.

Tsumemaru sounded strange to me, but it also had a very familiar ring to it. It almost felt good to hear him say: ‘I, Tsumemaru’ in that angry way. I had almost opened my mouth to let out a fierce war cry and begin my counterattack, when the man suddenly disappeared from his spot, reappearing directly in front of me with his sword raised. I froze on the spot and cursed my fate, but when the blow fell I didn’t feel any pain, in fact, I didn’t feel anything at all, except for something touching my forehead. When I opened my eyes I saw light surrounding me, and as I began to dissipate into the concrete I saw the man grin with fiery eyes.

I’ll see you back in Soul Society, you bastard.

Back? I thought.

What I saw next, I would have never believed it had I not seen it. Would you like some more sake before I continue?

[SpongebobSquarepants]

Yes please. :p

Nice story so far. I really like it. Keep it up.

[IceFlame]

I just read this in detail and I can seriously say that I liked it.

Scratch that, I 'm loving the storytelling (and the story of course)! Keep this up!

[Kaze]

II – Post Mortem

"It's the same old sad story
He's lost, he's out of his ****ing mind
It's the same old sad story
He's lost"
Papa Roach - SOS

You’ll have to forgive me if I leave the first wall at that; the first period of my life is rather uninteresting; it would have really made a terrible autobiography. Let’s pass on to the second. For now I’ll say that it’s neither red nor white, but rather, a trail into a long forgotten forest, a forest which was a past existence of mine. I truly hope that I’m not alarming you with such sudden revelations; I know you must think me a madman for saying all these things like this, but that is one of fate’s more twisted whims if I dare say. Where were we now? Oh yes.

What I saw next was neither a golden gate floating above snow-white clouds nor a river made out of souls that was preceded by a spectral boatman, instead, I saw crowd of people gathered around me, staring as if I were the new attraction in town. Well, come to think of it, I really was one. For a while I stood there flat on my back, looking at the faces of the people. They wore rags for clothing, and rags of that kind of Japanese clothing.

“Wha-What happened?” I uttered faintly as I scanned their expressions. Their slightly interested faces suddenly grew into obnoxiously wide grins as they greeted me. Some were colder than others, but all in all it was a fairly pleasant acquaintance; some of them even offered to give me a hand and show me around, but what I really wanted at the time was to know where ‘in the goddamn world’ I was, as I so eloquently asked the local inhabitants. No sooner had one of them started on how I had died and come to that place, that I found myself in yet another predicament. Another one of those strangely dressed men suddenly jumped into the crowd with his sword drawn (did they all have something against me?) and started waving it about indiscriminately cutting anyone he came across. It was unfortunate that he was heading directly towards me.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Completely out of the blue, another one of them appeared in front me. This one, however, looked like she was shielding me. Yes, it was a woman; well, a girl more likely, but as you well know, our kind are often older than they seem. The attacker lunged at her, thrusting his sword towards her throat, but the girl simply stood her ground and assumed a totally uninterested expression. “Hey, wake up," I shouted at her, but she simply looked at me with another one of those obnoxious grins. “What are you doing? He’s going to kill you,” I yelled again, but she seemed to ignore me. As the man drew closer I lost my patience, or maybe I was in such a state of panic that I acted on instinct; in any case, I did the only thing I could have done: I grabbed that woman’s sword and faced him.

“Stand back, Harebashi, you’re in no condition to fight.” I felt the woman’s hand grab my shoulder and pull me back, making me lose my balance and fall to the ground. I looked up and saw that he was nearly upon her, his teeth bared in a demon-like smile, and then, right before my eyes his arms and legs broke off the rest of his body, causing the man to collapse in pain. The woman took back her sword and walked down to the other.

“How long has it been since you sold your soul? How many of us have died because of you, eh? Tell me who else is there and I might consider calling the 4th division.” Her face became unnervingly stern as she said those words. I’m not sure how much time she spent interrogating him, but every time he’d answer with the same words: "No use. Die." And each time she’d carve some kind of symbol into his skin, and each time he’d scream out in pain, and whenever he lost consciousness she’d draw out her sword and utter a few words, after which the man would be well awake and ready to speak again. And the interrogation would recommence.

I have to admit that I was more than mortified as I assisted to that gruesome procedure. I asked myself repeatedly how someone could do that in the middle of a street, and, of course, how could I have ended inside such a real dream, such a traumatic dream, but somehow not a nightmare; no, it was more like real life.

"Curses," I heard her speak. She turned to me and scanned me head to feet as if trying to analyze my appearance. Her piercing gaze was terrible to me then; but as impressionable as I was before my so called ‘awakening’, I still managed to say a few words: "Steve Norbert, pl-pleased to meet you." At that she began to laugh so much that she couldn’t even speak. She simply grabbed her stomach and let herself fall to ground, tears coming out of her eyes.

"There’s no need to joke around, Harebashi. These are serious times," she said after getting hold of herself.

"Sorry," I began. "But my name is not Harebashi. Like I told you, it’s Steve Nor-"

"Cut the crap, Harebashi. You know damn well that we haven’t got time to lose."

"But, my name is not Harebashi! I don’t know who the hell you think you’re talking to, but-"

"But nothing! Listen here, you. I’m giving you 5 seconds to stop joking around or I’m going to slice out your heart, got that?"

"Wa-wa-wait!I’m not who you think I am! Just stop and listen, please, I can –"

"5." Her face became stern again as she drew her sword, a beautifully adorned nodachi. "Time’s up." I didn’t even have time to blink. I thought I was going to die there, but just when she was about to cut through me, her sword was blocked by another figure. It was the one that killed me; that man, Tsumemaru.

"SHEI!" He yelled out ferociously as he pushed her back onto the ground. He paced back and forth for a few minutes as he glared at the girl, which, (the irony) now looked as harmless as a newborn kitten. Well? He said. What do you have to say for yourself?

"I…I’m sorry sensei."

"Damn right you are! What the hell were you thinking? I know interrogation is your specialty, but torturing a man in the middle of Rukongai? Are you insane!"

Nothing about her attacking me? I thought. "Hey, would one of you explain to me what just happened?"

Tsumemaru turned to me. His chiselled features stood in contrast with his large forehead, which in turn, did not reflect the intelligence one would expect from his appearance. He was clearly Asian, but I couldn’t tell which country he was from. Europeans don’t excel at this kind of thing. Frowning, he grabbed his sword and pointed it towards me, his features turning into one sole expression of frustration – was I that big of an annoyance to these people?

"You…" He started, a growl in his voice.

I’ll never quite forget what he said, but I don’t suppose you’d be interested in knowing as well, would you?

[I fail at life]

I wanna know,post now or suffer.

[Kaze]

III - Harebashi

"I hate to disappoint you, but this is how I feel.
And let me introduce to you myself,
Say hello to the bad guy."
P.O.D - Say Hello

Before I continue I’d like to ask you a question. Have you ever been on one of those situations in which you simply stand by and watch as your world crumbles around you? Helplessly you try to salvage what you can, but you are inevitably trapped inside the debris of what was once your reality. And it might have been a happy reality, a reality to which you voluntarily opened your eyes every morning, one that let you believe in God. Have you ever felt something like that? Because if you have, then you can understand how I was feeling at the time. I had died and gone to a place that looked too much like the real world for me to believe that it was Heaven or Hell, I had inexplicably been saved from a second death, and then, I was facing the very man that had started it all, the one who called himself Tsumemaru.

“You…you slimy bastard, what are you playing at?” Tsumemaru’s eyebrows were contorted in such a way that they almost looked like a devil’s horns.

“Me?” I blurted out angrily; I think I couldn’t handle that kind of treatment from the man that had killed me. “I’m not playing at anything dammit! If there’s anyone here doing dirty business that’s you! You killed me.” Once again I was forced to bear witness to another fit of laughter.

“Killed you?” He said. “I didn’t do anything of the like. I simply let you embrace your true form. You should thank me, Harebashi; in particular you should thank Shei here, she was the one with the idea, after all.”

“What idea? This was all part of some sadistic scheme you had in mind, and just who are you people, and where the hell am I, and would please stop calling me Harebashi! My name is Ste-“

“Shut it,” the girl spoke. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. This so called Steve Norbert, do you really know what he is? Do you want to know what you really are?”

“What are you saying? I’m me. Just show me where the nearest airport is; I need to get back to the UK.”

Tsumemaru shook his head exasperatingly. “You’re not in the human world anymore, ‘Steve’. You’re in Soul Society, the place where you truly belong, the place which needs you the most. Especially in these troubled times.”

“What the hell are you saying? Soul Society? Are you on drugs or something?”

“Steve, no, Harebashi, listen to me: He is still alive. You died in vane.”

“He? Christ, what are you talking about? You just killed me and now you’re telling me that I died for nothing? Thanks for the news flash, Einstein, now I can die peacefully! God…”

“It’s useless,” said Shei. “Let’s force Harebashi out of him; it’s perfectly clear that the protective soul is stronger than we thought.”

“Indeed. Alright, Steve.” Tsumemaru looked me in the eyes. “Remember when I first came for you? When I tried to perform the soul burial you managed to contact your original soul. The thing that threw me backwards was no gust of wind. It was your intense spiritual aura. That’s how powerful you are.”

“That’s not what I meant by ‘force’, sensei. Telling him the truth won’t help now.”

“You people are crazy.” That was too much for me at the time. To discover that I was another person, no, even worse, that I was a protective casing meant to guard another soul, something that would eventually disappear, was too much. I turned around and started running as fast as possible from that place. I had seen enough blood for one day, I had heard enough bullshit, I was fed up with it all, and I wanted to go home; my mother was going to cook corned beef, my favourite, and my little brother was going to show me his new videogame, and my father, well, my father had died, but he would be watching from above, and I thought that he’d be very sad if his son truly ended up that way.

