[center][b][h2][u]Unbridled Potential[/u][/h2][h3][i]Team Masuuko [sub]Part 3[/sub][/i][/h3][/b][/center][hr] “Until your little toady returns...what is the need of yours?” The Hollow turned its head and inquired to Reku, its voice faintly ragged. Slowly standing up again Rēku smiled towards the hollow. “[color=#FF00FF]Well that’s simple, you’re going to open a path for us to go home whenever our commander wishes you to. I must confess now. I find it odd. Why is it you’re so different from most Hollows?[/color]” “Not different. Many like me. Only now you notice, now choice stripped of you.” The Adjuchas’ jaw lowered and snapped back up with a harsh, grinding clatter. “But not meek. I do come to hunt. To feed. To kill. To sooth pain. Sometimes. Some days. Do not want to kill. Do not want to feed. Just want to be with little left.” It then turned its grotesque head back to the gravestone for a moment before speaking again. “Give ashes. I will grant you passage nearly anywhere. Everywhere there is power to go. Recently, some places are...barred.” Rēku pondered momentarily. It was odd. Had she really slaughtered that many Hollows and not cared to notice that some might actually have thoughts? Then it also occurred to her that this Hollow was a means to an end and other than that it was of little importance. If it weren’t for the fact that capturing this thing alive and then getting it to help would be a lot more difficult she honestly would have just attacked it. “[color=#FF00FF]Our comrade will return shortly with the ashes. Hiro, should we have Shizu find the commander and have her inform him of the situation now?[/color]” “[color=#dc143c]No.[/color]” His voice is faint and indifferent as his lips parted. His eyes closed as he listened on from his new perched position atop a nearby gravestone. “[color=#dc143c]We’ve already divided our forces. To be blunt, I believe you are giving this hollow far too little credit.[/color]” Although, he did not make any motion to suggest his intent, he scanned the area for any sign of approaching threats. After all, they had been stationary now for quite sometime, and hardly subtle about their presence. “[color=#dc143c]Use Tenteikura. Or do as you’d please. My only concern here is the mission. Thus, this hollow.[/color]” Rēku frowned at Hiro before turning back to the Hollow. “[color=#FF00FF]So about these barred areas. What areas are we talking about, and do you know the cause of this problem?[/color]” “Hurr...yes. Use of Kumon...tear in creation. Rip in weft of space, yes? Like your use of blades as keys to open your Senkaimon passageway.” The Hollow waved one of its taloned hands through the air breezily as it spoke. “Use power as key, unlock fold, create tear...but...some force in the other world. In Soul Society. Already contorting space. Powerful - cannot fold it in the proper way to form a Kumon. It is around Seireitei - the area outside no, but beyond the walls...impossible to reach. If you want to reach inside, you will need more than just a Kumon. You will need a Garganta. The door to the Kumon’s key. Would bypass the contorted space entirely, but few can create them - most in Las Noches. Not one of their number, I.” “[color=#dc143c]So you are useless.[/color]” At this, Hiro’s eyes shot open. Gaze locked about the hollow’s frame. “[color=#dc143c]What we need, [i]you[/i] cannot provide.[/color]” He momentarily batted raindrops out of his eyes, his rainwashed hair now plastered to his face. “Oh? You have need to go to Seireitei?” The Hollow let loose another dry, rattling laugh. “The woman said I would receive instruction from your...commander, yes? Is their intent known by you?” With a sigh Rēku scratched her head. This new development was not exactly good news, but it was good information to know at the very least. “[color=#FF00FF]Is there some way you’d be able to help us get there, or acquire the means by which we would need to get there? The commander won’t be too happy otherwise…[/color]” “I can open a path into Rukongai...right up to the silent walls.” The Adjuchas replied somewhat stiffly. “You will find no other Hollow here in the world of the living that can do better, outcast.” “[color=a4d4ff]You’re an arrogant hollow, aren’t you?[/color]” Shizu mused, unable to contain her chuckle. For the first time today, Hiro actually chuckled. Allowing his head to tilt backwards in amusement at the hollow’s words. “[color=#dc143c]A Survivor this one.[/color]” “All Hollows survivors, petulant morsel. Survive agony of emptied heart. Survive others of our kind. Survive pawns like you.” It was hard to tell, but the Adjuchas almost sounded - annoyed. Something Hiro noticed, thus smirked. A few minutes passed and then, in a flash, Kairi arrived, or...returned rather, an urn in her arms. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“Ayo m’back. Took a bit longer than expected, there were some obstacles,”[/b][/color] she chuckled to herself a bit and set the large urn down on the ground next to her. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“So who wants to do the honors, eh?”[/b][/color] She glanced between the members of her team. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“Or shall I?”[/b][/color] The Adjuchas [i]moved.[/i] With their immaculate senses, most of the Shinigami present could follow its motion easily enough - and know that the creature was just as fast, if not faster, than most of them. At distances this short it would have been prudent to already had weapons drawn - but thankfully the monstrous creature did not seem intent on attack. Before Kairi or the others could possibly have stopped the Adjuchas, it had gone from sitting to standing over the urn on the ground - one talon touching down on the tin’s cap with a soft clack while the other slammed into the paved walkway with force belying rage barely kept in check. “THIS.” The Adjuchas yowled at Kairi. “THIS. THIS...is it?!? This is the urn? The ashes are in this? This is MINE?” It practically roared the last word at her, the outburst likely audible from outside the cemetery. The Hollow’s caustic reiatsu was roiling and churning, still being suppressed but faintly unleashed, the surrounding grass dying and stonework beginning to crumble to dust. Kairi, however, had more pressing concerns. Namely, now that she was no longer carrying the urn and that she was looking down at it - [i]she had forgotten to remove the picture taped to the side.