This is just a dream just a dream a nightmare a bad one I wanna wake up I wanna wake up please let me wake up dad please I wanna wake –

Months later I thanked Tsumemaru for punching me that day. I’m sure it won’t surprise you if I tell you that he managed to catch up with me almost effortlessly. After that, he decided that I had to get some rest, and when the patient doesn’t want to sleep the alternative is a sedative.

"And what sedative is better than a brain concussion? None." – Tsuyoyama Tsumemaru’s view on Soul Society.

“You…” I began after landing on my back, my face aching like I had been run over by a bulldozer. “Tsuyoyama Tsumemaru, what kind of warrior are you?” I felt strange as I said those words; it was as if I was discovering a new part of myself, and I wasn’t unhappy at all, I was…excited. “The man they say is going to be the next captain of the 11th can’t even render a Rukongai Soul unconscious? You call yourself a shinigami? Go back to the cave you crawled out of and practice fighting.”

Tsumemaru smiled. “Harebashi Ken’Iro, Ex-Captain of the 11th Division. Welcome back.”

“Where’s Kyuu Sora?” I didn’t know who or what Kyuu Sora was, but I knew that it was the right question to ask. That name had been lurking somewhere in the back of my head for all that time, and now, I had brought myself to say it. Pronouncing those words felt so perfect, so right; I felt as if I was doing one of the most important things in my life, and I couldn’t exactly understand why – after all, Kyuu Sora was only a sword (I thought I didn’t know that). “‘Only’?” I had been asked later on.

Well, this certainly brings back memories; thinking of how I had first heard that name: Kyuu Sora, my nine skies.

[IceFlame]

The latest chapter contained two times more blood/swearing compared to the one before it and ,in addition, a girl that is a sadist.

This Fanfic is SO going to be favorite-ised by me :P. Keep up the awesome job!

[Kaze]

Looks like this is actually going somewhere. Well, I guess there's still plenty of time to screw up the storyline.


IV - Kyuu Sora

"Can't you see these skies are breaking?
Coz on top of the world is where I'm from..."
Placebo - One of a kind

I had been looking at those skies for a long time, and yet, I hadn’t seen the differences between them. There were ten at the time, one for everyone and nine for me, but they looked the same as my asauchi. Dull. I had no interest in holding that sword, and neither did I want a new one. I was still convinced that a sword was a sword and nothing more. Ignorance is bliss. I say this because it was Kyuu Sora itself that led me to destruction. Well, I suppose it’s easy to blame a sword, but you’d be surprised how easily it can strike back.

The days were particularly rainy when I first received my zanpakuto, a sign which I hadn’t recognized, let alone interpret. I was still an average shinigami then, one that had such small spiritual energy that standing in the presence of a captain was a Herculean task. I’ll never understand how I managed to graduate the academy, but I suppose that it was in some part due to the intervention of a captain. Not even after I had become one myself had I found out his name, but that information isn’t important anymore. Now that I know what I must do, what path I must follow, little is important to me.

I had been admitted into the 11th division for a month, and it was not a lovely experience. I was constantly bullied by the senior members because of my low spiritual energy and, of course, almost inexistent battle prowess. I would be forced to fight stronger shinigami and lose; for me each day was like a war, fighting, fighting, bleeding, and getting back up again. It was something short of hell. I had become so desperate at one point that I had even begun talking to my sword; I would pour all my frustration and anger into that blade, that blade which stood in its designated place just as any inanimate object would. This process took much time, but eventually I came to see my blade as my best friend, as something without which I could not survive. Even during the beatings I would take inside the dojo, I still endured knowing that my blade was with me. At the same time, I had begun to think that I was going crazy, talking to my zanpakuto like that.

One night I had finally managed to accept my insanity and so, tried asking for its name, knowing that I would not get an answer. However, I did. The answer was a terrible to say the least. I was taken from my bed, and, somehow, I was brought and thrown into the middle of an ocean. I slowly began sinking into its depths, I tried to swim up, but the harder I tried, the faster I felt the pressure of the water around me become stronger, and at one point I felt myself explode.

Again, I was in the middle of an ocean, but this time I was not sinking. The water kept me afloat.

“Those who disturb the balance of this world shall be crushed by it.” I felt a thundering voice echo throughout the wholeness of that empty space. The feeling I had when I first heard its roar was unmistakably that of terror. It was more than just loud, it was inside my head, it was screaming with such intensity that I tore me limb from limb, it was the wind, it was the waves, it was sky, it was the tsunami coming over me, it was that giant mass of water that I called an ocean, but in the end, it was nothing more than a piece of metal with the shape of a sword.

Again, I was in the middle of an ocean, but this time there was no voice.

I was standing on a very small patch of land, and the view was…the end. The sight of the storm gathering in front of me was like seeing my own death. I watched it advance and I felt my blood chill as I observed the formation of those funnels of wind, those strands of pure destruction, cyclones. I stood there completely frozen by the sight of something which would soon come to devour me, and in my last moment, almost theatrically, bolts of thunder joined the frame.

Again, I was in the middle of an ocean, but the skies were as clear as a mountain spring.

“Why do you cower? Why do you accept your fate so willingly? Is it because you have no faith in yourself? Is it because you are, in fact, a coward? Is it because you have no value? Is it because I am not by your side? Open your eyes, Ken’Iro; open your eyes, and look around you. Do you see the endless space of this world? Do you understand why its storms circle you? Listen to my voice, and tell me, what could my name possibly be?”

“I don’t know. Who are you?”

“Could it be that after all our conversations you have not learned my name?”

“Have we spoken before?”

“Indeed we have. So many times, so many nights. I have been witness to all your pain, to your humiliation, to your anger, and now I have gathered my full strength. I need only the name of the enemy to unleash this world’s retribution upon him. Who is it that you wish to kill?”

”Kill? I don’t want to kill. I don’t hate anyone.”

“Hate has little to do with it. The skies demand payment for the loss of balance, and they will have it. Who shall pay? You must decide. We, the nine skies of this place, are at your service.”

“Kyuu Sora.”

“Indeed.”

[Cheryl]

You also requested this. :p

[Evanesque]

Wow, kaze...that is one hell of a story...keep writing. That was amazing, the confusion, the sadness, the bitterness...I love it!

I wonder what plot you have in mind...*is excited*

Great job...rep and cookies for you :D

[Kaze]

I apreciate the comments. It's nice to get such good feedback^_^. Anywho, here's the next chapter, a short one.



V – Reunion

"And if pigs could fly, then surely so could I,
but this pedestrian knows better than to even try,
and my divinity is caught between the colors of a butterfly."
Bad Religion - All There Is

Forgive me for that brief interlude, for it was not my intention to divagate into such (literally) cloudy territories, but Kyuu Sora was important to be left out. That sword is as much a part of me as the heart beating in my chest. Of course, we all know that the heart is just a pump, a means through which my brain sends blood through my body, but Kyuu Sora is much more than that. It is proof of my vengeful will; and my will is, indeed, vengeful, as you will soon find out.

Tsumemaru stopped and looked at me with an expression of slight envy. “We have it,” he answered my question with certainty. “But,” he went on, “we don’t know if you deserve it.”

“You don’t?” I asked cynically. “Well, I shall now demonstrate to you that I do deserve it.”

Tsumemaru frowned and took up his battle stance. “Just try it, you bastard, just try it.”

“What are you trying to prove? You don’t need an extra scar across your chest.”

My taunt seemed to have been successful, since Tsumemaru charged me, his sword draw and pointed at my throat, just as when he had first killed me.

“I remember the way you fight, Tsuyoyama.” With that I began to flash step back to the original spot where I had entered Soul Society. Naturally, I knew that I would meet Shei along the way. I was counting on it actually. When I finally caught up to her she was too surprised to do anything. I grabbed her from behind with a head lock. “Tsuyoyama Tsumemaru! Is this woman important to you?” Shei scowled when she understood what I was playing at.

“Scum,” she said. “Don’t even try to threaten sensei.”

“Be quiet,” I replied with a certain amount irritation in my voice. “Or I’ll turn your existence into a nightmare.”

Again, she scowled. Tsumemaru, however, was completely pale.

“Harebashi,” he began, “let her go.”

“I want Kyuu Sora.”

“You can have it, but first, let Shei go.”

“What are you saying, sensei?” said Shei. “Why don’t you just kill him and be done with it?”

Tsumemaru hesitated, so I took the liberty of answering for him. “He can’t. He knows it very well, my power, that is. Did you think his scars come from training? They come from my Kyuu Sora.”

His reply came under the form of an insult. Not a very pleasant one, I dare say, but nonetheless amusing. “Quite a reunion we have here, wouldn’t you say? So, where is Kyuu Sora?”

“I can’t let you have it, Harebashi.”

I sighed. “How unfortunate. She will have to…” And before I could break the girl’s neck, the old Steve Norbert took control. Truly unfortunate. Even to this day I haven’t been able to break that protective soul. It’s almost as if it had evolved into something more…natural, so to speak, but I can’t, of course, speak of ‘being normal’ when I, myself, am somewhat of an error. My ‘difference’, to use mild language, is both a blessing and a curse. It would have destroyed some, and others would have gone mad, but I am stronger because of it, and I live with this knowledge: one day I will die destroyed by Soul Society, and that day has almost come.

I woke up in a bed, looking up to a white ceiling. The 4th’s HQ. I thought, not knowing what the 4th was. Steve Norbert was slowly gaining Harebashi’s knowledge, without being aware of it of course. By his side, Tsumemaru and Shei were watching him attentively, accompanied by a third person, a woman. That woman. She smiled at me warmly and she caressed my cold cheeks with her hands. So warm.

“Quite the reunion,” said Tsumemaru slowly.

[Rihaku]

Hey, this is a really cool fic! But I think there are a few things you could touch up on.

First off, you should proofread a bit more: there are some spelling/grammar/diction errors that you haven't weeded out. (render turn your existence into a nightmare) If you want, I'd be happy to beta for you - though that's not likely, since I'm still new here.

Your language control is good, but don't try to insert descriptive phrases where they don't belong. My brother does that all the time and he's a pretty mediocre writer because of it. For example, "answered cynically" doesn't really convey the impression you're trying for, and the previous sentance, where Tsumemaru is talking, has unecessary adjectives. My personal preference is to let words and gestures speak for themselves, ex:

"We have it," he eyed me out of the corner of his gaze, narrowly, "But do you deserve it?"

"Don't I?"

and so on.

The prologue was very well-executed, it really got me thinking. Keep it up!

[Kaze]

*Kaze really loves it when people offer constructive criticism.*


Thanks for the advice, man, and I'm glad you liked it. The proofreading is my only real drawback, though; I can never do enough of it. Somehow I still get a few errors in. >_<

[SpongebobSquarepants]

Dude, I love the chapters. I continually look forward to more and more of the story. Keep working on more chapters and the only criticism I can give, Rihaku already pointed out.

[Evanesque]

Nice update, ex-kaze ^_^

Why do you all keep changing your usernames, it's hard to know who's who now unless you put it in your siggy. I can't even view your new username...or is it just 'square dot square'? :D

Keep the fic up..I'll be back to read up!
*huggles*

[Undying]

/me buys Kaze a drink

Continue?

[Kaze]

I'll take that drink. Lol, I was just finishing this chapter when you posted.

@evanesque: my username is the same one, kaze_mizu, the only thing that changes is its form; now it's in kanji. Methinks you can't see it because you don't have Windows XP or something. It's usually that:P

Anyway. Next chapter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

VI - Akane

“And so here we are
Lovers of Lost Dimensions
Burning supernovas of all sound and sight
Every touch, a temptation
And for every sense, a sensation”
Maaya Sakomoto/Steve Conte-The Garden of Everything



We had rolled under the sheets for so long that I began to think they had become part of our skin. Our hands were clasped together so tightly that I couldn’t tell the difference between hers and mine, not that I wanted to. The feeling of our bodies merging together was something I had and had not gone through before. It was déjà vu, and at the same time it was something completely new. I was left breathless as her kisses swept me into another land, where the clouds and rain were forever, and I could do little but follow her hands and eyes wherever they went. I caressed her supple lips slowly with my trembling fingers and I began to breathe faster, my body adapting to hers. I started to move my hands all across her milky skin, enjoying the way she quivered within my arms. She wrapped hers around me as well. And we joined.

That night was spent not in a bed or in any place belonging to the material world. We went to our own paradise, one that we had made for ourselves when we first looked upon each other. Her clear, pearly black eyes were full of affection and sensuality, and they were fixed upon me. I was drawn to them like a moth to a flame, no, an inferno. I could almost see my own eyes in hers, and I knew what I would see: my desire, my infatuation; so strong, and so clear to her that it almost turned us into animals. We glanced at each other for hours that way, and we slowly tasted our images little by little. Until it was unbearable, and I knew I had to feel her skin pressed against mine. I walked to her, my heart’s beating accelerated by a strange sort of trepidation, and I could see that she held her breath as well. That moment, just before our palms touched, I thought that we were destined to be together, that this feeling was more than lust: it was destiny, fate, fortune, wyrd. It was our love. Worthy of Greek tragedies and roman comedies.

Her head lay on my chest, just after we were done, and she hummed a tune, a sweet song to break the silence of your conjugal aftermath. It was unlike any I had ever heard, an ode to the deepest sentiment one could feel: love, but not the feeble, ephemeral love of mere mortals. No, it was that kind of love that one dreams about for an entire lifetime, that slightly perplexing feeling of anxiety and joy, of satisfaction and lust; that mix of desire and fear. And ours was bound together by the iron chains of destiny. It was our doom and our salvation. Bitter sweet is a word far too weak through which to express the intensity and the terminal consequentiality of our relationship.

I rolled my head to one side, almost avoiding her eyes. I knew that she would entrance me again, as she had done so many times before, and I knew that I wanted to look upon her; I wanted her to love me and I wanted to love her, oh, I wanted it so much, so deeply that it tore my soul apart. As I speak, this love is destroying me from within – it is killing me slowly. It is like venom poured directly into my heart - Woe to those whose end is slow! Woe to those whose end is slow!

Forgive me, if I tread onto such thin ice. I knew, even before I began sharing this tale, that it would have eventually come to this. But it could not be avoided. Akane, as she calls herself, was, or better yet is, my first love. She was my first true ‘raison d’etre’, much differently from Kyuu Sora, who was merely my support. Akane’s existence and mine are bound for all eternity; it is a destiny which I both welcome and fear. Have you ever had that feeling? Have you ever had such a terrible, and yet exciting revelation? You fear for its truthfulness, yet you secretly desire for it to be false. If this is not the work of Gods, than what is? It is destiny, in the strongest sense of the word. Destiny.

I turned my eyes back onto her flawlessly shaped body. It was fragile and precious to me, and I held her tightly, so tightly that a man had never held a woman as adoringly as that before. She giggled slightly, and I looked at her in a confused manner. She giggled even more, and then she gave me a quick kiss on my forehead. I began to say something, but halfway I lost myself.

Words were meaningless.

“Akane…”

[Undying]

Holy shiznit. Sexually explicit to the extreme =O.

Damn, this is awesome.

[Evanesque]

*Lolz@ Ud's reaction...but also agrees*...

From a reader's perspective, that was a wonderful and vivid description of the scene. Well done kaze...[square dot square :p]

I AM using Windows XP *shrugs*...I don't know why it's like that :p Anyway...keep it up...the fic's going pretty good...

*cookies*

[Kaze]

Hmm, that probably means that you need to install the japanese fonts. Try the control panel, if you can't do it from there, then methinks you need to put them from the install disc

[Undying]

Yes, you'll need to install to Asian languages support from your CD.

You should have that option in your Control Panel under "Language and Regional Settings".

/me had the same problem :p

[Rihaku]

My brother installed Chinese fonts on this computer and I can see them fine. Pretty sure any Asian-language support pack will contain the characters.

[Kaze]

Hmm, an update? :P Chapter 7, and we're getting closer to the core of the story.
------------------------------------------------------------


VII – Reminiscence

"And I listen for the whisper
Of your sweet insanity while I formulate
Denials of your affect on me"
A Perfect Circle - A Stranger

One of a great many pleasant memories, that first night…but I will not indulge in such tedious tales now. There are other things to be told. Then we shall recommence the original iter of our story with a simple statement: I shall now begin to differentiate between Steve Norbert, the protective soul, and I, Harebashi Ken’Iro. We last left that unfortunate pair in the bed of the 4th division’s HQ, staring into the eyes of a most beautiful and, yet, terrible creature: my lover, Akane.

“Do you know who I am?” Akane asked, tenderness sounding sweet in her voice.

“How could I not know? How could I not recognize the face, the touch, and the sweet, bitter voice of my beloved?”

Shei and Tsumemaru seemed a little taken back at hearing such words. They must have thought they had me in front of them, but Akane quickly calmed them down and sent them away, not without having to break the resistance those two certainly put up.

“Ken’iro?” She said after the others had left.

“No, how many times do I have to tell you, my name’s Steve, not Harebashi! I’ve already-”

“Oh, of course, your name is Steve, but it is also Harebashi, for your body belongs to him, and your fate is the same as his. Do you not know what his destiny holds?”

“Another night in your arms. Only this I know.” Yes, Steve was indeed gaining knowledge from me, a sign that he would soon become I, Harebashi, and that he, a mere inconvenience, would disappear. Oh, how wrong I was.

“You are but a pup; be quiet and do not speak without thinking. Harebashi is quick to exchange words with blades. He still holds power beyond many here, even without the company of the Nine.”

“Yes, the Skies, Kyuu Sora. Where is it? Where are my skies? They wish for me to reign over the Heavens. Where are they?” Can you tell that I was beginning to comprehend my situation? I was probing the grounds, as some would say, but I was still locked between my new life, and the past one, the one that had ended with yet another murder, another execution, one done for the sake of all, under the silence of tears. Yes, that was one of many deaths, and I am still cursed to suffer them, but rejoice, for there is but one soul who need make me the scabbard of a blade. You know who it is. I shall speak no more of this until the time comes.

“The Nine skies of Harebashi will not enter your possession. They will destroy you.”

“I care not, I. The Skies are mine in living and in death. It is the pact that sealed our fate. A marriage of destinies.”

“Do not speak of the Skies with such ease. They belong to no one, but to Harebashi.”

“But, but I am Harebashi! No, wait, no, I’m not, or am I? I’m Steve, and Kyuu Sora is mine, no, it’s Harebashi’s, but who is he? You say I am him, but I am Steve, does that mean that Steve is Harebashi? Then the Skies, as well as you, are mine.”

Don’t you think you agree when I say that I was in a pathetic condition? Weakened by years of slumber, confused and angry, and then I hear another speak of my fate as if it were his. I felt anger rush through my body with the intensity of an earthquake. As a result my hands trembled furiously, and I knew that storms raged within Kyuu Sora. Storms. And the storms of destiny are merciless beyond the seas of mortals. You should know this by now.

“No! Be quiet, fool, and utter not a single word.” Akane was beginning to lose her patience, something which seldom happened, even on the battlefield, and make no mistake, we fought in wars, and we killed many more than we’d like to admit.