[/i] The Adjuchas had not seen it - it was on the opposite side of the urn - but if it decided to examine the urn more closely, that would mean trouble. She could try to snatch the picture away of course, but if the Adjuchas had senses to match its speed, with its attention already focused on her… She gritted her teeth as the hollow rather suddenly--though not so much so as to catch her off guard--closed the distance between itself and the urn. It was unfortunately only after it was so near that the lieutenant noticed the picture still taped to the side. Having taken a small step back, Kairi decided to take a risk, letting the movement lead into her crouching down, making her more or less level with the hollow. She popped in a piece of gum and chewed it, not obnoxiously like before. It seemed the urn had once housed its very own ashes. Knowing what she did about the man who had been in possession of it, she didn’t feel the least bit bad about having likely traumatized him. Reaching a hand forwards she placed the palm of her hand on the urn, eyes aimed at the hollow’s own. She had no real presence and no killing intent. Her own posture was entirely at ease, but not to the extent to imply that the hollow wasn’t a possible threat. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“Yeah, the guy who had it was a real ass too,”[/b][/color] she said, [color=#FEFFE3][b]“...kind of glad to get the thing out of his possession.”[/b][/color] Her words were smooth, her heartbeat steady, and her body language revealed not a single hint of the lie. She’d manipulated before. She ran her hand along the side of the urn and as she let her fingernail slip onto the seam of the paper, allowing her to get a grip, she blew and then popped a bubble. The sound likely drowning out the smaller noise of her using a tiny movement of her dextrous hands to remove the picture. “[color=a4d4ff]Interesting you took the time to put a piece of gum into your mouth.[/color]” Shizu mused aloud, eyes locked on Kairi as if searching for a reason why she had to chew a piece of gum while she did that incredible feat of what she just did. A few came to mind but none that were concrete. She would have to put a pause on that for now. Her eyes returned to the Hollow, narrowing them by just the slightest inch. He was a fast one, and Shizu would keep herself in the same on-edge stance that she had been in - hand on katana, ready to draw if need be. “GET AWAY!” The Hollow screamed at Kairi, lashing out at her with obscene speed and bludgeoning her with its free arm. This proved to be fortuitous - the blow to her was little more than a love-tap, but the force from it allowed her to tear the photo off and retreat without being caught. The Hollow immediately scooped up the urn and held it aloft, turning away from the Shinigami as it spun the tin in its oversized talons, examining it. Instantly it went from enraged to placid, seemingly entranced by the cheap, featureless metal and the clasp that kept the cap secure. Kairi didn’t even flinch, but braced herself, letting one knee touch the ground, while her other foot became planted so that she was kneeling. The strike made contact, but no pain went over her face, she seemed unphased and besides, she’d succeeded. In the moment, she allowed herself to be pushed back slightly and in doing so moved her right-paper holding-hand to steady herself. In doing this she placed the paper on the ground behind her foot and then stood up and used her heel to conceal sliding the paper to her left side. As she did so she gazed down at the hollow with a blank, but slightly threatening expression. The strike had been nothing to her, but she still didn’t much like getting hit and then not retaliating. Tapping her toe against the ground and flicking the rolled up paper ball upwards she caught it in her left hand, which she moved to her hip, deftly flattening it despite its crumpled up state, and dropping it into her pocket noiselessly. She let her weight sit on one foot as her hand reached her hip, the slightest of impassionate glares aimed at the hollow. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“We got you what you asked for, yet you act ungratefully,”[/b][/color] she said, no joy or sympathy in her voice anymore. [color=#FEFFE3][b]“...don’t hit me again,”[/b][/color] she warned, and then walked back over to the rest of the group before turning back to face the hollow. If Hiro even gave her a look, he’d receive a harsh, warning glare. Kairi had never cared about rank. She’d fight anyone, and she was no longer in a particularly good mood. To further point to this fact, she spat her gum out to the side. It was aimed nowhere near the hollow...fortunately. She gestured at Reku, [color=#FEFFE3][b]“I’ve done my part. You can handle negotiations. Well, you and Yanagi-san,”[/b][/color] she said, referring to the Commander, before she shut her eyes and quietly breathed deeply to calm herself. “No more worthless words.” The Hollow declared, turning back to face the group of Shinigami. “You retrieved urn. I will do as you ask. Once. Then I will be made whole again with this.” It shook the urn in its upraised claws. “Could devour now, but no telling if I could still open Kumon once whole. I tell you this in good faith.”