Steve broke out into a wild laughter, and began to writhe with insanity, yelling out completely senseless phrases, undoubtedly caused by my sudden awakening. I now wonder if the creators of Steve had thought of his fate after my return. Most probably not. Fortunately for him, the alarms were sounded, and from the window, Akane could see the dust raised by the walls of Seireitei. Steve was no longer laughing, instead, he was uttering something under his breath. When Akane walked closer to him, she could hear his words, as lethal as a spear into the chest: “Hehe, death is coming for me. Will you, Akane, deliver it? You have to – it was foretold – but will you do it? Do you have the nerve? Or will we die in each other’s arms like we should have so much time ago? Go out and meet these new trespassers. Kill them if you will, but don’t forget: I am still waiting.”

Akane said nothing. She went out to meet them.

[analog]

Great job Kaze... Can't for more... Let me proof it again so I feel special.

[SpongebobSquarepants]

Very nice. Update more often so I don't have to reread the entire thing to remember it all :p

[Kaze]

Zen: quality, not quantity:P Here's the 8th.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII – Sworn


“and the sky is filled with light
can you see it?
all the black is really white
if you believe it
as the time is running out
let me take away your doubt
we can find a better place
in this twilight”
Nine Inch Nails-In This Twilight



Is it wrong to wish for someone’s death? Is it wrong to carry out that desire? Or is it simply the fear of succumbing that spurs us into marking such a desire as ‘wrong’, ‘criminal’, ‘evil’, but I ask you, what is it that sets humans apart from the common animal? Is it our higher capacity for learning, communication, and reason? No. I will tell you what it is. It is our love for blood. Each of us has an inborn attraction for death. Secretly, we all desire to deal it. Destruction and suffering at a whim. Our whim. And rest assured, death will be dealt, even sooner than you think. So join me once again as I describe yet another cascade of that sweet red mist we lesser creatures call blood. The Sworn have come to deliver it, but who will open the package? Will it be me, Akane, or perhaps, another of my old comrades? There are many cards that have yet to be played, and some will be more surprising than others.

Pitch black smoke began to rise in an upward spiral, leaving dark marks on the sky, almost as if it burnt it. From the window of his room, Steve watched the shinigami gather outside the building, and then run to whatever might have been the problem. A distant thumping accompanied the alarms of the shinigami, and a hollow shriek, no doubt carried by the ill wind, reached his ears: BANKAI. The Sworn had come, and destiny had joined them. Steve rose and left the room, two words etched upon his mind’s eye: Kyuu Sora.

“Reform the lines! Reform them! Move, you dogs, move or you die!” Seeing one man attempt to bring order amidst the chaos and confusion of battle can be quite amusing. He yells, and shouts, and waves his arms about as if his voice, his gestures could actually reach his men. When panic comes in our line of business, it usually leaves death behind, and whose death will it be? Let’s find out.

Akane rushed along the winding pathways of Seireitei, trying to reach the battle as soon as possible. The yelling continued, and the spiral was soaring over higher, as a gargantuan shape rose over the rooftops, in the distance. Another traitor, another murderer, another execution, only this one would be more…demanding than others.

“You mangy cur, you come here, attack us, and you even delude yourself that you might go back alive.” Tsumemaru’s features were twisted into a form that belonged not to a man, but to a demon, a sign that his anger had gone well beyond the possibility of calming down; at that point he required blood to quench his rage, and, like any respectable demon, he would have it, even if he had to face all the monsters in the world, just as the one towering over him that very moment.

The shinigami which it shielded laughed coldly and began to speak; announcing his intentions to rape the women and pillage the city, always accompanied by the same lousy rhetoric that his kind shamelessly used to cover their acts with words like righteousness, justice, retribution. Tsumemaru didn’t care for speeches, and he did not enjoy being underestimated. With one leap he was upon the monster, a mindless creature reeking of death, falsely dubbed as Bankai. His zanpakuto pierced half way through its eye before it could react, swiping him down as an insect, and then proceeding to crush him under its heel.

Even Akane could hear Tsumemaru grind his teeth as he struggled to repel the attack. “Haven’t you had enough?” She yelled as she released her soul slayer, a silver spear. Its tip gleamed brightly even while being covered by the shadow of that monster. With one quick sweep she severed the creature’s leg, and then proceeded to remove its head from its shoulders. Akane jumped, boosting herself off the spiritual pressure of the opponent, but as she reached the necessary height she saw another shape besides her. It was the Sworn.

“Akane!” From the ground Tsumemaru gazed helplessly as the other shinigami put his hands around her throat, and began to choke her. “Don’t touch her, you bastard… Slash, Kiba!” Within the next few seconds Tsumemaru’s zanpakuto took the form of an iron claw which, almost instantly flew directly into the Sworn’s shoulder forcefully removing his grip off Akane.

This will teach you, you impertinent bastard.

With another swing the iron claw once again flew towards the Sworn who was immediately shielded by his Bankai. Tsumemaru swore and walked down to Akane to make sure she wasn’t injured. She looked him in the eyes, and he saw a sort of despair he had never encountered before.

Why? Why do you have that look upon you? Is it because of him?

“Come now, let us face them,” she said plainly, as she rose, and, alongside Tsumemaru, she turned to face the horde of Sworn that were eagerly awaiting their chance to kill.

“They come, and we stand. That is how it is.”

“Isn’t it how it has always been? Ever since he died.”

”Yes. Perhaps, now, it is our turn.”

“Perhaps, but not just yet.”

The Sworn come and they stand.

[analog]

double post.....

Ohhh I like it kaze... keep writing more, I had to reread it all to remember, lol. But hey I finally got around to reading the latest chapter, keep it up.

[SpongebobSquarepants]

I read this last chapter and it's good. I'm gonna have to reread from the beginning though so that I can remember everything. lol

[Undying]

<.<

Too... good... Kaze, you're one helluva good writer.

[Kaze]

IX - Tenth


"I keep waiting... and I wait...
Won't somebody...save me.... "
Deftones - Lucky You

A mortal man can never hope to know his future, unlike me. But I am no mortal. I live forever, I die, return, always stronger, always bitter. And less humane with each year I spend in my new mother’s womb. I still remember when I was innocent, when this burden had not yet come upon me, when I had friends, before this wall separated me from them, before Kyuu Sora tasted innocent flesh, before I savoured it. I could go on and on with the changes, but it would merely drag my tale into an endless alley. I’ll tell you about my old friend. My old teacher. And his sword. Oh how it glistened in the darkness! Even while covered with my fetid blood.

Fetid you ask? Yes, just as any other Sworn. Held by powers far beyond my own to be the executor of unspeakable acts. I have done many in my time. I’ve severed all bonds. I had to. I was Sworn. But I believed it. At that time I was unable to see past beyond Kyuu Sora’s power. I was inebriated by its horizons, and by my own weakness, and make no mistake; I was weak, no stronger than Kyuu Sora’s sheath, an empty form, a superficial item, a waste of spirit particles, which is why I had succumbed so easily. You may see me breathe now, but I have long been dead. Ever since that man plunged his zanpakuto into me.

***

I stand near a tree, a man under my heel, my foot over his throat. He twitches in his final moments, but that brings no satisfaction. I look him in the eyes, but I see no fear, I see words: Betrayer. Dishonour. Betrayer. This angers me. I cannot accept being scolded by a man who is dying at my whim. I crush his neck against the ground. He yells as I do it, and that pleases me, but the thought lingers. Betrayer.

***

I can’t imagine how disgusted I would have felt under normal circumstances, but I was different. I was no longer the innocent soldier, performing his duty, upholding everything Seireitei stood for. I was someone else’s servant, and I was bidding his will, his command, whatever the consequence, because that is what the Sworn do. They change as the oath is forced upon them, they throw away needless things, and they bring evil with them. Because that’s all they’ll ever be able to do. We are beings born out of malice, and malice can only generate more malice. That is truth.

***

I take a moment to savour the look of his previously mutilated corpse. Kyuu Sora lays on the ground next to him, smeared in blood, a misrepresentation of its true purpose – Justice, not Vengeance. I pick it up, and walk away from the body. I want, oh, what do I want? I don’t know what I want, but something is drawing me into the darkness. It is something like a call, a whisper of some sort come from the shadows to draw me into them. I answer, and I proceed deeper into the forest, a dark and murky place, humid and cold, like my very soul. I don’t know what to expect, but I walk into it, like an animal. I am drawn to it. I am.

But the spell is broken, a weak incantation it was, broken by the voice of one less powerful than my lord. His beautiful face is rugged and besmirched by the trials he had faced, and now it is contorted into one grim, sad smile, a message by itself. I tilt my head, much like a cat, curiously examining the stranger. It is amusing that I know that person, but cannot recognize him. I am far too deep into the forest. He follows me, but not for saviour – for destruction. And, he, Kozueshima Tetsuo, captain of the 10th Division, is well versed in it. I am afraid. I know his power knows no boundaries. I know mine does. I know Kyuu Sora is aware of that. But I cannot run. I am Sworn. That is truth. I am Sworn.

He, however, does not know the meaning of the word Sworn. He comes at me, he comes in full strength, and I shudder as he closes in, a volcano of unfathomable power, the epitome of Seireitei’s destructive might. I raise Kyuu Sora, I feel the storm coming, but it is too late. He speaks, he grows in power. I am no match for him. He is right next to me. I can see the whites of his eyes, and I can hear the grinding of his teeth, and the friction of the air against his zanpakutou: Taiyou No Heiki. I am able to take one last deep breath before Kyuu Sora breaks, and my body with it. Thus, I succumb.

***

Does it sadden you? That was my first death, and Kozueshima was the first of my comrades to kill me, but not the first to die. He had to wait for my return. And oh how it was swift! Swift and furious, like the waves of the sea, but he didn’t die. He was saved, and I was betrayed. Again!

***


I feel my breath escaping me, and her hands around my body, a zanpakuto thrust into my chest. She lets me lie down, and looks at me, tears streaming out of her eyes, those black, pearly, wet eyes. I loved them so dearly, and seeing them now brings more pain than I had ever felt, for I know the fate of those who betray me: death. She kisses me one last time as I ponder these things; her mouth is sweet, a tender goodbye, but not the last. No, not the last.

“Akane…”

[Taiyou no Kishi]

*drools* That's amazing. I am curious though as to who exactly are the 'sworn' ? I guess I'll have to read and find out, ne?

[Jeem]

Man, I'm really enjoyin this one so far; I especially like how you don't explain all the elements straight out (i.e. the Sworn). Sorta forces us to read more :p. I can't wait to learn more about Steve's (or whoever he is now) past.

[Kaze]

God, this chapter sucks. :/ Worst one yet.
==============================

X – Prelude
"Send you to heaven
Take you to hell
I ain't foolin'
Can't you tell"
AC/DC - Live Wire

She moves her lips, but I cannot hear her words. I feel my shoulder ache. I look aside. It hurts because my arm is moving. It is reaching for Kyuu Sora. I fight against it, but I am weak, so weak! The oath forced upon me is much stronger, and the blade is raised. With a thrust, it flies! Oh how slow have you become, Akane? Why can’t you get out of the way? Why? I can only curse as I realize that my own soul slayer will kill my lover. And so, with a final desperate gesture, I grab the hilt of her zanpakutou with my free arm, and…reluctantly, no, gladly…I twist it farther into my chest. I kill myself for her. She forced that choice upon me. I dare not utter her name twice.

***

Perhaps we should have died that day, together in a timeless embrace. I confess to you that the person I am now would have never regretted it. The opportunity to be eternally bound to her would have proved to sweet a thing, but as always, fate plays its tricks on us. Don’t you think so? We are but puppets in a play, forced to move by invisible strings, until our part is over. But, who is the puppeteer, eh? A wicked man, a wicked man indeed. But maybe I should pick up where I had left off – The Sworn.

They are a tenacious group. Always on the hunt, prowling for their next victims, but for a while now, their target has been Seireitei, a stupid decision, dare I say. Only a fool would take on the shinigami with such small, irrelevant numbers. They attack, wave after wave, sometimes after days, sometimes after months, but each time they are repelled. However, each time they come, shinigami die. And whilst the Sworn seem to flow like rivers, the halls of the shinigami academy are getting emptier, and emptier, and emptier. I can even hear a clock inside my head go: tick-tock, tick-tock. It’s the countdown till the Gotei 13 will be overrun by those pests. An inevitable fate, but wait, I think we’re forgetting about someone. Me.

We had last seen Steve leave the 4th Division’s Headquarters, aiming to retake Kyuu Sora. The fool would have gotten himself killed had I not intervened. He was weak, both physically and mentally. And he certainly couldn’t have stood up to the guards that Tsumemaru would have surely placed around Kyuu Sora. No, he wouldn’t have lasted a second. That weakling. But where would Kyuu Sora be? And who would know? The 2nd would certainly possess that precious piece of information, and retrieving it would be child’s play, a simple trade: their lives for a name.

I made my way through the maze of paths that stretches over Seireitei, aided by the fact that no one was aware of my new appearance. Being born anew brings more advantages than just life. And I have had much time to learn each of them. I’ve gone through many lives; imagine how it would be to remember each of them. I can, because my oath compels me to remember, so that I may bring retribution to those who have wronged me. I am Sworn. That is my curse, but I use its advantages to their full potential.

And so, I arrived to the 2nd’s Headquarters, a structure no different that any of the others, but this one was different, this one held what I needed, and now it was only a matter of speaking to the right person: the captain. I walked into the main building; only a handful of Shinigami standing guard, the rest had all gone to the disturbance, almost certainly to their deaths. You see, whilst the Sworn may be inferior to higher ranks, they stomp weaklings as if they were insects. Honestly, I can’t blame them. Picture them, standing there in the hallway, looking worried, scared, like they’d like to return to being beggars in the streets of Rukongai. Have they no dignity? No. Just a purpose – to die. Isn’t that laughable? They don’t even know why they’re dying. Their minds are clogged with ephemeral concepts such as: Justice-Duty-Honour. Tell me, what are any of these worth for in death? Nothing. And the fools don’t realize it, even while my bear hands shatter their bones and disperse their reiatsu into the four winds, but wait, what is that presence? It’s dark and sombre, and not to mention murderous. Yes, it is the captain. The assassin. And he is angry.

“You…are the one they call Harebashi, are you not?”

I smile. “How pleasant, you know me.”

“I know your deeds.”

“Where is Kyuu Sora?”

“A stupid question. We’ve destroyed it. As we shall do with you.”

“Liar. Where is it?”

He grins, despite his rage. “It’s in my left pocket, come and get it.”

“Know that you needn’t die for this. I want to know where Kyuu Sora is. Your life for its location.”

“But didn’t I tell you? It’s in my left pocket.”

“Do you actually think you can win against me?” My attempt to intimidate him is a weak one. He knows very well that I am a power to be reckoned with as long as I have Kyuu Sora, but without it, I am much more vulnerable.

“This isn’t a competition, Harebashi. This is a give and take situation, and - guess what - your life is at stake.”

“Amusing.”

This assassin is named Kagurai Shino. I have only seen him once, when he was still a pup, but I know that the Shinigami he has grown into is a fierce opponent. He is quick, astute, merciless, relentless. All traits that I admire and that I have taken onto myself. In many ways he is like a young wolf, but he is alone, and I am like the ageless winter. I come to begin each new cycle, and I take many with me as tribute. Young, solitary wolves are the least of my concerns.

“Begone,” I utter, the menacing chill of death imprinted into the tone of my voice.

[Jeem]

Meh, it wasn't as bad as you made it out to be; the story can't be action all the time. It's not like this chapter isn't going anywhere; it's building to something exciting, it would seem.

[Que Sera Sera]

Wow this is great!

[Taiyou no Kishi]

Not bad at all. but it's as jeem says.. :p

[Kaze]

Hmm. A good chapter. The title is latin for 'The Art of Killing', in case you were wondering.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
XI – Ars Necandi

"Your mouth
These words
Silence
It turns
Humming
We laugh
My head
Falls back"
Static X - Cold


They say men fear their own demise more than anything. I find that to be partly true. While it is easy for me to accept death, knowing that I will be born anew, I have difficulty letting go to life, which I have embraced far too many times. I will not deny that when I faced Kagurai Shino, the captain of the 2nd Division, I was afraid, despite my attempt to intimidate him. He knew, of course, that without Kyuu Sora I could never have hoped to defeat his Bankai. A Shikai may be broken through wits, but a Bankai…it takes more than a quick mind to overcome that kind of monster.

“Harebashi Ken’Iro, I, Kagurai Shino, captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13, sentence you to death, on behalf of Central 46, for the crimes you have committed.”

I let out a chuckle out of scorn, well aware that irritation would simply cause his mind to slow, and muscles to move more chaotically. But, he, also clever, showed no sign of anger. It was clear that antagonizing him would be a waste of time. So, I interrupted him: “And my execution?” He glared at me and drew his zanpakutou, smiling out of the corner of his mouth. “Your execution will be immediate.”

“I trust it won’t be painful.”

“Regretfully, no, it won’t.”

We began to circle each other, waiting for the right moment to strike. Any mistake, any hesitation would be death for me. As you well know, a captain is nothing to trifle with, but that also applies to me. I have much experience under my belt, and I have killed a great many, and each kill has made me better at killing, an art at which I now excel. You know very well what I am capable of, and you also know to what ends desperation can lead a man. Desperation and I go hand in hand. To what ends will I go for survival?

“Then come, executioner, try your blade against my flesh.”

“Gladly.”

His movements were flawless, no hesitation, no mistakes, just determination, and more importantly, power. That first charge was poetically beautiful, a series of movements so graceful and yet so violent, I can only wonder whether that man was a warrior or a dancer. And so, with an equally violent, but not graceful gesture, I jumped out of his way, the floor of the room being torn to shreds by the spiritual intensity of my movements. His first blow hit only air, but he was soon upon me yet again, a glimmer in his eyes, perhaps not a glimmer, but a reflection of his zanpakutou, a weapon made not of steel but of silver. I bow before its reverential aspect; it is more like a sacrificial dagger, jewels embedded around its hilt guard, and verses imprinted on the blade. They read:

“Whosoever sees my light, whosoever draws my fight,
They shall wither like blade of grass, cut down by blades of wind.”

Thus, I was forewarned, however, at that point there was no turning back. I had to fight him, and I had to win, because death would mean failure, and such a failure would take years to correct.

“How well you run, Harebashi.” He continued to follow my every movement, each time missing by less than an inch, but I stopped, dead in my tracks, and let myself fall to floor, narrowly avoiding Kagurai’s thrust. I then I grabbed his hand and pulled it forward, and with my left foot I made him fall, causing his sword arm to snap right on top of my right knee. A limb destroyed was a step closer to victory, but the Assassin still had many tricks of his sleeve.

“Young wolves do not last long when separated from the pack, they are easily enticed by a would-be prey, but you, as a master hunter, should know well enough that a snake may bite even as it dies.”

Grinding his teeth and fighting back the pain, Kagurai didn’t reply, he merely fell back, his right arm hanging inanimately at a side. I then attacked, aiming to grab his other arm. I would systematically break his bones until his every movement became a cause for pain, and then, I would end it, mercilessly, the same as he had planned to do with me, but as I closed it, his zanpakuto shone again, and, trembling violently, it broke up into warm breeze. Warm indeed, but too consistent. They were blades of wind. The assassin no longer needed to move, and I, pressed even more, was forced to kill swiftly, lest I would be cut down…like a blade of grass, if I may add.

I began to circle him, looking for a way to pierce his defences, to land the blow that would most certainly save me, but his blades, numerous and fast, always stopped me. They flew around the room, taking turns at cutting me, sometimes even tearing shreds out of my robes, and even leaving shallow wounds, but don’t think for a second that I would prove so weak as to be defeated by a Shikai.

Thus, I raised my arm upwards, and uttered: “Crash down!” The reiatsu blast to ensue burned through the roof, causing part of it collapse on top of us. I got out of the way in time, but I couldn’t say the same about Kagurai. His shape lay crouched amidst the dust cloud raised by the crumpled roof, and so, I attacked, convinced that he would never get back up, but as I struck, his shape disappeared, only to be replaced by the blade of wind. I began to manoeuvre again, waiting for their attacks, but what did I see? It was him! Kagurai himself decided to attack, empty handed! But as he closed in I noticed something. It was quiet and well hidden, gently hovering somewhere behind me, a fragment of the Assassin’s zanpakutou! It descended upon me, forcing me parry Kagurai’s attack. He, however, proved to be cleverer than I had initially calculated. While his empty arm would prove a weak attack, an armed one would be fatal, and it would have. The rest of his soul slayer dissipated into the air, and the metal form of the weapon, the silver dagger, reappeared in Kagurai’s hand. How clever. How terribly lethal.

“Hat’s down to you, Kagurai Shino.”

His silver dagger had pierced half way through my left arm before I managed to redirect the blow. With my right arm I then grabbed his throat and began squeezing. I looked down at his feet, searching for his silver dagger. I would use it to finish him. I found it, and I used my leg to lift it up, but that’s when I saw that a part of it was missing, a jewel - a ruby, blood red. Vengefully blood red.

I bit my lip. I heard a humming. A sweat, sweat humming, even if slightly impatient. And a light tickle on the back of my neck. It was no mosquito. I looked the Assassin in the eyes.

“Hat’s down to you…”

The blade moved.

[Shadow-ofDeath]

... Wouldn't "Ars Necandi" translate to "The Art of about to be Killed"? "Ars Necantis" would be the art of killing, you used the future passive participle (Necandus, -a, -um) instead of the present active (Necans, -antis).

(^ ^)
This is what happens when you become a nerd.

[Taiyou no Kishi]

Lol. Well spotted. Although, I was slightly confused. I thought the nd usually meant a "must be" type thing. (e.g. Amanda - Must be loved). But back on topic.

THIS WAS AWESOME! : D
The only thing is that i wasn't to sure of what the red jewel did....

[Jeem]

Generic yay for fight compliment.

Seriously, thought, a well written chapter; the descriptions were good and the zanapkuto you thought up was quite interesting.

and I have killed a great many, and each kill has made me better at killing, an art at which I now excel.

I liked this line; the repetition worked very well here.

[Shadow-ofDeath]

You are correct that the "nd" does imply either "must be", "ought to be", or the like, but that is only when it is followed by a form of to be (normally "est". "Amandus est" is "he ought to be loved"). That form is called the passive periphrastic, its just another form of the future passive participle.

Nerd lesson:
neco, necare, necavi, necatus - to kill

Is it....... ACTIVE ... ... ... PASSIVE
Tense
Present . Necans, -antis ... NONE ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (killing)
Perfect .. None ... ... ... ... Necatus, -a, -um ... ... ... ... ([having been] killed)
Future ... Necaturus, -a, -um ... ... Necandus, -a, -um ... (about to kill/about to be killed)

[Shadow-ofDeath]

But also, very nice writing.

I still can't believe I just gave a latin lesson... I feel... so old. Especially for somebody who hasn't even turned 18 yet.

[Kaze]

Lol.

Uh, allow me to enlighten thee.

You guys are confusing the 'gerundio' form with the 'gerundivo' form. The gerundivo form is the -andus, a, um one that works like an adjective with nouns and is used to form the "needs to be done" expression, however, the gerundio form has only the genetive, ablative, dative and accusative noun cases.

These two forms basically turn into the gerund that is found in many modern languages, but may not have exactly the same uses.

This is how it works:

Let's take Ovid's Ars Amandi, which is analogous to my title. Ars Amandi means the art of loving, and it is constructed by adding the noun "ars" meaning art, and the geriundio form of the verb "amo";to express the "of loving" part, you need to use the gentive case, so it becomes "Ars Amandi."

Other examples:

Parati ad pugnandum - Ready to fight.
Legendo Idoneus - Fit for reading.
Errando discitur - by making mistakes one learns.

Also, the -urus future form of the participle tense is the one you need to use in order to say "is about to be, will be, etc."

The -ans, antis form of the participle is most commonly translated with 'that does something'.

For example, aqua ferventi is boiling water, however, aqua fervente is water that is boiling.

This construct is often used in absolute ablative phrases.

Trust me on this. Italian schools and latin go hand in hand.

@Kishi: the missing jewel was the wind blade that hadn't reverted to its zanpakutou form.

[Kaze]

Anyways, that being said, here's the next chapter. Not exactly my best, I dare say.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

XII – Avalon


“Can you lick my wounds please
Can you make it numb
And kill the pain like Cortizone”
Massive Attack-Antistar




And that is how I found myself on the brink of death, again. Kagurai came closer and put his foot over my chest, as if I were his booty. That insolent man then sheathed his zanpakutou and glared at me. “I am afraid that your execution really will be painful. Bastard, you broke my arm.” It wasn’t enough that I was bleeding heavily out of the side of neck, (I had narrowly avoided having my jugular vein cut); I had to be tortured as well. He kicked my rib cage several times; until he heard the ribs crack.

“You know, sometimes young, solitary wolves can survive winter, if they find enough food prancing around.”

Naturally, his remarks angered me. I couldn’t accept to be lectured be that, and I couldn’t retort either, because if I spoke, I’d hasten my death. So I let the Assassin have his fun, I let him walk around me, wound me, and make me suffer, and all that time, I said nothing, just to spite him. But no matter how much I could enjoy myself from seeing his annoyance, I couldn’t help thinking that I would end up dying if help didn’t come. That was the truth. Brutal, isn’t it? Oh, how I despised myself then! I cursed my stupid decision, my overconfidence. I had underestimated a very dangerous enemy, and I had paid the price. I had paid the price.

“Harebashi, I must confess to you, I’ve never been so…how should I say this…amused. I find that you, a veritable legend, is dying at my feet. Whoever said you were unstoppable must have been mad when he said it. I do say, you have a very interes-“

“You will not befoul lord Halcyon’s presence with your words.”

“Who the –“

I allowed myself a moment of laughter as the stranger first spoke, a whisper come from the dust clouds, but as I looked better, there was no dust in the room. No, the dust had settled, and mist had replaced it. As I said, the stranger spoke with a whisper in Kagurai’s ear. He turned around, alarmed, and drew his zanpakutou again. His right arm was still hanging inanimately at a side.

“My lord,” I heard the whisper again, “what would you do with this man?”

“My dear, dear friend…Hahaha…kill him.”

As I gave the command a hand materialized just under Kagurai’s chin, and right after that, the body to which it belonged also appeared, a masked man, slender, much like many who adopt the ways of stealth and assassination. The movement of his arm was quick and determined, faultless. Kagurai’s head fell to the floor with a dull thump, and the shinigami that had just appeared kicked it towards me. I looked into Kagurai’s scared eyes and I saw nothing but foolishness. He was a young wolf after all, and young wolves can’t know the threads of the past.

“My lord,” said the man, “you require assistance.”

“I noticed that, Avalon, but I’m afraid I can’t be saved now. Who will aid me?”

“I…my lord…there must be a way.”

“Do not fool yourself, Avalon; there is no way for me to live now.”
“Shut it, Harebashi, if you want to live that is.” It was that woman, Shei. She walked into the room as quickly and as quietly as I had ever seen anyone move, and, without even dignifying the dead captain’s corpse with a look, she sat down next to me. “You have lost much blood, but you can still be saved.”

“Your torture techniques?”

She smiled.

“Yes, like you did with the Sworn that had attacked me earlier.”

“Yes, like that.”

“I trust it hurts, doesn’t it?”

“My lord – “

“Be quiet, Avalon; Shei has a job to do.”

Shei extracted her zanpakutou and said: “Prolong, Sohaku.” The blade of her zanpakutou began to shine with strange symbols, not even remotely close to any language I knew. She then began to carve the symbols into my skin, a slow and painful process. The cuts burned so intensely that I felt as if my skin was being torn apart, one minuscule piece at a time, but at an insanely fast rate. Fortunately for me it did not take as much as I had thought, and I found myself healed, ready to continue my plan. After Shei finished with me, she pointed her Zanpakutou at Avalon, and said: “Now which one of you did this? I need to know in order to avenge them when the time comes. It is a sad thing that you must live so we may survive.” Avalon had just opened his mouth when I interrupted him: “They were your comrades?”

“Kojima Shei, vice captain, 2nd Division. All these men were, indeed, my comrades. Now which one of you murderers slaughtered them?”

“It was I. Effortlessly done.”

I graced my confession with a smile that meant that I did not feel remorse, an insult to the favour she had done me. But as I often say, the dead feel no scorn.

[Jeem]

Well, it wasn't the best chappy, but it certainly didn't suck.

Kagurai’s head fell to the floor with a dull thump
^^that was cool

The blade of her zanpakutou began to shine with strange symbols
I like the whole "mysterious symbols" thing; they're pretty cool(I plan to use them more in my fic as well).

[Taiyou no Kishi]

Interesante. Well, I wonder how she's going to take the whole harabashi killing kagurai thing... Pretty good. Just another one of those chapters that are necessary to pull the story along. Not as bad as you proclaim, Ka- I mean, Sarz. (You know, that reminds me of SARS, Severe acute resperatory syndrome) But anywho, not bad at all. :p

[Kaze]

So...it's been a while since my last update, but don't fear! The fic ain't dead. I just been busy with school. ANyways, here it is.

XIII – Prelude v2.0
"Time can't be overcome
Time won't wait for anyone
[Just like an angry woman]"
Myself

They say that a woman’s scorn is to be feared. They are correct. Of course, Avalon and I did not witness that scorn first hand until later. Not until I had foolishly deemed her life forfeit, a mistake, perhaps, that one cannot blame me for. She had confronted us after healing the wound that Kagurai had inflicted upon me, and I disrespected her and her comrades! I know, it was merely the truth, but you see, the dead also have pride, because, well - do they not say that our loved ones live on in our hearts? Very well, I admit it; there was no need to be snide, but I couldn’t help myself. Whatever you may think about my remark, know that Shei posed an admirable resistance to the urge to kill me. She grabbed her zanpakutou, and Avalon grabbed his. I was unarmed.

“You two are going to pay dearly for this treason,” said Shei, her voice aflame. And Avalon? Well, he does not speak needlessly, but even he let himself sneer at least on that occasion. It was rather surprising , to tell the truth, that pride had found its way into his soul. The Sworn have no pride. Pride means individuality, but the Sworn act as one, sole, destructive force. And the Wretched should be none the richer. We are, after all, still Sworn, no? But, you see, that is exactly why we should sneer in front of those who would oppose us. Sneer and crush them into the ground like the insignificant insects that they truly are! They are not men, they are not shinigami, they are frail, yes, yes, they are the Frail, and much sooner than you’d think we’d break them and scatter their ashes into the wastes of Hueco Mundo. Quite literally, we would do that.

“You dogs, you miserable dogs. You’d be lying right there in a pool of your own blood if it hadn’t been for me.”

“Oh,” I began, “Is it thanks that you desire? Gratitude? We offer it, as little as it may mean to you at this point. Sincerely, I thank you for saving my life.”

I bowed as I said those words, not that I actually meant them; it’s just that I felt we’d need her. And I was right. We needed her, and she was there. For that I give thanks to the Gods.

“Say no more, Harebashi. I won’t harm you. It wouldn’t be my place to do so.”

“A wise and just decision, Shei.”

“That’s Kagurai to you, Kagurai Shei. You’ve no right to address me so informally. At this point, I alone represent the 2nd Division, and succeed the captain. That's why you will address me as Kagurai.”

“Ah, well then, forgive me, my dear Kagurai.”

“Nevermind that. More importantly, who’s the guy with the mask?”

“One of my men.”

“From the 11th? I haven’t seen him before…”

“No, no. He is one of my other men.”

“Other? Wha-“

“Don’t ask any questions. You’re better off not knowing.”

“The Hell I am. Spill it, Harebashi.”

“Lord Halcyon, I must object.”

”Silence, Avalon. Kagurai Shei demands an explanation. I will give it to her.

And so I told her everything. I “spilled the beans” as some say. I told her about the Sworn, the Wretched, even about Yuureiki and his oath-imposing weapon. It is ironic really; I haven’t even explained the nature of the Sworn to you, yet I have revealed it to Shei. And she listened ever so attentively, taking in every word, every measly detail I had to offer. It did not go on for long, though. There was still the battle at hand to take care of, and so, I shortened it. Certain parts I omitted, others abbreviated, but none invented. Let me reveal to you what I have to her.

Listen carefully. You will not get a second chance to hear this.

I will not get a second chance to say it.

Now, before I continue, do take some more sake.

[Taiyou no Kishi]

*Bypasses the cup, and takes the bottle*

Do go on. ^^

[Kaze]

Right, here's the next chapter. Comments are, as always, greatly appreciated.
----------------------------------------------------------

XIV – Halcyon


“Poor boy sweatin' in the hot summer night
Hangman waitin' for the early mornin' light singin’”
Aerosmith – Hangman Jury

I have said that I will reveal all. Now, I shall hold true to that promise. I shall take you hundreds of years into the past back to the moment when all of this was put in motion, when I became Sworn, and when my twelve gathered ‘round me, and saluted me as their captain, their unquestionable lord. At the time I had become a visage of what would be the fury of Yuureiki, no, of the inevitable, perverted justice of Yuureiki. And he, the grand manipulator, the one who shifted all the pieces on the board, just smiled, never showing anger, always condescending to us lower beings. We were taken care of and protected for a good deal of time. That showed that Yuureiki took care of his own, but when we were finally unleashed upon the enemy, there was no mercy, not for them, not for us. We died by the hundreds as we hit the walls of Seireitei like ocean waves, and we tried, we tried to breach them, we dug into the earth with our hands as we were crushed under the immense number of bodies, and those who were too deep drowned in their blood. Yes, it was like the battle of Jerusalem. We didn’t know whether we were infidels or fanatics, but we had our crusade. Yes, we had it. Some of us regret it. Most of us are dead. But Yuureiki has yet to be stopped. I tried to finish him, I tried, but as he lay upon the ground, my own Kyuu Sora, splendidly revealed in all its fury, failed to destroy him, and so I devised away to end his life as well as mine, and I took the necessary steps, and we should have both died that day. As you can see things went awry. Only then, after the Sworn came again, had I understood the meaning of Tsumemaru’s words: “You died in vane.” Yes, I had died for nothing, tricked by an old trickster, as old as time can tell. But, you see, I, as well, cannot be stopped. You know this for certain.

Let me now continue.

The place I am in is a dark and sombre room. It is filled with candle light, and somewhat resembles a throne room, or a cathedral perhaps. One can speak from one end, and be heard perfectly on the opposite side. There are no seats, just a tall chair, maybe a throne, on which my master, Yuureiki, sits. As I walk ahead, a small group of men following behind me, he rises and come to greet us. I kneel down immediately, and the men behind me follow in doing so.

“My lord Yuureiki,” I begin, “I have arrived.”

“An obvious conclusion, Ken’Iro,” he comments. “Are those my generals?”

“They are the men you requested. All are present save for one, my lord.”

He raises an eyebrow inquisitively. “Oh? And what ever could have happened to the stray sheep?”

I hesitate as I begin to answer. I search for the right words, but cannot find any, and by the time I speak the truth, Yuureiki has already understood everything.

“Ah, a rebel. I trust he refused enlightenment.”

“That is correct, my lord.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You may rise, gentlemen. You are now under my employment, please, the corridor to your left will lead you to your quarters. We shall speak more after you’ve rested.”

The group of men, exactly 12 in number hurry along into the corridor and disappear into the darkness, even if the sound of their footsteps doesn’t die off until much later. Having sent them along, my master turns back to me. His gaze is much harsher, and his features are slightly contorted. I can tell that he is angry, but he wishes to conceal it. He wishes to pass off as the cold-blooded, calculating tyrant that his enemies make him out to be, but I know better. He is as human as any of us. Madness included.
[/B]
“Ken’Iro, although I have yet to reveal to you my plans, do you not realize the importance of following orders?”

“I...I do, my lord.”

“You obviously don’t. Or you wouldn’t have killed the 13th general. Do you have any idea as to how difficult it has been to find beings of such power? It has taken me years to find suitable opponents to a captain, and yet here you are spitting in my face with your impertinent actions! Tell me, Ken’Iro, what kind of punishment should I inflict upon you? For a mere trifle! Bah!”

“I am ready to accept any judgement your lordsh-“

“You are not ready. You may think you understand, but you obviously don’t. Over these past years I have gathered an army in secret. I have subjected them to the Oath. All I needed was the generals that would lead them. They are almost all of them here, and I shall soon subject them to the Oath as well. They will all become Sworn, my servants, slaves I daresay, but here I stand, finding myself short of one general, and here you are, the one who dispatched him. I shall subject you to the Oath as well, Ken’Iro. You will be my thirteenth general. You will be Sworn.”

“I…”

“But fear not, you will not be the gun fodder that the other twelve companies will be. You shall be special. I have assembled a squad of individuals meant to be my own hand of doom. You shall have twelve shinigami, and together you will be thirteen, and the thirteenth company. You shall be the ones that all will fear, the ones that will take on the elite forces of Seireitei head on. What I am offering you is a great honour, Ken’Iro. Don’t throw it away. You may become great.”

His proposition takes me by surprise, and it is, indeed, an honour, but it is also punishment. Let me explain. I had done his bidding loyally and most faithfully for quite some time, without having been subjected to the Oath. I had served him without mistake, without hesitation, but now I had strayed aside. I showed him that I was not as good a tool as he had calculated. I would learn the Oath.

“Very well, my lord. I accept this honour.”

“A wise choice, Ken’Iro. Let me now introduce to you the twelve terrors of the Thirteenth. Come out!”

And out of the darkness they come, monsters of immeasurable reiatsu, yet so skilled at concealing it that I had never sensed them. They are, indeed, twelve, of various builds and genders. Out of their group only one steps in front and speaks. He is tall, slender, and completely wrapped in dark clothing.

“Greeting, my lord. I am Avalon, Prime Assassin of the Sworn, your silent arrow to launch wherever you may see fit, for my Mistbringer never strays. We are your men. Lead us well.”

And he had planned it all! That dog, that cur. It was all planned, from the beginning. But, alas, it was too late. I had taken that path, and now I had to walk upon it.

“Ken’Iro. Each of these warriors has been reshaped into the perfect servant, each of them will have a use for you, each of them has been renamed, and each of their names befit them, as I hope you will find. Now, perhaps you should introduce yourself.”

With that I spoke.

“I am Harebashi Ken’Iro. I will-“

But then, Yuureiki begins to laugh. Perhaps his jest is going a bit too far for his own good, perhaps he would reveal it to be a practical joke of some sort, but no, he stops, and he continues with his plan.

“My, my, Ken’Iro, when I said that I had made new names for each of the warriors of this company, you were included.”

“I…”

With that he draws his Zanpakutou, and places its blade upon my shoulder. As soon as it touches me I feel as if all my body warmth were drawn out of my body. I shudder, but only a little, to not show any fear. The Sworn know no fear.

“You, do you accept the Oath that I am offering to you? You and your blade will be bound to me and to the Oath until you perish. Become my blade, kill my enemies, and you will be rewarded.”

“I accept.” I say the words, but I do not believe them. Within my soul I utterly reject them, I shut off the way, I block myself from them, but even then, I feel it. The power flowing into my body, searching for me. The real me.

“Very well. This will be your contract. Serve me with your life, obey my every command, kill my enemies and yours, and never allow anyone to pass on without having tasted the vengeance of your mighty blade, Kyuu Sora. Say it once more, do you accept?”

And now I feel it, the immeasurable power of his Zanpakutou, it is reaching deep into my soul, into my mind and into my body, breaching any defences, destroying any doubt, any hesitation. As of this moment, I am Sworn.

“I accept, my lord.”

“Good. I know dub thee Sworn. Rise, Ken’Iro, no, you will now use your knew name, the one I had fashioned for you. You are lord Halcyon.”

I rise renewed, with my new identity firmly within my grasp, and new powers suddenly discovered. I walk and take my place besides the other twelve. We will kill many, and we will be feared, but then, will also betray, and we will be Wretched, no longer Sworn. This is the lord Halcyon that Yuureiki created.

And he revealed to me later that my name was such because the days that would follow would be days of peace. They would be my days.

[Taiyou no Kishi]

Very nice. ^^ *glee*

[Jeem]

Nifty stuff; I like this whole Sworn concept so far, and I'm glad we got to learn a bit of background info.

[Kaze]

So, yeah, it's been some time since I last updated this. Been uber lazy:P
==================================================

XV – In Bloom


A blooming flower is something often overlooked, but each one is beautiful in its own right. Can you see them? The nuances of your preferred mixture…millions of shades of the same colour varied on the canvas called “petal” in order to create one unique nuance. One may only hope to meet a woman, a mate, as beautiful as a blooming flower, but none, and I say again, none is as saddening as a fading one. However, pain has pleasure in its own right, a sort of sublime smudge of the soul, and I look forward to each one, with each flower that passes away, but not this one. No. Not this one. This one wouldn’t be a smudge. It’d be a violent tear.

“Akane…”

Only one word escapes Tsumemaru’s gaping mouth as he falls flat on his back, thrown like a doll to the ground by the relentless assault of the Sworn. They are not particularly strong, save for a few chosen ones, and they are not particularly intelligent. Canon fodder. But they are many. As I have said, we threw ourselves upon the walls of Seireitei as ocean waves upon rocks; these ones are no different. They would let themselves be impaled upon the blades of the defenders if it would allow their companions to deal the finishing blow, but it is not with weaklings that they are dealing. No. They are facing captains, monsters in their own right. You know this as you know many other things. I need not explain it further. I need not portray the awesome and most terrifying power that each of the captains possesses. Strength speaks for itself, and the sight of an angry captain would terrify even the bravest shinigami. The Sworn, however, are not true shinigami; they are mere puppets imbued with power, which, in theory, should render them superior to all others, but, of course, that is not always so.

Thus, witness the might of Tsuyoyama Tsumemaru, vice captain of the 11th, virtuous, proud warrior of the shinigami's elite fighting force. He stands before the Sworn as a mountain towers over a field of wheat. Let them bow before his reverent stature, and cower before his fury. They are blades of grass, and he is the reaper that wields the scythe. With one movement, hundreds fall upon the ground, but those very hundreds rise again, only to be struck down as violently as ever. It is a cycle that will end only with the death of the defender, much like the battle between the hungry bear and the protective bees - the bear will have to flee, and the bees will not pursue. Fate, however, has preserved a different fate for Tsumemaru's Kiba. It shall strike, dauntless, powerful, until it shall be brought down by the countless stings of the insect-like Sworn. Thus, we welcome you into the Swarm.

They surround him, seperate him from his partner, and then, they descend upon him, wave after wave after wave. He kills without hesitation, as a true shinigami. He does it with unbeatable puissance. Apparently unbeatable.

And now, be witness to the fall of a legend.

They throw themselves on top of him, they grab hold of his arms and legs with the hope of restraining him, but he is to powerful, he severs the arms, the legs, the heads, but yet, they continue to do so, until, gradually, Tsumemaru begins to fall victim to the weight of the grappled arms. It does not take much for him to become fully restrained. And then, a lieutenant of the Sworn rises. He releases his souls slayer, taking the posture of an executioner, and raises the weapon, Tsumemaru's neck being the target. He struggles now more desperately than ever, but all his efforts are worthless. The Sworn have him, and they won’t let him go, not until…

Not until his head falls clean off. This is how all captains are destined to die. Their power restrained, the zanpakutous removed, their voices screaming, threatening, pleading, cursing, accepting their fates, and finally, for those valorous enough, looking into the eye of their executioner. Tsumemaru does each of them in turn, but he does not plead, and he does not accept his death. He yells at the top of his lungs, hoping to blow them away with mere sound, but he is unsuccessful in the most faithful sense of the word. I can tell you that he is not a person to trifle with. He lacks what others would name a sense of fear. Make no mistake, he does not understand fear, the primordial exaggerated instinct for survival. But I believe that he feels it, this very moment, before his death, before his belated head falls off into the dirt, and for a fleeting eight seconds, he sees those who murdered him off to finish what their started, and, finally, oblivion. If only I were so lucky to reach it. If only I had been so lucky to deliver the deathblow myself. My existence truly is a joke, a sadistic joke, but mark my words, if where I’m going has an exit, I will find it, and then, I will find those who have preordained my destiny. I need not tell you what shall happen should I reach them.

The lieutenant slashes, but he does not behead him: he merely creates a gaping gash of flowing blood across his throat. Tsumemaru chokes in his own blood for seconds as he awaits the inevitable embrace of death. The lieutenant smiles sadistically and thrusts his zanpakutou forward, telling his subordinates to continue the assault, while he, the executioner, remains there to see that his work his finished. Most of the Sworn continue into the deeper parts of the Court, but many still remain to finish off the few, remaining and, sadly, separated shinigami.

The pressure with which Tsumemaru’s blood initially exploded gradually disappears under the watchful eyes of the lieutenant. He keeps his zanpakutou at hand, in case the vice-captain would somehow, miraculously, manage to retaliate. Of course, such a thing is no longer possible – Tsumemaru has already lost consciousness. It is then that his killer decided that it was time to finish the job. He rises and, still smiling as serenely as a child, he positions the point of the blood directly between Tsumemaru’s eyes, just above the nose, and begins to apply pressure, slowly, slowly, slow enough to enjoy the carnage to the fullest, but he is not alone…

“You will remove yourself from this place this instant.”

The words belong to Kozueshima Tetsuo, captain of the 10th. I have already told you some things about him, but I do not believe that I have encompassed the true range of his power. In fact, you have had only a small taste of it. What comes will be quite…revealing.

The lieutenant turns slowly, constantly grinning. This disturbs Kozueshima, despite the fact that he doesn’t show it. What he does show, however, is his zanpakutou. He extracts it, and then, a breeze, and then, a shower of cold, red blood. This proves that the Sworn are not part of the living, and if they are, life leaves them as soon as the enemy’s blades injure them. And believe me, it would not be so difficult to harm them if it were not for the numbers.

Scarcely aware of the encroaching hordes of Sworn, Kozueshima leans down, just above Tsumemaru’s face. He listens for a faint sound of breath, and he hopes that there is still a bit of life in his now beaten body. He succeeds. Tsumemaru’s pulse is still present, ever fading, ever weaker, but present. This having been established, he immediately does what any sensible shinigami would do. He calls the 4th, in this case, the 4th is none other than…

“AKANE! TSUYOYAMA IS DYING!”

Within seconds, Akane’s slender, albeit blood stained, form appears near the two. She disregards both Kozueshima and the Sworn, and proceeds to analyze Tsumemaru’s condition. Naturally, it takes a simple glance and a thought to understand what must be done.

Placing her zanapakutou above his chest, she utters: “Bloom, Candid Lily” and her silver spear becomes visible again. With a decisive thrust, she inserts it into Tsumemaru’s chest, apparently damaging him even more, but, in fact, this act hides something of greater complexity and importance. Let us observe it.

“Release your pollen, Candid Lily.”

Almost immediately the air is filled with a silvery luminescent substance akin to gas, but slightly thicker. Within seconds, Both she and Kozueshima regain their rested states, and Tsumemaru, no longer bleeding, somehow returns to life. His wounds seal up thanks to the power of Akane’s floral zanpakutou, and he tries to rise, but she stops him.

“No, you must rest for a while. Do not try to move, or even speak. Just rest.”

He cackles for a moment, but just for a moment. Laughing gives him pain.

“I won’t say much. In fact, there’s just one thing to say. Come closer.”

She lends him her ear, and he whispers into it. Her pupils dilate as she understands the meaning of the words said to her. She nods, and walks near Kozueshima. She calls for his attention, and she whispers in his ear the words that Tsumemaru uttered, or rather, the one word that he uttered.

Bankai.

Their releases take place simultaneously, creating a near-clataclismic vortex of power within the relatively small area of the breach. Both of them determined to carry out vengeance in the name of Seireitei, they speak the words that will seal the destinies of many a Sworn.

“Liquefy, Argent Stream Severer!”

“Grow up to the heavens, Divine Candid Lily!”